I'm glad to have found this forum. I'm a 42-year-old guy with a family of 4 and a dog. We've been tooling around in our 2000 Ford Windstar that has seen better days. I would still like to get more mileage out of it, but within a couple years, I envision getting a different vehicle, and my wife and I are targeting a station wagon...what to get will depend partly on what I learn here. I'm a runner (college distance runner now running mostly just for fitness) and a musician (play keyboards in a blues band in central Ohio), and I like to travel as much as the budget will allow. Last summer we drove from Ohio to Sanibel Island in Florida and had a great time. The van broke down there on our first day, but luckily I got it fixed that same day and all was good. On to some reading and learning! Steve
Steve geez...gas mileage and a wagon...kind of a oxy moron unless you go with a newer one... but...my motto is...."you cant put a price on cool"... everything i own needs a sponsorship with Opec
Guess I didn't word that properly. By "more mileage" I meant I'd still like to drive that van of mine for a while yet before replacing it hopefully with a station wagon. I realize a station wagon won't necessarily get the best gas mileage. My parents had a Ford wagon when I was a kid. It was GREAT sitting in the back of that thing.
A carbon tax credit is more likely. Welcome aboard Steve. Hope you're handy with tools and cars. Earlier than 1983, most wagons have simple on-board computers, but parts are getting harder to find. After that, you're getting into Emission Testing cars in most states or stuff that the ordinary Do-it-yourselfer may not be able to do. If you go for an industry standard wagon (most big ones from the big 3), you'll find a lot of parts are interchangeable. If you go for the 1950's or 60's classics, make sure you get one with an engine/trans that survived the big changes during the 1970's gas shortages, so that you can get parts on the road. Fords, Mercs, GMs are usually OK. As for odd stuff that broke down on certain models and not on others, well, there are sites about Lemons and I think one is called LemonAid. If you're not handy, or like it sounds, have your hands full with 4 children, time to do things right might not be on your side. I'm past the parent age, so working with and maintaining a car before 1982 works for me. I like doing it. Drive and Go wagons costa-lotta. We're always on the hunt for tips and parts, and hopefully you'll find the info you need for you and yours.
Thanks for the welcome and the tips. I just have two kids though. Scaring me a little with saying I had 4! The FAMILY is 4 -- including my wife and me. I'm sure I'll get the info I'm looking for. Thanks again.
The extra 'kids' are coming. The Project wagon and the Parts donor car. Good luck with the search. Good to have you.
fyi, my 8 pass roadmaster gets about 17/25( if I keep my foot out of it ) That should about what the windstar gets. And, i only run when chased.
Welcome aboard Steve! I picture you, the kids and dog in a woody wagon with a surfboard on the roofrack. LOL. For practicality with style, grab a last generation Caprice wagon. Big enough to haul your tribe around plus keyboard equipment. Those big Caprices are not that bad on gas either. It will be easy to get serviced too.
Steve, I'd reccomend either a GM Box 1977-91 or a Bubble 1991-96 wagon. They're good looking, reliable, and you can fit plenty in them!
For my .02 cents, I think a Chevrolet Suburban/Ford Expedition would work for you. Yeah, I know they are SUV's,but in a way they are like a wagon on steriods. A Suburban would have a forward facing 3rd seat and yet still have plenty of room for your gear. How old are the kids? If you get a older wagon no matter how big it is,as those kids grow interior space would get tight. You could keep the Windstar for long trips and get a older wagon for local use,that could work. If you can only have 1 vehicle though I would go with a Suburban/Expedition EL or get another minivan(yeah I know some people hate minivans but they are incredibly roomy in a not too big package) That's just my thoughts I hope it helps you a little bit in deciding. If you decide to get a old wagon though,I agree with CapriceEstate on this one 77-90 Gm Box or 91-96 Gm wagon. If you have to have a Ford there's still quite a few of 80's Ford/Mercury wagons out there.
