Well we finally broke down and got rid of the family truckster. I have a minivan no more. For now anyways. We leased a Dodge Caravan (in homage to a band I was in ) and the lease came up last week. We were only a couple of thousand miles over the limit. We drive around alot. It was a minivan with DVD and seating for my family of 5 and 2 extra seats for us to haul various friends, dogs or to separate sisters who are bugging each other. We went from toddler car seats, to booster seats to just regular seat belts in the Caravan. We've been to Memphis, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida & all points in between. I don't think they will ever really get the sand outta that thing. It's time had come when we realised that we would have to put a couple of hundred dollars in tires, possibly a new transmission, a new rack for the rack and pinion steering and yet another automatic door opener housing. Thanks, but no thanks. The warranty was out and there are a bazillion Dodge Caravans out there on Dodge lots. I tried to bargain with them on the buyout price and they would not budge. When I turned it in, the Dodge salesman was just shaking his head. He already had a lot full of used 05 caravans that had been turned in and 16 more on the back lot he had no room for. I pity the fool. She served us well and she will be missed. 
We now have a new Suzuki Grand Vitara. We have not named her yet but she will be loved like any other member of the family. We got as good of a deal as any other gut that sells Suzuki's for a living might get. We also opted in for the bumper to bumper 100,000 mile warranty with no deductible. We are set for 7years and it will most likely be the first car my oldest drives to high school.
I am gonna trick it out with tinted windows, a new stereo, custom rims ( I'm thinking 20's) and a big ole T sticker on the back wheel cover ( for Tennessee ). The best part about this is because we got such a great deal, Suzuki cut me a check back to cover going over the miles and the turn in fee. It cost me less than $100 to drive off the lot and to turn in my gently used heap. To beat all the payments are less and it gets better gas mileage. Win/Win. I know my family misses the space, the DVD player and the acceptance that a minivan affords, but the will make due, for now, until I have to turn in my truck ( Awesome Kong II ) in April and then I am sure we will get minivan pangs again.
Until then I am proud to say my southern family has an SUV and A big ole truck riding around the suburbs of Ohio with a big orange T on the back of them. I might just get a Bochephus sticker for the little lady.
4x4x4x4
SF
We now have a new Suzuki Grand Vitara. We have not named her yet but she will be loved like any other member of the family. We got as good of a deal as any other gut that sells Suzuki's for a living might get. We also opted in for the bumper to bumper 100,000 mile warranty with no deductible. We are set for 7years and it will most likely be the first car my oldest drives to high school.
I am gonna trick it out with tinted windows, a new stereo, custom rims ( I'm thinking 20's) and a big ole T sticker on the back wheel cover ( for Tennessee ). The best part about this is because we got such a great deal, Suzuki cut me a check back to cover going over the miles and the turn in fee. It cost me less than $100 to drive off the lot and to turn in my gently used heap. To beat all the payments are less and it gets better gas mileage. Win/Win. I know my family misses the space, the DVD player and the acceptance that a minivan affords, but the will make due, for now, until I have to turn in my truck ( Awesome Kong II ) in April and then I am sure we will get minivan pangs again.
Until then I am proud to say my southern family has an SUV and A big ole truck riding around the suburbs of Ohio with a big orange T on the back of them. I might just get a Bochephus sticker for the little lady.
4x4x4x4
SF
