Vehicle Question

dvt said:

The Nissan underwent significant changes for 2004, so the
prior models may be slightly cheaper. The new one is quite
a bit larger.

Yes, indeed. That's the one. I think that's about the best
looking minivan I've ever seen. Some friends of ours just
bought the new Maxima, and if the van is anything like the
new Maxima, it's going to be quite a vehicle.

Quoted message said:

For a low-price minivan, you might try the Mazda MPV.
It's slightly smaller than the new Nissan or any recent
Honda. It also has a little less power (200 HP vs 220, I
think). And I don't think you'll fit 4 people and 4 bikes
*inside* the vehicle. Maybe 4 people plus 2-3 bikes would
fit. But it is thousands of US$ less expensive, at least
around here.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think 4 bikes + 4 adults inside is
just too much to hope for without buying a Suburban or
something similar sized, which is exactly what I want to get
away from. I'm starting to think a station wagon of some
sort would be better in the end...lower roof height = easier
putting bikes on top.

I'm surprised no one other than me has mentioned the VW
Eurovan. It used to be in the "old days" when my older
brother was a roadie (back in the day with toeclips and sew-
up's and posters of Eddy in the garage) that the VW van was
pretty much the standard vehicle for lots of starving
roadie's and hippies. I guess things have changed. I was
thinking one of those Eurovan's with pop-top (not the
camper, just the poptop...called a "weekender" I believe)
might work pretty well. It'd be nice to be able to park, pop
the top and have standing room to change clothes and such.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Paul Southworth) said:

In article <[email hidden]>, dvt

Quoted message said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

>Yep, GM has the worst designers on the planet. Top 3
>ugliest motor vehicles of the last decade, Aztek,
>Avalanche, and any Cadillac.

Quoted message said:

And as for the Cadillacs, I understand that the "Art &
Science" design theory is not for everyone, but the
newest cars from them are very, very interesting.

You want ugly? I'll give you ugly. These look much worse
in real life than any picture can do justice:

cadillac.comgallery.jspOpen ↗
odel=escalade

Yeah but the EXT is the real babboon's ass, it "blows" the
Escalade away in my humble opinion.

Oh yeah, full-size SUVs in general are pretty sad vehicles,
and I would sooner own a 10-year-old sedan than one of those
brutes (and in my income bracket, I am free of the burden of
such a decision).

That said, the recent trend in new SUVs seems to be
shrinkage and wagonization. Note the Nissan Murano, which
is basically a modestly elevated short station wagon with a
V8. Note also that Volvo and Subaru are absolutely
convinced they can make a go of SUVness by selling station
wagons with extra ground clearance. And what's that in the
Cadillac lineup?

cadillac.comgallery.jspOpen ↗
?model=srx

SRX you say? I say slightly-elevated wagon.

Check out the "Cargo Management System," surely the most
pretentious name ever for floor bins.

Ironically, SUVs are now morphing from my least favourite
type of vehicle (SUVs) into my favourite type of vehicle
(wagons and hatchbacks). This is a good thing! I am not
looking forward to the upcoming used-market glut of SUVs,
but a few years after that, when the wagons come up for
sale, I'll be happy.

My Tercel sedan swallows a bike nicely thanks to its fold-
down rear seats,
--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden]
sfu.cawiredcolaOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio
Mazzoleni Fan Club