Minivan Drivers

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jcwade

No p car for years though a few back in the day.
I'm not making any judgement just floating a theory that I could have stated more diplomatically.
Plenty of cars pass me here in SoCal. I don't go slow, I just go as fast as I want to and enjoy the ride. If someone wants to pass, I let them.

Number 1 lane is for passing. Everything else is for driving.
I really hate people who hunker down in the fast lane and refuse to move over. But that's another topic.

I live off the old Pasadena fwy, so I know all about the left lane camping. They sit on the twist and turn doing 50 scared with death grip on the steering wheel.

Over all, we drive pretty dang fast here in socal. I found move people in other states drive the speed limit of course, that's merely a suggestion here. So are school zones, and construction zones. I have never see people slow down for those. Construction zone at 50? OK, leave cruise at 75 and blow through it.

Its funny how we noticed things we only want to notice. I thought I bought a pretty rare car once. Once purchased and started driving it, I see them all over the place. Same as your mini van. BTW, that must me or my wife flying by you taking kids to the aquarium.

[RSBob]

Used to drive an old GFs Dodge Minivan and it was quick, great visibility and fantastic for trips to Home Despot. It also came in handy for extracurricular breaks during long drives. Had no issue being a male driving it (that old macho bravo Sierra) because it drove so well and seemingly had a cloaking device on the interstate. Drove a Sienna down through Utah two summers ago and it was a great drive.

Most minivans where I live are driven slowly because it’s a mom with kids. They are more like rolling roadblocks.

[DonDavis]

Been in an Equinox or an Escape since 2010, had minivans the previous 10 years.

The suv is just too small, now I’m back in a minivan. It’s a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan.

While I’m loving the huevos ( and it sounds decent, too! ), the seating position is for a small woman.
I’m just 6’, but in many ways it feels like I’m sitting in a tiny car.
The distance from the pedals to steering wheel is not far. If I adjust my legs to be comfortable, my arms are too extended. Make my arms good, my legs are cramped.

And don’t get started on the sihtty Bluetooth phone functionality. This weekend I’m going to switch over to bone-conduction earphones for a bit. Has to be better than it’s beginner level connectivity.
C’mon, man. It’s 2019. Catch up.

We all know the single most dangerous thing we do on a daily basis is drive a vehicle.
To purposely go more than 10 over is just asking for it.

Wanna go fast and get thrills? Go to the track. If you can’t get a track fix, and you choose to eff around on public roads, that’s not very intelligent.

Spare me the “Ima fine driver, jus axe me!” bs. Those folks know exactly what I mean.

Sure, I use the acceleration lane appropriately, but once up to speed I almost never hit the brakes. It’s not that difficult.

Oh, and my man card is juuuuust fine.

[dlockhart]

[Nevergrowup]

My daily is a 2017 Prius V (In Norway it's called a 7, but I think it's called V in the US?), and I pride myself to up the average speed of the people carriers. And I think that one comment above is correct - we are invisible. I travel along BMW's and Tesla's, which are the speediest and most reckless drivers here in the east of Norway, and have never been pulled over. Knock on wood!

[gtc]

If i had 3-4 screaming anklebiters in the back seat, i'd sure as hell try to get to my destination as soon as possible.

[monoflo]

In my experience--youngish Moms rushing to get Tyler and Naomi to school in the AM are deadly regardless of which Minivan or SUV they are undoubtedly driving. For higher socio economic strata one can substitute or add BMWs to the mix.

M

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by look 171

I live off the old Pasadena fwy, so I know all about the left lane camping. They sit on the twist and turn doing 50 scared with death grip on the steering wheel.

Over all, we drive pretty dang fast here in socal. I found move people in other states drive the speed limit of course, that's merely a suggestion here. So are school zones, and construction zones. I have never see people slow down for those. Construction zone at 50? OK, leave cruise at 75 and blow through it.

Its funny how we noticed things we only want to notice. I thought I bought a pretty rare car once. Once purchased and started driving it, I see them all over the place. Same as your mini van. BTW, that must me or my wife flying by you taking kids to the aquarium.

