Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Vans & Minivans 2008 Minivans 
1261 messages, Last post on Feb 27, 2008 at 7:47 AM
You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum. Your Host is Karens
|
Replying to: dennisctc (Feb 26, 2008 8:41 am) 
|
|
|
Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 26, 2008 10:35 am) Are you looking at only the pictures? Even the pics would show you they're making comparisons!! Every issue they test similar cars - WHY? because it's a comparison. At the beginning of every article, they list ALL cars in that segment and give them ratings...not a comparison? I'm glad CR knows which models and options buyers are likely to buy. So if someone is looking to tow a large trailer, they'd equip both the Toyota and GM with largest engines available and make a fair comparison, not the base engine in the GM and top of the line in the Toyota and declare Toyota the winner! I'm sure GM execs aren't sitting around, paying any attention to CR. |
|
|
Replying to: dennisctc (Feb 26, 2008 1:52 pm) |
|
|
Replying to: marine2 (Feb 26, 2008 3:41 pm) What they mean is, it's not like the japanese vehicles they're used to, therefore different and different is bad.
|
|
|
Replying to: artgpo (Feb 26, 2008 5:45 am) Will the transmission fail in your 2006 Odyssey like they have been failing in MANY Odysseys? 
|
|
|
Replying to: marine2 (Feb 26, 2008 3:41 pm) Chrysler vehicles had a separate control for Bass, Treble, Fade, and Balance while Toyonda has the less user friendly "one knob does everything" for the stereo which forces the owner to scroll thru everything to change the balance left/right. My 02 T&C LX had a separate control for front wipers/washers and 3 controls for the rear wiper/washers while Hondota have all of these on one stalk located on the right of the steering wheel. My 02 T&C LX had a POWER On/Off button for HVAC with a 5 speed fan while my 06 Sienna LE has only 4 speed fan with NO power on/off button....just for a few examples. However, the Sienna does have ONE feature that is better than the Odyssey or GC/T&C: The transmission selector has P-R-N-D-4-3-2-L while the others don't have a position to hold the transmission from shifting above 1st gear ( and 4th gear in the Ody). I have not driven a Chrysler minivan with the 6 speed. 
|
|
|
Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 26, 2008 10:35 am) |
|
|
Replying to: hansienna (Feb 26, 2008 5:11 pm) We had the radio controls in our T&C like you said, it made it look cheap to me and i like the one button does all idea. I love the gated shifter on the Sienna, use it while driving through Mt. Shasta on I-5. |
|
|
Replying to: marine2 (Feb 23, 2008 10:53 pm) The automotive business is truly international in scope. Ford and GM both have substantial markets and manufacturing sourced internationally; Toyota, Honda, BMW, Daimler, Subaru, Nissan et al have parts and manufacturing sources as well as development and engineering within the US. A company's profits are accrued to the share holders and alongside Ford and GM you can trade Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Daimler etc on the NYSE; and if you invest in Asia/Pacific mutual or index funds, you own some of the Japanese/Korean companies and likewise European companies in those mutual and index funds. A decision on which vehicle to buy should be made with the right goals in mind and those goals should purely relate to how the vehicle will be used, the costs entailed and the value returned. All nationalism does is muddy the water and lead people to choose a vehicle that costs too much or does not fit their needs. If American manufacturers can build competitive quality vehicles at competitive prices then they will survive in the marketplace. By subsidizing non-competitive industries all we do is make ourselves poorer while delaying the inevitable. Unfortunately for Chrysler, one con that must be weighted into the purchase of their minivan is the possibility that Cerebrus decides to cut their losses and pull the plug. Of the big three, Chrysler is in the weakest position during a domestic economic slump having been divested in the 1970s of the brands that gave it any significant international presence. What is a lifetime warranty worth when the company no longer exists? The T&C and GC are nice vans, but are they enough nicer and enough less expensive to overcome these hurdles? That is one of the questions I am exploring. A similar questioning should come when looking at any vehicle from the Big3. GM is in the strongest position, but they are all bleeding cash. Buying a Toyota, Honda or Nissan I would be confident that the manufacturer will be around to support the vehicle for a long time to come.
|
|
|
Replying to: yatesjo (Feb 26, 2008 11:14 pm) This is like comparing a fly to an elephant. The engineering and development presence of all these OEMs is TINY.....support engineering in the plant, some artistic design studios maybe in CA, and an "engineering" office here is detroit. No one is saying to pay too much for a domestic minivan, or buy an inferior product. That's hardly the case when choosing a Chrysler minivan where you got new technologies/features, equal or better quality, better warranty and lower prices. The T&C and GC are nice vans, but are they enough nicer and enough less expensive to overcome these hurdles? That is one of the questions I am exploring. Without a question - YES. Having owned previous gens, and in the market later this year for a new one, and having driven it's competition...YES again. I believe even Honda realizes how good they are, as they started heavily discounting 07s and 08s Odys last fall. GM is in the strongest position, but they are all bleeding cash. Buying a Toyota, Honda or Nissan I would be confident that the manufacturer will be around to support the vehicle for a long time to come. You might want to cheer up some and not be so dire here...... GM is bleeding cash only because of accounting issues. They'll be around long after our bones are dust. Nissan was given up for dead years ago before Renault stepped in. Chrysler is taking the steps needed to grow the business and they have the cash. Once this economy picks up they'll be fine. |
|
You are here:
Forums
Vans & Minivans 2008 Minivans
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2011 Toyota Sienna
2011 Honda Odyssey
2010 Chrysler Town and Country
2007 Dodge Caravan
2008 Hyundai Entourage
2010 Mazda MAZDA5
2009 Kia Sedona
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
