2008 Minivans - READ ONLY

Replying to: masterpaul1 (Sep 11, 2007 9:17 pm)

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• hansienna (Sep 12, 2007 4:52 am)
  • bobw3 (Sep 12, 2007 6:49 am)
    • hansienna (Sep 12, 2007 6:52 am)
• carcom2 (Sep 12, 2007 5:56 am)
  • tonyv1 (Sep 12, 2007 6:35 am)
    • masterpaul1 (Sep 12, 2007 5:37 pm)

Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 12, 2007 2:11 am)

I, too prefer manually operated sliding doors instead of power sliding doors for the reason you have stated. I had preferred manually operated windows because I knew people who had expensive repairs on power windows.
 
Now that I have had power windows since 1991, I would not want to be without them. Probably why many people can't live without power sliding doors and power liftgate at rear.
 
As masterpaul said, the T&C/GC sliding doors with power sliding motors are designed to be opened as easily without power as those that never had the power sliding doors.
 
As I recall, the reason is because the power sliding motor is located within the door whereas other brands had the motor located within the van body unless they have copied Chrysler.
 
Toyota and Honda put one engine in all minivans but don't make the comfortable feature of separate temperature for driver and front passenger on less expensive models. Chrysler is just the opposite: You can get comfort features on less expensive models but not the most powerful engine.
 
Now that I have had 215 HP in my Sienna, I would probably miss the extra 40 HP if I got a Chrysler minivan with only 175 HP while I never missed the extra power in my 02 T&C. A devout Town Hall owner of a 2007 Sienna tells me I would not be satisfied with only 215 HP of my 06 if I drove the 07 Sienna with 266 HP
 
Sort of funny since I was able to get by with only 40 hp or whatever in my first Volkswagen Beetle but it was really nice to get a real heater in a car after I had owned the very primitive VW. Winter on the windswept plains of southern Wyoming can be bitterly cold without any heat from the most basic of transportation

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• bobw3 (Sep 12, 2007 6:49 am)
  • hansienna (Sep 12, 2007 6:52 am)

Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 12, 2007 2:11 am)

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• tonyv1 (Sep 12, 2007 6:35 am)
  • masterpaul1 (Sep 12, 2007 5:37 pm)

Replying to: carcom2 (Sep 12, 2007 5:56 am)

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• masterpaul1 (Sep 12, 2007 5:37 pm)

Replying to: hansienna (Sep 12, 2007 4:52 am)

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• hansienna (Sep 12, 2007 6:52 am)

Replying to: bobw3 (Sep 12, 2007 6:49 am)

EXCELLENT, well written reminder of the craziness that many Americans will embrace.
 
Good reminder that I don't need blitzkrieg acceleration.

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 07, 2007 12:05 pm)

Well you missed a heck of a lot on the Dodge/Chrysler. They also have a moon roof, front dash video, sub woofer, halo lighting,pinpoint LED lighting to read, rechargable flashlight, two glove boxes, Two screen DVD's, that can play two different programs or games. Cruise control, adjustable peddles, flex-fuel capability, tire pressure monitoring, industry-first integrated child booster seat, a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic, ParkSense® rear back-up system. Automatic one touch folding rear seat, 3rd row that can tailgate, front and middle heated seats. Driver and passenger eight way power seats. Dual- or tri-zone heating and cooling system. Hands-free cellphone system, mesh side pockets on the second-row seats, 110V inverter, two second-row output/input jacks with a 12-volt power outlet and an overhead console with bins large enough to store headphones. New to the industry is streaming video, supplied by Sirius satellites. You can also get a new, removable sliding front console that is large enough to store a purse; remote start;
 
Let's be fair, here, I did ask for help identifying these. Thanks for nominating several features.
 
I say "nominating" because many of these are not unique to the T&C and GC. Let's see....
 
moonroof? That's nearly universal, so no.
 
front dash video? Most GPS/DVD system will do this. Not unique.
 
sub woofer? Pretty much universal as well, so no.
 
two glove boxes? Nope. My Sienna has that.
 
2 screen DVD was pioneered by Nissan on the Quest, and I already gave Dodge credit for the sat. TV, so no again.
 
adjustable pedals? Competitors offers a telescoping wheel, so a fair trade. If it had both it would be unique.
 
Cruise control? No way, that's universal. Toyota offers laser cruise control, which follow the car in front of you at a set distance. Toyota's is unique, no credit to Dodge here for the generic cruise.
 
Tire pressure monitoring? Universal, in fact this is now required by law so even an econobox would have it. Not unique at all, in fact it's the complete opposite.
 
Integrated child booster? Nice, but I don't see how you can claim it's the industry's first, given Volvo has had these for ages, and even Subaru offered it in the Outback. It may be the industry's third, not first, but still, Dodge gets credit here for being unique among minivans.
 
Voice activated NAV was pioneered by Honda, I believe. It's not unique for sure.
 
rear backup system? again, near universal at this point. In fact most offer both a rear view camera and/or an audio sensor. No way, no how is this unique.
 
Power folding 3rd row? as I mentioned, Sienna has this first, so it is certainly not unique to Dodge. It tailgates, too.
 
Also not unique: power passenger seats, Bluetooth for phones, 110V inverter, dual-zone or 3-one ACC, even the removeable console is not unique, Sienna offers all of those things.
 
So while you made a nice, long list, very few of those are truly unique that I had not already mentioned.
 
Halo/LED lighting, the flashlight, built-in booster and flex-fuel capability, that's about it. Plus the ones I had mentioned before.
 
Sounds like you picked up a brochure and simply listed every feature. I was looking for unique features.
 
I'd like the see the built-in booster you mention. To be honest that's the only one of the 4 unique features you brought up that would interest me.

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• dennisctc (Sep 12, 2007 1:52 pm)
• marine2 (Sep 12, 2007 2:29 pm)
  • bobw3 (Sep 12, 2007 4:38 pm)
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Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 11, 2007 7:38 pm)

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• ateixeira (Sep 12, 2007 12:45 pm)
  • bobw3 (Sep 12, 2007 1:30 pm)
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Replying to: aaron_t (Sep 12, 2007 11:57 am)

When you are driving the family up through the hills, and you have a heavy payload of 1000 lbs or so, or especially when towing, you will notice the difference.
 
The more powerful engine will be able to maintain speed, the weaker one won't. If you set cruise control you'll notice it will downshift at first, then lose speed, then disable cruise completely.
 
This was quite humling in a '91 Escort GT I used to own. I always felt it was quick, 0-60 and all. But load it up with 4 people and luggage and at altitude it had to limp up a hill even with a seemingly decent 127hp.
 
A much heavier van with less than 200hp would likely struggle in the same way. I don't want to be that guy limping slowly in the right lane trying to make it up that long uphill, all while being tailgated by big trucks.
 
Some times power is indeed a safety feature.

Replies to this message:
• bobw3 (Sep 12, 2007 1:30 pm)
  • ateixeira (Sep 14, 2007 9:39 am)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 12, 2007 12:45 pm)

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• ateixeira (Sep 14, 2007 9:39 am)
  • bobw3 (Sep 14, 2007 10:52 am)
    • ateixeira (Sep 14, 2007 10:58 am)