Since settling on the idea of using a mini-van, I've been eyeballing the various Honda Odysseys and Toyota Siennas that I've seen while I'm out and about and not a single one of them has immediately struck me as something that can be lived in. It takes me a few seconds to imagine it as a living space. Since this has become a passion for me, and it takes me a second or two realize a common mini-van's potential as a home, I'd be inclined to think that it'd take the uninterested much longer to catch on. Anyway, I'm not trying to debate the validity or possibility of being stealth out there. Everybody's perceptions are not the same and not everyone will see a rose as just a rose or a plain and simple looking mini-van as a home on wheels.
From Sea to Shining Sea
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Scott3569
Well-known member
toyotas are a nightmare to work on, just the spark plugs can be a 3.5 hour job.. I don't know about the honda odysseys.. I would talk to a mechanic you trust.. and then buy a southern vehicle of the make and model he suggests...
I can tell you from first hand experience, the 06 grand caravan is not that bad to work on, things are mostly accessible.. easy trany fluid change, easy catylitic converter change, Starter, Alternator, Plugs are doable even though some of the front body needs to come apart and the fans need to be taken out.. But not difficult..
I can tell you from first hand experience, the 06 grand caravan is not that bad to work on, things are mostly accessible.. easy trany fluid change, easy catylitic converter change, Starter, Alternator, Plugs are doable even though some of the front body needs to come apart and the fans need to be taken out.. But not difficult..
Thanks, Scott. I've got a brother who's had several Dodge Grand Caravans. He seems to love them except for the fact that all of them have eventually rotted away. Of course, none of them came from the south as you've suggested.
I found out that the plugs on an Odyssey can be changed every 105k miles (or so) and that it's not quite as difficult as it is on the Siennas. Fine with me as I'm more of a Honda guy anyway. Either way, neither can be as difficult as the first (and last) time that I changed the plugs on a BMW V12. I'm actually thinking that by the time that I'm ready to buy that there should be more more four cylinder Nissan NV200s available in my price range. I know it's kind of silly to be 'vehicle hunting' at such an early stage but I suppose it's best to do my homework on all fronts.
Scott3569
Well-known member
Fluid film Is an excellent product, It surprises me, that more people do not use it, especially here in the North East. If You put it on a vehicle that has no or minimal rust, you will never have rust again.. it gets reapplied about every 5 years.. But the under carriage with stay clean as a whisleVan Vliet said:
There's a NH based company that's getting pretty popular around the country, as an alternative to Fluid Film, called NH Oil Undercoating. My family has been using it for several years with very good results.
