Review written on 8/1964.
Several months ago I thought to my self. "Calboni should really make a Minivan that is better than the Tidewater." Someone at Calboni must of been reading my mind because I got my hands on the latest Tidewater and gave it a test spin. I hope it's not as bad as the Avocet but the real question is: "How far behind does it lag to the Tidewater?"

As always, our first stop with the Calboni Tidewater was the track. This Minivan may wow some people. It's certainly has better power and performance than most of its peers. The 103 hp @ 4962RPMs 2551 cc I4 engine is able to put a healthy amount of rubber on the road. When you do this properly, you're able to propel the Tidewater to a top speed of 75 mph and drag times of 32.900s 0 to 60 mph are a breeze. With 88 lb-ft of torque we were able to drag 22 lbs on our test trailer. So it can move your spare junk! Calboni really did well with the Tidewater when it comes to the track. I certainly think this vehicle is better than most in its class. When it comes to handling, the Calboni Tidewater is one of the worst Minivan we have tested. We fear for our lives any time there is a slight bend in the road.

Once we were done playing on the track, we got a good look at the Calboni Tidewater and I must say, we were quite impressed. While not the most luxurious vehicle on the market. It is quite comfortable for what it is. There is just enough styling and support to last on long trips and impress friends, while not being overly expensive like hyper luxurious vehicles.

The Calboni Tidewater gives you a sense of home away from home. With 81 cu-ft of cargo and passenger space the Tidewater feels like a second living room. Which was what Calboni was probably thinking when they made this vehicle. "Lets make a vehicle that people could live in." Well Calboni thank you, because after my wife threw me out, this is my new home. And let me tell you, it rocks!

It may not be much in this day and age, but the Calboni Tidewater is above its class average when we looked at the physical quality of the machine. While other manufacturers cut corners, Calboni looks to keep their image and public perception high. They do a good job at that with the Tidewater.

Engineers at Calboni managed to make the perfect vehicle. It has absolutely not issues until hours after the warranty expires. We tested this phenomena 5 times on the Calboni Tidewater and every time they had a major breakdown within a week after the warranty expired. While great for Calboni this is probably not a vehicle you should buy if you plan on keeping it. The dependability of the Calboni Tidewater leaves a lot to be desired.

At this point in testing we would normally take the Calboni Tidewater out on the roads. However our test driver barely made it out of the parking lot before running out of fuel. The Tidewater's ghastly 10.7 mpg means you'll need to take a few jerry cans, scratch that, a few barrels of fuel just to make it to the grocery store.

While the Calboni Tidewater is certainly impressive in term of safety, it's not overly designed in this fashion in a way that would imped its enjoyment. Never the less this vehicle is more than safe enough for even the most uptight and poor drivers among us.

When you drive the Calboni Tidewater you'll see other Minivan on the road and think to your self: Why would anyone buy anything other than a Calboni. Simple answer, they're stupid!