Another idea is to simply but another brand... you know, like a Honda Oddesey, Toyota Sienna, or even a Chrysler Pacifica. Those are all minivans and they won’t fall apart in 5 years either, a bonus!

It’s called the GTI.

Routan was built in Canada by Chrysler. I think the real reason they even bothered with the mini-van segment is they have good ties with Daimler-Chrysler and it was easy to establish a partnership and just use the existing Town and Country platform. While the Routan is a nicer Town and Country it has both the…

I grew up with 2 brothers in the backseat of various 80s Honda Civics. We lived.

You can thank the chicken tax for that. VW makes the Transporter for other markets, and they even make the California, a campervan! But they are classified as light trucks and get slapped with a 25% importation tax.

I care. The Routan was just a slightly dressed up Grand Caravan that didn’t even get the best GC feature: Stow-and-go seats. And it’s not like they don’t have a great van in their line-up; they just won’t sell the T6 stateside.

I agree. People hold up sedans as being better because they are more practical than coupes, but will choose an SUV over a more practical minivan.

“Granted I am a horrible evil parent, I dont have back seat entertainment, they are not allowed to have ipads, and I will tell them to stop it when they are doing things to each other and making them whine. I am the scourge of parents everywhere.. I’m a monster....”

I easily fit 3 busy kids in a BMW X3. you really don’t need a canyonero sized vehicle. Honestly why is it that everyone thinks that each child needs at least 4 square feet of space around them? They don’t. All three sit in back safely, and their crap fits in back. No johnny does not need 6 soccer balls to bring with…

That’s not really true. Most cars parking brakes can be adjusted to work. Mine can hold my car on a San Francisco hill.

And that’s why it’s not the 23 hour, 55 minutes of Le Mans.

Flashback to 1997. My wife and I bought a brand new Dodge Stratus (don’t judge me) with a 4 cylinder and 5 speed. We kept it about a year before we realized it was a crappy car and traded it for a Ford Contour. About 6 months after we traded it early one Saturday morning there was knock at our apartment door. My wife…

I don't see it.

You got sandbagged. That’s a notorious job on those cars. Contour.org has the p00p on that one.

I've done that. I have no idea how they thought a wrench could fit on that bolt.

I gave up on the alternator swap on my second SVT Contour. The mechanic said it was the hardest repair he has done in his 30 year career...and he had a hoist!

Never had to change the alternator on the one I had, but I recall the wheel had to be pulled.

The alternator on a V6 Duratec engine was no joke. It is a 6 hour job. See my extended post about my experience elsewhere in the comments.

I’ve replaced the alternators on the V6 models. They’re a bloody nightmare. Who the hell shoves an alternator on the underside of the engine on the back passenger side (here in the US) with driveshafts and Y-pipes in the way.

Can’t wait to hear about why the Aston is in the shop, after it made the Charleston trip.