I like American mini-vans; driving one helps remind me that life is precious, you are not on this earth for ever and your subscription to having a pulse can be revoked at any moment. All it takes is some awesome handling^TM and a ravine.

_{/Who needs anti roll bars at the back on a high sided, rear heavy vehicle anyway!?}

Chris...

As much as it hurts to say, minivans are perfect for the masses. They really are. Only way to make them more perfect would be small diesels.

I ride in a vanpool to work almost daily. That fucking Caravan does 90MPH effortlessly with 6 people in it, it's got great front and rear air, nice sound system, roomy, seems to handle the on ramps and interchanges at speed, rides well, stops well. I like it.

It does not handle like a Porche. But it does what it does, quite well.

Again, I'm completely spoiled by European MPV's (MiniVans) which handle as well as a car and ordinarily have much nicer TDi engines.

Chris...

I've seen the Top Gear episode on the parcel delivery vans, (thanks) The Mercedes seemed disappointing, The volkswagen seemed much more spirited. But who are these marketed at?

Surely a delivery service or cable tv co are not gonna purchase something fun, fast, sporty for their drivers.

I would love to purchase one, but I'll not be near one unless I'm kidnapped by a European superpower.

Posted by _cow_ $500 to change valve cover gaskets on a Chrysler V6? Are you sure they weren't laundering drug money or doing hog tranquilizers on the side? I called several places and all prices were in this area. Maybe it's just the difference between where we live. As far as Previas rotting? I dunno, you can see the pics. Mine was 19 yrs old. There was a spot of rust inside the bottom of the driver's door, but it wasn't rotten. That was after 19 SW PA winters of road salt. The guy who had it before me had records for every little thing he had done to it. I found a Chilton's manual inside with tons of notes in the margin also. Plus, I got it for free, so...I think it was a great van

every now and then you get a diamond among swine.

by cr400 I ride in a vanpool to work almost daily. That fucking Caravan does 90MPH effortlessly with 6 people in it, it's got great front and rear air, nice sound system, roomy, seems to handle the on ramps and interchanges at speed, rides well, stops well. I like it. It does not handle like a Porche. But it does what it does, quite well.

my friend Josh has a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan... i hate it. It handles like ass, but the power side doors are fun to play with. He goes through a lot of brakes and front tires with it...

Posted by cr400 I've seen the Top Gear episode on the parcel delivery vans, (thanks) The Mercedes seemed disappointing, The volkswagen seemed much more spirited. But who are these marketed at?

The higher end; 'be there yesterday couriers mostly I think'. I'm talking standard, cheap as chips MPVs; gotta compare like for like!

Posted by Samurai my friend Josh has a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan... i hate it.

Good news, the new 2009 model is a lot worse!

Chris...

there was one minivan I wouldn't mind and that was the 2003 Chevrolet Venture short-wheelbase minivan we had where I worked. It took the most horrendous beating imaginable and still held together. Didn't handle half-bad either...

i used to drive an '03 Town and Country (upscale version of the Dodge Caravan), and it's not terrible as far as vans go. really good sound system, goes like hell when it's unloaded. shitty on gas though. i could get 23 mpg out of it - on the highway, with no traffic, on a good day.

also, i've been seeing these appear on the streets of Denver:

500 for a freaking valve cover? I can change those in my sleep on the Mopar V6 engines for a lot less!

And Turbo, your tastes are a bit spoiled. I do like the EuroVan!

And Samarui, I would not expect you to like the Caravan

Posted by imprezawrxsti i used to drive an '03 Town and Country (upscale version of the Dodge Caravan), and it's not terrible as far as vans go. really good sound system, goes like hell when it's unloaded. shitty on gas though. i could get 23 mpg out of it - on the highway, with no traffic, on a good day. also, i've been seeing these appear on the streets of Denver: http://jalopnik.co...-Connect-SoCal.jpg

Those are ugly, but have been in Europe for years. If I had to have a "mini" van, I want a VW Vanagon Syncro with the 911 engine swap, and one with the wesfalia kit would be even better.
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Clyde

All this minivan talk and no one has posted the Caravan beating up on a LS1 Camaro?

Posted by jeepdave All this minivan talk and no one has posted the Caravan beating up on a LS1 Camaro?

I do get a lil chuckle every time I see it.

Posted by bonnie&clyde Those are ugly, but have been in Europe for years. If I had to have a "mini" van, I want a VW Vanagon Syncro with the 911 engine swap, and one with the wesfalia kit would be even better. 3. Clyde

it's odd seeing the Transits here, i'm used to seeing them in london, but more and more euro cars are finding their way here, like the Fiesta, the Dodge (Benz) Sprinter, hell, there's even a Smart dealership on Broadway.

also, Colorado <3's the Pinz. there's more registered here than in any other state.

Posted by bonnie&clyde I do get a lil chuckle every time I see it.

Ah yes the 1989 2.5 Turbo dodge caravan. Never before has such a bad idea been executed so well. They're fucking beast.

Posted by Samurai there was one minivan I wouldn't mind and that was the 2003 Chevrolet Venture short-wheelbase minivan we had where I worked. It took the most horrendous beating imaginable and still held together. Didn't handle half-bad either...

Until 2004 comes around, when the rocker panels have rusted off, the wheel bearings failed, and it needed front brakes for the 17th time. Then it's time for the "spring" maintenance package which includes the head gaskets, intake gaskets, front crankshaft seal... and what the hell, a new a/c condensor because it had bad soldering and all your refrigerant leaked out. Might as well replace the tranny while you're in there, because it's likely got a bad valve body and is probably filled with a few extra pounds of clutch material recirculating itself through the thing.

I hate those vans so much and can't wait till August 9th, when I never have to work on those smouldering piles of shit again.

edit: I'm spelling like GM builds minivans. Poorly.

I should add that I've hit 110 mph in a '91 Caravan. It shook so much the ashtray opened and spilled change everything.

But I lived. And so did the van, for a little while longer.

Posted by bandi I should add that I've hit 110 mph in a '91 Caravan. It shook so much the ashtray opened and spilled change everything. But I lived. And so did the van, for a little while longer.

I've gotten my old Caravan up to 100 out on some backroads. Shaking was about what I expected for a magic wagon.

I fucking love '91-'95 Caravans. I'm not gonna lie.

You're in good company. I had long since decided that my next car would be a turbo caravan, then a $200 cougar fell in my lap.

Next time