hello, time to get on board

[delicioso!]

thanks for that blackberry! someone else pm'ed me with something similar. i got a quote for a 95 l400, similar coverage to our cruisers for $150/month...reasonable for where we live, and with state farm. i'm told it wont be that much different for a slightly older l300...the important thing is they WILL insure it! woot woot!

but that's cool site, i can at least find the exact model and it'd be nice for the ins. co.

cheers.

trying to find time to test drive an auto l300 not too too far and we'll see!

[delicioso!]

L400, final answer....
why? in order of importance as i explain/sell the idea to the wife...
- engine infront, better crumple zone
- drives more like a car, imho (as opposed to bus like steering on the l300)
- walk through isle vs hump on the l300
- more power
- not concerned about looks, but the modern look makes the wife happy
- not concerned about departure/approach angles, wont be wheeled
- adequate space inside for mostly wife/kids driving..and the odd time inlaws comin along (but these will be roadies and camping trips)
(if it was just me 4 years ago, i'da jumped on a L300 w/o hesitation and enjoyed it's simplicity and ruggedness just like the rest of ya'lls)

as i imagine the wife hauling 2 kids on her own, i can see the logistics and ergonomics working better for her as she take's em in/out of the rig when alone... open sliding door, throw junior in, he can hang out while she straps littletwo in, then she can fold up the stroller, toss it on the floor...or in the back, hop inside, strap junior in, and walk to her seat and drive off. she drives at speed limit and has a light foot so mileage will and should be decent.

a swb will do, cyrstal lite roof for the kids, captains chairs for the inlaws/kids as i'd doubt we'll ever pack 8 in there, and she just has to run reliably, and get us from point A to B safely and efficiently.

can't really think of anything else. fellas, you know who you are, thanks for all the pm's and all the extra info, patience, and chats on the phone, ya'lls rock!

[delicioso!]

hi folks, a little late on this one, but it's official, we now have our new l400 thanks to amazing mardy. we took delivery about a month ago and quickly got it plated/e-tested/insured and driven! we've taken the van on a 2 hour roady to test her out on the highway, and then took the inlaws for a spin so they can start getting used to their seats for our long roady to maryland and florida this summer. my son absolutely LOVES the van and where he sits facing backwards. wife has driven the van once and was a tad leary but i'm sure she'll quickly get used to the size and height (she already drives our jdm cruiser so she's cool w/rhd, she just finds the gear shift leaver weird as she's never driven even a canadian car with the lever on the steering wheel).

anyway, here she is right at the train yard after delivery.
click on pic to see video...


another way to get in/out, actually feels easier this way (if nobody plans on sitting on half of the back)
wifey enjoys sitting here so she can watch the kids and recline back and take a snooze, or be able to manually adjust the crystalite roof over the kiddos


and here she is next to the usual n.american vans, for comparison, in case anyone hasn't seen one up close..







still getting to know the van bit by bit. and getting ready to do a bypass filter install, hope all goes well.

BIG thanks goes out to all the fellas here for being patient with my pm's/messages/phonecalls and for all the tips and advise so far! ya know who you are! :)

cheers.

romey

[tonydca]

FYI delicioso, I see on the pic with your tailgate open, that you appear to be storing the folded-up rear headrest underneath the seat upon which your wife rests her derriere.

There are (at least on my L400) two little nylon loops in the crease right where the rear bench halves hinge to recline; amazingly (!) they are exactly the same distance apart as the headrest posts!

So when stowing, after you lay the bench half flat and before you flip it up sideways, lay the headrest face-up on the bum part of the bench with the posts facing rearwards, and slide the posts all the way into the nylon loops. Then when you lift the seat up, the headrest is cleverly stored up against the window glass & held in place by the two little nylon loops.

Clever, those little Mitsubishi engineers are!

Cheers,

Tony.

[jaggedfish]

Nice bus Delicioso! The extra bar/handle on the outside of the tailgate is cool. Curious what the little black box is just above the power outlet at the rear door on the right side. Mine has a space for "something" and I see you have that "something"...

Your wife will adjust quickly and will enjoy the van... they live larg but park small.

Nice little tidbit of info tonydca... wish I'da known that sooner... just removed my rear seats to install camper setup. Cool though.

Cheers!
Ian

[delicioso!]

thanks Tony and Ian! well ya learn something new every day, loops for the headrests! nice! one thing i defintely gotta give credit to is some of the engineering and thought behind a lot of litttle things that make this van comfortable and userfriendly. those captains chairs are really well designed, soo many options, and you can lift the seat up for more room. even the little pockets where you can hide the buckles when not in use is a nice touch. i don't think there's a better designed middle row seat in n.america, imho. just stow and go or swivel seats.

anyway, not sure about that "something" Ian, it looks like a bracket, but for what? maybe the usual fellas that know these rigs real well will chime in.

anyway, the bypass filter system install went really well, nice and tidy and i'm now getting 1 micron filtering! woot woot! will update that post tonight.

[luckydad]

Delicioso!
Nice ride.
On my Blue Traveler, there is a corded flashlight with a magnetic back presumably for emergencies. Plugs into the power outlet.

Phil

[delicioso!]

thanks Phil. i think that's it, looks like a bracket to hang or hold something, makes sense it could be for a flashlight. cools.