FarkinNortherner: Rapmaster2000: It's a conspiracy!

Read this (new window)and tell me they don't have an agenda. Apparently being drunk, extremely elderly or having an accident precipitated by a driver in a Ford all bring into question the safety of Toyotas.

Was the media trying to destroy Audi with the Audi 5000 sudden acceleration scare of the late 80s? Was the media trying to destroy GM with the Cadillac Allante sudden acceleration scare of the mid 90s?

No, the media was trying to whip up fear to get people to read their stories to sell advertising space. There is no conspiracy to get you to buy Government Motors (OOGA BOOGA).

Sudden Acceleration Scare is an old story that reappears every once in while. It's like bellbottoms. In 10-15 years it will be some other car makers turn to be the granny killer.

I got to see a minivan with a Tapout sticker in the rear window today. Unless the wifey likes the mixed wrassling, that sticker won't bring your balls back, son.

Subby, shhh! No, it's OK if you Windstar owners drive fast, on a highway with no one around you.

Rapmaster2000: I keep it real with my Aerostar.



It's got ground effects for track days. I need the increased downforce for high speed cornering.

Man, that is an important feature when that POS is full of groceries.

mortimer_ford: Heh heh,.. losermobiles.

Diaper pail on wheels. I tells ya.

Another Government employee
Ody's are swiss army knife vehicles. They are ugly and heavy, but can be set up for just about every kind of haul job.

True. An Odyssey is neither sexy nor exciting, but I've loaded mine up all kinds of lumber, yard materials, furniture, and appliances, crammed it full for family road trips, and packed it to the roof for loads to the dump. It is a little dinged up, but after routine maintenance still drives practically like new.

What a Windstar would look like if she were a 50 year old cougar.

/that's hawt

jafiwam: Too bad Ford doesn't build a van-like vehicle on top of a pickup chassis (a real one, not a little one). That would kick butt.

dittybopper: angry_scientist: I got to see a minivan with a Tapout sticker in the rear window today. Unless the wifey likes the mixed wrassling, that sticker won't bring your balls back, son.

Out on the road today I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac. A little voice inside my head said "Don't look back, you can never go back".

Hmmm, I saw a Black Flag sticker on one on my route :)

Rapmaster2000: I keep it real with my Aerostar.

Do you speak-ee the English, buddy?

I've been seeing more of these around. I support Ford importing their Euro models.

In the past, I owned a 1996 model Windstar. What a turd.

1) One morning, I came out to find a full tank out of gas in the street. Turns out that the tank bracket was placed in a spot that caused the gas tank to crack. Ford fixed it, no charge as it was a recall issue (we never got letter as we bought it used). Still had to pay for a tow

2) Hood separated, top layer from bottom layer at speed. Recall issue. Repaired by Ford

3) On a trip to California, engine blew outside of Alberquerque. Was once again a factory defecive head gasket that started it. We paid 3600.00 for a new engine as we were stranded. The recall letter for this came out 8 months later and we were reimbursed. Bonus: They put another engine in with the same defect. Went through same act 18 months later. 1900.00 repair for that, Ford paid.

We sold it after that. Worst vehicle I ever owned.

Ten years later, I decided to buy a Ford truck. Had no problems with it since.

And yes, I had three kids at the time and the wife wanted it. Since then, I shed the wife and got my man card back

Envy me.

daddydrinksbecauseyoucry Quote 2010-05-18 09:20:05 AM

ROFL....just got to your post about 1996 being the biggest POS.

QFT..............

My 2001 Windstar has 300,000 miles. Thanks Subby, I'll have it up on a rack today to look for cracks.

I did hear that the major problems with the Windstar were during the 1995-1998 model years. The Taurus had the same head gasket problem during this time as they both used the same V6 engine.

Still wouldnt own another one if you paid me to though.

Gettin in on the '96 hate. Worst vehicle ever.
Oh, and for all of you talkin' how you'll never drive a minivan, cause an SUV is so much manlier... this is for you.

dittybopper: jafiwam: If you want small and works well, you gotta go Japanese.

If you want small, works well, *AND* inexpensive, go Korean.

My old lady would get a kick out of this reply. She is driving her Fusion again this week because her carpool friend's Hyundai is in the shop again. I just don't understand how a 2006 could have so many problems. The Fusion is an 06 and it's fine. It's even got more miles than the Hyundai. The Hyundai is having a lot of electrical issues. I don't know if it's poor build quality or if the parts are bad or just badly designed.

yagottabefarkinkiddinme: My 2001 Windstar has 300,000 miles. Thanks Subby, I'll have it up on a rack today to look for cracks.

Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear axle separates. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

Frozboz: 234 failures out of 1.5 million? The article calls it (the failures) a large number. I'm not so sure about that.

0.000156% is now significant? Especially with no deaths?

Like with most circustances, it is not significant, in terms of percentage, unless it is your Windstar and you are the one pinwheeling down the freeway. I cannot remember the comedian who said, "It is always minor surgery, unless it is on you!"

Rapmaster2000: H31N0US: Please accept this friendly recommendation from your friendly Main Stream Media Outlet:

Buy Government Motors

It's a conspiracy!


In all seriousness, my Uncle has an Aerostar with 205K on it and I borrow that pos every time I need to move something big. No complaints there.

Phone_Answering_Monkey: You still drive essentially a mini-van. Your crossover SUV is the modern mini-van. Everybody who sees you understands this.

There's always going to be one form of vehicle that will be seen as an embarrassing, emasculating family truckster. First it was the station wagon, then the mini-van. Today it's the crossover, which is essentially a station wagon.

