Well I am officially a grandpa.

Well I have been for a while but I just went out and bought a looser cruiser. My wife is beside herself, and not letting me forget it.

A mini van, I don’t know what to say, feel like I have betrayed myself and you guys. Still have the Fiero just thought it would make a good winter beater.

It was a good deal. A 2000 Caravan with a bad trany front main seal for $400. No rust, no body damage, no other problems

Melanie has been rubbing it in for the last hour.
Things like,
“You were a high-end car thief and you bought a looser cruiser.”
Well I was, in another life, long ago and far away.
Or
“I’m not driving that thing, it will spoil my image.”
She is a step grandmother for Christ sake. Amanda, our daughter just turned 21.

We have a farm, I thought it would be a good vehicle to pickup hay, feed with. Better mileage than either the Burban or Fiero. She could deliver animals in it rather than the Suburban.

I don’t know, did I make a mistake?

Have I crossed over?

Should I just fix it and turn it over for some quick cash?

I don’t know what to do.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

Steve,

Don't do that to me ! I was certain you had gone out and bought a Toyota and then I'd have to come to Maine and have you committed.

I personally won't buy a mini van. Ever. The wife might, but I won't. Lots of reasons why, but more important is many people have valid reasons for owning them and that's fine by me too. But to answer your question, yes, you are now a loser.

John Stricker

Should've gotten an olds silhouette and dropped an L67 into it.

quote Originally posted by jstricker: Steve, Don't do that to me ! I was certain you had gone out and bought a Toyota and then I'd have to come to Maine and have you committed. John Stricker

I knew i could depend on you John.

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

Steve's got a 'soccer mom' van. [ducks under desk]

If you can make use of it, keep it. If no one wants to be seen in it, you know what to do. It might make a good bullet trap.

quote Originally posted by kyunderdawg: Steve's got a 'soccer mom' van. [ducks under desk] If you can make use of it, keep it. If no one wants to be seen in it, you know what to do. It might make a good bullet trap.

Or goat house.
It would be a shame to do either, it is in excellent shape other than the trany seal. That is an easy fix really, if that is the only thing wrong. If the trany is toast it just might end up as a bullet trap, or goat house.

Duel sliding doors, no rear seats though. The doors and glass alone are worth what I paid for it.

Steve

------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

After seeing your post in marinefieros thread and mentioning the dark side there I thought you were going to say you were a lesbian. LOL. Just kidding. They are handy though. My wife is talking about 1. 2 kids a dog plus at the age we are transporting the kids and their friends everywhere could use the extra space ourselves. Thats why Im building up the 57 belair 4 door.

Isant it
mini van = becoming a parent
buick = old man?

[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 08-11-2009).]

quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: Isant it mini van = becoming a parent buick = old man?

No.
Vette=young man
mini van=parent.
Pickup truck=older parent.
vette=mid aged man.
Buick=old man.
Mini van=much older man with a wheelchair or handicapped scooter.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: No. Vette=young man mini van=parent. Pickup truck=older parent. vette=mid aged man. Buick=old man. Mini van=much older man with a wheelchair or handicapped scooter.

Where does the fiero fall into?

mini van's are good for two things, food hauling and passangers. anything else to me is a mistake, use a truck.


thats my view after working a lumberyard for three years and loading various vans with things that can fit but would be much better fit in a truck of some sort.


but buying and driving a van does not make you a looser. most of the time. lol

worse case senario looks good rolling down a big big hill.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: No. Vette=young man mini van=parent. Pickup truck=older parent. vette=mid aged man. Buick=old man. Mini van=much older man with a wheelchair or handicapped scooter.

Well seeing I have owned most of the above vehicles, not in that order, and still do own a couple of those vehicles.

Vette not young man mid 30’s
Minivan, now never before
Pickup truck=older parent, that one you got right
vette=mid aged man. See above
Buick=old man. Never owned a Buick
Mini van=much older man with a wheelchair or handicapped scooter.
Well no wheelchair yet, but I have considered the scooter thing.

Allways wanted to rewire one of those and run over all those other people in them at Wal Mart that have run over me with one.

quote Originally posted by HIOSILVER!: After seeing your post in marinefieros thread and mentioning the dark side there I thought you were going to say you were a lesbian. LOL. Just kidding.

hmmmmm

quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: Where does the fiero fall into?

Somewhere between the Vette and the mini van?

quote Originally posted by red84sematt: mini van's are good for two things, food hauling and passangers. anything else to me is a mistake, use a truck. thats my view after working a lumberyard for three years and loading various vans with things that can fit but would be much better fit in a truck of some sort. but buying and driving a van does not make you a looser. most of the time. lol worse case senario looks good rolling down a big big hill.

If a full size sheet of plywood fit in it and I can close the doors I just may keep it. Hell I just may keep it and turn it into a bullet trap like kyunderdawg suggested. Or a goat house, I think the wife would prefer either of those rather than driving it.

Any other ideas.

Steve
------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 08-11-2009).]

