Just want to see how many dudes are rollin in the soccer mobile.
Screaming Mimi
04-08-2009, 09:57 PM
Doubt I 'll have pics until it is done, but I am customizing it for a Scuba van...
Ram3500Dually
04-08-2009, 10:06 PM
I drove my "caravan" for 420KM till I threw a rod in 1994 and put it in storage. I took it out 2 years ago and put a new engine in it and gave it to my 16 year old daughter to drive. This is still the original paint from October 1983 :)
top fuel sxt
04-10-2009, 08:35 AM
2008 SXT here. I'm in sales and drive it all over the state. Wife will get it handed down to her in another two years. I've come to enjoy its space, ride and comfort.
And the XM radio's grown on me too. Great ride.
No it's not lifted, lowered or blown.
cmns2500
04-10-2009, 08:42 AM
i'd drive that lifted one;D
and, JCO, i see that you ain't Dave Chapelle no more:thatfunny
mojoman
04-10-2009, 06:11 PM
Stole mines sorry.
vipergg
04-11-2009, 09:47 PM
2007 SWB SXT Caravan . Where else can you get a vehicle that size that rides as nice and gets good mileage for $18000 out the door !!!!!!!!!!!
doobiess
04-12-2009, 05:44 PM
lol i got mine for 900$ fixed all its issues for 100$ now its worth 3200 and could make profit in less than a month. where can i get a vehicle that can carry sheets of drywall and look more cool than truck..... right here at my caravan
0212353
04-12-2009, 05:57 PM
Wife has a 07 Grand Caravan SXT Special Edition (stupid ass badge that came with leather, sunroof and DVD). It has a great ride, nice fuel economy and its great for our 4 year old. Traded a 2002 Explorer on it. Good move. Never thought I would like a minivan over an SUV - but its a muh better vehicle.
Square
04-13-2009, 11:05 AM
My wife came into my life with a 1995 SWB Caravan. I knew nothing about minivans before this one. I bought her a new Mazda Tribute in 2005 and the Caravan became my utility vehicle. My daily driver is a 1986 Corvette, but I have come to love the Caravan for it's ability to haul cargo or people and get good fuel economy. It just crossed 200,000 miles and still gets 19MPG city and 25MPG highway from the 3.0 V6. It isn't very stylish, but it is extreemly good at what it does.
mikemass
04-14-2009, 02:20 AM
I have driven a number of different vehicles from full size, lifted 4x4 pickups, to a little ranger, to station wagons, Toyota Celica, and some vintage cars (not that I'm THAT old...), and the old caravan has GOT to be the most versatile vehicle that I've driven. My wife was driving it, but when the brain went (thereby no dash) and a rodent chewed on a heater bypass hose, we cracked a head. She got a brand new 2005 Altima, and after the repairs were made, I started driving the van full time. With 230,000+ miles on it, some little things are beginning to go wrong. But hey, it's a 1998, and has hauled practically everything from plywood, sheetrock, cement board, cement, lumber, firewood, people, you name it, many times overloaded. We got it used, and it was occassionally used as the "unofficial Borrego Springs ambulance." I've been wanting a truck, but I may just replace the van with another one.
sawbones25
05-07-2009, 10:08 AM
When my twin daughters were born 5 years ago I set out to find an Explorer to carry all the car seats, toys, strollers, etc. A friend of mine kept telling me to look at the Caravans, as he had been driving one for many years and praised its practicality. I thought, like most guys do, there is no way in hell I'm driving a minivan...
Anyway, long story short, 5 years later I'm still driving the 1997 Grand Caravan I bought and I love trying to sell other non-believers on them...
KrowleyRock
05-07-2009, 08:12 PM
i was given my 2000 grand caravan SE by my father (who, believe it or not, is also a man) when my honda accord crapped out. he has had caravans or plymouth voyagers since i can remember, so probably the past 20 years or so (im 23). i took out the middle seat for better fuel mileage, and a limo type feel, not to mention a good place to chill when i have some time to kill but not enough to go home, after the addition of some pillows and blankets. after a small aftermarket stereo kit and a rearview mirror lined with skulls were added, it has been dubbed The Van of Doom! just cracked 190K, and it is starting to feel weaker every month. i don't think it will be with us much longer.
vabear
05-08-2009, 08:33 AM
All of us with no image to protect. I have been cruising in mini-vans since 1992.
