For the 30 and over crowd

[mp170.6]

Did your family have one of these in the mid-to-late-80's / early-90's?  This has to rank in the Top 10 Piece of Shit cars ever manufactured.  Seems like everybody had one back then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Blarg]

My wife wanted a van when we had our third child and ended up with a Toyota. It was ok but always felt top heavy and the engine was placed van style in between the drivers seats. Not much power so uphill climbs were always in the slow lane. It was a dealer converted cargo van with flip down bench seats in the back to make a huge bed for camping.

 

 

It was later replaced with the worst nightmare minivan, the Ford Windstar that had 3.8 Taurus engine and front wheel drive system that when it wasn't blowing head gaskets the transmission would give out. It ate tires and got crappy gas mileage but the one thing going for it was the air conditioner. There was never a day that was hot enough to beat it down and we drove through the Nevada desert in July and our kids were begging for us to turn it down they were cold.

 

[Eric]

Our family rocked the burgundy Astrovan. Pimpin in style!

[Spirit]

We were rockin' one of these chick magnets ...

 

 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

We were rockin' one of these chick magnets ...

 

 

 

It was the fake woodgrain trim that bagged the chicks, wasn't it?

 

About the original post - I would hardly call the Chrysler minivan a POS. It created an entire market segment and it sold tons for Chrysler Corp.

 

Now, whether you were embarrassed to be seen in one as a kid is another matter entirely. Fortunately I was well into adulthood when they came along. I've ridden in one, but never owned one - or any other minivan, for that matter.

[Tank]

We never owned one so I loved riding in my friends station wagon. Those rear facing seats in the very back were awesome.

[Spirit]

It was the fake woodgrain trim that bagged the chicks, wasn't it?

 

 

 

 

Chicks dig fake wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wait, what?

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Chicks dig fake wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wait, what?

 

Too late. You said it.

 

I also noticed that all three vans in the original post are rocking the same look. Don't know how the women stayed away.

 

I remember J. C. Whitney selling fake woodgrain kits, so you could actually add this crap to your vehicle if you were fortunate enough to get one without it. Bet those were hot sellers.

[mancini79]

Grew up with this bad boy. I was even lucky enough to have it as my first car.

 

[mp170.6]

My wife wanted a van when we had our third child and ended up with a Toyota. It was ok but always felt top heavy and the engine was placed van style in between the drivers seats. Not much power so uphill climbs were always in the slow lane. It was a dealer converted cargo van with flip down bench seats in the back to make a huge bed for camping.

 

Come to think of it, most minivans produced over the past 20-30 years have been nightmares in terms of engine placement.  Simple maintenance extremely difficult because the engine is barely accessible.  Anything major goes down, you're looking at several thousand bucks.  Our Dodge Caravan spent three weeks in the shop once.

 

 

It was the fake woodgrain trim that bagged the chicks, wasn't it?

 

About the original post - I would hardly call the Chrysler minivan a POS. It created an entire market segment and it sold tons for Chrysler Corp.

 

I'm pretty sure it was cost and financing that made them sell, not dependability or anything like that. 

 

My mechanic later told me it was remarkable to see a Dodge/Plymouth caravan still on the road 10 years later.  They improved in future generations but the 80's/early 90's vintage was the worst.

[arch stanton]

I'm a 40 something. Too old for the minivan. We had the brown '74 Pinto wagon. I actually learned to drive in a '76 LTD. Never owned another Ford until my company gave me an Expedition.

[mp170.6]

I'm a 40 something. Too old for the minivan. We had the brown '74 Pinto wagon. I actually learned to drive in a '76 LTD. Never owned another Ford until my company gave me an Expedition.

 

You mean a Ford Explosion?

[Ray McKigney]

Ford Aerostar

[Glen]

I'm a 40 something. Too old for the minivan. We had the brown '74 Pinto wagon. I actually learned to drive in a '76 LTD. Never owned another Ford until my company gave me an Expedition.

 

 

My family always had at least one Pinto when I was growing up.  We had this bad boy for a while:

 

 

 

 

My brother later converted it into a mini-truck that we dubbed Pinchero.  

[NJHalo]

I grew up with one of these bad boys. It was a true trendsetter with the second row moonroof, and glass panels in the back.

 

 

[Amazing Larry]

We never owned one so I loved riding in my friends station wagon. Those rear facing seats in the very back were awesome.

Yep. My brother and I used to flip off the cars driving behind us in this beauty.

 

 

My mom always wondered why people would give her dirty looks as they drove by.

[gotbeer]

I remember the freer days.  When you weren't constrained by seat belts, and can run around in the back.

[Spirit]

My family always had at least one Pinto when I was growing up.  We had this bad boy for a while:

 

 

 

 

My brother later converted it into a mini-truck that we dubbed Pinchero.  

 

 

Pincheroo would have been a good nickname too.

[nate]

We went from a 70's Toyota Carolla Wagon to a (brand new!) 1991 Buick Century.

 

 

We gave the Toyota to my Grandma and by the time I graduated high school it was still going with 200k+ while the Buick had 80k and all new electrics and tranny.

[St1ck]

I remember the freer days.  When you weren't constrained by seat belts, and can run around in the back.

 

 

 

I actually saw this on the road the other day. It tripped me out, because I hadn't seen kids in the back like that in a long time. 

[austin724]

My family had a 1978 Pontiac Firebird.

[stevestevens]

We had a station wagon. Light blue. It was awesome.

We now have the '08 Honda odyssey.

[nate]

I would have figured school bus.  Didn't know the odyssey could sit 20 kids.

[stevestevens]

We lay them on the ground. It is a tight fit for them but my wife and I are comfortable in the front. That is really all that matters.

[Angel Dog and Beer]

Similar to the Amistad.