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Is a minivan really "uncool"????

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Aron9000, Nov 23, 2018.

  1. Nov 23, 2018 at 11:53 PM
    #1
    Aron9000

    Aron9000 [OP] New Member

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    Bit of explanation as to why my brother in law(Bill) ended up driving an old 2003 Honda Odyssey with 285,000 miles on it. And why it was our road trip vehicle of choice this Thanksgiving.

    Well my sister and her husband had not planned on having a child at this point their lives, they really love each other and have a rock solid relationship, just financially he was going back to school to get a doctorate, oops, she became pregnant, you know all the sudden $$$ is tight.

    Father in law gave Mr Bill his old 2nd hand car, a 2000 Toyota Avalon with a bunch of miles, I think it had like 280,000 when it met its maker.

    Somebody pulled out in front of Mr Bill, he couldn't stop, the 2000 Avalon was toast. Totaled out.

    Yet the guy across the street from my dad(Bill's father in law) was selling a 2003 Honda Odessey van. It had 285,000 miles on it, yet the interior looked like damn fucking new. They bought it new 15 years ago, always maintained it at the dealer, it had a new transmission at 200k, there was a stack of service reciepts with this van.


    I was skeptical about this van, until I looked at it. The interior looked like a damn brand new van, like it had never been sat it, no stains, it was clean as hell.

    We drove it on a damn long round trip, 800 miles total without a single fault. That Honda is a damn good van.

    I really didn't like minivans until I had a long ass trip in one, man I am convert.
     
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  2. Nov 24, 2018 at 12:01 AM
    #2
    Thegr8punkin

    Thegr8punkin A G.D.M/Sofa King Cool/COTJ's dreamboat

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    I guess depends on your definition of cool. As a 22 single guy, the majority of mini vans don't appeal to me. Although, the 90s Toyota Previa with the super charger factory and awd are neat.

    They are good for the family and as you said good on road trips. But as for me, I'll stick with my 2 seaters and rock crawlers for now
     
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  3. Nov 24, 2018 at 12:13 AM
    #3
    Aron9000

    Aron9000 [OP] New Member

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    I really didn't get the minivan thing until we did a really long road trip in that old 2003 Honda Odyssey, man that van was comfortable, lots of room, if you have a little kid it makes total sense. My brother in law Bill wasn't real keen on the van, it was kind of from his father in law "hey this is a really nice cash van, you are not going to find anything nicer for $2000 that is one owner with a stack of service receipts"

    After driving it for the past 2-3 weeks, after the 700 mile road trip, Mr Bill(my brother in law) thinks the Honda Odyssey is the shit. He is really sold on the practicality and room in this old van, he told me he is going to drive it into the ground. He also told me after this van craps out, he wants another van.
     
  4. Nov 24, 2018 at 12:16 AM
    #4
    Thegr8punkin

    Thegr8punkin A G.D.M/Sofa King Cool/COTJ's dreamboat

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    #vanlyfe

    Most people love having a van after having them. But until I have one, they are for a family man
     
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  5. Nov 24, 2018 at 12:24 AM
    #5
    Aron9000

    Aron9000 [OP] New Member

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    Yeah unless you have a little baby, the van life isn't for you. My brother in law is just tinkled pink how damn practical the van is for his little boy, we had a really awesome road trip this thanksgiving in the old 2003 Honda Odyssey with 285k on the clock.

    What's crazy is that this van feels A LOT newer/less worn out than the 2000 Toyota Avalon our family owned since new that had 280k on the clock. That Toyota Avalon ran like a new car as well though before it was involved in that accident that totaled it out.
     
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  6. Nov 24, 2018 at 5:01 AM
    #6
    Dabutcher

    Dabutcher New Member

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    I have owned three Siennas and a Previa van. Negative stigma never really bothered me. Great for the family and dogs. Ultra reliable. Great engine with lots of power. Average 21 mpg. Great JBL stereos. You can haul a bunch of stuff no problem. Odyssey vans are legendary for people loving them. 2000 -2013 are notorious for transmission failures. So much though they increased the warranty on transmissions to over 100 K from 36 K.
    Plus you can haul big ass speakers home when your wife is out of town!
    Love yours, D

    874E9CB7-D2B5-4818-9AF4-220AF8C93802.jpg
     
  7. Nov 24, 2018 at 5:14 AM
    #7
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Drove a Toyota minivan during my 4+ years in Japan. Millions did actually. Small roads. I used to load that thing up with Marines,, camping gear stowed on top. Drove it all over the place. Not much power but served it's purpose admirably.
     