Steve,
It won't be so bad going after the groceries in it, there is quite a bit of room in them but, I think it's a rule somewhere that you have to wear those really funky shoes all house wives tend to wear and you'll have to put your hair up in curlers when ever you go out in it. I've heard they are quite a bit of work to prep for the mini-van mom shows, all that detailing to get the puke cleaned up off the carpet inside but, I'm told that if you use enough Febreeze that you can get most of the smell out. It just won't come off of the driver/owner. That's permanent.


Then again, you can proudly sit at the light and rev your motor at all the other jealous folks that really want to trade their Vettes, Vipers and Stangs for your mini-van. BTW, have you decided on a color for your toe nail polish? Though I hate admitting it, John Stricker is right.

Don't consider those pointing and grinning at you as any kind of assault on your manhood, they are probably just pointing out the fact that you've discovered your feminine side.

Ron

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 08-11-2009).]

Say what you will about a mini-van, but my Chevy Astro is hands down the most versatile vehicle I have ever owned.

I own 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan (rather my wife does).It has a 3.8 V6.At 105,000 miles I changed the oil,had the alignment done and made sure the tire inflation was right.I stopped at Cooter's in Alabama (he has built a kick ass minivan with a 4.5 Caddy and called it his sliding door sports car)on my way to see my son in Arizona.It was 5600 miles round trip.I used less than 2 quarts of oil and got about 24 mpg.I averaged about 60 mph !
I am 69 years old and soon will be a great grandfather.I owned a 74 Vette with a 454 that got 8 mpg.My BUICK GRAND NATIONAL(Witch I still have) gets over 20 mpg and would blow the Vette's doors off ! I have lots of performance cars,that shows how much inner age (I'm 18 inside) means as opposed to actual age.

a list of cars I currently own.
1987 Grand National
1970 Chevelle(916 Cubic inch)
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan
1988 Fiero GT w/3800SC
1987 Fiero GT Turbo 383(in signature) will be done soon !
V6 BUICK powered rear engine (about 600 hp) dragster
2005 Astro van to pull aluminum trailer

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#1112
Question my ability,question my intelligence,never question my integrity!
87drivetrain http://fieroaddiction.com/SBCTa.html

Here we go!!!! The Loser Cruiser is now here. I am not the yuppy soccermom. I drive the Suburban and Fiero. I guess Steve will have a new home(lol). Melanie

quote Originally posted by jstricker: Steve, Don't do that to me ! I was certain you had gone out and bought a Toyota and then I'd have to come to Maine and have you committed.

I thought he was going to tell us he turned in his union card.

Jim

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: Here we go!!!! The Loser Cruiser is now here. I am not the yuppy soccermom. I drive the Suburban and Fiero. I guess Steve will have a new home(lol). Melanie

Well I guess I’ll be liven in the Minivan down by the river now.

quote Originally posted by jimbolaya: I thought he was going to tell us he turned in his union card. Jim

NEVER!

Steve

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 08-11-2009).]

No, Steve, there's still hope...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntbsg_frgP8

quote Originally posted by jimbolaya: I thought he was going to tell us he turned in his union card. Jim

Is this another way of saying "man card"?

Steve, if you get the scooter have KurtAKX build you a forced induction scooter.....that'll get people outa your way.

One of the girls who used to work at the restaurant now has 5 kids and drove an Expedition. Ive tried to convince her for years she needed a minivan. NO WAY shed be seen in one. Finally took a test drive and bought one...........loves it now. I just smile and say told ya so. For interior room in a compact package theres no way it can be beat. Try to go family camping or carry a bunch of lumber in your cavalier thats about the same outside size.

hmpf...I like most Minivans

but, about the only vehicles I DONT like are Pontiac Aztecs & them stupid Citroens that look like pancaked VW Bugs

I even like woody station wagons.....ug

I've always said--"If you want a 4wd, buy from the guys that made them famous. Jeep."

So, if you're gonna own a minivan, I guess the same holds true. Caravan was possibly/probably the best selling minivan ever, so they evidently got it correct right out the gate.
I've never owned one, as I've almost always lived where a pickup truck was much more useful.

I'm sorry.

Well I know all is in jest, at least some of the ribbing. My buddy came over today that has had them, Caravans and Astros for years and said it was great.

It’s the Grand Caravan SE so it is loaded. And may even have the required room for a sheet of plywood. 3.8 engine that purrs like a kitten.

We already have the Suburban for hauling the horse trailer around and any real bad snow storms up here in the winter. I just couldn’t take another winter in the one wheel drive wonders, the full size Ford vans we have. Besides the rust was getting to me, or should I say getting ahead of me. They are both 80’s vans and have seen better days.

Problem is now I have 2 great running 300 in line 6’s. One I just rebuilt a couple of years ago. So now I guess I will have to look for a Ford pickup with 4 wheel drive and the 6 in it.

Thanks guys, I love the good natured ribbing.

Steve

------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

Mini-vans are like playboy magazine...

"Everybody reads it, but does not want to be caught having it."

you cant put a full 4x8 sheet in, but close...tie the tailgate down. I towed my car hauler with it with 3.8