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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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#455 of 1261
Re: Which is best? [desperatemom1] by hansienna
Oct 16, 2007 (5:00 pm)

Replying to: desperatemom1 (Oct 15, 2007 8:44 pm)

thegraduate gave EXCELLENT advice to which I would add "Rent one if possible so you can drive it more than the average test drive".
 
Check each van in bright daylight and also at night. After looking and sitting in all minivans at the Annual Auto Show each year, we narrowed it down to Odyssey, Sienna, and T&C/GC. Two different Honda salesmen gave us the keys and told us to drive the Odyssey. (All others had the salesman go with us.)
#456 of 1261
Re: 2008 Chrysler minivan [samnoe] by marine2
Oct 17, 2007 (3:27 pm)

Replying to: samnoe (Oct 15, 2007 3:15 pm)

Second, the seating. Offer 8-passenger seating, the stow 'n' go seats should sit higher and flatter, not as angled, and so should be the 3rd row - like ALL OTHER minivans does, they give you much higher seating position and much more cargo space behind it.
 
I think the design of the stow-n-go seating is determined mostly by how they have to fit in the storage bins. I would think especially height. Not sure if that would also have to be the reason for the angle of the seat too.
 
As for 8 passenger seating, not sure how that would work, unless they had a bench seat that went all the way across, which would mean redesigning the storage wells and redesigning one seat to fold over to get in the rear seats. Unless of course they did away with the storage bins. Not sure there is enough demand for eight passenger seating to do all that.
 
Remember, Chrysler has to be competitive in their pricing and the imports already have over a $3,000. advantage on them in profit, per vehicle. Probably also why you don't get the bigger engine and six speed on all lines.
#457 of 1261
Re: 2008 Chrysler minivan [marine2] by dennisctc
Oct 17, 2007 (3:35 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (Oct 17, 2007 3:27 pm)

I remember Chrysler doing extensive market research for 8 passenger seating and AWD, and the market wasn't there for these items. I also heard the reason for angled seating is a safety issue and keeping passengers in their seats, and kids now slipping under belts?
#458 of 1261
Re: 2008 Chrysler minivan [dennisctc] by bobw3
Oct 17, 2007 (4:29 pm)

Replying to: dennisctc (Oct 17, 2007 3:35 pm)

That I doubt. I'm guessing they angle the seats simply because the seats are lower to the floor and without the angle, your knees would be up in the air with zero support.
#459 of 1261
Make your choice by artgpo
Oct 18, 2007 (4:17 am)
Here is a list of the latest (last week) of the most (un)reliable minivans from the largest consumer magazine, the one that does not accept advertising. I did not include the scores because I do not want to violate the copyright laws. Only the Sienna and Odyssey had good scores (the Sienna was double that of the Odyssey) all the rest were sub par. The Chrysler models were the best of the worst.
    
  Make and model
 
   
Toyota Sienna
Honda Odyssey
------------------------------
Chrysler Town & Country (2007)
Dodge Grand Caravan (2007)
Kia Sedona
Nissan Quest
Hyundai Entourage*
Chevrolet Uplander (-146%)
#460 of 1261
Re: Make your choice [artgpo] by carcom2
Oct 18, 2007 (6:31 am)

Replying to: artgpo (Oct 18, 2007 4:17 am)

I always take those magazines "ratings" with a grain of salt. My grades with my vehicles have always been higher than their category grades. Maybe that is in part due to proper maintenance - just the usual stuff, nothing overboard.
My low mileage- 103K- '97 Grand Caravan Sport still drives great. The interior materials, seat fabric, dash are all in excellent condition. Recently replaced a 5 yr old battery. The car has not been garaged for the last 3+ yrs. Still have original engine & transmission. So, based on my actual ownership of the GC, I think it's been a great vehicle, very reliable and am strongly considering a 2008 T&C Limited over the Sienna which I drove last week. Don't like the interior of the Ody dash, so wouldn't buy it although the seats are very nice.
You think it's just because Dodge/Chrysler has sold more minivans, that you see many more of their older vans on the road still today VS the Ody or Sienna? I occasionally see the Previa and hardly ever an old Ody.
#461 of 1261
Re: Make your choice [carcom2] by bobw3
Oct 18, 2007 (8:10 am)

Replying to: carcom2 (Oct 18, 2007 6:31 am)

Reliability and quality are hard to measure. Even though you might have statistics that show one vehicle is better than another, you'll always have lots of conflicting stories.
 
The problem is that the measurements are always comparisons versus individual statistics. So we hear that the Odyssey is more reliable that the Caravan but not how much more or what is the difference.
 
It could be that with the Odyssey, 95% of them will go to 100,000 miles with less than $1000 worth of repairs, while with the Caravan, it's only 90%. And 80% of Odysseys and only 70% of Caravans will reach 100,000 miles with less than $100 worth of repairs. In both cases you can accurately state that the Odyssey is more reliable (if only we could get such statistics like this that meant something!!). But on the other hand, you'll have 70% of Caravan owners saying, "Hey, my Caravan has been trouble-free for the past 100,000 miles, so how can you say my van isn't reliable."
 
So when you see the red circles and black circles, or some other generic Good, Fair, Excellent rating you have to ask yourself what's the real difference and what percent of all vehicles we're talking about.
 
You may have 3 good vehicles all close in true reliability (which I define as dollars spent over miles driven) but in a ranking there has to be a number 1 and a number 3. If someone can show me stats broken down into $$/mile, then I'd be impressed but until then, I'd just use these ratings as a guide in addition to your own experience.
#462 of 1261
3rd row angle by bobw3
Oct 18, 2007 (10:05 am)
Is the 3rd row of the Caravan's seat as angled as shown in this link?? Hard to imagine being able to sit in that seat and reach the table, especially for kids in booster seats. It also looks tough to climb out of that seat.
 
http://www.allpar.com/model/m/2008-minivans.html
#463 of 1261
Re: Make your choice [artgpo] by dennisctc
Oct 18, 2007 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: artgpo (Oct 18, 2007 4:17 am)

I know when I got my "survey" from CR a few years back, I started filling it out, gave up halfway thru and tossed it. So my completely trouble free 2005 Caravan isn't accounted for. Also, I see how fair they are every time a new issue comes out - filled with photos of japanese cars on the cover, lead of articles etc... Ohh and lets not forget the controversy a few months back when CR tested full size pickups, and got caught!!!
 
When I think of it, none of my cars ever rated highly with them, but they did with me. Thinking there's no bias at CR is like news anchors being non-partisan and being able to be fair...yeah right!!!!
#464 of 1261
Re: Make your choice [dennisctc] by bobw3
Oct 18, 2007 (6:09 pm)

Replying to: dennisctc (Oct 18, 2007 12:24 pm)

When I think of it, none of my cars ever rated highly with them, but they did with me. Thinking there's no bias at CR is like news anchors being non-partisan and being able to be fair...yeah right!!!!
 
If you think they're biased, tell me what is their motive?

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