KrowleyRock
05-08-2009, 05:53 PM
All of us with no image to protect. I have been cruising in mini-vans since 1992.
on the contrary, actually, my van has become a part of my image. 23 year old male, long hair, beard, musician. people see it like this: my bike is for getting around, and my van is for hauling equipment or all my friends to the party, or it becomes the place for the party.
get lemons, make lemonade. throughout history, vans have been acquired because of no other choice, and made awesome.
cmns2500
05-08-2009, 06:28 PM
ok, all these vans sound schweet, so:D
:postpics:
;D
0212353
05-08-2009, 09:11 PM
CJ, you are crazy...........but yeah - here are some pics of our van (with my truck!)
These pics are a bit old (well the van looks exactly the same). This was before the trailer tow mirrors and the truck is at stock height here.
I have a 96 Caravan battered but still servicable and rides nice. No major issues to date. 114,000 miles. I can't afford an "image", so I keep driving it. As a weekend country musician, it is perfect. And alas, another member of the band also has one! (We are both Vietnam Era vets..)
03 2500hemi
05-18-2009, 10:30 PM
the wife wanted a mini van for the longest time. i fought her tooth and nail over it for years. then i just caved. i thought what the hell do i care i dont drive her car anyway. so we got a 06 with 15 miles on it. its been a good vehicle. its got 73k on it ive had to changer the egr once and i keep gettin a vaccum leak code.
other than that its been good. shes been rough on it too. lets see shes blown the nose apart once. basicly jumped it once too. totally exploded right side rims along with a few other goodies. who says you cant run over a 18" tall rock sticking straight outta the ground!
i got a 69 charger my wife musta been thinking she was driving the general lee and that it would be fine when it landed. she wonders why she cant drive my car :)
dirtmover
05-19-2009, 12:01 PM
For versatility and cost of ownership it simply can't be beat. If I could have only one vehicle it would be a Caravan.
Fortunately I don't have to have only one vehicle :cool:
vandamn
05-19-2009, 05:19 PM
A daily driven 2000 Caravan, on the weekend I drive my Mach1. :rck:
Diablo-Pball
05-23-2009, 12:51 AM
I'm 17 and drive a 97 3.3L caravan, and I love my baby. I've had a few problems (code 43 keeps popping up, so I'm changing the spark plugs and wires tomorrow) but she runs smoothly, is a tank, and I can fit a bunch of my friends in her.
reddot
05-23-2009, 02:51 AM
One of my first rides(really my parents but its what I started driving) was a 1985 caravan. made that same year I was born. :laugh: And I even crusied for chicks in it. :D
B1G BLEU
05-25-2009, 06:13 AM
I drive the white one for work, the red one for the family, and the D for cruisin'!
yukon3506
05-26-2009, 09:25 PM
My wife has a 08 grand caravan sxt with the 4.0L. I believe it has more gitty up then my 08 Ram HEMI.
B1G BLEU
05-27-2009, 01:38 PM
I wish mine had a 4.0, it's got a 3.3 which I drive around in 3rd most of the time
yarisncaravan
05-30-2009, 07:17 AM
i have an 01 caravan sport with a 3.3 needs some rust work but besides that shes good
Intrepidacious
06-10-2009, 11:58 AM
I alternate driving our 2006 Durango Hemi Limited and our new 2009 T&C 4.0L. It's nice to have a change of vehicle every few days I guess. We bought the 2009 T&C after a tree clobbered our former 2005 Durango SLT, so that vehicle is gone. We already had the 2006 Durango and the deals are enormous on the new minivans.
We sure like the T&C -- took it on a mini-vacation already. The 4.0L with the 6-speed automatic shows surprising guts in acceleration.
Only changes I'd mainly like to make are to improve roll resistance and to add some DynaMat or other sound insulation under the floor carpet. It's quiet but I know it could be quieter.
donovan1983
06-11-2009, 12:18 AM
I have a well-worn 1995 Caravan SWB that I just picked up a few days ago for relatively cheap. It looks like a vehicle with 181K on it. It runs quite well though and despite it's 3.0L engine and 3-speed transaxle it has more than enough power for getting around town. Coming from driving a 1997 Buick LeSabre it's quite a change. Unsurprisingly, it's interior is louder and is quite a bit less plush, but the Caravan is still comfortable. I have never driven a minivan before and was surprised just how easy it is to drive. I loathe trucks and full-size vans yet except for the fact that I'm higher up, it feels like driving a mid-size car. The interior room is very nice to have and I'm sure I will enjoy having this thing when I go camping. This is only my second vehicle and it continues the tradition of having a vehicle that is atypical for a male in his mid-20's :cool:
TomQuick
06-11-2009, 12:14 PM
My daily driver is a 94 Honda Accord. When I have the whole family with me though (wife, and three kids, and more often than not, at least one of the kids friends), I drive a '97 Caravan. All soccer mom jokes aside, it is a great vehicle.
