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Chrysler Pacifica Test Drive - What Did You Think?

43 messages,  Last post on Feb 21, 2007 at 12:24 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chrysler Pacifica, Car Buying, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 5

#14 of 43 Pacifica loner car by charlesf1

Jun 22, 2004 (9:08 am)

Since my 2004 PT Cruiser is at the dealer for two weeks so far with AC problems, they have given me a 2004 Pacifica to drive. I can hardly keep my wife out of it. She likes driving it more than her 2000 300M. If I was in the market for a new car I would be considering a Pacifica.

#15 of 43 Tested an '05 yesterday by drlawrence

Jul 13, 2004 (6:38 am)

AWD w/leather model. Comfortable and quiet ride. Liked it much more than JGC and T&C.
 
As posted here in the past, sluggish acceleration, (like the T&C and JGC with the same engine) significant blind spots, and small side mirrors.
 
I also tried opening the rear windows on the freeway as mentioned here. Wow, the worst wind pressure I've ever experienced. My Envoy does the same thing, but not like that Pacifica. Thought the cabin was going to shake apart along with my eardrums. Opening three other windows didn't help much.
 
Played with the showroom unit's nav system. Love the location. Doesn't seem to be any way to turn off the display.
 
I have a long commute, so the comfort is more important than performance. I've decided to purchase one. I'll just ask the dealer if they can install yellow caution tape on the window switches.
 
Dave

#16 of 43 My Week with the Pac by rsharp

Aug 15, 2004 (1:11 pm)

I just had the opportunity to spend a week driving an '05 Touring Pac around Houston and to Schlitterbahn and back. Earlier this year I almost purchased a Pac but one 5 star dealer "mis-quoted" the pricing by $2,000 and the other didn't seem interested enough to call me back because I didn't want the loaded and way over priced Pacs they had on the lot. Anyway I wound up with a Honda Pilot which I like very much but I always wondered how I would have liked the Pac.
 
So after almost 800 miles I can say the Pac is a great road car. I did a lot of city driving and one long trip from Houston to Schlitterbahn and back. The trip back was in a driving storm and the wind was howling, knocking out power lines left and right. The behind the wheel experience is very nice and the Pac is a sure footed and smooth road car. I had no trouble in some pretty heavy city traffic, but I am used to driving big autos.
 
Where the Pac failed us was in room for 6 plus the stuff 6 people need. I had 3 adults and 3 children in the car a majority of the time and there is very little room left over for anything else. Our trip to the new Texas-sized IKEA store was a lesson in strategic packing. Thank goodness that IKEA stuff is pretty stack able by nature or we would have had to put things in our lap all the way home. We also did an overnighter to Schlitterbahn and all we took was a change of clothes, bathing suits, towels and personal items. After buying a few souvenirs I was not sure we could get home! There is no cargo room with the rear seats in use! My Pilot can seat 8 and has quite a bit more cargo space. So the Pac really lacks if you need to haul around more than 4 people + their stuff.
 
Another thing that didn't go well was entry into the 3rd row seats. Your front seats have to be pretty far forward and the 2nd row has to have the head rest down in order for them to flip forward. Well, that was never the case and kids, who are the only people that can fit in the 3rd row, are not going to wait around when getting in and out. So they climb between the buckets and step on the middle console. Over time the wear and tear on the console would be a big concern if you need the 3rd row on a daily basis.
 
On the plus side my 88 year old grandparents were able to get in and out of the Pac with little trouble which was a good thing for them when they were riding. SUV's are typically to high up for them to get in and out of very well.
 
Overall I really enjoyed driving the Pac and if Chrysler had priced the 2004's like the '05 models I might very well have purchased one. However I could not pay over $40K for a Chrysler station wagon, no way the Pac could compete in that stratified price range. Chrysler really screwed up the 04 pricing and cut out people like me who didn't want a minivan but wanted AWD and room for at least 6. In fact, in my midwest location most people I saw driving Pacs were retired or at least over 50! Not really the market the Pac was aiming for with their marketing.
 
I like the fact that the 05 models offer a basic package without all the expensive and largely unnecessary luxury options and gadgets. By getting the price down into the mid $20K range they will do a lot better for the family drivers that should want the Pac. In fact last night a friend of mine told me he had also rented a Pac and really liked it but he didn't buy one in '04 because it was too expensive. I feel for those of you who spent $40K+ on the 04 Pacs and now will see their resale value decline as more affordable new models will be available.
 
If I had to do it again I still would likely choose the Pilot. It has more seating, more cargo room and until Chrysler proves it can build a quality car for the laung haul of 5+ years, you have to be somewhat wary. However, if I had the Pilot and needed another family car then I would say the modestly priced Pac would be a contender. Along with the new Ford Freestyle due later this fall.

#17 of 43 Re: My Week with the Pac [rsharp] by ciodude

Aug 16, 2004 (9:32 am)

Replying to: rsharp (Aug 15, 2004 1:11 pm)
I researched and test drove the Pilot (I've owned Honda's most of my life and we currently have an Odessey) as part of my buying experience (bought a 2004 demo Pac 2 weeks ago) and must say my experiences were polar opposite to yours. First, to get 8 people in a Pilot they must have been very little.. There were alot of things I didn't like about the Pilot styling, but getting in and out of the third row seat took me like 5 minutes! Leg and side room in the Pac is far surperior to the Pilot.

