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Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan 2005+

1446 messages,  Last post on May 15, 2013 at 8:51 AM

You are in the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Van

Messages Page 35 of 145

#341 of 1446 T&C vs. Caravan by samnoe

Nov 03, 2004 (5:28 pm)

Exactly. It's the value of the Caravan over the T&C, and also more flexible packages.
 
Since I'm looking now to lease a new van to replace my Windstar, I was calling around and ask for prices (Price is my top priority here). I was told the Chrysler and Dodge minivans would be the best deal. Even the Freestars are priced higher (unless you take the leftovers from 2004).
 
So I tried my luck with a T&C Touring, and I asked to add the luxury package, b/c I need adjustable pedals (I am so used to that already in my Windstar) and the rear backup sensor, upgraded stereo and fog lights. - I was told that I need to get the 'leather' package first (which I hate) and add another $2000 something. So I said forget about it.
 
I went with Dodge Grand Caravan SXT w/ premium package (has all the above except for the Infinity stereo system which also requires leather - what's going on with these guys at Chrysler? Did they took a lesson from Toyota to make packages confusing, and require 20 features in order to get one other?) anyway, I got a better price on the Dodge (about $1,300 less).
 
Of course that T&C with Luxury package would be perfect for me - without the leather. I would love the better stereo, the exterior additions of body side cladding and some chrome, the nicer gauges inside, auto-dimming mirrors in and out. But if I have to take leather first, I am rather going to the Dodge Caravan.
 
Again, a message to all car manufacturers: Please leave 1) leather seats; 2) power sliding doors & Liftgate; 3) Navigation system; and 4) Rear DVD player STAND ALONE OPTIONS! that will satisfy most people! There are so many customers out there who love gadgets but not leather or don't need NAV systems (as they don't travel usually in unfamiliar places).
 
And especially the leather of the Chrysler/Dodge Caravan which is different than many other cars and feels like a school bus seat. If they would have butter-smooth leather like some other cars do have, I wouldn't mind to get it...
 
OK, I'm running out of (words) [time] - let me stop to talk that much.

#342 of 1446 Re: T&C vs. Caravan [samnoe] by hansienna

Nov 03, 2004 (7:59 pm)

Replying to: samnoe (Nov 03, 2004 5:28 pm)
Agree 100 % with samnoe.
     I do NOT want leather seats; power sliding doors & Liftgate; and Navigation. I also do NOT like the 2nd row "Stow-N-Go" seating.
     That is why I prefer the 2005 Odyssey EX over the Grand Caravan SXT or T&C LX.
     However, I do like my 2002 T&C LX complete overhead console with outside temp/compass and Trip Computer plus triple zone temperature control. Sadly, the 2005 Ody EX does NOT have the compass and trip computer. The Sienna options are an overpriced, sick joke.

#343 of 1446 Re: T&C vs. Caravan [hansienna] by mrblonde49

Nov 04, 2004 (7:49 am)

Replying to: hansienna (Nov 03, 2004 7:59 pm)
Leather seats were the #1 requirement for us having 2 small children. My son just threw up last week in the van. It was bad enough cleaning the leather, and simply unimaginable if we had to clean cloth seats. That's (hopefully) the worst case scenerio, but little kids spill things, as well as spew things.

#344 of 1446 Re: T&C vs. Caravan [mrblonde49] by masterpaul1

Nov 04, 2004 (9:36 am)

Replying to: mrblonde49 (Nov 04, 2004 7:49 am)
I had leather seats in my old 86 Lincoln Town Car and didn't like them one bit. They were to cold in the winter and I got burned by them in the summer. We have four kids and our van has cloth seats witch are easier to clean then leather. If our kids spill something, it will be absorbed in the cloth, instead of running between the seat cushion onto the floor. We have a Brissell Deep Cleaner with upholstery attachments that we use to clean the seats and floor in our vechicles. This works very well and leaves a nice clean smell. With leather, it just smells like leather all the time no matter what you clean it with. (I can't stand the smell of leather) You can purchase fabric guard for cloth seats and have the best of both worlds.

#345 of 1446 Children & Fabric seats by samnoe

Nov 04, 2004 (7:10 pm)

I don't travel that much with my children on board, but at the times we do (usually no longer than 1-2 hour trips) my children are already "trained" that "NO FOOD ALLOWED" in the car. They eat, drink, use the bathroom before we travel, and there is no need to eat - with the exception of a candy sometimes - or drink while traveling.
 
They are also trained not to climb on the seats at all, especially with shoes. A big NO NO in my car. They know a car is not a playground, just a relaxing, loving place where they listen to some nice music or a conversation with their parents.
 
That's why my 2002 Ford Windstar lease is almost over, and my car still looks almost brand new, and many friends and relatives asked me recently "Is this a new car?", to which I answered "Yes, it was 3 years ago"! and that big WOW.... "it looks so good"...
 
So in my case I don't see the need for leather, especially that it's not comfy for the driver - although most leather seats are heated, but not cooled in hot summer days, and particular this Chrysler van leather is not comfortable at all. The 96-00 model years leather were much more smooth. But since 2001 it has been changed to a school-bus feel (IMO).
 
Anyway, if it is a stand-alone option as I mentioned above, it will be perfect for everybody. You take your choice and be happy.

#346 of 1446 Re: Children & Fabric seats [samnoe] by mrblonde49

Nov 05, 2004 (8:12 am)

Replying to: samnoe (Nov 04, 2004 7:10 pm)
Can't train them not to vomit.....
 
I wouldn't trust anything to clean that off of cloth, either.
 
In my teenage years, a friend of mine threw up in the backseat of my Barracuda. Had to sell it

#347 of 1446 Re: Children & Fabric seats [mrblonde49] by masterpaul1

Nov 05, 2004 (10:46 am)

Replying to: mrblonde49 (Nov 05, 2004 8:12 am)
Boy, your friend has some aim to totally throw up on the seats only and not the floor. Any way, I have used our Brissle rug cleaner to clean throw up off of the bed and floor from our children throwing up or using the bathroom in the bed. It has cleaned it like new with no smell or stain of what happened. Our van is three years old and still looks new both inside and out. We normally do no allow our kids to eat or drink in our vechicles. If they have anything to drink, it is water.

#348 of 1446 by kirstie_h HOST

Nov 05, 2004 (1:16 pm)

An Edmunds.com reporter wants your opinion: “What are the coolest cars for soccer moms?” Please email jhelperinedmunds.com with which vehicles you like and why. Please respond by this Monday, 11/8, with “soccer moms” in the subject line.

#349 of 1446 Children in vehicles by hansienna

Nov 05, 2004 (8:24 pm)

We have been lucky. None of our children vomited while in any of our vehicles. We also do NOT permit eating or drinking in the vehicles except dry food like Ritz crakers and drink water.
     However, one grand daughter has vomited more than once in her parents van. We don't let her ride in our T&C.

#350 of 1446 2005 T. & C. Controls Backlighting by cbwilsha

Nov 08, 2004 (9:31 am)

I have a new 2005 T&C. All the controls and switches in the center of the dash are backlit very nicely when the headlights are on. However, the lights and mirror switches on the left of the dash, all the drivers side door switches (except the drivers window switch), and the cruise control switches on the steering wheel are NOT backlit. I had a 1998 T&C and ALL the switches and controls were backlit.
 
Can someone check and see if their 2005 is the same or that I have a unique problem and they should be backlit?
 
Thanks,
 
C.B.

Messages Page 35 of 145

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