If you get to WI and drive in Madison, even the stoplights are suggestions. Though they have started cracking down on that. 80mph on the beltline is normal there.

[gregpark]

Too fast? we have a fairly large Hispanic population here and I'm constantly being held up by Mexican soccer moms who are driving their mini vans the speed limit or slower, both of which are entirely too slow. Don't get me wrong, I'm not prejudiced, many of my best friends are Hispanic. I am prejudiced against soccer moms. I'm guessing the illegal ones think they'll be deported and lose their children if they go one mile an hour over the limit. I bought my wife a Murano which was sort of acceptable to drive as far as mini vans go but sold it recently. I bought her a station wagon. 2005 Dodge Magnum RT with a 340hp hemi, now THIS is a proper mini van!

[Alan A]

You all know that the silver Honda minivan was invented by Darpa to validate the stealth program, right?

There's no other vehicle that's both completely invisible to radar AND that bends light around it as a form of active camouflage so that cops flat out can't see them.

The other thing to note is that the Honda Le Mans race team tested their V6 engines in them. I can't see any other explanation as to how the only vehicle I am passed consistently by is one of them.

Amazing pieces of technology. If only they came in AWD...

[stevej37]

[QUOTE=gregpark;10866856]Too fast? we have a fairly large Hispanic population here and I'm constantly being held up by Mexican soccer moms who are driving their mini vans the speed limit or slower, both of which are entirely too slow.

Nothing worse than being held up by someone obeying the law.

[gregpark]

Yes, it IS rather irritating. ;^)

[DonDavis]

My shoulder is even with the B pillar, which is where the shoulder belt anchors.

I drove a Freestar, Windstar and a Town and Country in the 2000s.
I can’t recall sitting that far back.

I presume the front crumple zone has pushed things back while not changing the overall footprint on the vehicle. I’m sure I’m safe in a frontal impact, but an angular or side impact and I’m gonna be effed.

Those of with minivans see any similarities?

Where does the ladies’ sitting position line up?

[Noah930]

Mrs. Noah has a minivan. She's definitely not the type to go screaming by at 10-20 mph faster than the flow of traffic, like the OP noted. Neither is she a left-lane camper, frustrating faster traffic.

From time to time I get to drive the 'van. I'm the type who tries to stay out of people's way, piddling along in the slow lane. But get me with that thing on a canyon road or a cloverleaf, and a squealing tire is a happy tire. I just have to balance that with the screaming coming from behind me.

[DonDavis]

How do you find the seating position? Please refer to my earlier posts in this thread.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

I can’t recall sitting that far back.

(sometimes they even leave room for cargo)

[DFW_IE]

Minivans are pretty awesome. It’s one of those things that must be experienced to fully understand.

[DFW_IE]

[QUOTE=stevej37;10866867]

Originally Posted by gregpark

Too fast? we have a fairly large Hispanic population here and I'm constantly being held up by Mexican soccer moms who are driving their mini vans the speed limit or slower, both of which are entirely too slow.

Nothing worse than being held up by someone obeying the law.

For a split moment I read this as if you were being “held up” as in mugged!! Haha

[KevinTodd]

Here in metro ATL the cars that routinely pass me are (in no particular order):

* Kia (any)
* Sentra
* Altima
* Hyundai (any)
* Prius
* Minivan (any)

The couple things in common:

* Usually filthy
* Dents, gouges, scrapes on all four corners
* Usually missing a hubcap (yes, a hubcap)
* Usually riding on at least one temp spare (that has clearly been on the car for awhile)
* Usually a paper drive-out tag, or poorly scribbled "tag applied for" on cardboard
* Usually clipping along at a leisurely 90+ MPH, veering between lanes, exiting the interstate from the speed lane, etc, etc, etc.

Oh, and BMW (any--absolutely the worst ever, and it is not my imagination)

[glewis80SC]

We had a second generation Odyssey an 05 I think....loved it. It was comfortable plenty of room with three young kids we drove it everywhere. Guys at my fire station would give me crap about it until we took a road trip in it then they came around.