An Open Denial
No, Honda Motor Company, your Odyssey minivan is not the van my parents wish they had. Granted, your "Respect the Van" TV advert that light-heartedly pokes fun at the history of the van ("Some families were started in one.") is really, really good. Much better than the advert from a Dodge product that played 90 seconds later on the same channel tonight. You had me until the tagline: "The Van Your Parents Wish They Had."
No, my parents were thrilled with their early-70s VW microbus (in yellow with yellow-flocked smiley hubcaps). Any number of dropped tranny repairs didn't deter them. They got this and a Datsun pickup as an even trade for a Firebird 440 convertible. It was quite the van that did everything from hauling more people that it was intended to, carrying 3-tier anniversary cakes across three state lines at high speed, and making cops do double-takes -- "Is that a dead body in the back?" "Why no, officer. Its the largest bluefish anyone has ever seen."
As for me, I miss my 74 Super Beetle. It looked just like the one at left, even the same color. Now that was a car. Not an automobile (There is a subtle difference). Eventually the floorboards completely rusted out, especially on the side where someone ripped part of the side off, and the rubberband snapped one Easter Sunday, trashing the engine in the process. Fortunately, a new rubber band, a couple gaskets, and a carb rebuild later she ran for another couple years. This is probably the only collector car I would go for if I was ever blessed with enough extra cash.
I was dying to try floating the little beastie. Never got a chance to do that, but I was in a friend's 72 Beetle when we got the front-end floating in Burnt Meadow Pond just outside of Fryeburg, Maine.
There is nothing like the sound of an original Beetle. The 21st century ones are okay, but certainly not the same. My "Bailey" was the only car I've ever had that would perk up my mood just by driving it. I've had memorable moments in them all (the initial drive with my new Toyota that turned my dad white; being stranded overnight in a freak April snow blizzard with the Taurus; the high-speed attacks on back roads with the Focus), but I'll always love the Beetle.
Yes, Honda. My parents would have enjoyed your minivan, but if my Mom could get another microbus, she'd do it in a heartbeat.
I had one of those vans. I loved it. It had a table and a fold out bed.
For some reason I fondly remember that the heater was awful. I shivered while driving through cold terrain while it cooked my right foot.
Once blew up the engine. No problem, $300 later I had a new engine.
I drove everywhere in it, and even lived in it for a brief period (with my siamese cat!).
Posted by
Curious Servant |
10:58 PM EDT
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Posted by
CC Hunt |
11:03 PM EDT
The van could get cold. The front-mounted heater wouldn't touch the 2nd row and never thought of the third row. We thought about getting the camper version with the table and fridge, but were happy with tenting.
Posted by
CC Hunt |
11:06 PM EDT
I had multiple bugs and a 68 bus. I always remember the heaters being great, with the heat coming off the engine you would be sweating in no time. Unfortunately a couple years ago I t-boned someone in my bus while driving about 40 and was fortunate to live and to not lose my legs although I was badly hurt and broke my legs badly. Let me tell you, they are not safe in the front. I now have a Honda Odyssey and will never get into another VW bus again. So for me, I love the Respect the Van commercial and wish I could find a sticker for the Honda. Trust me, the Honda is the van your parents would have and should have wanted.
Posted by
Unknown |
11:06 PM EDT