I'm gonna get my Escort Certification and start doing it on the side, maybe perm.

Any who in a few months I'm gonna end up getting a vehicle dedicated just for this.

Looking at the budget I should have by then, I have narrowed it down to 4.

Early 90's Dodge Caravan or sister.

Early to mid 90's Dodge Dakota.

1st or 2nd gen Ford Taurus Wagon.

Or your suggestion.

I have these requirements.

Good to decent MPG's.

Comfy to drive LONG distance.

Cruise Control.

Working AC and Heat. ( at this age, or atleast easy fix )

Cheap to maintain.

Needs to be durable.

Needs to be roomy, as I may have to sleep in it sometimes.

Ideas guys?

Budget after a few months should be around $1500.

Its gonna have to last about a year. And will rack up about 50-60,000 miles.

The few people I know that do "secure" vehicle escorting either drive 7th generation Impalas or Caravans.

Down here they all use Kias. Cheap to buy, and when they break they throw them away and buy another new one for $8000.

Its gonna be mostly over sized/height/weight escorting. Some secure work, but not much. I thought about Kia's eventually but for now, just lookin for used beater. The Impala and its clones are tempting but I'll have a lot of gear(signage, lights, etc plus personal like clothing at times) so I was leanin to a wagon. The Dakota came about just cause I can toss a shell on the back. The people I'm hookin up with on this make it seem like the cash is there ($1-1.50 a mile depending on distance) since we can knock out about 400 miles a day. Any thing I'm missing? I thought about a Focus wagon or Escort wagon. I dunno. Its gonna be a while before I buy so I got time.

caprice wagon?

Van with a waterbed, you'll be in high demand for escort services!!!! Bring lots of condoms.

Go with the Caravan, pull all the back seats. You will have more then enough room to sleep back there and store your gear.

Posted by velcrozeppelin caprice wagon?

That might be a fun option actually!

If youre going to start doing escort service, you need to list yourself in the yellow pages first of all, preferably with a really sexy name the girls will go for, like Manbeef or something. Dont bother listing your Escort Certification on the ad, no one gives a shit. Its all about the inches. Second, get yourself to a tanning salon and hire yourself a personal trainer, and get on that six-pack. sixty crunches a day, minimum.
And be prepared to do housecalls. These fantasies about working from a minivan are going to get you some pretty skanky customers. But if you must, get a van with folding seats, and vinyl upholstery.

Have you given thought to a Subaru wagon of some sort? Maybe an old Legacy or something like that.

If you want to go the folding seats and vinyl route, the van needs shag carpet on the walls floor and ceiling, and a bad airbrushed mural of a naked women riding a dragon.


Since you are going to be escorting out of the van you can advertize your services with a mural like this one on the back doors.

click to view

Posted by buckybear If you want to go the folding seats and vinyl route, the van needs shag carpet on the walls floor and ceiling, and a bad airbrushed mural of a naked women riding a dragon. Since you are going to be escorting out of the van you can advertize your services with a mural like this one on the back doors. click to view

God that mural is bad, if it weren't for the eyes, it would look like an anal only bus.

Anyway, JeepDave, good luck on this escort thing. For real this time, not kidding I swear......

All kidding aside, GM W-body.
Either Lumina or Impala. If a minivan is necessary, look into a gently used Venture.
many cross-division parts interchangeability.
cars are proven rugged as cabs.
comfy for taller people
comfy on long trips
proven longevity (especially with the 3800 V6)
cheap to buy
cheap to keep
not afraid of a lot of numbers on the odometer.

Downside?
finicky wiper switches/turn signal switches
rear disc brake sliders sometimes freeze
3100/3400 V6 have intake and head gasket issues (factory gaskets le suck)

2nd choice for an escort vehicle (and I am going to hell for suggesting this):
Toyota Camry

2nd choice for an escort vehicle (and I am going to hell for suggesting this):
Toyota Camry


Straight to HELL!! You turncoat.

The Camary might be not bad of an option if the generation is right. I just don't care for the Camarys made in the last decade.

Hmmmmm. A mid 90's Camry Wagon would be sweat. If this takes off I eventually plan on using a hearse as an escort vehicle . Thanks for the help guys. I still got time so don't be afraid to add to this. Thus far I think a Caravan is the logical choice (as bad as I want a Taurus Wagon, I think its just gonna be hard to find one not ruined and if I do find a great one, even harder to drill holes in it).


So as far as Caravans go (and their sisters) what should I looke for? (Drivetrain, options that are nice to have, etc)



Oh, and Sam, do you recomend any GM minivans other than the Venture? They still command $3000 plus here. (I dunno why) I thought about Astros since they are damn near bulletproof but the mpg's SUCK from what I've seen, maybe a APV?

boh my astro van wasnt THAT bad on gas mileage considering what shape it was in


TDI wagon or jetta TDI would be a descent choice they live for ever

Posted by Nismo boh my astro van wasnt THAT bad on gas mileage considering what shape it was in TDI wagon or jetta TDI would be a descent choice they live for ever

Thats not a bad idea if I eventually make some decent money off this.

If you go the Caravan route, look for a 3rd gen. For you, I would go with the 31TH transmission (3 speed) automatic.

Everyone is recommending cars they are partial to. Thats why i hate threads like this.