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2008 Minivans - READ ONLY

1261 messages,  Last post on Feb 27, 2008 at 8:47 AM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Caravan, Hyundai Entourage, Mazda MAZDA5, Kia Sedona, Car Comparisons, Car Buying, Van

Messages Page 120 of 127

#1190 of 1261 Re: Glare from poorly designed Sienna instrument cluster and dash [hansienn by marine2

Feb 23, 2008 (11:53 pm)

Replying to: yatesjo (Feb 23, 2008 6:51 pm)
There are a lot of very passionate opinions on this forum, particularly from the Mopar people. The problem is passion often overrides civility, objectivity and reason.
 
I guess that comes from a lot of put down over the years and having auto magazines not really giving Chrysler products the credit they deserve.
 
While they did have some problems back in the 1990's, most have been cleared up in 2,000. But there are still some on this board that knock them hard, even though they never owned one, or haven't owned one for years. Much like some say they will never buy another American vehicle, even though the quality is way up. Even better than European cars. Now that we see that Toyota is no longer what they use to be, I would say they are about as good as the Asian vehicles. But it will take years I'm afraid before many find that out. Hopefully the American auto industry is still around when it happens. I think the American auto industry is vital to our economy and I really get upset when I hear Americans say they will never try an American vehicle again.
 
I have a 2005 Dodge GC and a 2004 Honda Civic. Both have been excellent vehicles and we haven't had any problems with either. But next year, I plan on trading the Honda in on a Ford Focus. It's also been rated a very good car and I want to support American if I can get a good reliable car from them. My only gripe of the Honda, is the harsh ride over bumps and expansion strips on the road. We didn't feel them nearly as much when we test drove the new Focus.
 
I think Chrysler has come out with a great minivan for 2008. They have put on it everything most people have complained about them not having and then added even more. Then cut the price to make even more affordable. I'm sure that's hard for Chrysler to do with the cost advantage the Asians have over Chrysler and the other American auto makers. From the experience I have had in 38 months of owning my van and the experience my brother has had with both of his vans and my sister's minivan, I think a person can't go wrong buying a new Chrysler van. You'll not only get a great minivan for a good price, but you'll be helping out your country too. Thats a great combination.

#1191 of 1261 Re: Chrysler put everything on minivan people wanted? [marine2] by hansienna

Feb 24, 2008 (3:39 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Feb 23, 2008 11:53 pm)
NO. I liked my 2002 Chrysler T&C LX but bought a new 2006 Toyota Sienna LE because Chrysler deleted too many nice items between 2002 and 2006. Chrysler cheapened the trip computer, deleted the lighted controls on the doors, deleted the heatiing coils at base of windshield, deleted one of the 2 lights on the liftgate just for a few examples.
 
Chrysler needs to offer the biggest engine on ALL minivans without making the consumer buy a top of the line GC SXT or T&C Limited just to get power comparable to the Sienna or Odyssey. Chrysler needs to STOP having cheap, hard, ugly plastic door panels. Put soft padded vinyl and cloth on the door panels with nice carpet at the bottom. How much would it cost to have attractive door panels instead of cheap, hard, ugly plastic?

#1192 of 1261 Re: Chrysler put everything on minivan people wanted? [hansienna] by dennisctc

Feb 24, 2008 (4:15 am)

Replying to: hansienna (Feb 24, 2008 3:39 am)
Chrysler needs to offer the biggest engine on ALL minivans without making the consumer buy a top of the line GC SXT or T&C Limited just to get power comparable to the Sienna or Odyssey.
 
I think your title says it best... Some people don't care about having the biggest engine, they want the smallest price, or some specific feature/stand alone option that they can't get in another minivan without having to spend $$$$$ for top of line model. I think the new door panels on 08s are just fine...good graining, lots of pockets/holders etc. Some people want the best warranty available at no charge, maybe they're buying minivan for young children and want to keep it for 10+ years? I think for 08, Chrysler has put back in the lighted switches and upped the stakes with LED lights throughout minivan.
 
Has anyone heard how Chrysler's minivans are doing in sales lately? I know they fended off Honda's dumping of 07 Odys and I keep seeing tons of car trailers moving Minivans around Detroit (probably coming in from Windsor).

#1193 of 1261 Re: Glare from poorly designed Sienna instrument cluster and dash [hansienn [marine2] by bobber1

Feb 24, 2008 (10:24 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Feb 23, 2008 11:53 pm)
Marine2,
 
Good points and glad to hear you're confident enough to trade the Honda in for a Ford. I own a Ford and Honda and really like both of them.
 
You know one car reviewer has said Detroit is suffering right now from sins it committed in the past. I think there's a lot truth to that statement. For years they put out sub par quality products relative to the imports. They didn't stand behind them too well and it's coming back to haunt them.
 
I agree the domestics have gotten a lot better. The competition if fierce however and with our Wal-Mart mentality in this country, it's become a tough sell to say buy it just because it's American made.
 
I think most of the Japanese cars have displaced the Europeans as the quality & and dependability vehicle which consumers will pay a premium for. However the Korean and soon to come Chinese vehicles have filled the value segement that the Japanese used to fill. American makers continue to be squeezed in the middle as the have been since the early 70's.
 
