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Old 02-26-2013, 09:42 AM   #31 (permalink)
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I was looking at a Mazda 5 or a Dodge RS (01-07). The Mazda had slightly better mpg rating, the Dodge had every other possible category including price. My wife wanted something newer so we got a Dodge RT (08+). She doesn't care about mpg and gets around 20 combined. She loves it and I still can't believe how much it holds.

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Originally Posted by sheepdog44 View Post
Transmission type Efficiency
Manual neutral engine off.100% @MPG <----- Fun Fact.
Manual 1:1 gear ratio .......98%
CVT belt ............................88%
Automatic .........................86%

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Old 02-26-2013, 09:56 AM   #32 (permalink)
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I'll leave the key in it along with an address for you to send your donation check!
It is perfect for holding a liner in the back.

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Originally Posted by arcosine View Post
Dave, I may take you up on your offer, but leave the van behind, It will take 2 or 3 days to ride there.
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Old 02-28-2013, 12:36 AM   #33 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by mechman600 View Post
I always liked the Pontiac Trans Sport. If I could get one for cheap back here I would already have some ideas to take lots of weight off and replace the A/C with an evaporative cooler. Its automatic transmissions kill lots of power, but the manual Getrag 5-speed used in the Chevy Cavalier, Cobalt, Saturn Ion and Astra is not so hard to bolt into.
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Old 02-28-2013, 08:56 AM   #34 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr View Post
I always liked the Pontiac Trans Sport. If I could get one for cheap back here I would already have some ideas to take lots of weight off and replace the A/C with an evaporative cooler. Its automatic transmissions kill lots of power, but the manual Getrag 5-speed used in the Chevy Cavalier, Cobalt, Saturn Ion and Astra is not so hard to bolt into.
Looks aero with that nose. Its got a galvanized space frame and plastic body panels, like the Fiero and Saturn. Dash is too long. Too bad it's a V6. Sitting in the middle of the vehicle, you'd think it would rate good in the crash test, but the dummy's metal foot was severed.
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Last edited by arcosine; 02-28-2013 at 09:06 AM..
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Old 03-01-2013, 01:33 AM   #35 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arcosine View Post
Its got a galvanized space frame and plastic body panels, like the Fiero and Saturn.
That's one of its features I like the most.


Quote:
Dash is too long.
That's true. Well, at least it has some weight that can be taken away


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Too bad it's a V6.
Some overseas-market versions had the Oldsmobile Quad-4 engine, bolted to a manual transmission. I've already seen one US-spec repowered with an Iron Duke...
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Old 03-01-2013, 01:29 PM   #36 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
......
I'm not sure what a stock Mazda 5 is capable of, but the stick sure gives you a lot more options when it comes to technique.
Anyone who likes the 5 but wants something used and cheap would do well to check out a 1st gen Saturn Vue. My wife has one with the 2.2 "Ecotec" and a 5sp. She consistantly knocks down 26mpg in mixed in-town driving and I've seen as high as 34 on the highway. 30+ on the road is childsplay from it. With some more extreme eco-driving I think close to 40 is possible.
Just stay FAR away from the auto version (as if that's a major problem here ).
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Old 03-01-2013, 01:34 PM   #37 (permalink)
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How many seats in the Vue? It's not exactly a minivan.
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Old 03-01-2013, 01:49 PM   #38 (permalink)
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I wouldn't trust a Caravan / Grand Caravan unless it was a 5 speed. Chrysler put out some craptastic transmissions for a while!

Getting a 5 speed to bolt into the windstart isn't as easy as stated above. The Tauruses with 5 speed transmission used a Yamaha engine, but the transmission on those would only bolt up to the Vulcan 3.0 IIRC.
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Old 03-01-2013, 02:44 PM   #39 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miller88 View Post
I wouldn't trust a Caravan / Grand Caravan unless it was a 5 speed. Chrysler put out some craptastic transmissions for a while!
Yeah, my boss talks about the days when we had a whole wall with transmissions lined up against it. Long time ago- of course, I never would have bought mine without the lifetime service contract. Nowadays the biggest transmission complaint we get is rough shifting from folks who didn't realize that hitting the "Econ" button would actually change something.
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Originally Posted by sheepdog44 View Post
Transmission type Efficiency
Manual neutral engine off.100% @MPG <----- Fun Fact.
Manual 1:1 gear ratio .......98%
CVT belt ............................88%
Automatic .........................86%

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Old 03-01-2013, 02:51 PM   #40 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miller88 View Post
I wouldn't trust a Caravan / Grand Caravan unless it was a 5 speed. Chrysler put out some craptastic transmissions for a while!

Getting a 5 speed to bolt into the windstart isn't as easy as stated above. The Tauruses with 5 speed transmission used a Yamaha engine, but the transmission on those would only bolt up to the Vulcan 3.0 IIRC.
Those mopar AOD fwd trannies were horrible, but, they sorted it out sometime in the late 90s-early 00s. I had an 02 GC that shifted like new on its original tranny when I sold it at about 130K.

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