Thanks for pissing on my cheerios
Oh well that what AAA is for. Then I'll have to figure out how to put 2 adults, 2 kids with carseats and weekend worth of gear into a 240SX with no backseat and a rollbar to drive home. Assuming I don't kill the 240 molesting it around Infineon Raceway...
BTW- what does a tranny replacement run on one of these?
I can get you a gooddeal 
But parts/labor for a Hondar reman with teh 3/36 on an 01/02 is about $4k. Parts alone retail at over $3200. You'll probably be fine for a few tows, but with that mileage I wouldn't depend on it for all my towing needs.
Hey, the good news is at least the 01-02 MDX's didn't have a bad habit of physically locking the front tires and skidding to a halt in the middle of the freeway! THat started in 03.
I miss my V8 Tundra more everyday.
Certrainly not going to be a regular hauler. Wifey mentioned that we are taking a family trip to Sonoma in March. Then she mentioned "some race track" nearby. Next thing you know I'm reserving my spot with speedventures at Infineon Raceway, then figuring out how I'm gonna get my car there afterwards.
Wish me luck...
My fingers are crossed. As long as it's not shuddering now, or slipping I wouldn't worry too much about it. My biggest advice to all first Gen MDX owners is to get the P/S and Trans coolers STAT. Even if you never tow.
pinchvalve wrote: However, if you think a Minivan is uncool, you may have an problem. If this is uncool:What's This:
According to the Cool Wall it is uncool
No one mentioned the astro? I'd think a stock 4.3 would be good, but an LS swap would top the whole thing off. Especially if you had the awd setup. There are a bunch of panel astros around here for low $3k's and I'm trying to resist.
Otherwise, there is another thread about the 2010/11 Dodge Ram with Hemi- you can get a 2010 quad-cab hemi new for $17k. That's 390 hp and 14/20 mileage.
I'm sure everyone else has summed this up...but given your list, you can have three. Not all four.
Yep, myself (if the Chevy Venture counts as good?).
Unfortunately i would not call that good one. GM 4t60s are pretty infamous in the transmission world. But hey, at least the 3400 will puke coolant into the oil and lock up too! Wait, that is ALSO BAD. heheh.
My opinion is caravan. Of course, this may only be because i already know how to fix everything on them, including rebuilding a 604 trans. But i also know a 604 trans wont break if it's taken care of. Trick is getting one that HAS been taken care of. And the 3.3/3.8 will never break, so no worries there.
No one mentioned the astro? I'd think a stock 4.3 would be good, but an LS swap would top the whole thing off. Especially if you had the awd setup. There are a bunch of panel astros around here for low $3k's and I'm trying to resist.
The LT swap is more direct and probably cheaper. I dont see the point of the LS if it adds complexity and you arent trying to go super fast.
And for the record, the 4l60 isnt much, if any, better than a 604 for towing light loads. The 4l60 actually has parts that tend to break no matter how you treat it, unlike a 604. But i do like the 4l60 a lot. Possibly also because i dont mind rebuilding them.
In reply to mw:
I call it "any bench seat full-size crew-cab pickup" provided you have a thin family and are not going on a really long trip... .
Buick Roadmaster.
No, in all seriousness, a diesel Suburban would be great.
watch the movie "get shorty" so.....watchya towin?
we dont need to roll heavy--besides, people arent looking at you anyway--they are too worried about themselves-- whadyou care anyway?
are you looking off the shelf, or didgya wanna BUILD something? todd
I'm leaning toward a Kia rondo. I really liked driving the rental I had. I'll just have to keep my f250 for towing duties. I was originally trying to replace two vehicles With one.
I was pretty much the same situation except with a lower budget. I ended up buying a 1986 GMC Suburban 6.2L for $2000. I didn't want a Mini Van and i needed to seat 2 adults, 4 kids, sometimes two dogs and still get decent MPG. The suburban gets around 18 in the city and 22-24 on the highway. It has the ability to seat 9 or i can take the third row out and still seat 7 with a huge cargo area. If i were you i would step up to the 92-99 Suburban with the 6.5l diesel.
The Mazda 5 is great, but you can't tow anything with it, says so right in the manual. By the way I'm replacing the rear shocks in mine today, since they failed catastrophicly, I'm replacing with KYB's in rear only for cost affective fix, but a suggestion to those with 5's is set aside money for Koni's for a proper fix in the future as this is a common problem with the car.
Chris Rummel
Here's the deal.
Those vehicles that tow well are heavy. Heavy = bad MPG Those vehicles that get good MPG are light. Light = bad towing.
There are a few vehicles in the middle that might work, but they are weird.
A sprinter might work , but they are fairly big money and only get in the 25mpg range. I guess it's possible to get them above 22-25mpg but not super likely.
http://www.fuelly.com/car/dodge/sprinter%202500
sprinters also only do in the 5K range for towing. Don't go more.
Didn't get to read the whole thread, so sorry if I'm repeating anything.
Like it or not, for those needs, minivan is the best option...hands down. So in that catagory....
Kia Sedona. We have a 2006. I bought ours in Feb. 2007 as a left over. Got it for $16,700 brand spanking new. We couldn't touch the Oddity or Sienna for under $24,000. Comes loaded in base trim. It hauls 3 kids in comfort all day. We've used it to carry Christmas trees, countless trips to the mega bulk store, etc... Have a class 3 hitch on it. Haven't towed any cars with it yet...though I will soon. But we've towed our 4'x9' trailer loaded with mulch, lawn mowers and such many times. It wouldn't hold up for heavy duty towing, but for light stuff, it's fine. 52,000 trouble free miles so far.
And for a big, fat minivan, it ain't too slow. It's something like 265hp, it can go. Wallows like mad though in corners. You can pick up an '07 or '08 in your price range.
You're always better off with more vehicles. Each one should have a specific duty. I would like to have one for every day of the week, at least. As it is now, my wife and I only have five registered and insured, plus a motorcycle. My truck is a very nice 85 C-30 Dooley that I can use to pull anything, run a roofload of old shingles to the dump, or get a really big load of mulch. Could I do that in a minivan? Nope.
I have to agree with 1988RedT2. One car one mission.
Here's my example
2002 Suzuki GZ250 = Summer commuter (~70MPG!)
1999 Honda Civic = 100 mile/day commuter (~36MPG)
1999 Dodge Durango = Tow & Track side support vehicle (15MPG)
1994 Ford Ranger = Home Depot and large car parts runner
2000 Subaru Outback = Family Hauler (30MPG)
2009 Nissan 370Z 6MT Sport = Modern Sports Car Fun (20MPG)
Let's not get started on project cars... 
1972 Ratsun BRE240Z LeMons Endurance Racer (~12MPG)
1972 Datsun 240Z Original = Track Day Car (~30MPG)
1972 Datsun RB25DET 240Z (Orange) = Time Attack Car (Don't Know Yet)
1972 Datsun RB26DETT 240Z (Silver) = Crazy Fun Show Car (15MPG @ 21PSI)
1972 Datsun Veggie Powered Turbo Diesel 240Z (Green) = Fun Hypermiler (~38MPG)
1982 Nissan JCR 280ZX Triple Mikuni Blow-Through Turbo Power = Uhhh... It's a Turbo... with TRIPLE MIKUNI's! (~12MPG)
1982 Nissan Maxima Diesel Converted to a gas powered L28 Turbo = Awesome Gangsta Cruiser! (~24MPG)
A sprinter might work , but they are fairly big money and only get in the BETTER THAN EVERYTHING ELSE range.
Fixed that..
sprinters also only do in the 5K range for towing. Don't go more.
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