Our Family Van
 

I don't always not drive my FRS. But when I don't, I drive this...

http://i48.tinypic.com/14mcg8g.jpg

thats cool

Hmmm...

:iono:

My thoughts exactly. Why would one waste the time and money on modifying a van?

^^Cause the stock van is boring?

Looks good tho.

Yeah, because it's a van! People don't generally buy them because their sporty.

If you polish a turd, it's still a turd.

The ride quality must be pretty bad with that drop. Looks very cool though

So you're only allowed to modify sporty cars?

Who said sport cars are the only good cars out there?

I'm a bit on the fence with this one.

^^

I said the sporty thing cause Wes B mentioned it.

They're the only ones that are really worth it.

I never said that sports cars are the only "good cars out there".

The Mazda5 has always been a nice looking van in stock form. I have no problem with personalizing it a bit. Especially being a Japanese van, you can practically buy them with bodykits like that in Japan. Hell, I like a hot tuned wagon too!

My only complaint is the gap in that front bumper! Yikes!

Waste of money IMHO. My "van" is a 2012 xB for winter only. I will put in "smart" features or convenient or comfort features. For example I have red floor lighting, HIDs, and LEDs but no wheels, body kit or spoilers. I'd rather put that stuff into a real performance car and not look like my riced out van is a wannabe. Sorry but that's the way I feel.

In the end it's up to the owner themselves to decide if the car is worth modifying.

And wbradley, i'm pretty sure alot of people will say the same thing about your fr-s.

Precisely. People have needs and wants, and when they don't intersect some people try to make it work.

And other people simply enjoy making modifications to the things they own. Nothing wrong with that.

I like it!

I actually rented one of these in Mexico it was a manual tranny and it was pretty damn sporty if you ask me. It could probably put many american spot compacts to shame in terms of handling and fun. Great ride OP, is yours a manual?

That sounds ricey to me... :iono:

Well considering you can't even tell they're LEDs I wouldn't call it an obvious mod. I just prefer LEDs as I happen to tinker in electronics. Waste of money really but definitely not conspicuous. The ambient lighting in the footwells is very faint and most all my previous cars had it in some shape or form from the factory. Figured while doing the FR-S might as well do the other car too.

Sorry if I have insulted the OP. I'll take those RFP1's off your hands for my FR-S if you want. :lol:

I doubt it. My point was that *most* people, and by most I mean practically all, people would find most of my mods appropriate and typical for the vehicle. Lots of the twins have many of these mods. Yes it is my personal taste, but on this forum it is pretty mainstream. Granted thus far I haven't done a ton for performance enhancemt but someone toss me $10k and Ill have a Vortexh SC, KW V3's and Michelin Pilot Sports. I think I have managed my available mod budget quite well so far. A few years ago I'd have dumped $15k into the car without batting an eye but that was then and this is now.

So it's ok for you to waste your money on what you enjoy without any performance benefit, and in fact is not even that noticable, but not ok for him to waste his money on what he enjoys without any performance benefit, simply because it is noticable better looking?

mmmkay...

You doubt it? Look on some of the other car forums out there. Lots of people seem to agree on the fact that the fr-s is a bland piece of crap.

Wes, you ok man? :happy0180:

More of this! I think it looks cool. I have no need for a van but if I had one it would be tricked out. With a Jaguar game system in the back!

That's even more of a waste of money than the OP's van.

EDIT: Quoted the wrong post but whatever. lol

Well then it's a good thing I stick to this forum where there are many people with common interests. I don't have time for any others, in fact I spend way too much time with this one. Darned iPhone!

What is?

Spending money on your own car. Per your definition.

Wow, what's wrong with this forum??? Ugh, this thing is sick man! What a cool daily for a guy who needs a van! Maybe he has kids, maybe he likes the practicality of it. Whatever the case, I would hit:party0030:

Well I expressed my (unpopular) opinion so you certainly have a right to express yours here. I do admit I dislike Mazda. No need to tell you why, but Iam biased. But really I hate those wind things on the door and buying racing wheels for a van?? Unless I got them dirt cheap (which they aren't!!) I'd have stuck with more typical styled wheels for a DD. again that's just my opinion, you don't have to agree. I also like pineapple on pizza.

Maybe I'm pissed I don't have those wheels on my FR-S. I'd NEVERput them on my xB. There are much better suited styles IMHO. I get the point if you can dish it out ya gotta be able to take it. No worries.

For a sporty van, I like the Sienna sport model. So do many housewives which is partly why I don't have one.

Woah. This post really took off. Hahahaha.
I love this van and it handles better than a lot of automobiles I've driven in my past 20 years of owning and tuning cars.

This is mainly our family car. It gets good gas mileage and it's perfect for my growing family. I actually traded in my S2000 for this one which is the car I bought the wheels(RPF1s) for.

Springs are from Eibach and the ride is better than my Multi Pro 2 coil over set up on my FRS. Handling is amazing. You wouldn't know until you've driven one. It shares the same chassis as the Mazda3 so all the suspension components are the same. The line in the body kit is rubber insulation that came with the aero that was later taken off.

But this car isn't about handling or performance. It's about utility. I can fit a hood, body panels and haul an engine with it.

Is it a waste of money? Probably.

Here's another thing I waste my money on...

http://i50.tinypic.com/2euif7r.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/2dso2tv.jpg

This one's automatic but I was looking for a manual. Couldn't wait. The baby came a week after I bought it!

Calling THAT a waste is sacrilege.

Not insulted at all. Everyone has a right to their own opinion.
These RPF1s are spares for track days on my FRS...
Sorry. Not for sale. Thanks!

http://i46.tinypic.com/dws3v8.jpg

Yes, I'm fine.

I love it! :thumbup:

Heck I almost went this route with my last DD, a 280K Mile Chevy Astro after it ate its motor bearings and died a hard death last May. I was seriously considering pulling the V6, replacing it with a small block V8 (very common motor swap), lowering it a bit and making a sleeper out of it.

In the end I sold it to a mechanic who had basically the same plan and uses it now to pull his track car.

Hey, if you gotta have a vehicle (any vehicle) you might as well have it capable of doing what you want.

I always tell my GF that the mazda 5 is an ideal second/primary vehicle for almost anyone.

Clean. I love it. If you never seen a modified van then you probably never been to Japan.

I find it weird and silly, in my mind, that if I was your neighbor and saw you pulling in and out of your drive way with an AE86 and FRS. Then I'm probably thinking dude has good tasted in cars, but then pulls our the mini van, lol. It's all good though, its nice to see a van that's not over redundant in the looks department like yours. :thumbsup:

God that's so stupid why would you waste your money on a slow piece of crap old corolla I bet you can't even fit your family in there :lol:


Nice van. Very JDM. One of my neighbors used to have one and I can safely say they're the best looking vans on the market.

Yeah. The AE86 is close to becoming non-op and strictly a track car. The FRS is my daily car that gets driven to work everyday. The van is for family trips, grocery getting and parts pickup. Sliding doors when you have a baby seat are priceless.