New (to me) vehicle coming soon (well, I have to go get it.....)

That's fantastic.

 

A lot of you might be puzzled as to why i bought a minivan instead of a station wagon....

I've been without a vehicle of 'my own' since I sold the Dodge Dakota back in 2022 (I think). I had sold the '81 Bonneville Safari in 2019, I think it was.

1. Classic wagons, ones that I would want, are getting expensive - like 5 figures and above. Problem #1 - I don't have that much.
2. Usage - I need to be able to carry 4x8 plywood sheets and other lumber either inside, or on a roof rack. You never know when a 'project' will come up.
3. Minivans are a bit 'soft' on the market right now. Most people are buying SUV's or pickups. (Have you priced pickups lately - even OLD ones?)
4. After totaling my 2003 Focus wagon in 2010, I test-drove a Mercury Monterey minivan at our local Buick dealer. I was impressed with how it drove. Also liked the room it had. Didn't buy it then. Kinda wish I had, but I was driving a lot of miles for business back then, and economy was important, which is why I bought the HHR instead.
5. I'm occasionally driving with passengers, like our daughter and granddaughter. Good to have some extra seating capacity. This minivan seats a total of 8.
6. I like it. I wanted it. I bought it.

Sometime down the road, MAYBE I'll buy another station wagon. We'll see.... Let's just drop the 'minivan' label for now and call it a 'tall wagon'.

 

Clearly you need a classic wagon AND a cool old truck in addition to your new minivan.

 

Great idea, but I simply don't have the resources or the space for any more vehicles. We are probably going to sell the Edge in the near future, and get something a bit smaller, maybe with less options, and cloth upholstery, which she prefers. Have no idea what yet......

We're also in a bit of an upheaval, with Marcia beginning hemodialysis a few months ago, and we'll be doing it at home starting in a couple weeks.

 

Thank you. I've been told I am full of them

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope all goes well. I'll keep both of you in my prayers.

 

Thanks, Jeremiah. We appreciate that.

 

Least I can do.

 

Let's just drop the 'minivan' label for now and call it a 'tall wagon'.

Let's do it...tall wagon it is. Congratulations.

Hope Marcia does well with the treatments.

 

With our Windstar - we'd make it from ABQ to Kingman on I-40(about 450 miles) and still have about 1/4 tank - enough to make to Hoover dam/Boulder(another 75 miles easily)on the way to Vegas. I guess you could tell I kinda miss that thing sometimes! We had it for 14 years and we took it everywhere.

 

Car dealer was nice enough to fill the tank before I left Port Angeles. I still had a third of a tank when I got home! Total distance was about 360 miles with stops for food. Gas tank is 26 gallons!!! Got approx 18 mpg on the trip home, doing 50-55mph on the first third, and 65-72-ish on the rest of the trip. Engine is 4.2 liters. Not sure what this engine's origin is. Is it related to the 4.0 V6 in the 2002-2011 Ford Explorers/Mercury Mountaineer, or is it an enlarged 3.8 V6 from the Taurus/Sable family?

 

huh - didn't know the newer ones had a 4.2 V6. Now I'm not sure. Our Windstar had the 3.8 straight from the Taurus/Sable.

 

The 3.8 was still standard in the (renamed) Freestar, but I think they made the 4.2 standard in the 'Limited' model. ALL the Montereys got the 4.2. Because of the front wheel drive, I'm guessing the 4.2 is an enlarged 3.8 (which I had in a '89 Taurus wagon....) Folks had a rear-drive version 3.8 in their '90 Thunderbird. Great engine. Hmmmm.........Now that I'm thinking about it, they DID put a supercharger on that engine in the Thunderbird as well. Hmmm........