Believe me (and my aching back) Caravan "Sto & Go" seats are worth the price of admission alone for those of us who "convert" their family vehicle for pinball runs.  My inlaws have one and although I wouldn't characterize it as the best ride, it certainly seems to have staying power, and those seats are a mavel (although the vehicle weight when loaded and gas mileage is affected).

Quoted from websherpa

Believe me (and my aching back) Caravan "Sto & Go" seats are worth the price of admission alone for those of us who "convert" their family vehicle for pinball runs.  My inlaws have one and although I wouldn't characterize it as the best ride, it certainly seems to have staying power, and those seats are a mavel (although the vehicle weight when loaded and gas mileage is affected).

Yeah... big for me AND my wife as well. Great for me when going for a quick pin-or-vid-run. My wife also LOVES the storage space it gives for all the kids' tous and diaper bag and all other stuff. The seats are not the most comfortable but they do the job.

The Mazda had a foldaway 3rd row seat which I LOVED. But the middle seats, although lighter beign captain seats, still had to be removed. REALLY cumbersome in the garage... a real pain.

As for ride quality... I find it hilarious when I hear auto-reviews from commentators on it's ride. Problem is that these people all want Porsche handling and Cadillac comfort, and anything less is unacceptable.

I would tell them "dudes... it's a minivan. It has a big a**, gets tossed around in high winds, handles great... in a straight line, and has less than 500hp. But I just want to go to work and back, move my family around, and be able to pick up some machines or materials without having anything stick out of a window or have a trunk open."

Consider my advice: go for the permanent anti-rust treatment. Your dealer probably offers it but I know that Ziebart do it also. We live in Quebec.

Quoted from Sparky

Problem is that these people all want Porsche handling and Cadillac comfort, and anything less is unacceptable.

Haven't run into many slaloms on the highway in all my years of driving. As long as a truck tracks well on the highway, rides smooth, can turn a corner at the specified speeds + a safe margin and is road quiet it gets my vote.

The only neg on the stow and go is the floor height I find. The seats tend to be shorter in the leg to accomodate for some of that storage area below, which lifts your legs off the cushion. Not a problem for kid's but for adults can make for a long ride if your stuck in the back.

Biggest anti rust action you can take is don't put the car in the garage. Thawing your car out daily is a body killer. I leave mine on the driveway all year round and they have held up much better than others.

Poor Sparky:

Chrysler contrainte de suspendre les activités de son usine de Windsor
1 avril 2009 - 13h09
  
Le fabricant d’automobiles Chrysler a indiqué mercredi qu’il était dans l’obligation de suspendre les activités de son usine de minifourgonnettes de Windsor, en Ontario.

Chrysler invoque une rupture de ses stocks de pièces, dont des moteurs en aluminium et des supports de transmission.

Congrats - Looks like a good deal and a lot of car/van for the $$$$.

Quoted from scribec

Poor Sparky:

Chrysler contrainte de suspendre les activités de son usine de Windsor
1 avril 2009 - 13h09
  
Le fabricant d’automobiles Chrysler a indiqué mercredi qu’il était dans l’obligation de suspendre les activités de son usine de minifourgonnettes de Windsor, en Ontario.

Chrysler invoque une rupture de ses stocks de pièces, dont des moteurs en aluminium et des supports de transmission.

No problem... my van is already on it's way to the dealership. And that would be the 4.0L engines... I have a good old 3.3L which they have been making for 15 years.

Quoted from Sparky

No problem... my van is already on it's way to the dealership. And that would be the 4.0L engines... I have a good old 3.3L which they have been making for 15 years.

CORRECTION: it IS at the dealership!!! Picking it up either tomorrow or Friday! Allentown on a fresh set of wheels!!! WOOHOO!!!!

Quoted from Sparky

That was a big factor for me... I checked. Built in Windsor.

Why is that since  the big 3 (well 2 of them any way) have announced their possible demise have people started to buy American?

Quoted from 1

Why is that since  the big 3 (well 2 of them any way) have announced their possible denise have people started to buy American?

PRICE. Just like when a collector announces he has had a string of bad luck and sells his pins cheap... the vultures start circling! I am not worried though... my warranty is assured by the creditor. So no problems.

Parts availability? Not a problem either... with the quantity of these vehicles on the road, jobbers will come up with parts as there is money to be made there. But again, that is getting ahead of ourselves a bit. Chrysler was in a similar situation in the 80's and pulled through.

I am picking it up today after lunch! WOOHOO!!! They even are throwing in a Challenger toy car for my son, who saw it in a display case when we went to the dealer on Wednesday... awesome service so far. Can't complain!!!

And if anyone else is looking for a car, go to Des Sources Dodge in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux and ask for Zack. Great salesguy. Tell him I sent you.

So, how's the new PinballMobile going?

Quoted from scribec

So, how's the new PinballMobile going?

103kms of pure satisfaction!!!

DAMN it is HUGE!!!

3 pins would fit... maybe even 4!!