My $100 dollar car getting a transmission

[Babygools99]

I needed a beater to drive around and put my GF in while the Jeep was down last August. We have a tight budget, and a 2 year old, so i thought hell, why not buy a minivan. So i did just that. A not so beautiful $100 1998 Ford Windstar GL. Say what you will about Ford Windstar's, but i'll tell you that this has got to be the smoothest riding vehicle i've ever driven. 130k when i bought it, with everything in working order. We have put a combined 30k miles on it in 8 months with no more than regular oil changes, a set of tires, and one tie rod end. But, as luck has it, the poor AX4S transmission smoked the torque converter about 2 hours from home and overheated. Luckily, i found a $300 used trans with a brand new TC and today is the day she goes under the knife. In true texas fashion, we will be doing this in the horse barn, with our 2 post lift being a beautiful red mahindra tractor. Hopefully at the end of the day, my $100 beater car turns into my $400 beater car.

 

[Chris]

We had a Ford Windstar growing up as the family car! It superseded the Plymouth Voyager.

 

[Zorba]

Most people who buy an SUV would be better served by a minivan. I'm *NOT* a fan of the crossover fad. If you're gonna go offroad, or tow something, certain SUVs will do that; otherwise the minivan is cheaper, rides better, gets better mileage, and has more room inside.

 

[Chris]

Most people who buy an SUV would be better served by a minivan. I'm *NOT* a fan of the crossover fad. If you're gonna go offroad, or tow something, certain SUVs will do that; otherwise the minivan is cheaper, rides better, gets better mileage, and has more room inside.

We have a Honda Odyssey minivan and absolutely love it. It’s a far better choice than an SUV.

 

[cliffish]

Yeah when the kids were young we went through 2 different minivans, you really need the room when traveling.

 

[Zorba]

We have a Honda Odyssey minivan and absolutely love it. It’s a far better choice than an SUV.

My dance teacher has one and wouldn't drive anything else. The thing is longer than a whore's dream, but rides really nice. Of course, it has leather and all the tech crap I dislike but teacher likes it which is all that matters.

 

[Babygools99]

I love the Windstar. It's everything the jeep isn't. The only con is its hard to find parts

 

[Chris]

My dance teacher has one and wouldn't drive anything else. The thing is longer than a whore's dream, but rides really nice. Of course, it has leather and all the tech crap I dislike but teacher likes it which is all that matters.

And when you remove the seats (which is very easy) it has just as much room inside as most pickup trucks.

 

[Zorba]

And when you remove the seats (which is very easy) it has just as much room inside as most pickup trucks.

Yep - probably more than most pickup "trucks" one sees today with huge cabs and vestigial beds!

 

[Babygools99]

Yep - probably more than most pickup "trucks" one sees today with huge cabs and vestigial beds!

Texas is also the worst about people needlessly buying pickup trucks. Half of them don't even put a single trailer on it.

 

[Zorba]

I haven't owned a pickup truck in 20 years as my need for one dried up. And now if I wanted one, I'd have to dig down to the K-T boundary to find a real one without all the crap!

 

[Jamison C]

We had a Ford Aerostar growing up. It’s basically a minivan on a shortened F150 frame with a V8. That thing could haul ass with AC on and I remember the looks people would give us as we blew by them on the streets and on road trips.

My mother has a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country. It’s so smooth and comfortable. I think folks who talk crap about minivans are just trying to compensate for something

 

[Daryl]

We had a Ford Aerostar growing up. It’s basically a minivan on a shortened F150 frame with a V8. That thing could haul ass with AC on and I remember the looks people would give us as we blew by them on the streets and on road trips.

My mother has a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country. It’s so smooth and comfortable. I think folks who talk crap about minivans are just trying to compensate for something

When the kids were younger, we had an Aerostar also. One of the best vehicles I’ve ever owned. The only issue I ever had was the alternator plug got hot and melted. Bought a repair pigtail kit from Ford & never had an issue after that. Great vehicles for families.

 

[Zorba]

What I mainly remember about the Aerostar was the ads that compared its front end shape with that of the space shuttle. Until said ad was abruptly pulled...

 

[Oldguy]

I had a Dodge caravan. I am a whitewater kayaker, traveled and camped a lot. take the seats out, all camping gear fit. Got to location took camp supplies out, inflate twin mattress and it fit like a glove. Would bring fiberglass screen, open door roll down window then hang screen over door and shut. screened in! Worked like a champ

 

[Jamison C]

Until said ad was abruptly pulled...

Was that because of the Challenger explosion?

 

[Zorba]

Was that because of the Challenger explosion?

Yep. I remember seeing it "again" the next day, but it vanished after that.

 

[qslim]

I spent 6 months trying to convince my wife to get a minivan, but she just wouldn't have it. Eventually got a Lexus GX that she really likes, but more & more she complains about the lack of space hauling the kids & dogs around. When I used to work for Toyota I marveled at the amount of room available in new Siennas, there's a cupholder in every square foot.

 

[Babygools99]

Day 1 update:
Remember when i said the van was everything the Jeep wasn't? It holds true. Asolute nightmare to work on. Everything is unbolted for the Trans to slide off the engine and it gets centimeters away from coming off, but the trusty subframe is stopping it. Guess it's time to loosen a couple of motor mounts, angle the engine down(securely of course) just enough for the Trans to clear the subframe. A PITA, but it's been a fun challenge.

 

[tworley]

Both my wife and I said that when we have kids, we'll never buy a minivan We'll stick to something like a suburban.