97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

You aint kiddin

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Yeah I hear ya, I was hoping for smaller more manageable logs, but it is what it is. I have an 18" chainsaw and an axe, it'll be some good exercise

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

00TL-P3.2

Now to replace it with an iForceMax 6G

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

So F'ing tempting....

00TL-P3.2

Nah, give it a couple years to work any new gen bugs & pick a used one up for full MSRP a few years later

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

That's the plan, I will never buy a 1st year model car ever again. And with second kiddo on coming soon, wife wants a minivan in the near future

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

2 kids, my mom had us in a 1990 Civic Si...
I drove an Ody for a bit and a Routan...aside from the image, they are actually very useful...the sliding doors are a game changer and they are the easiest thing to load big shit into, Suburban included.

00TL-P3.2

Coworker is on their [wife's] 3rd or 4th Sienna. They love it for kid hauling.
My wife refuses, fully recognizes the utility of it, but would rather walk.
She's pretty content with the MiniBus [Expedition Max]

Will get our first taste of vanlife this summer. We'll be borrowing a friend's PHEV Pacifica for a few days in CA while we housesit.

BreezyTL

iTrader: (8)

I am enjoying our Odyssey. Never thought I would!

SamDoe1

We just have one kid so no real reason to have a van. Content with the Subaru anyway.

PhilB81

+1 on the van. Very practical and it’s unbelievable how much fits in it, 3rd row up or down. Ours is a 2011 Odyssey Touring Elite, bought new in 2010 just when they came out. Biggest issue is a catalytic went bad, many say it’s from the VCM. Mine has the 3.5L v6 with the 6spd transmission. Other than that some gasket leaks, but I can’t remember having any serious issues. We have 150k miles on it, I don’t want to get rid of it, but I also don’t want another van.

we did the factory tow package because the after market stuff sat below the bumper, factory has a cutout. I only pulled a tiny single axel enclosed uhaul trailer with it and one of the jetski when it needed some more service and had to be brought in to a shop.

CCColtsicehockey

No kids for experience but always love seeing friends panic over having one kid and needing a bigger car for some reason. Currently have a friend expecting their first and his wife is saying they need a 3 row SUV with being due in 4 months.

Please Ack skip the minivan world.

00TL-P3.2

We had a EM2 [7G] Civic Sedan & a 2G TL with 2 carseats.
The TL gave way to the Ford Flex, which was definitely an improvement, since the J32 was not in the best of health.

BreezyTL

iTrader: (8)

Sliding doors, nuff said. Getting a car seat into a regular door is doable but a pain in the ass most of the time in parking lots. Also not having to worry about your kids swinging the door open to get out and smackin the car next to you is a plus!

SamDoe1

While where there's a will there's a way, having a big car with kids is infinitely easier than a small car with kids. We quickly found that a Subaru Outback is, while doable, not ideal even with one kid and a larger dog to travel anywhere. By the time you include our clothes, her clothes, the dog's stuff, stroller, pack n play, toys, food/snacks, etc you will definitely fill the back to the brim. Having the 3 row Ascent was life changing to have space to carry all the things anytime we want with ease.

Definitely not absolutely necessary but if you have the means, it's for sure worth it.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

We've gotten by just find for 3 years with her Forester, and plan to do so for another year or 2 before switching to a van. I just know that is what she is eyeing for the next vehicle. It's either going to be a Toyota or a Honda so at least I got her buy in on that aspect lol

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I have an SUV with 3 rows already lol

I have tried convincing her to get a larger SUV but she would rather have the van with sliding doors, etc. It's her vehicle so it is what it is. My mom had a minivan for 30 years or so and it was always nice to help move stuff

00TL-P3.2

Kia Carnival with the Lay-Z Boys in the 2nd row

PhilB81

hey man! I don’t live in socialist Europe where I have to make a Nissan micra work for a large family.
Joke aside, small kids require a stupid amount of gear if you haul seats n strollers and other nonsense. I can’t remember exactly, but at 3 and up the amount of garbage we had to haul around was massively reduced. For us, the van really raised the bar when we would travel to my parents house for the holidays. Hauling Christmas presents in addition to everything else, 3rd row was folded down and we filled the back of the van. We also, had multiple family members meeting up so presents for everyone, it was a Tetris game to fit everything. Then the RES kept the kids mostly entertained for 8 hour drive… plus like others said, sliding doors are incredible, they take no room in a parking lot and are a huge opening to put in a rear facing seat or lean in and buckle the little ones. Heck, my wife and I even celebrated when our kids could do their own belts.
Personally, I don’t understand how people see a Toyota Highlander as anything other than a less convenient minivan. I personally don’t see or understand the stigma against minivans. A sporty SUV is more daft than a van in my personal opinion. If you want sport, keep it low to the ground.
If you need to tow, for sure a van is a nonstarter. Maybe things are better now but I think most only got as high as 3500lbs.

SamDoe1

The other downside to a minivan is that there's only one option with AWD. If you live in FL it's not a big deal. It's a bigger deal in the tundra where I live.

I'm surprised other manufacturers haven't added AWD to their vans yet.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

I'd rather eat a bug than own a Hyndai,Kia, Genesis. I am not saying they have not made great strides but I remember the 80's and Hyundai's entry when they were only minimally better than a Yugo.

Also, I have no proof, but (around here at least) I believe dealers demand an intelligence test & if potential buyers score too high they say pound sand

/rant

ttribe

I remember the 80's Hyundai Excel with the disposable alternator; I was a teenager when those came out. But, honestly, your perception of the quality of their products is way behind. Genesis is a legitimate luxury line. In many instances, the models coming out of the Hyundai and Kia brands are superior to the competition from Honda, Toyota, and especially Nissan. My daughter's first car is a '17 Veloster and that thing is really well done vehicle.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

I started with they are much better.

No way I'm paying north of 90k no matter what name they paste on a Genesis.

I admit I'm negativily biased and in no way telling anyone not to buy them. I would not.

I also remember when Lexus/Infinity first released, people said no way, the difference is Toyota and Nissan were good brands then.

I agree Nissan is unworthy now, I owned many in the past, never again.

On the Hyundai owner intelligence front, between my last post and this one I had a Hyundai cut across 3 lanes and cut me off on an otherwise empty road!

ttribe

Yeah, well, you and I both own BMWs and even though we might use our blinkers, the reputation of the average BMW driver is probably well deserved.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

I use my directionals and do not drive around with a BT earbud in.

:P

It's getting close to not being able to drive my BMW. It was 92 at 9am and once it's never under 90, it's sitting. Not voluntarily driving with the top up.

PhilB81

agreed, I was sure a hybrid powertrain could power the rear wheels and it would have been done by now. Looking under our van there isn’t much room for a driveshaft.

if this post was leaked to bmw forums, I assume they would ban you

lol, I had a visual of Clarkson when he was imitating M3 drivers long time ago on top gear. Then they has the c*ck-o meter lol! Good times

ttribe

I'm just down the road from you in Gilbert and I'm still willing to drive the E93 with the top down! Man up and blast the AC!

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

That was the root of the post. lol

e93 is to an e36 Z3 as a model T is to a modern car.

lol

Also, right now, I have perma heat, the valve under the hood is stuck or more likely the control in the center console is stuck. with the top down & having it routed to the defogger I can live with it.

Both repairs are in very hard to access areas & I'm just wanting to get the tune done & be able to let it sit for the summer.