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2008 Minivans - READ ONLY

1261 messages,  Last post on Feb 27, 2008 at 7:47 AM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum. Your Host is Karens

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


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#145 of 1261
Re: quality [davethewave1] by marine2
Sep 05, 2007 (5:47 am)

Replying to: davethewave1 (Sep 05, 2007 4:31 am)

If your going to buy one, you'd be crazy not to check them all out. I think you'll find out, Chrysler vans have a heck of a lot to offer minivan buyers. That halo lighting is really cool looking at night. The only real advantage Honda and Toyota now have on Chrysler is resale value. That is mostly because there are so many more Chrysler minivans sold and their bland interior. If your planning on keeping your van more than 2-3 years, resale value won't make much difference. Although with their new interior, I don't think that will be as much a factor as it was on the old ones. People are not going to look inside and automatically disregard this minivan because of it's bland gray interior, as many did on the older vans. As a matter of fact,, I hear Chrysler not only has the front seats heated, but also the middle seats.
#146 of 1261
Re: quality [marine2] by ateixeira
Sep 05, 2007 (8:25 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 04, 2007 8:50 pm)

You make several good points, but I made a similar point in the Sedona/Entourage threads and I'll make it again here.
 
You're focusing on the toppings. More of them, specifically.
 
Honda and Toyota sell better ice cream.
 
Dodge offers jimmies, syrup, whipped cream, jelly beans, gummy bears, granola, and all sort of chopped up candy bars on top of their vanilla ice cream. That's fine if you like toppings.
 
But then they still use pushrod engines and hard plastics straight from the low-buck Caliber on the dash. They get the options right but miss on some of the basics.
 
In the ice cream analogy, they use generic ice cream underneath all those toppings.
 
Honda and Toyota use Breyer's vanilla.
 
The lesson to be learned here? I'm hungry for lunch!
 
Any how, $39,305 and it's still a pushrod engine.
#147 of 1261
Re: quality [ateixeira] by davethewave1
Sep 05, 2007 (9:41 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 05, 2007 8:25 am)

Nice
#148 of 1261
Re: quality [ateixeira] by dennisctc
Sep 05, 2007 (9:48 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 05, 2007 8:25 am)

Talk to automotive engineers, and there are many benefits to a pushrod engine besides lower mfg cost, they also provide more torque at lower RPMs, similar MPG and easier to repair. Just look at the "pushrod" Corvette and Z06 engines, hardly Cosco bucket icecream!
#149 of 1261
Re: quality [ateixeira] by bobw3
Sep 05, 2007 (9:51 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 05, 2007 8:25 am)

I agree with you. I'm more interested in the engine, handling, proven quality, reliability, etc than with a lot of toppings!
#150 of 1261
Re: quality [dennisctc] by ateixeira
Sep 05, 2007 (10:02 am)

Replying to: dennisctc (Sep 05, 2007 9:48 am)

Pushrods don't really make more torque, they just use more displacement. 4.0 liters instead of 3.5l. Makes less power than Toyota and gives up MPG as well.
 
It's all about cost, because Chrysler has multivalve engines.
 
The Corvette is a completely different animal.
 
It's a shame the Edmunds comparo didn't measure mileage, I wonder why?
 
Any how, my Sienna makes more power and gets better mileage. I'm not sure I'd be willing to give up either, much less both.
 
I'll have a large sundae please. Make sure the ice cream is the best stuff you have: Breyer's Vanilla Bean.
#151 of 1261
Re: quality [ateixeira] by marine2
Sep 05, 2007 (10:22 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 05, 2007 8:25 am)

I'm not sure the new 4.0 engine is a push rod or not. But the 3.8 is and it's a good proven engine that is pretty darn reliable. Unlike the Toyota engine that built up sludge and had to be replaced. Let's not forget those Honda transmissions that people were replacing 2 or 3 times. At least most of Chrysler's problem with transmissions were mostly people using the wrong fluid.
 
So they use hard looking plastic on their dash and doors. Last I looked, Honda's and Toyota's were plastic too. They only have a more rounded, softer look to them. It doesn't mean they'll last any longer and now you are talking about their toppings.
 
It's all not just topping either. They have a six speed tranny, only van with self adjusting shocks, power saver, it's quieter, two kinds of rides, all row standard air bags, electronic stability control, along with traction control.(Not sure Honda even offers both) coil springs and a larger front stabilizer bar for improved control over the older models. There are plenty of improvements in this van over the older ones and they are not just toppings.
#152 of 1261
Re: quality [marine2] by bobw3
Sep 05, 2007 (10:30 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 05, 2007 10:22 am)

I think the problem is that while you may be right about this years T&C, it's hard to overcome a decade of experience. For me, I'll wait until I see 5 years of consistent quality and reliability coming out of Chrysler. When I'm constantly reading about how Chrysler quality and reliability matches Honda and Toyota, then I'll consider them. But now I'm only reading about how they're getting better and are much improved and for me, that's not enough. It's the same reason why I won't buy Kia or Hyundia.
#153 of 1261
Over blown by marine2
Sep 05, 2007 (10:38 am)
Chrysler has made over 30 improvements over just last year's model. I also think Honda's quality has been over blown lately. They have had plenty of problems with trannys, sliding doors, squeeks and rattles. Air conditioning, windshields, etc. So far my 2005 has been problem free. Only recall was a possible pinched hose which I had checked with an oil change.
#154 of 1261
Re: Over blown [marine2] by bobw3
Sep 05, 2007 (10:56 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 05, 2007 10:38 am)

I guess for some, a few stories and a couple of good years is enough, but not for me. It's sort of like buying a stock. You don't just look at a year or two of good returns, but the long history of a company. Plus, just because a solid company had a few bad years you don't dump them. I look at Honda/Toyota as the solid company, and while Chrysler may have a good year now and in the past couple of years, again that's not enough for me.
 
Plus I think some of the features on the T&C are gimmicky to me. Most minivan owners have carseats attached to the seats in the 2nd row, so they're never going to use the stow-n-go feature on the road like they do in the TV commercials.
 
And with the turning seats...I really don't think that kids (let alone adults) are going to be sitting facing each other knocking knees while driving down the highway.
 
Maybe these things look good on TV commercials, but in reality, the minivan crowd doesn't look like the folks on TV. They're really interested in hauling a few kids around in car seats and booster seats and with a bunch of stuff behind the 3rd row on family vacations.
 
Or with the autofolding 3rd row...give me a break. It's faster just to flip down the spit 3rd row of a Sienna or Odyssey then to wait for the autofold feature to work. But then I feel the same way with the auto-sliding doors, but then they have at least some practical benefit.

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