Death_Poot: I did hear that the major problems with the Windstar were during the 1995-1998 model years. The Taurus had the same head gasket problem during this time as they both used the same V6 engine.

Still wouldnt own another one if you paid me to though.

I agree, never again. It also shared the engine with the Explorer of the same time. Unfortunately, I guess there were not enough Windstars on the road to make a recall cost effective. When ours caught on fire in the carport it was not under the recall with the Explorer and Taurus. I also checked for a recall and couldn't find one when the head gasket blew. Another well known problem was the rear air would stick and only blow hot. Not as big a deal as catching on fire or blowing a gasket but annoying.

I bought ours used and didn't have much in it. Got almost 2 years out of it and considered my self lucky no one died after I started digging. After the head gasket blew I parked it and eventually sold the POS at a yard sale for $75.

Scrophulous Barking Duck:
/Ford vans are still crap.
//My Ford Aerostar van started falling to pieces after 3-4 years. I traded it in 8 years ago on a Honda Odyssey which is better in every way and has been fantastic for lugging the kids and dogs around.

Exact same story here. Leaking timing cover gasket on a 4 year old Windstar. Straight to the trade-in place, LOVE my Odyssey. Even 9 years old it runs like a clock.

fark SUVs, fark minivans. It's all about the station wagons.

'96 baby

Cyburbia: Phone_Answering_Monkey: You still drive essentially a mini-van. Your crossover SUV is the modern mini-van. Everybody who sees you understands this.

There's always going to be one form of vehicle that will be seen as an embarrassing, emasculating family truckster. First it was the station wagon, then the mini-van. Today it's the crossover, which is essentially a station wagon.

Thank you. A lady in the office called her 'Edge' a 'truck'. Made me wince. Ugh, still rather drive an Olds Vista Cruiser with maybe larger tires and wheels than any of the new crossover stuff

Death_Poot: I did hear that the major problems with the Windstar were during the 1995-1998 model years. The Taurus had the same head gasket problem during this time as they both used the same V6 engine.

Still wouldnt own another one if you paid me to though.

Yep.

idrow: yagottabefarkinkiddinme: My 2001 Windstar has 300,000 miles. Thanks Subby, I'll have it up on a rack today to look for cracks.

Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

But how do you know when it is right?

Article is full of fail. Ford stop making Windstars in 2003.

From 2004 to 2007 they made Freestars.

On the brighter side, my Windstar would get 600 miles between fill ups on a cross country route. Had a great video system installed as well to keep the kids quiet.
/Filled up in Jersey and VA on the way to ATL
//Cheapest gas on east coast

dittybopper:

Every manufacturer has its lemons.

If you've owned and driven a lot of cars, you understand that this is the case. It's similar to the "United/US Air/Delta" is the worst airline screeds from people who had their luggage lost that one time that they flew X airline. Every once in a while you're going to have a long delay/lost luggage/overbooked flight (well, almost every flight I take is overbooked) on any airline. If you fly enough, the difference between domestic carriers becomes nonexistent.

/end threadjack

Phone_Answering_Monkey: "Ford last sold the Windstar in May 2007 and has replaced it with crossover SUVs, which are more popular."

You still drive essentially a mini-van. Your crossover SUV is the modern mini-van. Everybody who sees you understands this.

/Drives a mini-van, but does not 'front' about it. Did I use that right? 'Front'?
//Unless you drive a BMW X3/X5, which they term a "Sports Activity Vehicle". Activity.

Agreed, I told my wife this same thing. Crossovers are just a clever way of changing the name of mini van to eliminate the mental stigma of driving one. You are not fooling anyone guys, you are driving around mini vans.

Also, as I glance at other drivers I can generally tell the type of mood they are in. It seems that men driving mini vans are the most unhappy group around. Either overly aggressive because they are pissed at the world about driving the rolling embarassment, or they just appear sad like life beat them down and forced them to submit to the mini van life. Very sad to observe either case.

When I was in high school my friend got a Windstar from his mom when he got his license. We used to take that sucker off-roading. We'd catch air. Until we flipped it, everybody was okay, and as far as I know the Windstar is still sitting in the middle of the woods on its side.

We'd been planning to trade in our '02 Windstar soon. Guess this is a bit of incentive.

It's been decent enough, except for the crappy electrical system. It'll be nice to have a working driver's-side window again.

Fortunately, we're not in the Salt Belt, so the axle should last until we can do the trade. Probably looking at a Mazda5.

"It's been decent enough, except for the crappy electrical system. It'll be nice to have a working driver's-side window again."

Forgot about that. I had to replace 2 window motors on my 1996 model also.

I would like to ask all of the mini-van drivers out there to please remember that your POS is NOT a rocket ship or a race car. I am entirely sick of road raged soccer moms and repressed baby daddy's driving like complete dipshiats and playing pole position on the highway.

/end rant.

That extra apostrophe is a bonus.

/Hey, it was a rant.

fishmonkeystew: I would like to ask all of the mini-van drivers out there to please remember that your POS is NOT a rocket ship or a race car. I am entirely sick of road raged soccer moms and repressed baby daddy's driving like complete dipshiats and playing pole position on the highway.

/end rant.

That's why we went off-roading

gajillion: hipster_slayer: Minivans the true scourge of the American roadway system.
Van people in general...

You've been hanging around too long with the people your handle purports to be slaying. You're starting to sound just like one.



I'll thank you to not get your loser stink on me anymore.

redly1: holy crap...this just happened to a co-workers Ford van a few weeks ago. Luckily, they had just pulled out of the driveway.

This happened to me as well... I was still in the driveway and the bastard snapped in half.