Slightly turbocharged.... LOL! I am going to steal that for sure!
The MASI 16v powered 1990 dodge Caribou is about ready to be unleashed.... 
I don't think I could convince the wife it needs to be the family daily though...
My school has a small army of Caravans and Town & Country's that they rent from Enterprise.
We take them for weekend trips when we go to regattas and we also take them for spring break. Stow 'n go has been a big help. The V6's also have some giddy up for all the lead foots on the team. Even when averaging 75+, we can still manage 24 MPG with vans barely out of break in period.
With that budget... ChryCo first.
I'm unsure of what that will get you with an Oddy.
I would also look into a Freestar.
Otherwise, I would just look at all options in your budget and see what you like. I'm not aware of any that you should run away from screaming. I think the SUV nose last gen GM vans are supposed to be easy to work on under the hood, compared to a more traditional mini vans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_CX-7
my friend has one of these and it's actually a decent car. I don't know much about them though unfortunately i'm sure someone here could.
his has turbo and awd but is auto, don't know if they offer a manual if thats what you want but wiki claims that it exists (probably not usdm)
However there are turbo, awd, manual subaru foresters and legacy wagons. Foresters are smaller so minivan or suv there?
edit: http://s294.photobucket.com/user/uhmealyuh/library/Jens%20Fsti?sort=3&page=1 this girl does hpdes and autox with her forester, lol
MINIzguy wrote: My school has a small army of Caravans and Town & Country's that they rent from Enterprise. We take them for weekend trips when we go to regattas and we also take them for spring break. Stow 'n go has been a big help. The V6's also have some giddy up for all the lead foots on the team. Even when averaging 75+, we can still manage 24 MPG with vans barely out of break in period.
What ya racing?
I am thinking about eating into the van budget to do Hobie 16 Nationals next week.
So the question remains... of the 05 up Mopar vans... any of the generations better than the other? and engines/features to avoid? ect?
ronholm wrote:MINIzguy wrote: My school has a small army of Caravans and Town & Country's that they rent from Enterprise. We take them for weekend trips when we go to regattas and we also take them for spring break. Stow 'n go has been a big help. The V6's also have some giddy up for all the lead foots on the team. Even when averaging 75+, we can still manage 24 MPG with vans barely out of break in period.What ya racing? I am thinking about eating into the van budget to do Hobie 16 Nationals next week. So the question remains... of the 05 up Mopar vans... any of the generations better than the other? and engines/features to avoid? ect?
Get a Pentastar, I think it's 2011 and up. Better engine, more power, better economy, better six(ish) speed transmission.
pontiac transport + sawzall = awesome 
ronholm wrote: What ya racing? I am thinking about eating into the van budget to do Hobie 16 Nationals next week. So the question remains... of the 05 up Mopar vans... any of the generations better than the other? and engines/features to avoid? ect?
I'm a rower.
After driving these vans for 2 years, I would look at no other choices. The school ends up putting 10k miles on them in a semester, and I have never been in one that rattled or gave any problems. The power doors and tailgate all work, even with college kids that have no regard for burning out the motors with cramming too much into these vans.
I especially love the newer T&C's as they give you the useless but cool oil temperature, pressure and coolant temperature readings. Most of the sports cars I've driven don't even give me that much crucial information, yet this van has it.
My understanding is all pentastars have the 3800lb towing capacity. I would try for 2011+. When it is time in a few years that's my plan.
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