Minivans vs carseats

Lots of reading to get to this point.. but none of my opinions changed

First off, if you already have a volvo wagon and you think the PT is too small, DO NOT get a mazda5. Its space advantages over what you already have are dubious AT BEST. Id also take the Rondo right off the list for pretty much the same reason, to a slightly lesser extent. I think that MPVs could still be considered but also borderline. You need a FULL SIZE MINIVAN!! IMO the mazda5, mpv, and rondo are NOT even close to the same size category as a Grand Caravan.

You want the Grand Caravan for many reasons: It is cheap It is HUGE on the inside It is really really reliable (as long as the PO didnt abuse the tranny). It is fairly cheap and easy to work on (including rear plugs AND rebuilding the trans, in the grand scheme of things..) It is extremely versatile on the inside. It can carry a roof cargo box, a hitch tray, and even tow small things (3000lbs is my record with a grand caravan).

Get one with 2 benches. They are interchangeable and thats a big bonus. Having the 3-across seat in the middle gives you crazy legroom and room for 3 across with a HUGE cargo area in the back. Skip on the captains chairs. Not only do you lose a seating position but rear-seat access becomes more annoying imo. Get one with a roof rack or a hitch or both. There is some cause to be concerned if the PO towed with it, but there's no reason YOU shouldnt install a hitch yourself, because then you can use hitch trays and pull broken cars around your yard with the hitch's safety chain loops. It would also handle a popup camper or a small cargo or utility trailer just fine! The rear plugs on the 3.3/3.8s are only hard if you have fat arms, no wobble tools, and cant take a little pain! If you really dont want to deal with the slight annoyance, get a 3.0 model. The rear plug access on those is much easier and power is still adequate (and more easily improved if you're into modding your minivan).

The main thing i would look at with a used caravan is a TRANSMISSION COOLER. If it doesnt have one, i would be worried. Any fluid changes on top of that are nice but really it takes a LOT of fluid changes to equal the benefit of just having a trans cooler. I think i changed the fluid in my parents' 97 GC twice.. it made it to 204k (with a cooler from day one) before the seals in the trans got hard and it started acting up when cold. I rebuilt it myself, replaced no hard parts, and it was still kicking just fine at 240k when they traded it in on cash for clunkers. As a person who has rebuilt transmissions for a living at one point, i really like the 604 trans in the vans, but you HAVE to have a cooler on it. PERIOD! I think overall its a better design than the 700/4l60 you get in the Astro, which you can treat like a princess and it will STILL break the sun shell on you for no damn reason and pop up with other weird issues like the boost valve that you never run into on a 604.

Has anyone mentioned Grand Caravan?

Screw this, lets see some pics of the volvo wagon.

OK folks, I am back again. #3 has been identified as a boy (three in a row), so everything is more real now. I am back to this decision. My wife and I have thought about a completely different direction.

A diesel Suburban would fit all of the kids, cost less than nearly any decent minivan, and get better mileage than anything but a Freestyle, a Mazda 5 and a few select others that are way out of price range (now about 4-5k). Some of the earlier generation 6.2s have been as high as 24, with 22 being more typical on the highway. The 6.5 TD is typically more like 20, which is very much in line with the average not mini minivan. The Astro doesn't even do that well. The Suburban could also tow, and parts are easy to find. Other than the diesel quirckiness, the benefits are enormous. I can run off of veggie oil (making it Zombie resistant) and the lions share of the mechanical stuff is easy. What say you?

I am adding more stuff since I was kind of forced to end my post prematurely.

I know the 6.2 is slow, I know they were available with a Banks kit (although I don't know about the reliability of it 20-30 years later).

I know about relocating the PMD on the 6.5.

I don't know about the feasibility of converting one to a manual (like the A833 that I put in my 72 truck that came from an 80's diesel pickup) or the reliability of the 700-R4 through various years. I can rebuild them, but am not sure on the stock reliability.

I also haven't done a ton of research on the veggie oil, but all aspects seem positive so far.

Oh, and obviously the mileage and year requirements have been relaxed somewhat.

Got a Freestyle - like it a lot so far.