LOL- borrowed my wife's car, traded it in for a van without her knowledge

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zCypher

Diamond Member
Aug 18, 2002
6,115
171
116
Yup, hard to beat the value. I actually have a cousin that is my age (mid twenties) who bought an old minivan for himself. Says it's the best vehicle he's ever owned. I can see why. If you pay more money for something that gives you less, well... It's your choice and your money. Can't knock someone for getting the most for their buck though.

I drive an ugly hatch and it gets great mileage and can put a ton of stuff in it. I can relate to people making purchases that make sense. And I have made plenty of stupid purchases for shallow reasons in the past.

Extra points for how you executed this and for the wife liking it! AWESOME! :D
 

Praetor

Diamond Member
Oct 14, 1999
4,498
4
81
I thought maybe you gave her this minivan??

the_minivan.jpg

My wife says that's disgusting.

I'm pretty sure that means she wants to try it.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
6,205
475
126
why would you get a dodge? You are just asking for problems. I would have got a nissan or honda van if you got a van. I have kids and still enjoy using a 4 door car instead of a van. Also own few trucks if need to haul stuff.
 

thepd7

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2005
9,423
0
0
I drive a minivan. It's a road warrior, and I can pack shitloads of stuff/people in it.

It has Stow-n-Go seats that disappear under the floorboards, and I can inflate a queen-sized air mattress in the back.

Then again, the vehicle and all of its fuel, maintenance, and insurance are supplied to me as a work perk, with unlimited personal use. That makes it a bit sweeter. :)

tell me more...
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
i've never seen an HHR before (hell, never heard of it before now) so I just looked it up online.

The HHR is too small for a family of 4?? Family of 4 what, elephants? the HHR looks huge and more than enough for a family of 4.
 

MovingTarget

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2003
9,002
115
106
Wait - so you dropped probably five figures for a new car without talking to the wife? Yeesh. Either you've got the best, most trusting relationship in the world, or are asking for trouble.

This. Even if it is the perfect thing she wanted, I'm surprised you aren't sleeping in the doghouse.
 

RocksteadyDotNet

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2008
3,152
1
0
i've never seen an HHR before (hell, never heard of it before now) so I just looked it up online.

The HHR is too small for a family of 4?? Family of 4 what, elephants? the HHR looks huge and more than enough for a family of 4.

LOL. I thought that same thing.

How fat are you kids?!
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,908
2,141
126
LOL. I thought that same thing.

How fat are you kids?!

It looks big because it's got a large trunk area. The passenger seating is about the same a a Honda Civic. Very cramped. The backseat has nearly no leg room.

I know you'd like to pick out some kind of fault with my family, but my 10 year old is a skinny 90 lbs and my 14 year old is 120.
 

MovingTarget

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2003
9,002
115
106
It was a Pontiac Parisienne, looks like this, with the gay little skirt on the back wheels and everything :D

1981_pontiac_parisienne-pic-57067.jpeg


Would you believe that car only has about 150HP? And that was with a 5L engine. It was the slowest piece of shit in the history of the universe, but it could still tow a 17" fiberglass boat somehow. The frame is all steel.

Cars like that were good for long trips though. I drive an 87 Caprice with that same engine. A friend of mine even restored an '83 station wagon model. For most families, a full size sedan like this would work just fine. Unfortunately, there is no real analogue today as the Crown Vic and its derivatives are being phased out.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,303
103
106
It looks big because it's got a large trunk area. The passenger seating is about the same a a Honda Civic. Very cramped. The backseat has nearly no leg room.

I know you'd like to pick out some kind of fault with my family, but my 10 year old is a skinny 90 lbs and my 14 year old is 120.

My boss drives one and i think it has LESS leg room in the back than my old 04 civic coupe had...
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
It looks big because it's got a large trunk area. The passenger seating is about the same a a Honda Civic. Very cramped. The backseat has nearly no leg room.