#18 of 43 Re: My Week with the Pac [rsharp] by lsande

Aug 18, 2004 (12:42 pm)

Replying to: rsharp (Aug 15, 2004 1:11 pm)
Hi, I also bought a pilot instead of the pac....I like the space in my pilot, but it lacks any bells and wistles! and I had a 4mp front end collision where my pilot hit the back of a chevy avalanche...his bumper went right through my front end! $8000.00 damage to my (safe?) pilot and a 1" by 1/4" hole in his bumper! My airbags did not go off and we were not hurt, but my pocketbook is very empty! The damage was so great that I could not even get out of my door, as the fender was bent over the door! My husband says that if my bumper had hit his bumper, I would have had much less damage...He, as well as the auto shop men could not believe the difference in damage....so as a warning...do not ever expect that the pilot will do well in a crash, because it was like paper! And watch the lights, rather than the traffic movement, as I did. He started to go and I started to go, and then he slammed on his breaks and I slammed on my breaks, but bam. The pilot is a heavy vehicle and did not stop. Good luck, pilot owners and stay back, far!

#19 of 43 Test drive by rodut

Nov 25, 2004 (3:40 pm)

Hi all,
I hope it's not just me, bigdaddy and his 23lb. dinosaur on this discussion group ! I test drove a Pacifica today. Question for all of you:
 
Did it ever happen to you to turn the key and hear just click-click-click and no start at all ? It happened to the Pac I test drove today. Then the dealer connected a big battery in parallel with the Pac's battery and it started. First of all if the battery is dead, why it makes click-click-click ? Then, why the battery was discharged ? The Pac was manufactured in December 2003 and had 5 miles on it so it was probably stored somewhere. Still I would expect a new battery to last one year ... I guess. Is there current consumption when the car is shut down ? That clock's consumption should be negligible ...

#21 of 43 Re: Test drive [rodut] by kcram HOST

Nov 25, 2004 (10:11 pm)

Replying to: rodut (Nov 25, 2004 3:40 pm)
I'd be hesitant about any vehicle that's got a nearly 12 month old build date unless that vehicle was dead-on what I wanted with no compromises and the store was offering an absolutely smoking deal.
 
The battery will discharge in just a few months if not used. I'm very surprised the dealer would not have been more diligent in charging a Pac that's been on the ground that long... you'd think they'd want to move that sucker as quickly as possible after 90 days.
 
kcram
Host - Wagons

#22 of 43 Pacifica Touring - 2 week "test drive" by gmctruck

Sep 13, 2005 (8:18 pm)

We just returned from a two week vacation in a rented Chrysler Pacifica Touring. The ride was smooth and I didn't feel tired after driving it for several hours. The cup holders were great and we used several of the power jacks for charging cell phones and keeping my son's Gameboy up and running during the long drive. The dual AC controls were nice since I like the AC cool and my wife doesn't. The car had XM radio, but it wasn't active - darn it! I never looked under the hood, but power was definitely not there, especially in the mountains. What saved the day was the autostick feature, which was a big help in the mountains. The car cruised well at highway speeds, but had no power left for passing or climbing steep hills in the drive position. I had to use the autostick more than I really wanted to. I didn't run the numbers, but gas mileage seemed to be decent for it's size. Backing up the Pacifica was tricky due to limited rear visibility from the drivers seat, so I tried to park it where I didn't have to back out. I'm sure I would adjust if I owned one and drove it daily, but rear visibility could be improved. The rear wiper was nice to have while driving in the rain. The arm rest on the drivers seat was useless unless my right hand was off the wheel. I had to use a small pillow on the drivers door side to rest my arm on for comfort. Overall not a bad vehicle except for the lack of cargo room and being a bit under powered. It is a good vehicle for around town, but I'm not sure it would qualify as a car used for "Touring"... at least with cargo.

#23 of 43 Re: Pacifica Touring - 2 week "test drive" [gmctruck] by steelydan0613

Sep 14, 2005 (11:50 am)

Replying to: gmctruck (Sep 13, 2005 8:18 pm)
It's nice to hear someone's first impressions of a Pacifica ride/drive, particularly when someone drove it for two weeks like you did . A one hour test drive is not the same. I agree with most of your observations, backing up gets easier , you get to know the mirrors well . Most SUV's have this trait to some degree.
 
As far as the power is concerned , I live in flat Houston, Tx, so I don't have a problem. The Autostick works on hills well, I find you just have to stab the throttle in Drive and there is enough oomph to pass easily , you just have to really mash it as the transmissiont , while unobtrusive, likes to hold the gear it's in. Or just use the Autostick.
 
The Autostick does hold the gear it's in, which is nice. No upshifts unless you want it to. I use the Autostick with cruise control a lot as you can push "Resume" and the Pacifica will just ease back up to cruising speed instead of going through an urgent upshift in "Drive" mode.............
 
Bottom line: the more you drive it , the less underpowered it seems to me. I really would rather have a 5 spd. auto , a few hundred less pounds of weight, and the 3.5 L would be fine. After all, it makes 250 HP and 250 ft. lbs. of torque......

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