Track

then again, I am looking at these Ford E-150s and they are a ------- steal. I found a couple for $4000 with low mileage and maintenance records.

RedTurboMiata

yea, there cheap easy to fix, and parts are readily available in the junkyard. Im alittle worried about pulling around a car and trailer. the clutch is getting bad, 107,xxx miles on the original.

sixshooter

Yeah, it's a joke how quickly E-150s depreciate. I still hate working on Fords though! The E-150s have fairly cushy springs but they are leafs and are super simple to add on to if you want to make it firmer. There are also aftermarket rear sway bar kits to add them to vans that didn't come with them. My boss has an E-150 conversion van that swayed like a drunk and always felt tippy because of all of the weight added up high. We added the rear sway kit and a leaf and it firmed it up nicely. I don't like that Ford uses cheap plastics, especially in their switchgear. It can be an annoyance to replace little switches and buttons.

Full size vans aren't any harder to see out of or park than Expeditions, but have much lower floors. If you only have 200lbs of gear you need more tools, lol. I had two jacks, four jackstands, four tires and wheels for the car, two spares for the dolly, oil, car water, drinking water, brake pads, four way wrench, a five gallon fuel can, brake cleaner, assorted hand tools, a suitcase, a sleeping bag, and a cooler full of ice. I would assume you would likely have a charcoal grill and a bag of charcoal with you for grilling. That's more gear than I needed but enough to make me feel comfortable that I was well prepared. That's a lot more than 200lbs. and it is much easier to drag along all that junk and be prepared when you aren't stuck driving your race vehicle to the track. That's the beauty of it.

You mentioned 4Runners. They are expensive because they are reliable if they've been maintained well. They don't have as much room as a van but would certainly tow a Miata. They have the same engine as my T100 did and it towed fine.

Track

well, I drive my miata to the track, so currently my tools comprise of essential fluids (brake fluid, coolant, oil, windex), floor jack, two jack stands, a tool kit, rotors, and a box of assorted ----. Add on clothing, cooler, laptop, helmet, and chair and the miata is pretty full.

Anyways, yea the 4runner is looking like a good bet, but its so tempting to get one of those E-150s. engine choices are plenty and the 4.2 or the 4.6 looks like it will do just fine for towing.

I just gotta spend sometime this weekend looking around at all the possibilities.

Track

Well, I have been looking around at these cars, specifically a 4runner and pathfinders.

I pretty much have to throw the pathfinders out because there is a TSB on the 96-98 models for faulty control arm bushings and it seems to be pretty common. Anything newer is somewhere north of 5k.

4Runners are ------- expensive and a bit rare to find. my local craigslist is coming up short on the cars for sale by owner, and I am not trying to get butt raped by a dealership. I was looking at a 2000, its for sale for 5.6k and has less miles than 1997 for sale by a dealer at the same price. I am betting these 4runners are gobbled up frequently by parents trying to make their high school daughter happy. ---- me.

So, patience or just bite the bullet and get a van? The Sticker idea isn't so bad, but I need to get a big ------ vinyl for the side. RICK, what do you think? I can advertise your services all day

sixshooter

I think it should say in giant letters "MOBILE ORIENTAL MASSAGE" and under that in small letters "racing". I bet you'll get lots of attention.

I still think the astro will be quieter and more reliable and a little better on gas than the E series vans. It will also have more amenities and be more comfortable with more sound suppression padding. It will still have a truck frame and a leaf spring rear but will be easier to park because it will be a little shorter and a couple of inches narrower. It will also be easier to see out of backing up. I would drive them and attempt parking them. My most recent experience in an E series was that the steering was a little vague at ~80k miles.

I would certainly drive them and buy what you like. You will have to live with it so buy what you want to drive and would be comfortable in.

4Runners hold their value too well. You will only find one cheap if it is ragged to hell.

Track

I broke down. I am just going to get a truck. This van idea just won't work, I can't imagine myself driving to a decent dinner with a girl and having to drive a damn work van.

A truck it will be, I think. Probably a 94-98 f150/silverado. there is a couple of v6 5-speeds around, just gotta figure out towing accomodations.

sixshooter

I forgot that you were still needing a date vehicle and were needing a little coolness and weren't in old-fart-practicality-only mode!

That pickup idea will work just fine. The v6/auto should be fine too if you add an additional trans cooler. The bumper will be rated for 4-5000lbs usually, so just a ball there will be sufficient.

I hate to throw out a tangential idea at this point but have you looked at 2000-2004 v6 Xterras? They are rated adequately for your load and have a truck frame under them. They won't have quite the same chick-turn-off factor as a van but are much more reasonable than 4Runners. Just brainstorming here.

I just looked and they are very reasonable: http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/2707673431.html
The 2005 and up versions after the restyle were apparently junk and should be avoided.

I used the vinyl bench seat in my standard cab F-150 to its fullest potential back in college when I was dating. I just had a slew of good memories come flashing back. One good thing about vinyl seats and rubber floor mats is that if she gets the whipped cream or chocolate syrup on the seat when you are wrestling with her you can just hose it off later. Very, very good times.

Track

haha, good idea, I hadn't even thought of the Xterra. I will look at the montero sport also and see whats available in the mitsu area.

btw, xterra's are pretty expensive up here. 2000s are going at around 5k+ ish. I did find a few that have promise.

Track

how about an Isuzu trooper and/or Rodeo? some of the 99s are v6s with about 4500-5000 lbs towing. the question is, transmission cooler?

I am going to continue looking at all these options in the mean time and slowly eliminate some stuff. I am still liking the utility of a van, but I need a non-work van and to find a way to paint it well!