I'm not sure what the answer is. Big Labor says it's Managements problems and Management say it's a Big Labor cost issue. It's pretty simple however. If the domestics can't make money, they're going to go the way of Zenith T.V.'s. The Golden Goose for the USA may finally end up like the Dodo Bird.

#1194 of 1261 Re: artgpo [marine2] by ateixeira

Feb 25, 2008 (7:38 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Feb 22, 2008 11:05 pm)
Toyota issued a press release to the Associated Press about that issue.
 
I don't see how you think they're trying to keep this a big secret. Every automotive press outlet in the world covered that story.

#1195 of 1261 Re: Glare from poorly designed Sienna instrument cluster and dash [hansienn [yatesjo] by ateixeira

Feb 25, 2008 (7:48 am)

Replying to: yatesjo (Feb 23, 2008 5:16 pm)
From what I can tell, you are the only one in the world who has a problem with glare on the Sienna dash. From my, abet limited, experience in the Sienna I saw no more glare than in the Odyssey or GC/T&C.
 
He is, and give up, there's no convincing him, I've tried. I even showed photos in this very thread, earlier.
 
I'm not disputing the fact that the gauges bother him, only that noone else complains. I have had the same gauges for a year now and love the blue hue and soft, pleasant glow. The only better gauges in Minivan-dom are the Hyundai Entourage's Lexus-like gauges (on the Limited model only).
 
I respect hansienna's opinions but I think he believes that his opinion is fact, and that everyone agrees with him. That's just not the case.
 
Per surveys 79% of Sienna owners are happy, and he falls in that 21% minority. For his old, beloved T&C van the number of satisifed owners was just 49%.
 
So his opinion is in the MINORITY.
 
His input is useful in these threads but I wish he was more accepting of the opinions of others, especially when the majority disagrees with him.

#1196 of 1261 Re: Glare from poorly designed Sienna instrument cluster and dash [bobber1] by marine2

Feb 25, 2008 (2:50 am)

Replying to: bobber1 (Feb 24, 2008 10:24 am)
I do believe American car makers are suffering from their past sins which were many. I think both management and labor must share the blame. Many back in the 1970's and 80's were poorly designed and built. I had bought a Pontiac. Phoenix new, that over heated on me on the way home from the dealers and I wound up having a pool of oil in the driveway the next morning. Had to have it towed back to the dealer. The springs were so weak in it, if two people sat in the back seat, the rear end would scrape the pavement going up a driveway. It was even missing a door handle in the back when I drove it off the lot. Didn't realize it until I got it home. But that was many years ago and I know they're putting out a lot better cars now.
 
When I bought my 2005, people on here said they wouldn't by a Dodge/Chrysler minivan because the inside was two plain. It only had a four speed tranny, was to slow, didn't have stability control, side air bags etc. Not much was complained about in the quality of it. Now Chrysler has a new minivan out that has all the stuff many complained about them not having, and loaded it with stuff none of the rest even offered and priced it cheaper, so now they go back to past quality that really hasn't been an issue on Chrysler minivans for years. The 2008 Chrysler vans are great vehicles. Built well and a ton of features on them. Don't buy them just because they are American. Buy them because they a good minivans and because your also helping your country by doing so. Thats the way I look at it.

#1197 of 1261 Re: artgpo [ateixeira] by marine2

Feb 25, 2008 (8:01 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 25, 2008 7:38 am)
Toyota issued a press release to the Associated Press about that issue.
  
I don't see how you think they're trying to keep this a big secret. Every automotive press outlet in the world covered that story.
 
I'd like to know who carried the press release then. I get Consumers Report, Automobile and Motor Trend magazines and saw nothing in any of them. I also get the newspaper and saw nothing in that on their massive recalls, hidden recalls or even the Japanese government thinking of suing them. So who carried it? I didn't see it on television news either. I am sure there are many on here that were as surprised as I was to hear the news about Toyota's quality problems.

#1198 of 1261 Re: artgpo [marine2] by ateixeira

Feb 25, 2008 (8:36 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Feb 25, 2008 8:01 am)
A quick Google finds coverage from:
 
Journal Sentinal
Cars.com
Consumer Reports
AutoBlog
AOL Videos
YouTube
 
And that's just the first page.
 
The press loves covering a story like this.
 
This is how it should work - the problem appears, people discuss it on-line, create a buzz. That puts pressure on the manufacturer to address the issue, and they do.

#1199 of 1261 Re: artgpo [ateixeira] by marine2

Feb 25, 2008 (9:33 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 25, 2008 8:36 am)
Replying to: marine2 (Feb 25, 2008 7:01 am)
 
A quick Google finds coverage from:
  
Journal Sentinal
Cars.com
Consumer Reports
AutoBlog
AOL Videos
YouTube
  
And that's just the first page.
  
The press loves covering a story like this.
  
This is how it should work - the problem appears, people discuss it on-line, create a buzz. That puts pressure on the manufacturer to address the issue, and they do.
 
Does it say what issue in Consummers Report has it in? Most of those you mentioned, most people would never see or read. Now if you had said NY Times, Arizona Republic, Edmonds, Motor Trend, LA. Times, CBS, NBC, I could understand it. They sure wouldn't have a problem with that kind of news on those sources if they were American.

Messages Page 120 of 127

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