Space...... With Pace

[Ian_Fearn]

I am quite possibly the only person in the known universe with a love of these cars but here goes.....

 

I have no kids and absolutely no requirement whatsoever for an MPV but the concept of big petrol power and loads of comfy space appeals. So here's a selection of my favorites.

 

In pole position is the completely bonkers Avantime, the best car in the world simply because the manufacturer went out on a limb with no idea what the general public would buy..... and lost..... big time. 24v V6 with autobox must be the one to go for. Words cannot describe how much I want one of these.

 

 

In 2nd position lies the Matra built Espace V6s (including the earlier models)

 

Dont get me wrong, I love the later Nissan 3.5 V6 versions too.

 

Then theres the crazy (fibreglass??) Pontiac TransSport with the 3.1V6. Sounds good but a bit limp in the performance stakes. I spent the first few years of my life living in the USA and these were pretty revolutionary back then.

 

Again, another Yank van. Many family members had these during the 80's along with nasty Ford Aerostars. I even like the newer 3.8 V6 versions.

 

Despite being relatively modern, i've done a fair miles in the Ford Galaxy version of these with the VW 2.8 24v engine and really like them. Really smooth and drive well with plenty of grunt in reserve. I like the razor sharp styling too.

 

and finally, heres my runt of the V6 MPV litter. The truely average GM USA inspired Vauxhall Sintra. 3.0 V6 but i've no idea if this is the Omega 24v style V6 or a US gutless wonder. Either way, they're the one I wouldn't buy.

 

hope you enjoyed.....

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

I'd probably opt for the Espace. I've driven an Avantime. I massively looked forward to it. The drive was disappointing because it's nowhere near as bonkers to drive as it looks.

[Bren]

My neighbour got rid of a Toyota previa for a Sinatra with the 2.2 engine.

 

He summed the car up in one word - "WANK"

[gadgetgricey]

For my sins I owned a 2.2 Sintra for a year. Really loved it. 

 

Only downside was no rear windows, so you had to make sure the aircon was working otherwise it was a green house with all that glass.

 

Remember taking the middle row of seats out and going to the Safari Park with our two kids. Wife turned her chair round and kept an eye on the kids as they were running from one side of the car to the other.

 

In a slightly masochistic way I Still miss that car

 

- Dave -

[Ian_Fearn]

My mum very nearly got talked into a Sintra a few years back on grounds of it being dirt cheap. Clearly the dealer was desperate to get rid.

 

Talking about scraping the bottom of the shite barrel.......

 

2.7i V6 Hyundai Tragic.

 

Another 2.7i V6 disaster built without passion.

[Ian_Fearn]

Believe it or not, this superb piece of engineering is under the bonnet of a Citroen C8. Sweeeeeeet.

 

[dollywobbler]

Suggest you speak to Dunk before getting any thoughts of a C8. Not a successful purchase!

[Micrashed]

Ian (Fern) - May I throw in this wildcard...

http://www.citroenet.org.uk/passenger-cars/psa/c8/c8-16.html

 

 

Switch off the ASC (little button, bottom right of dash) Pull fuse number 4 (ABS) and drive it like a spastic mentallist.

 

 

 

EDIT

Damn, beaten to it!

 

Our C8 is bloody brilliant at speed and handles like an oversized go-kart fitted with a sofa. 

[Asimo]

Concur with DW re driving the Avantime. Looking as it does it needs to ride like a Citroen CX or Renault 20 and to be propelled by a big soft V8 auto. There is not as much space as you'd think either. The floor is high for no obvious reason and in the back the leg room is disappointing. 

The Mk3 Espace is probably just the same to drive. Same very rust resistant construction as the Avantime but my favourite in this class is the Chrysler Voyager 3.3 V6. Quiet, spacious, comfy and cheap. My sister bought one new 12 years ago and it has been brilliant: pushing 200000 miles now and only one serious problem (solenoid valve assy. in the autobox)

[Guest Breadvan72]

Off topic, but  I had the Hyundai Coupe V6 for a short while.  Utterly, mind bogglingly, total shit.  Possibly the worst V6 car ever made.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

'I ordered a fuckin' Cadillac '

 

'Well,you got the Cadillac of minivans'

[Ian_Fearn]

Suggest you speak to Dunk before getting any thoughts of a C8. Not a successful purchase!

Presumably because he didn't go for the V6?

[Ian_Fearn]

Ideal if you have twins on the way and are struggling to convince the wife that a Jag XJR is the way to go.

 

[dollywobbler]

Off topic, but  I had the Hyundai Coupe V6 for a short while.  Utterly, mind bogglingly, total shit.  Possibly the worst V6 car ever made.

 

Clearly, you have never driven a Suzuki Vitara V6. It sounded like Janet Street-Porter trying to sing Goldfinger.

