2006 Speed6, 90k miles. Original owners. Aftermarket top-mount, Forge BOV, and test pipe installed around 20k.

It's always run a little rough in the summer... you can feel it pulling timing and the occasionaly sputter. I drive it once a month because it's the wifes car, and she rarely gets on it hard. I think I remember it running a little rougher a month or so ago when it was really hot out one afternoon, but I just figured that 95* and 95* humidity was the culprit.

Anyways... 3rd gear, 50'ish throttle merging around 50mph... chug-chug-bang!!! Instant hot oil smell and I saw some sparks along the highway behind us, luckily nobody really close.
I coasted it over to the shoulder no problem. Threw a rod, took the oil-pan off with it.

It's in the dealsership's side lot waiting for me to decide what to do, but they said I could leave it there for a month or so. Parting it out in my garage over the next year isn't really what I want to do, so I'm hoping somebody local wants a project. It's going up on CL after I call some junkyards just to see what they'll do.

I want a Sienna, wife wants a Sequoia. Our 4Runner is the greatest vehicle we've ever owned, so it's not going anywhere, but we really just need something decent sized with a 3rd row that will last 10 years.

FML. OTOH, we sold our house after being on the market just 3 weeks, so there's that. Additional pictures of new bedroom toys from our garden.

-Sammy

 

Sucks. When you throw a rod, you don't mess around. Is that a known issue with those, or just bad luck?

 

Those are really not known for their reliability. Plagued with all sorts of issues actually.

Everyone's gonna laugh at me for this, but those new 16+ sienna's are really cool. I've done a ton of research on em. Rock solid DI/FI engine, 8sp auto, optional AWD, every creature comfort available on the LE+ trims, and if you want it to actually kinda look sporty, they have the SE trim that looks downright sexy for a minivan. 10 years would be nothing for one of those. I'm looking for one now, for our growing famiry

 

If you actually want a usable 3rd row, you will want the Sienna. (Though in the interest of full disclosure we went with the Odyssey).

 

I remember that speed6. I remember being at Braineack's house one Saturday shortly after he had crashed his miata and picked up a replacement. So we were slowly swapping over parts from the old miata to the new miata. Swapping the rear subframe was on the plate for that day. Then a blue speed6 pulls up and its none other then SpamNavy who gets out. He then man handles the rear subframe like it is his beta bottom bitch. Sort of how Hustler likes it if you know I mean. After we got the job done we shot the ****, rode around in the speed6, and got some pizza. Just about the best gay man date ever, boost and pizza.

 

all i remember is this:

LETS DO THIS!

 

didn't even use a tranny lift, did ya

 

^I've never use a tranny anything... got close one portcall in Phuket, but lucky a couple of my mates were more sober and waved me off in time.

I'm all about the ******* Sienna... the wife has an excuse-matrix about 3 pages deep why she doesn't want one, and she's been holding firm for years.

 

You don't need a Sienna or Odyssey. You need what is below.



What is more manly then a 12 second Dodge Caravan.

​​​​​​​On a serious note, Odysseys are a damn amazing piece of machinery. I used to be very much in minivans suck and I hate them camp. Then I drove my Aunts Odyssey and that all changed. They are not sports cars by any means, but damn if it was not comfy and loaded with everything I could ever want in a commuter.

 

Ours is a 2016 SE, aka "Goldilocks". Basically an EX with the rear DVD entertainment and built-in vacuum. Perfectly equipped for hauling kids around.

 

Speed6 stock* (edited for clarity) rods definitely can't handle boost below 3000rpms. Also, if you never upgraded your fuel pump internals for the high pressure side, the second you started modding that car you were doomed. As for the reliability statements, it isn't entirely true. There are just baseline mods that 100% have to happen first because Mazda never anticipated anybody doing tuner mods to a "luxury" competitor to the M3. For reference, there is a 620awhp Speed6 sitting in my garage that is my best friend's daily driver. JMS Racing tuned the car after Kotzur Racing built the engine. It's been making that power well over 2 years, hard pulls, launches, roadtrips, no issues at all.

 

Who doesn't love engine carnage? I'm truly impressed that you took out the oil pan like that.