BrianS
06-11-2009, 02:14 PM
On my second Caravan, this one is an '01. Daily driver, vacation wagon, "Dad's moving van" and a host of other duties. IMHO, it simply can't be beaten as an all around vehicle.
Brian
starcop
07-09-2009, 12:17 PM
I used to have the male ego; wouldn't be caught driving a van period. I've now owned my 97 AWD Grand Caravan for 6 months, I really like the mini-van, it drives like a caddi, has plenty of room, stereo system sounds good, comfortable seats, I could go on. It's one of those un-told secrets, mini-vans are great on fuel, do well in the snow; (AWD) helps! So now I have a 1997 AWD, and 1999 FWD G/Caravan that my wife drives, zero problems with mine, knock on wood. I had a tranny problem with our 99, it was a faulty output speed sensor, $4.00 at the salvage yard, 10 minutes to install and two companies told me I needed to replace or re-build the transmission. I couldn't believe that a simple solinoid could cause the tranny to buck or slip that bad, especially when it was so clean when I changed the filter, I knew the transmission wasn't failing. Plus the van sat for 7 years with a wrecked fender and radiator, only has 36,000 miles on her; still looks fairly new.
TomQuick
07-09-2009, 01:14 PM
I love the caravan. It's comfortable, has enough room for the family, isn't bad on gas (we get about 15 /16 around town, and around 22 / 23 highway) has plenty of get up and go, the A/C kicks but, nice stereo system. It is a fine family vehicle. Before we got the Caravan, I was driving an '84 Chevy G20 conversion van. It had LOTS of get up and go, and more space, but it drove like a truck, sucked up gas like a truck, A/C didn't work, and would have cost a fortune to fix, wasn't as comfortable, etc. etc.
All in all, I like the Caravan, and the only thing I'd do differently is the next one I get will be the Grand Caravan, as we could certainly use a bit more space in the back.
javajam
07-17-2009, 02:08 AM
I seriously hated the thought of getting a minivan, but figured we needed the seating, and would be mostly driven by the wife. Also never especially liked Chrysler proucts. We got a nice used 2000 GC SE with the 3.8 and 4spd, and Lol, I love the dang thing. Nice and peppy and the long wheel base rides so nice over our crappy Michigan roads. AC is fantastic in these. Did develope the dead gauges problem, but found a great thread on that here so already fixed. Plan to keep it for at least 5-6 years, and at this point I would say I will likely replace it with a newer one, maybe with the 4.0.
monkeywrench06
07-26-2009, 09:48 PM
Love my '96 Grand Voyager! Bought it as a cheap beater about three years ago but it's still running strong - hope to keep that way for a few more years. I've spent some money on care and feeding, and it's never let me down. I've never had a problem with owning or driving a minivan. Incredibly practical and useful vehicle. Very comfy on long trips, even if it's not a lot of fun to drive.
Why would it be amusing to know how many guys drive vans. Honestly, The Grand Caravans I've had have never let me down and I've never been ashamed to drive in one. My 18 year old idiot brother-in-law thinks it's funny that I drive a van, but when I ask him "What are you driving?" he shuts up pretty quick. Besides, as far as I am concerned I got nobody to impress anyway. I am married and have kids...
The Grand Caravan is great, it has never let me down and it fits our needs very well, passenger space, cargo space... hauling two kids, a wife and a dog in a car isn't feasible.. being 6'1" With my Grand Caravan, I don't have to throw my back out bending over to take a kid out of a carseat the way I almost did in our old Dodge Stratus.
04Ram2500Hemi
08-14-2009, 01:22 PM
I understand the value and the versatility of the van. My mom and dad had one growing up, and they even have one now. That being said, at this point, you will not find one in my garage. I drive my 04 Ram everywhere, and we just bought my wife an 09 Honda Pilot. Neither of us wanted to have a van as our daily driver.