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  8. Nov 24, 2018 at 6:22 AM
    #8
    dragos28

    dragos28 New Member

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    I think the honda odyssey is an amazing minivan. we are borrowing one from our friends since we are in the process of moving i had my wife's lexus shipped to our new state.
    we've used their minivan a few times before and i would have no problem owning one. but i wouldnt give up my tundra for it.. lol... but i would swap my wife's lexus in a heartbeat for it.. she wouldnt though lol
     
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  9. Nov 24, 2018 at 7:13 AM
    #9
    Outbound

    Outbound SSEM #2.5, Token AmeriCanadian

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    I get the practicality and they work for most people. Quite a few friends and family members have them. I can't stand driving them though and I've never felt comfortable in vans as a passenger. Personally, I'd rather have a used Sequoia, Tahoe or Suburban. My dad had a '93 Suburban as our family vehicle when I was a kid. Insanely comfortable, lots of power and capability and more than enough room.
     
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  10. Nov 24, 2018 at 7:17 AM
    #10
    Jimes

    Jimes New Member

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    There’s some sweet Honda odyssey’s by my house all tricked out lowered with bags and body kit and rims. Looks sick actually. And I loved my 91 Chevy Astro van. If the vans a rocking don’t come knocking. Lol. My van had 4 12” alpine type x woofers and four 1000 watt rms ampsfor the subs and two alpine digital 5 channel amps for the highs. Stock everything else though. Shit was ridiculous. But vans are fun to mess around in.
     
  11. Nov 24, 2018 at 8:07 AM
    #11
    Blueknights75

    Blueknights75 040 IS THE FASTEST

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    YES, YES and YES!
     
  12. Nov 24, 2018 at 8:10 AM
    #12
    Jimes

    Jimes New Member

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    6776C2F4-9CF8-4D12-9302-68AFC985D684.jpg
     
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  13. Nov 24, 2018 at 8:13 AM
    #13
    Jimes

    Jimes New Member

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  14. Nov 24, 2018 at 8:16 AM
    #14
    computeruser6

    computeruser6 Gott Mit Uns

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  15. Nov 24, 2018 at 8:53 AM
    #15
    BestGen

    BestGen Free Kyle!

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    Yes, they are 'uncool'. At least the soccer mom versions. Not that they aren't great vehicles, just never cool. There are some cool minivans out there tho... :thumbsup:IMG_2565.jpg
     
  16. Nov 24, 2018 at 9:32 AM
    #16
    JoshuaA

    JoshuaA Canuck Member

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    We had an Ody before the Tundra, dad-life vehicle, great when the kids were small, auto sliding doors, rear entertainment with headphones, nice people mover, could put the family of 4 in and fit the grandparents too. Stow the seats and you basically had the room of a truck bed with a cap, can't haul heavy but you could fit drywall and small furniture inside.

    Wasn't so much cool as practical. Funny enough, drive a minivan to your kids' outdoor activities, get MILFs talking to you, drive a badass truck, it's a sausage fest.
     
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  17. Nov 24, 2018 at 9:37 AM
    #17
    Taco-Blender

    Taco-Blender Old Guys Rule

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    We owned a '91 Nissan Quest for quite some time when our kids were younger. Road tripped the crap out of it. It served its purpose and we no longer own it and I'm grateful. I hated driving that thing.
     
  18. Nov 24, 2018 at 12:17 PM
    #18
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    We have had 4 minivans over the last 20 years. We have had SUVs and of course trucks also. The minivans are by far the most practical family vehicles. The ride soft like a car but you sit high like in the truck. We always over loaded it because there was so much room and we just kept adding more crap, but they handled the load like a champ. One Odyssey had more than 200k miles and another was traded at 180k, both without any issues.
     
  19. Nov 24, 2018 at 1:05 PM
    #19
    aRabidLunatic

    aRabidLunatic Professional Hobo

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    We have an 18 odyssey. Mid level I think. That van is awesome for long trips. I like driving the Tundra but the van beats it in comfort for extended trips. Plus once you fold the back seats and remove the middle ones there is a ton of cargo space. I loaded a dress into our van with no issues.

