Minivan Madness

IMO, sliding rear doors qualify as a van to me, and I tried so hard to get my wife to like a five, but the minivan stigma got to her, so now we have an escape. :(

Nitroracer wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: Honda Odessey + TL gearbox + go fast parts.

I'm pretty sure Honda's racing guys have built one of these. Along with the rwd Element.

Yup, and it did quite well @ OLOA (1st SUV IIRC)

Of course they threw a GT35 on it too.

The vw engines don't bolt up to the van transaxle. The only vw bolt pattern ones are in early omnis and o24s, and not at all common anymore. That also means you are stuck with an automatic if you are making much more than 150 hp, the 5 speed is not very strong. I don't think a 4g63 works either, but there may be a way to do it.

Pat wrote: I think calling a Mazda 5 a minivan is a stretch...it's no more than a swollen 3. I looked at one and if you're really looking for a minivan, this is not the car for you. If you're looking for something slightly bigger than a Caliper, then the Mazda may work out.

The Mazda5 is identical dimensions to the original 3-row Grand Caravan. The 5 is the only actual minivan left, all of the others became 4000+ Lb full-size monsters that just happen to have FWD.

And when we were shopping we looked at a Caliber (what a giant pile of poo that car was BTW) and it can barely hold 2 car seats, and that was with the front seats smooshed up into the dashboard. The size difference is not even close.

This! Some one read my mind

ValuePack wrote: I wet myself a bit. More.

Javelin wrote: The Mazda5 is identical dimensions to the original 3-row Grand Caravan. The 5 is the only actual *mini*van left, all of the others became 4000+ Lb full-size monsters that just happen to have FWD.

He's right, a new 'mini' van is HUGE.

I'm seeing what look like similar dimensions with a more cramped interior in the "minivan". For the money, I'd take the full size van.

I think they should be called "Aero Vans"

I for one find the full size vans more useful than a mini van, the mileage is a bit worse granted, but they can carry lumber/gardening supplies with ease, can fit in some but not all parking spaces and can tow your car/or boat as well as any pickup truck. Not to mention they seem to be on the chaper side when you are looking on the used markey.

Vigo wrote:

Now, I had the awesomest minivan a few years back. Ralph Gilles built it. It was a 1999 SWB. He swapped in a warmed-over 3.8L, LSD, lowered 3" in back, 2" in front etc. That thing would whoop a 4.6L Mustang GT and zinged to 7,000 rpm QUICK. When he had it (before I got it) it had Viper brakes, seats, wheels and tires too. I've tried to find it on the internet but I can't GRM had a little blurb about it in the mag as part of 1-Lap coverage and another mag did a whole article but I can't remember what mag it was.

You owned this thing?

Yeah, sure did. When I got it it didn't have the viper seats or brakes/wheels/tires. The wheels and tires were 17's with summer rubber. Seriously, that thing was bad a$$. With the LSD it'd lay two 20' rubber strips and sounded GREAT.
Now that it's gone I'm kicking myself. My wife heard a clunk in the front end so I went to have a look-see and the strut towers were rotted, totally. I told my wife we should fix it because I thought Ralph was going places and it might be worth a little something some day. We also didn't know that Chrysler was fixing all these strut towers under warranty so I sold it. My wife wanted the LWB model, ABS and traction control so just like any other man that wants to get laid, I gave it.
So, now when we are driving our anemic, ill-handling 05 Grand Caravan I make cool engine noises and pretend the tires are squeeling 25 mph later

DrBoost wrote: So, now when we are driving our anemic, ill-handling 05 Grand Caravan I make cool engine noises and pretend the tires are squeeling 25 mph later

This is the funniest thing I have read in weeks!!!! I think it is because I can compleetly relate.

I never noticed this before but the photos of the odyssey make it "look" like you could actually get at the motor and work on it. Is the Mazda5 the same? With the longer sloping hood access looks much better than many of the early ones that have the motor basically tucked between the foot wells of front seats.

The 5 has great engine access. The hood opening is barely smaller than the 3. I'm getting ready to do the 75K mile service on mine next week, I'll let you know how it goes.

The vw engines don't bolt up to the van transaxle. The only vw bolt pattern ones are in early omnis and o24s, and not at all common anymore. That also means you are stuck with an automatic if you are making much more than 150 hp, the 5 speed is not very strong. I don't think a 4g63 works either, but there may be a way to do it.

My post only stated that any trans that was put in a K-car (or L-body) can be easily swapped into a van. You are correct that a vw-pattern tranny was never sold in a van. If you want to hear my thoughts about the 4g63, shoot me an email: Vigo327@gmail.com
I am parting an old eclipse in the next few weeks so a bit of mockup will give confirmation. But, the OP does not seem interested in a caravan swap so far, so i will stop there..

dean1484 wrote: This is the funniest thing I have read in weeks!!!! I think it is because I can compleetly relate.

Really? 'Cause I found this amusing:

My wife wanted the LWB model, ABS and traction control so just like any other man that wants to get laid, I gave it.

We all know he still isn't getting any

I just was not going to touch that one. But yes very funny!!!!

HiTempguy wrote:

dean1484 wrote: This is the funniest thing I have read in weeks!!!! I think it is because I can compleetly relate.

Really? 'Cause I found this amusing:

My wife wanted the LWB model, ABS and traction control so just like any other man that wants to get laid, I gave it.

We all know he still isn't getting any

If I could have swung it this would have been my choice for a Minivan.

I know I'm a page late, but here's my .02 on the Mazda 5: We love ours, but it's SLOWWWW. On paper, the 2.3 is pretty torquey, but on the road, under 3300 lbs of Mazda, it's pretty useless below 4000 revs or so.
We knew it was slow when we first test drove it. We still bought it. It's remarkably fun to drive though.

If I could have swung it this would have been my choice for a Minivan.

The resale value on those things is unholy. I saw a 4yr old R350 listed for $57k yesterday.

But i agree it is the most badass minivan i currently know of. My only exposure to one has been sitting in one at a car show, but that was enough for me to know it was the coolest van i had ever seen.

In reply to Vigo:

We ended up with an 06 R350. The sticker was 65K and some change and we got it for right at 20K last year. It has been very nice so far, but nothing has broken on it yet.

Unfortunately the AMG one is holding its value better, but I really like the thought of a 500hp all wheel drive minivan.

That's not a minivan, it's a wagon. Minivans have sliding doors.

While that may be true, my wife HATES minivans so I have fun calling it that just to watch the fireworks.

I tried to convince my wife to let me do this with our Odyssey:

She said no... something about not wanting a supercharger or a 6 speed manual with clutch... so soccer mom of her.

Not really a Minivan but I want a replica of the A-Team van with LSx.

We ended up with an 06 R350. The sticker was 65K and some change and we got it for right at 20K last year. It has been very nice so far, but nothing has broken on it yet.

20k sounds a lot more reasonable. I like that the AMG exists but id never buy it.. Put me in line for an r320 CDI.