What car? 7 seater edition

how about a imitation jdm Dodge van .......

2 years back when we we out shopping for a new family vehicle, I was on the prowl for a full size, but the wifey wanted something more along the lines of a Sienna..... but the sticker shock got to me and I ultimately cheeped out and scored a sweat deal on a loaded off lease Chevy Venture with 70xxx km's for 6000$ cdn. It just hit 90000 km the other day and the trucklet has been nothing but a pleasure to drive long hauls with, is fantastic on gas (over 800km on a 75 litre tank) and has cost me nothing over basic maintenance like fluids and frt pads.

About the only other people mover that would be fun to drive (imho) would be a Mazda5, but the back seat is basically useless for any thing more than little kids....If it was just for me, today I'd love a later Roadmaster with the 5.7 !!!!!

When I had this dilemna, I compromised and bought a new full-size double-cab pickup with a front bench seat (Tundra). While it isn't exactly knocking down Civic like fuel economy, it can do virtually ANYTHING I want it to--haul six people, haul stuff, haul ass, tow a trailer... .

I don't know how I lived before I bought it--oh yeah I do, I had to hitch up and drag around my small trailer for the most basic of jobs that a pickup does with no hassle... .

MrJoshua wrote:

irish44j wrote: Ford Flex with three-row seating and ecoboost V6. Carry much, go fast, tows 4500lbs, and doesn't look half bad.

$45K Yikes!

hey he didn't say he needed cheap :)

Nobody says yikes when there's a Porsche for $45k.....

I like the Chevy astro awd. I'll bet an LS1 will fit nicely. And tow whatever needs towing.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: I like the Chevy astro awd. I'll bet an LS1 will fit nicely. And tow whatever needs towing.

For some reason most women I know hate the look of Astro's more than minivans.

MrJoshua wrote:

Teh E36 M3 wrote: I like the Chevy astro awd. I'll bet an LS1 will fit nicely. And tow whatever needs towing.

For some reason most women I know hate the look of Astro's more than minivans.

Yeah astro's are on my wife's list of stupid cars.

Stupid cars are:

Suzuki X90's Lowered mini-trucks Astros All Pontiacs

Ya my wife feels the Astro falls in the aduction van category She hates those vans

We did the Suburban

Yeah astro's are on my wife's list of stupid cars. Stupid cars are: Suzuki X90's Lowered mini-trucks Astros All Pontiacs

If you don't want a minivan, that's a tall order.

I put up another vote for minivan, though. You may get made fun of, but when you embarrass their riced-out Civics at the drag strip while having the capability to carry six other people and their stuff, you'll be the one laughing. I'm convinced my mom's old Caravan SE (short wheelbase, 3.3 V6, oh yea) with the seats out was a 1/2 second quicker in the 1/4 than my stripped-out, modified, not-street-legal Saturn.

Oh, and you can get mid 20s MPG-wise. Compare that to low teens in an SUV.

Minivans are great and one of these days I'll probably own one. My family had a nice Montana and that van made me more popular than most sports cars ever could. I don't really have a terrible aversion to minivans but right now I'd like to avoid one if I can.

I know no one has mentioned the A6 wagon which was another vehicle on the list. The V70 is continuing to be a strong choice. Those cars are WAY nicer to drive than any minivan I've encountered and almost as practical. They're also only a Daft Punk sticker away from being really cool.

silverseven wrote: how about a imitation jdm Dodge van .......

This van keeps jumping into my head. The more I look the cooler it gets...

One of the local tuning shops (has a sweet turbo NSX) campaigned a Odyssey in a local road racing seris last season.

http://turbolaboratories.com/

Good luck finding a 7 passenger Astro in decent shape for $7000 with less than 150,000 miles on the clock. I would love one, but people hold them forever and the still sell for a premium.

The Kia Rondo is an awesome car, 7-seats available, but $10K is about the best you will find.

The Taurus Wagon came in a 7-passenger, SHO Wagon perhaps?

The Mazda MPV seems to go for pretty cheap, leaves some room for improvements. Zoom Zoom Minivan? Or find an older AWD version, they were kinda cool. I'm thinking a pre-runner minivan kinda thing.

Maybe an RV

Or go for a Shaggin Wagon

I'd go 2000 + Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon or Escalade. LS motor, lots of room. Either that or the previously mentioned salvage Pilot or MDX.

Its too bad you're avoiding the minvan, because it is the end-all of 7-passengers and versatility.

My caravan has a 5 spd manual and a turbo, and i just bought a complete electric motor/controller setup for it (in a car), and now im looking for some used prius batteries and an AWD caravan rear drivetrain..and ive got a sohc 3.0 v6 and m90 supercharger waiting for it, although really my end-goal is a dohc 6g72 single turbo setup and 8000 rpm. By that time i'll have to combine the two donor trannies ive got sitting around to make a tall-gear hybrid, too, because i want mileage to stay the same or improve (average when i took it apart was 27mpg).

Your minivan will be exactly as interesting as you make it, so no copouts.

you can get 7 (or more) people in there.

I have a Saturn Relay, I love it. I am not ashamed to say it.

And oh, the "murder van" or the "pedobear van" is popular around here now, just like the JDM "race" vans.

http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=134107

2001 V70 T5 5 speed manual with 81k on the clock for 9k.

Add a $40 manual boost controller and you have rapid transit.

247 hp 243 ftlbs before the boost controller, EPA 19/26 mpg. Koni yellows and IPD sways and it will handle well.

Shaun wrote: http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=134107 2001 V70 T5 5 speed manual with 81k on the clock for 9k. Add a $40 manual boost controller and you have rapid transit. 247 hp 243 ftlbs before the boost controller, EPA 19/26 mpg. Koni yellows and IPD sways and it will handle well.

Saw that and am definitely looking at it very carefully. Just a matter of some fiancial arranging and a plane ticket for something like that. However this whole thing might be derailed to purchase a Honda Beat. Man I wish I wasn't crazy :)

Well, this thread has a happy ending. I picked up this car and love everything about it. Sometimes I wish it was RWD, but it's really not bad at all. I had a ridiculously fun road trip to get it to Cali as well including doing 1263 miles in one day solo to get from Michigan to Colorado.

White Fly, I am a little confused.
Your profile says Florida.
The car purchased has plates from Pennsylvania.
You drove it from Michigan to Colorado to Cali(fornia)?

You my man have been doing some serious driving!

Hmm... My profile should say Los Angeles, CA. I picked it up in PA, so I most certainly have been doing some serious driving.

Option 1 - Dajiban.

Option 2 -Minivan. Cut Springs. Cool wheels. Tag that says "SWAGGER"

white_fly wrote:

silverseven wrote: how about a imitation jdm Dodge van .......

This van keeps jumping into my head. The more I look the cooler it gets...

Same here.

Ive been halfway looking for one.. found a running 4bt van id need for the swap.. but finding both and having the money? Eesh. Itd take me at least 5 grand to get a van like that and have it how i want it.