(personal) Sigh.

[vg_ford]

When it snows, it blizzards.

argus7hills' car is dead. I refuse to pour any more money into this pit, and so now, in December, we're looking at cars. We want a minivan - used, obviously, since I refuse to buy a new car because they're a waste of money - or a truck. The minivan would be preferable.

So, oh-knowledgable readers and friends, does anyone have a minivan they like or could recommend? We're looking for foldable/removable seats and something that does well in the winter.

Thanks! Right now, we're borrowing my dad's old truck, but we have to give that up to my sister in a week, and we don't know if we'll be able to drive her old car around (plates issues).

Comments

[peartreealley.livejournal.com]

I know nothing of minivans, but I give my sympathies for the dead car and unexpected hardship. *hugs*

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It never fails - something like this always happens when we're trying to get ahead. *sigh* But at least it didn't crash or anything like that - and no one was hurt.

[lupagreenwolf.livejournal.com]

Not quite a minivan, but if you can get a Subaru Outback or Forester station wagon, they're all wheel drive and the seats should be movable/foldable/etc. Otherwise, I tend to trust Toyota and Nissan the most.

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

Good to know. We're looking at packing SCA for 2 weeks for 2 people (with 2 fighting kits and a 12' x 16' pavilion with 2'x4' poles) in it, so I think the Outback might be a bit small. I'll look at Toyota and Nissan and see what they have.

Thanks!

[lupagreenwolf.livejournal.com]

Just don't go with Hyundai, at least not the 2001 Santa Fe. Ours has had entirely too much work done on it, with less than 90,000 miles on it.

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

also good to know. Thanks!

[jackoutofthebox.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend getting a Dodge Grand Caravan. The mileage is fair to decent and you can carry a lot of crap without much affect to the gas consumption. Ours is a 98 and it's got 209,000 miles. still running strong (knock on wood).

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

I was going to ask you for recommendations. I'll see what I can find. Thanks!

[elfmagics.livejournal.com]

I don't know about minivans but have been researching small suv's lately and love the Honda CRV and the Nissan Pathfinder and the Chevy Trailblazer. Don't know if any of those fit your needs but there ya go.

And I hear ya on the car problems. If we ever get his truck out of the shop it'll be a miracle. And now my car is starting to eat gas and smell funny. Not a good sign.

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

Well, we need a big van - we go camping a lot, and with two fighting kits, plus the pavilion - a small SUV won't cut it. But thanks and good luck on your's!

[caitlindancer.livejournal.com]

sucky!! Good luck with the hunt.

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Maybe we'll have it in time for you to see it at Christmas. If not, you'll see it at birka.

[jp-rich.livejournal.com]

Heads up---- I am definately with Jackoutofthebox on the Grand Caravan! I worked for Dodge for 5 years and the grand caravans are EXCELLENT vehicles!!

The run forever and have little-if no-problems at all!! But dont settle for the plain caravan.... OMG.....

The Grand caravan has more 'thought' put into it and it shows- the regular caravan has repeated problems.

Seat warmers that used to melt, oil leaks, ac problems, and they would literally DIE ON THE ROAD everytime you hit a puddle during the rain!! I kid you not! Its a poor design- the serpentine belt (which drives the powersteering and the alternator) would slip off 80% of the time causing the car to suddently be hard to drive and the battery light to come on....and then the car dies.....

I cant even begin to tell you how many times I have been screamed at cause "they just had that stupid thing put back on and it must be your screw up".....sure, it would never be the car-right?

I left Dodge when I moved to Kentucky and got a job with Volkswagen.....they dont offer a minivan but they do have a SUV: the Toureg.

DONT DO IT!

Buy Nissan, Toyota, Subaru....they run forever with little or no problems!! Volkswagen will be a damn nightmare!!

VW problems:

-ck engine light every few months
-sunroof drains that leak into the car in a heavy rain
-needs a ton of maintenance
-EXPENSIVE!! maintenance
-they dont run on plug/wire/cap/rotor system- they have coils which screw up BIG TIME and then its not drivable!
-oil leaks

actually.....come to think of it? The problem is circled on the front of the car! The little VW in the circle?

ROTFLMAO

*cough* JOB SECURITY *cough*

;)

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice - I've been hearing a lot of good things about the Grand Caravan. I want to drive it, and see what we can afford, but I'm definitely leaning towards the GC.

Thanks!