    Edit: as mentioned above, who cares what others think. Drive what you want
     
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  20. Nov 24, 2018 at 2:38 PM
    #20
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Minivans have there place. They are very nice to have when traveling. I’ve used one in HI, Germany, Austria, and group snowboarding trips.

    Would I own one? No. My wife clearly stated before we got married “no station wagons or minivans...ever.” Happy wife, happy life....
     
  21. Nov 24, 2018 at 5:31 PM
    #21
    Twinky

    Twinky Keep the shinny side up!

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    Imo, id think cool would depend on where you are going in it.
    Night club, not cool.
    Walmart, really doesnt matter what you drive there.
     
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  22. Nov 24, 2018 at 6:22 PM
    #22
    equin

    equin Texarican Tundra

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    Interesting thread. My Mom once had two fullsize GMC 1500 conversion vans in the 80’s and 90’s. They were tall, but the relatively shorter wheelbase made them fairly maneuverable, much more so than my Tundra double-cab. They were very comfy and roomy inside and my daughter and nieces loved riding in them. Out of curiosity, this thread prompted me to price new ones, and wow - very expensive! Much more so than a base Odyssey or Sienna.

    I have no experience with the Odyssey or Sienna, though. I’m wondering which one is better than the other?
     
  23. Nov 24, 2018 at 6:27 PM
    #23
    Jengel451

    Jengel451 Misanthropist

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    Friends dont let friends drive mini-vans. For all of you justifying one; whatever gets you to sleep at night. ;)
     
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  24. Nov 24, 2018 at 6:42 PM
    #24
    TRD-tv

    TRD-tv Menace2Ohio

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    It's more than uncool. Get a CM
     
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  25. Nov 24, 2018 at 7:09 PM
    #25
    lionix

    lionix The Grey Moose!

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  26. Nov 25, 2018 at 12:36 PM
    #26
    Boosted4runner

    Boosted4runner Join the NRA please.

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    This is my wife as well.
    Most of our friends have them. We only have 2 kids, so we’ve figured out how to make the 3rd row Pathfinder and Tundra DC work.
    To answer the question, yea not really cool lol.
    My buddy with an oddesey stuck the cross bars up top and a Yakima Carbonite box, and it looks 100X better in my opinion lol.
    The same buddy also has a Ferd off-road van with 35’s and Dana 60’s - converted. It’s badass! lol

    0AF36BBE-8891-4A83-961B-2EC5973E2F9D.jpg

    DB171D6C-0117-404F-90A6-9DB040F33C76.jpg
     
  27. Nov 25, 2018 at 1:28 PM
    #27
    OBXTundra

    OBXTundra Member

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    I like the full size vans. That ford adventure rig is awesome. I look for local Quigley conversions when I'm bored. Ford E350's with a solid axle up front are a dream vehicle for me.

    The Chevy Express 3500 has impressive payload and towing as well.
     
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  28. Nov 25, 2018 at 1:32 PM
    #28
    Boosted4runner

    Boosted4runner Join the NRA please.

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    Yea, I think it’s a Ford E350 with V10 Triton.
    It was a 2WD he picked up from CA (clean) and shipped up to WA and then had the 4wd conversion done. Another shop did the interior build, which is amazing. I don’t think I have any interior pics, but sink, fridge, outside shower, it’s pretty sweet.
    I’d rock it for sure :)
     
  29. Nov 25, 2018 at 1:43 PM
    #29
    Jengel451

    Jengel451 Misanthropist

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    Full size is ok, even better, an 80's GMC shorty with side pipes. The only acceptable Mini-Van would be a VW Vanagon Syncro. But those are REALLY tough to find on the open market.
     
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  30. Nov 25, 2018 at 8:53 PM
    #30
    Aron9000

    Aron9000 [OP] New Member

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    Another thing I like about the 2nd gen Honda Odyssey, it has an honest style about it. Yes its boxy, but it embraces it, its no nonsense, there aren't any frivolous lines on it, it looks like a damn boxy van that a 4th grader would draw, yet the lines are crisp, clean, modern, tons of glass with great visibility.

    There isn't a single damn curve on that van, unlike the blob Chrysler vans of that era which I think look like a steaming pile of dog shit. I really do respect the angular/box styling of this van, it isn't trying to look like something its not.
     
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