Ram3500Dually
08-14-2009, 01:25 PM
Honda Pilot and a Minivan are almost the same thing except one is a Domestic Vehicle and one isn't :D
04Ram2500Hemi
08-14-2009, 01:30 PM
Honda Pilot and a Minivan are almost the same thing except one is a Domestic Vehicle and one isn't :D
Oh Good Lord- let's not start the domestic arguement again. My Ram was built in Mexico for crying out loud. There isn't a 100% American Made vehicle anymore.
duby55
08-18-2009, 09:13 PM
I never wanted one but my friend gave me his near perfect condition 96 Grand Caravan LE because of a bad BCM and a window motor cable mess. It has a very spunky 3.3 that I still can't believe can burn rubber, not much but man this thing likes 85 on the highway no problem. I thought these things were dogs, its not so. This vehicle does double duty. Its allowed me to sell my pickup and my car and just use this. It does it all from plywood to passengers. If it died today, I'd buy another one. Very comfortable, and relieable. It has minor issues but it has 200,000 miles on it. I laugh at being a mini van dad, all the way to the bank.
kmr16442
08-20-2009, 04:39 PM
We have a 2001 Town & Country that is very nice. I agree they are very versatile and can haul lots of stuff. I wish it could tow more and then it would be THE most versatile vehicle I've ever owned. I only have 87K on mine and it has been the worst vehicle in terms of reliability. Lots of parts and money thrown at it. I drive it occasionally but I prefer the 5 speed in my Camry. Lots more fun!
TomQuick
08-20-2009, 07:49 PM
Funny, our '97 (which I bought for $1,500 4 years ago after someone backed into it and mashed up the front end a good bit) has been quite reliable. In 4 years, I broke one driveshaft, and had to have the serpentine belt replaced twice (tensioner failed shortening the life of the first belt I had put on). The only other work it has needed up until now has been routine maintenance. I count among the most reliable vehicles we've ever owned.
Cpt.Morgan
08-21-2009, 01:55 AM
I love my caravan. Had a 92 with a 2.5L motor in it, paid $500.00 for it. Had it 5 yrs, sent it to the bone yard with around 200,000 miles on it. Had to put a little money into it but it didn't owe me a thing. Now I have a 96 with 3.0L in it. I got it for the better price of free. Needed a good bath inside and out and has an electrical gremlin in it but... They just put a new rebuilt tranny in it so I'm planning on putting some miles on this one.
jfoust
08-21-2009, 09:00 AM
I do, sorta. It's technically the wife's car, but we carpool and her driving scares me, so I do most of the driving. My daily driver is a '97 Pathfinder and I've got an '88 Corvette that comes out on a few choice sunny days, so the van is quite comfy in comparison to my 21 year old Vette and 12 year old SUV!
Vistal
08-23-2009, 12:34 AM
I love mine its 3.3 l Turbo i smoked everyone i raced they thought i was sporting a POS van. then it blew and bought a 3.3l standard i wish i had that turbo back on it.
michaelingp
08-23-2009, 06:30 PM
Funny thread! Personally, my buddy and I both drive them when we have a lot to haul, but this thread reminded me of an older gentleman I used to play racquetball with. He was probably over 60 then, and one day he shows up at the court with a brand new minivan. I said, what the heck, all your kids are grown, you're as far from a soccer mom as you could be, what's this?
Basically, what he said was he'd had never found a vehicle as comfortable to drive and he was going to buy them as long as he could. And I thought about it, and I think he's right. I can drive the minivan all day, and never have that stiff feeling you get in other cars after driving for a few hours. The sitting position while you're driving is just about perfect (for comfort, anyway).
Sixfeathers
10-22-2009, 11:39 PM
I sport an 05 se Gc. And I love her. Can throw the boys in back , pop a movie and let them chill while I have a nice conversation with the Misses.The only maintenace I
have done to my ride is to change the Oil and put new Rubber on her. She is the finest lady i have ever had the honor of drivin.I have 41,000 miles. It does take a while to clean it up.
TomQuick
10-23-2009, 09:26 AM
Funny you find the Caravan sitting position so comfortable for long drives. I love the van, but it is not good for me on long drives. I drove it from New York to Florida, and back last summer. By the end of the drive back home, I could barely stand up my back hurt so much.
With being 40 now, I was starting to wonder if I was always going to have that kind of pain after long drives. This summer, since there were only four of us going on the trip to Florida (last year we had 7), I decided to drive my '94 Accord. I finished the trip with absolutely no pain, so I guess my discomfort last year was something to do with the position I sit in when I'm driving the Caravan.
