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Vans & Minivans 2008 Minivans 
1261 messages, Last post on Feb 27, 2008 at 7:47 AM
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Replying to: carcom2 (Sep 12, 2007 5:56 am)
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Replying to: hansienna (Sep 12, 2007 4:52 am) Just curious on how you would "miss" the 40HP? Getting to the stop-sign a fraction of a second later?
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Replying to: bobw3 (Sep 12, 2007 6:49 am) Good reminder that I don't need blitzkrieg acceleration. 
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Replying to: marine2 (Sep 07, 2007 12:05 pm) 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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Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 11, 2007 7:38 pm)
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Replying to: aaron_t (Sep 12, 2007 11:57 am) 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.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 12, 2007 12:45 pm)
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Mini vans keep getting larger, more extras, bigger gas engines that get less and less mpg. I've had four and don't want any more until they make one like those first vans, but they must "average" around "35 MPG"........... |
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Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 12, 2007 9:27 am) BTW - I know Visteon Corp built the first voice recognition systems for Nissan about 6 years ago. My company, Tyco Electronics, supplies some of the components. Honda came later. Chrylser offered built in childs seats about a decade ago, before the 1996 minivans. I don't know why they dropped them later on? My 2001 BMW had LED lighting, and again, Tyco Electronics supplies both BMW and DCX with light pipes and LED lighting. The LEDs last forever, use very little energy, doesn't distract the driver and helps to differentiate DCX from their competitors. |
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Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 12, 2007 9:27 am) Without going back and looking, I don't remember you saying what unique features Dodge had over the Toyota. You said what you had on yours and asked what the Dodge had on it. If not mistaken. Let's see, the integrated car seat, no one else has (on a minivan) which is what we are comparing right? No one has the television, Chrysler has the battery saver. I know Honda doesn't have that unless they just added it. Not sure about Toyota. Could you show me where another minivan has a sub woofer? I had read Chrysler was the only minivan to offer it. Only one to have a rechargeable flash light. I think they are also the only one to offer a AC/DC converter. Does the others offer a big hard drive to play music and view photos on their screen? Remote start built into the key fob. Third row, auto one touch seat. Swivel second row seats. Only one to offer halo lighting. Many have dual DVD screens, but can't play separate movies, Chrysler's can. Self adjusting front shocks. An umbrella holder. Stow-n-go seating. These are the things I can think of off my head.
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