Actually, it's nice having someone who drives. My oldest has been driving for almost 3 years and no tickets or accidents involving others so far. He did hit a street sign because of a fogged up window. Having to pay $250 for a new bumper made him a bit more cautious. As for the other 2, it's gotta happen because I hate being a taxi. BTW, we are sending 2 at once because the older one is my daughter, I feel better if her brother is with her because she's a bit naive.One kid driving and two in Driver's Ed! OMG. I've got ONE just ready for Driver's Ed and that's enough for my nerves. :\
My 2000 has 146,000 and I just had the Jasper Transmission installed for $3,800. The Jasper Tranny has the 3 year/100k warranty.@pmgdad - A friend of mine just had his fail at 157k on a 2004. He paid $3700, but got a 3 year/100k warranty. Can't remember the name, not 'Gator' but the other one I hear as being real good. Jasper! That is it. Saw it above.
I'm glad to hear the van did a lot to protect your daughter. Interestingly, a lot of your info matches mine: waited ~5 months to buy our '99 EX new back in 1999, my daughter was 1 back then, will turn 17 next month, starting driving now, our '99 has 222k miles on it, can easily go another 100k. Luckily for us, daughter and car are still safe and sound.KEEP IT!
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My 17 year old daughter was driving our old 1999 Honda Odyssey EX with 220,000 miles on it when she was rear-ended by a 19 year old (uninsured of course) in a Toyota Tercel. His front end was crumpled to his windshield. They estimate he was going at least 50 mph. My daughter was stopped waiting to turn left. She suffered whiplash, headaches, some back pain, and post traumatic stress - but she is alive!!! He had to be taken away in an ambulance (he survived somehow). The long and short of this was that the van held together (except for the driver's seat which broke at a weld - daughter only weighs 120 lbs). The back seat was folded into the floor so I think that contributed a bit to the overall integrity of the van. Impact drove sliding doors forward and only mean of egress was through front two doors (she was the only occupant thankfully). The roof even buckled. The rear did shatter but the impact caused all the glass to fly outward so there was no glass inside.
Up to that point the van had been a very reliable vehicle. We bought it new (after waiting 5 months to get it). It had 220,000 miles and could easily go another 100,000.
However, I will trade a crumpled vehicle any day for the safety of my children.