It's kind of funny though, I don't find the seat to be uncomfortable, and I really like it for driving around town. I've many quite a few 3hr drives with it, and there have been many times that I've driven for 6 hours in one day with no problems, but after two full days behind the wheel on the way to Florida, and another two on the way back home, I was in agony.
00molavi
10-23-2009, 08:36 PM
Funny you find the Caravan sitting position so comfortable for long drives. I love the van, but it is not good for me on long drives. I drove it from New York to Florida, and back last summer. By the end of the drive back home, I could barely stand up my back hurt so much.
With being 40 now, I was starting to wonder if I was always going to have that kind of pain after long drives. This summer, since there were only four of us going on the trip to Florida (last year we had 7), I decided to drive my '94 Accord. I finished the trip with absolutely no pain, so I guess my discomfort last year was something to do with the position I sit in when I'm driving the Caravan.
It's kind of funny though, I don't find the seat to be uncomfortable, and I really like it for driving around town. I've many quite a few 3hr drives with it, and there have been many times that I've driven for 6 hours in one day with no problems, but after two full days behind the wheel on the way to Florida, and another two on the way back home, I was in agony.
Okay, so I have a 2000 SWB sports SE and I love the seat position. I realized this when I took my 2004 Camry for long rides. I get out like an old man, knee and back all aching. So I guess each person is different.
Sixfeathers
10-23-2009, 08:57 PM
I feel more comfortable in the caravan than my charger. The leather seats in the charger are stiff. Unlike the caravan. I drove my caravan from Md to MO a few times last year and I was very comfy and that is a long ass drive . My eyes wer more sore than my back or legs, so i think it all depends on your preference.
SevenTheRapper
10-27-2009, 04:35 PM
I love my Caravan.. I use it to deliver pizzas in (I work at Dominos)
It's a dope van.. I'm modding the crap outta mine right now.. just threw in a K&N air intake system in it..
I'll upload some pics for y'all...
dizzyD
10-27-2009, 06:14 PM
No van in our family, I had a loaner for 3 days, does that count. ( I hope not)
Chiv
10-29-2009, 04:59 PM
lol i got mine for 900$ fixed all its issues for 100$ now its worth 3200 and could make profit in less than a month. where can i get a vehicle that can carry sheets of drywall and look more cool than truck..... right here at my caravan
I got mine for 900 too and now I have 40k when it was 32 back about a year ago. I know what you mean though. Caravans rule! does yours have a turbo?
-Chiv
dizzyD
10-29-2009, 05:02 PM
/\ what model? Grand Caravan R/T?
J/K
chez1701
11-06-2009, 03:56 AM
I had 3 of them way better than SUV's! plenty of room for thoses after club encounters!!!!:hide:
MeenGreen5.2
11-06-2009, 05:48 AM
Oh Good Lord- let's not start the domestic arguement again. My Ram was built in Mexico for crying out loud. There isn't a 100% American Made vehicle anymore.
Mexico is in the CONTINENT of America, United States is Also in the continent of America. Your truck is 100% American!;)
I was born in the United States OF America, my parents were born in MEXICO.
:teacher:
also, i saw this minivan around town lowered on 22's, it looks SICK.
MqtMatt
11-08-2009, 09:40 PM
My first vehicle was a 1991Caravan. It was baby blue, no window tint at all, 3.0 auto trans. It was transformed into this:
http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t334/pedalyourassoff/Items/1.jpg
http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t334/pedalyourassoff/Items/11111111111.jpg
The headlights are photoshopped
It ended up getting neglected and ended up going to scrap. I should have kept the damn windows because now I have:
A 1993 Plymouth Voyager 2.5L 5 Spd manual transmission
http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t334/pedalyourassoff/Items/P1150874.jpg
The thing is super clean and I always wanted one with a Manual trans. Luckily I found this 20 minutes away! I wanted to recreate my first van with this one but I'm not sure yet.
I've owned more than a few Caravans in between but never drove them much, a really nice 199X ES model with factory everything and AWD, transfer case was blown and that one never got fixed. (Seen in front of the mighty V10 Ram Project)
http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t334/pedalyourassoff/Items/2.jpg
And also a 199X AWD Long wheelbase van with a lot of power options. Drove 3 hours or so to get this beauty. One of the tires was showing steel when we picked it up so luckily I had a set of wheels with mismatched tires, pulled the drive shaft and drove it back home. It was great in the snow but I ended up donating it to habitat because it just wasn't me.
http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t334/pedalyourassoff/Items/Vanvanvanvan11111111.jpg