I know you'd like to pick out some kind of fault with my family, but my 10 year old is a skinny 90 lbs and my 14 year old is 120.

It's rocksteady, he trolls and smells of cabbage.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
It was a Pontiac Parisienne, looks like this, with the gay little skirt on the back wheels and everything :D

1981_pontiac_parisienne-pic-57067.jpeg


Would you believe that car only has about 150HP? And that was with a 5L engine. It was the slowest piece of shit in the history of the universe, but it could still tow a 17" fiberglass boat somehow. The frame is all steel.

GM B platform. Incredibly common.

Sedans built on the rear wheel drive B platform include:

* 1959–1985 Buick LeSabre
* 1959–1962 Buick Invicta
* 1991–1996 Buick Roadmaster
* 1962–1970 Buick Wildcat
* 1971–1973 Buick Centurion
* 1959–1972 Chevrolet Biscayne
* 1959–1975 Chevrolet Bel Air
* 1976–1979 Chevrolet Bel Air (sold only in Canada, as a rebadged Impala)
* 1965–1985 Chevrolet Impala
* 1965–1996 Chevrolet Caprice
* 1994–1996 Chevrolet Impala SS
* 1959–1985 Oldsmobile Delta 88
* 1967–1969 Oldsmobile Delmont 88
* 1958–1966 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88
* 1959–1981 Pontiac Bonneville
* 1966–1969 Pontiac Grande Parisienne (Canada only)
* 1959–1981 Pontiac Parisienne (Canada only)
* 1983–1986 Pontiac Parisienne
* 1959–1981 Pontiac Catalina
* 1959–1966 Pontiac Star Chief
* 1960–1961 Pontiac Ventura
* 1962–1981 Pontiac Laurentian (Canada only)
* 1959–1970 Pontiac Strato Chief (Canada only)
* 1967–1970 Pontiac Executive
* 1971–1975 Pontiac Grand Ville

Coupe-only offerings include:

* 1962 Buick Wildcat
* 1965–1969 Chevrolet Impala SS
* 1961–1966 Oldsmobile Starfire
* 1964–1965 Oldsmobile Jetstar I
* 1962–1968 Pontiac Grand Prix
* 1964–1967 Pontiac 2+2
* 1964–1965 Pontiac Parisienne Custom Sport (Canada only)
* 1966–1970 Pontiac Parisienne 2+2 (Canada only)
* 1971–1975 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe
* 1977–1978 Buick Riviera

Station wagons include:

* 1959–1963 Invicta Estate Wagon
* 1959–1964 LeSabre Estate Wagon
* 1970–1976 Buick Estate Wagon
* 1977–1979 Buick Estate Wagon (with LeSabre trim)
* 1977–1979 Buick Estate Limited (with Electra trim)
* 1980–1989 Buick Electra Estate Wagon
* 1980–1989 Buick LeSabre Estate Wagon
* 1990 Buick Estate Wagon
* 1991–1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon
* 1966–1968 Chevrolet Caprice Estate
* 1969–1972 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate
* 1973–1996 Chevrolet Caprice Estate
* 1962–1968 Chevrolet Impala
* 1969–1972 Chevrolet Kingswood
* 1973–1985 Chevrolet Impala
* 1962–1968 Chevrolet Bel Air
* 1969–1972 Chevrolet Townsman
* 1973–1975 Chevrolet Bel Air
* 1976–1979 Chevrolet Bel Air (sold only in Canada, as a rebadged Impala)
* 1962–1968 Chevrolet Biscayne
* 1969–1972 Chevrolet Brookwood
* 1959–1964 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Fiesta
* 1959–1963 Oldsmobile Super 88 Fiesta
* 1971–1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser
* 1959–1981 Pontiac Bonneville Safari
* 1959–1981 Pontiac Parisienne Safari (Canada only)
* 1967–1969 Pontiac Grande Parisienne Safari (Canada only)
* 1983–1986 Pontiac Parisienne Safari
* 1959–1981 Pontiac Catalina Safari
* 1959–1981 Pontiac Laurentian Safari (Canada only)
* 1987–1989 Pontiac Safari
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
Cars like that were good for long trips though. I drive an 87 Caprice with that same engine. A friend of mine even restored an '83 station wagon model. For most families, a full size sedan like this would work just fine. Unfortunately, there is no real analogue today as the Crown Vic and its derivatives are being phased out.
What's weird is that this huge car had no room in the back. My parents eventually got a 2005 Nissan Altima, and I think the Altima has more room than the old Pontiac had.
 