[Guest Breadvan72]

FPWM, but at least a Vitara is not pretending to be a sports car.    Every time I got into the Hyundai Coupe I wanted to stab myself in the face with a rusty ski pole covered in ten day old raccoon shit.  

 

I need not have bothered.  Actually driving the car was like that, only worse. 

[HH-R]

Sounds perfect. Where do I sign?

[Spiny Norman]

I'd have an Avantime in a shot. Fair enough, it doesn't drive like it looks, but frankly only a Countach or a CX would drive like that thing looks. A V6 Avantime will drive a damn sight better than anything else on that list, particularly the Yank shit.

Boggo Renault oily bits, plastic body and a shape that gets more attention than most supercars, you know you want one.

[Negative Creep]

Just get a Volvo T5 or BMW 328 estate, then you won't have to drive an MPV

[eddyramrod]

'I ordered a fuckin' Cadillac '

image.jpg

 

'Well,you got the Cadillac of minivans'

Count me in, I'd have one of those in a heartbeat, and pay actual money of my own to do so!  Also, R9UKE is well-known here as an Avantime lover, I think he still has one in the spec you describe.  I reckon I would too at the right price...

[robinmasters]

Believe it or not, this superb piece of engineering is under the bonnet of a Citroen C8. Sweeeeeeet.

 

 

Is the engineering under that shiny plastic thing? What exactly is the point in that? Surely people who would be offended by the sight of an actual engine wouldn't open the bonnet? And even if they did, they'd only be able to see 6" of it between the bulkhead and the slam panel?

 

I'd love a V6 C8 if I was more Catholic.

[Madman Of The People]

'I ordered a fuckin' Cadillac '

image.jpg

 

'Well,you got the Cadillac of minivans'

 

 

 

FYI, the "Cadillac of Minivans" was actually the similarly grim Oldsmobile Silhouette.

[warren t claim]

A quick vote for the Dodge Caravan. Mine was a 2.5 4 cylinder petrol mated to a three speed Arthur Askey gearbox and it was a pleasant old thing. Shit handling but pretty good on fuel and a bizarre spec of non reclining seats without head restraints and a radio that's only capable of picking up radio stations with even numbered frequencies.

[PhilA]

A quick vote for the Dodge Caravan. Mine was a 2.5 4 cylinder petrol mated to a three speed Arthur Askey gearbox and it was a pleasant old thing. Shit handling but pretty good on fuel and a bizarre spec of non reclining seats without head restraints and a radio that's only capable of picking up radio stations with even numbered frequencies.

 

Yup, the radio thing is US-spec FCC-tastic stuff. AM tunes in tens, not nines and the FM steps in 250kHz steps, not 50 so it generally tends to miss a lot of the UK's broadcast stations.

 

Some radios have a switch for it, but only ones destined to be sold anywhere other than here. My fabulous Delco Electronics radio in the Astro (might as well bring another minivan abhorration into the fray) isn't actually that bad. Despite being only a radio. (And a clock, if you're feeling generous). The van itself is powered by a 4.3 litre Vortec V6 mated to a gearbox that has a mind of its own and was programmed by someone who had a passion for sportsbikes- it'll rev and hold the revs until the engine's screaming and out of breath (about 5500 rpm) then slam into another gear. Rinse and repeat to 95mph. by which point you're seriously considering your future in case of impact with anything larger than a possum.

 

--Phil

[Ian_Fearn]

Thanks for dragging the Astro/Safari into the debate. Another van I grew up with. They were proper mummy cool back in the 80s when we had a god awful Chevrolet Celebrity with the worlds most pathetic 2.8 V6.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

three speed Arthur Askey gearbox

 

LOL!!!! Brilliant

[KruJoe]

Looking at your avatar made me think you need to seek out that abortion of a Matra Rancho fitted* with an XR2 engine which was doing the rounds on ebay recently.

[Ian_Fearn]

Looking at your avatar made me think you need to seek out that abortion of a Matra Rancho fitted* with an XR2 engine which was doing the rounds on ebay recently.

2 cylinders less than the required minimum.....

[phil_lihp]

These seem to be getting as rare as Sintras now, probably the usual MB rot from pillar to post.  Nice 2.3 auto one here.

 

http://www.cars4sale.pro/detail/uk/TBUcYcoYppAprcrcUUn/Mercedes-Benz-V230-VITO-AMBIENTE-AUTO-7-Seats-LUXURY

 

 

Classy way to ferry the kids around as long as you concentrate on the badge and not the fact it's a Vito van with seats in the back.

[barefoot]

...... mated to a three speed Arthur Askey gearbox .....

I'm hoping an Arthur Askey box is particularly short legged.

raoflmfao

[capsuleboy]

Where are you Ian? If its anywhere near Leicester you could pop over and have a go in my Avi V6...