NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't stand that look...

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Yeah, or get another job... or 2 or 3... and have less kids.

I could tell early on this thread was going to be a big JO session.

No such vehicle exists at that $$$.

It is unfortunate that you don't make enough to get the right vehicle for your potential family because you will end up in a minivan, because it is the best choice for you. And you are in no position to snub your nose at them since you really have no choice.

Hate to tell you that...

Sorry to sound mean, but you opened yourself up to it by poo poo-ing everything.

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1982 240D auto 152k
1984 380SL 113k
2015 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Previous:
1985 300DT
1984 190D 5sp Euro

Agreed. Driving some weird vehicle just for the heck of it is only going to make your life more difficult. By choosing to have 4 kids you are choosing to have a minivan, they go hand in hand since your budget is so small. Anything else is going to be a disaster to maintain, and ultimately not large enough/up to the task.

A MB wagon is not ideal with that many people, rear facing seats are not very safe nor a good solution. Maintenance will be way higher than on say, a honda odyssey or toyota sienna.

Demanding a vehicle that doesn't exist is a good way to waste a lot of time.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

minivans get a bad rap. As a usable family vehicle, theres a reason there are a million of them on the road cause they are hard to beat, and also for this reason, you can afford to hold out for a really nice one that would still be way under budget.

What about them is the big issue would be my question? What don't you and your wife like about them?

7 passenger people carriers say one thing, family vehicle. Since people buy them for hauling their family around, thats exactly what it is.

The large stationwagon used to be called a "mommobile". That was taken over by the minivan, as they are better than a large station wagon. Higher road position with good visibility, good layout for passengers, and reasonable economy, reliability, and looks based on manufacturer.
If you are planning for a family of 6, going to be hard to avoid the entire genre of vehicles that answer the most points on your list of desired attributes. Like you I wish there were way more diesel choices here, but given the limitations on budget and availability, you might come up with a solution that ultimately is a bigger pain in the keister just to say its not a minivan. Is it worth it?

There are cool minivans out there. The VW eurovan comes in 5-speed factory, and arent all that rare in that option

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

VW eurovan is a good option too for used, but maintenance will be higher since they are old and finding a nice one will not be easy...

Being opposed to a gas engine makes no sense, there's plenty of gas motors that are MORE durable than many diesel motors. The consumer ratings of the past 5-6 years of toyota/honda vans is practically 100% for reliability.

I've been tempted to even trade our sportwagen TDI for a honda odyssey now that I've looked into them....the capabilities (other than lower fuel economy) are quite hard to argue with....and with a 250hp V6....power isn't an issue.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

As soon as you sacrifice practicality to ideology, you stop being practical. Just remember that if you decide not to reconsider.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

(To pawoSD, not to Ben): Try out the 2007-2010 Toyota Sienna. We love ours -- it is powerful, roomy, comfortable, quiet, roomy, (you can put a 4' x 8' in the back), and relatively economical (I got 32 on the highway coming back from Maine on Sunday... city mileage isn't as good, however). It has 98,000 miles on it and we have repaired exactly nothing.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."