iGas

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2009
6,240
1
0
Pics of said van & wife ;)

19K is a great deal for an 08 T&C. PS. You have an awesome wife because most women that I know would kill their husband on a move like that with out consulting them first.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
i've never seen an HHR before (hell, never heard of it before now) so I just looked it up online.

The HHR is too small for a family of 4?? Family of 4 what, elephants? the HHR looks huge and more than enough for a family of 4.

It's basically a compact car with a wagon-esque rear area. It's all compact car legroom everywhere else.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,908
2,141
126
Pics of said van & wife ;)

19K is a great deal for an 08 T&C. PS. You have an awesome wife because most women that I know would kill their husband on a move like that with out consulting them first.

This was a special situation. She's been wanting a different vehicle for about 6 months, but wasn't looking seriously. I knew this was everything she wanted in a vehicle so I just sped up the process :)
 

cKGunslinger

Lifer
Nov 29, 1999
16,408
57
91
I have a '97 Dodge Caravan with 170K miles that I picked up for $2,000 several years back (~90k miles, then).

Dual sliding doors, removable seats, and ~23mpg with a 3.0 V6.

Is it sexy? No. Is it one of the best investments I've made? Yes!
 

Modular

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2005
5,027
67
91
The real question is: what are you going to do with all the windows in the back? It's gotta be really different than the windowless wonder you're used to riding around in, no?

:)
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
4
0
Minivans are great. I'll give them serious consideration for my next vehicle, but it largely hinges on gas mileage. I prefer a higher driving stance, and like small SUVs. I really like full size vans, but they suck down way too much fuel. My old Dodge 1 ton got about 8mpg going to the mountains with a boat on the roof :^/


My two most loved vehicles were my two hi-top conversion vans, one a Dodge, the other a Ford. Loved them both - kids could walk around standing straight up in the van, 13" tv, auto fold into a bed third row seat and huge captain chairs in first two rows. Oh, and can't forget about the pull down window shades :D
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
Cars like that were good for long trips though. I drive an 87 Caprice with that same engine. A friend of mine even restored an '83 station wagon model. For most families, a full size sedan like this would work just fine. Unfortunately, there is no real analogue today as the Crown Vic and its derivatives are being phased out.

Mini vans are today's station wagons. When i was a kid a 9 passenger station wagon was the way to go since there were no car seats to deal with and larger families were very common. Mini vans are the perfect size to accomodate a family today car seats and all and that is really the reason for their success. Amazing really when you consider the original development by Chrysler was to get around Federal regulations that pretty much killed station wagons in the first place.
 

Freejack2

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
7,751
8
81
The problem with used is that Honda and Toyota resale value are so ridonkulous that there just isn't any value going that direction. They don't start getting into the mid/high teens unless they have 60,000+ miles on them or are completely basic models.

The Dodge/Chrysler vans are a better value...but the interior fixins and seat comfort just weren't to my liking. I had a 2010 Caravan SXT for a week and while it worked, I just wasn't really satisfied with it over longer drives.

I didn't believe you at first about Honda and Toyota resale value, but I went to Kelly Blue Book, punched in my almost 2 year old Honda and it's miles... Dealer used retail is $800 more than I paid for the car new and Private party is only $300 less than I paid new. WTF?!?

Why did I even bother with gap insurance?