Maybe you're done with the mazda turbo motors, but if you want a 7 passenger vehicle, we just got a '17 CX-9 and love it. Plus, they look sexy for big *** SUVs, and they don't drive like a bucket of floppy ****** either.

 

+1 to the CX-9. They're incredibly well built and the value of buying one used is astronomically more in favor of the other mom-car options hahaha

 

Even Fae has an Odyssey now!

If we're comparing minivans, the Odyssey drives a lot better than the Sienna. I wouldn't use the work "sport" in the same sentence as "minivan", but let's just say that Honda and Toyota have a difference of opinion regarding driving dynamics, and that shows up even in the minivans.

The other problem I have with Siennas is that the driver ergonomics are terrible. The ones I've driven, the driver's seat is positioned in such a location that the wheel arch intrudes into the space where I want to put my left foot.

We have a 2016 CX-9, it's awesome.



--Ian

 

We've got a couple neighbors on deployment, so I've got access to a late-model Oddyssey, a 2010 Prius, and a 2005 Grand Cherokee. There's no hurry to buy because of the loaner availability, but not gonna wait more than a couple weeks... gotta get back in the saddle.

For now, I'm think I'm getting pretty serious on an AWD CX-9... but that leaves us with 2 same/same medium sport-utes whose capabilities almost directly overlap. The 4Runner has no third row and is a bit smaller, and is RWD, but that's a 1st world problem. At 180k it's probably got another 100k in the motor and the rest of it will never wear out. It needs shocks/struts... full set of KYB oem replacements for $300... and I've started scouring for some leather front seats off a wreck.

 

We've got a couple neighbors on deployment, so I've got access to a late-model Oddyssey, a 2010 Prius, and a 2005 Grand Cherokee. There's no hurry to buy because of the loaner availability, but not gonna wait more than a couple weeks... gotta get back in the saddle.

For now, I'm think I'm getting pretty serious on an AWD CX-9... but that leaves us with 2 same/same medium sport-utes whose capabilities almost directly overlap. The 4Runner has no third row and is a bit smaller, and is RWD, but that's a 1st world problem. At 180k it's probably got another 100k in the motor and the rest of it will never wear out. It needs shocks/struts... full set of KYB oem replacements for $300... and I've started scouring for some leather front seats off a wreck.

 

Stick with the turbos. Two of them, in an AWD not-minivan minivan.

Ecoboost flex. I don't yet need to reflash it, it's that entertaining stock/warrantied.

 

Looks like my driveway minus the FD. You made me want to add a FD to my collection even more.

Have you driven a CX9? They are great to drive. I am thinking about getting a flash for it too for some more boost. Ours is the blue color above, but the Grand Touring with all the bells and whistles. I'm more of a "drive the old 4runner" guy myself (I dd my 06 crew cab duramax) but it is one of the few newer cars I have genuinely appreciated all the tech on while still being able to somewhat feel the road.

The third row isn't the largest, but it is just kids under 5 that end up back there anyways. With them folded down, cargo room is great. Not a "take on a long road trip with lots of luggage" third row like a suburban, but still nice and useable.

 

IIRC you guys only have 2 girls, right?
if that's the case, you can totally get away with an suv and don't need a van

 

I DD a 2015 Sienna Limited. 100% happy with it- I don't really even "need" a minivan as my kids aren't little any more, but I've been driving vans for 10 years and there's no going back for me. 2006 Odyssey before this; great van, but the Sienna is better all around.

No, it doesn't drive like a Miata, but it's deceptively fast and a lot less like a bucket of floppy *****'s than any SUV or crossover I've been in. It's the **** for hauling anything, or for road trips. AirLift bags in the rear suspension made a huge difference for ride/handling when loaded down. 21-24mpg under any conditions. If you're the outdoors type, pull the rear seats out and it makes a fantastic camper- I put a Coleman cot in the back of mine and do weekend mountain bike trips in the mountains all the time.

Don't bother with the AWD. Worse mileage, reported reliability issues, and stupid run-flat tires with no spare. I've driven the FWD in serious snow/ice with no issues at all, as long as it has decent tires.