Comments on: Chrysler to industry: Minivan segment is not dying

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:07:28 +0000

Minivans aeem to be the only things Chrysler can sell. I had a Journey last week. Seemed like they took the ‘95 Intrepid and changed the parts around. Not impressed.

Probably would’ve made more sense for me to get a Grand Voyager, but screw that.

By: nitinsharma1000

nitinsharma1000 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:48:47 +0000

Yeah but the official car of the muslim family is usually a beat up, puked in, hummus spilled, dark green, used minivan.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:53:16 +0000

Yeah I remember those old Mitsubishi engines, smoking me and everyone else out at the stoplight, POS!

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:36:28 +0000

Deanster: one day I wish you would tell us how you really feel.

By: autonut

autonut — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:01:51 +0000

Chrysler is right: Honda Odyssey is proof of it.

By: eliteski2

eliteski2 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:28:12 +0000

Deanster,
With that in mind, they should start building the Astro van again; vehicle of choice for Mexican families.

A Quest looks like a Stegosaurus. They should rename it the Stego!

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:21:44 +0000

Chrysler is right, the minivan segment is not only alive and kicking, but will continue to grow like crazy in the next 20 years. The minivan is the official car of the muslim family in North America. As muslims multiply like ****ing rats, they buy millions of T&C’s and Caravans.

By: i64X

i64X — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:37:24 +0000

Have you ever seen the dash of the Quest?

I couldn’t stand to drive that.

By: jumpoffit

jumpoffit — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:34:50 +0000

i always thought the Nissan Quest looked good compared to the other Vans on the market

By: i64X

i64X — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:02:03 +0000

I’d rather get the original Flex… the XB.

By: beantownslut

beantownslut — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:51:14 +0000

Safe sex= no need for a minivan.
Get a flex.

By: i64X

i64X — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:47:29 +0000

The term “CUV” is a joke to me.

It’s for people who are too awesome (in their own regard) to admit that they need a van… but don’t want to look like anti-environmental a__holes by driving an SUV. A “CUV” is basically a more useless SUV that still gets crappy mileage and hauls LESS stuff than your average SUV.

If you’ve got crap to tote around, vans > SUVs, and vans > CUVs. If you don’t, buy a car.

By: i64X

i64X — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:45:21 +0000

I’m 25 and I’d drive a Mazda 5… for sure. I’ve always loved the looks of those things, and with the manual trans option, I’d guess it might actually be kinda fun to drive (for a van). That being said I’ve sat in the new Odysseys, and if someone else was paying for it I’d drive one of those too. The rest of the vans… meh.

By: Me

Me — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:03:17 +0000

Well eliteski2, they do have a stigma, but to say that a CUV is equally as practical is a bit of a stretch. This is not a dig, but I’d bet you either don’t have 2 or more kids or you’ve never owned a newer minvan. I dare you to find CUV that can hold as much stuff as our Nissan Quest. We average about 4500 miles a year in vacaton miles with three kids and luggage, toys, etc. We have plenty of room to spare. Fully loaded and a total average speed of 60-65 mph per trip still yeilds about 22 miles to the gallon. Features like power rear and side doors, rear DVD, and fold flat captain chair seats (and rear bench) are the icing on the cake. They ride and handle better as well.

By: eliteski2

eliteski2 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:57:10 +0000

I hope that you are right, and minivans continue to make money. However, I don’t think they will ever again be the boom market they once were. At least not in the years to come. I know it’ll take more than swiveling seats and two DVD screens to get me to buy one…

By: AMGoff

AMGoff — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:35:23 +0000

eliteski….

Exactly… as long as the continue to add more features which enhance their practicality, then there will always be some appeal. Everything’s cyclical… remember when station wagons were “out?” But in recent years they’ve enjoyed a certain comeback that I would have never predicted would happen. Minivans may have a stigma… but they’re still generally more practical, offer more room, and are cheaper than these CUVs… If nothing else, they’ll always be an attractive alternative to those with large families and a shoe-string budget.

By: eliteski2

eliteski2 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:22:50 +0000

I feel like staying in the minivan market is quite a gamble by chrysler, who doesn’t have a lot to gamble with. My feeling is that they’ll lose big because of this decision. The facts that minivans have such a negative stigma, and the much cooler CUV’s coming out are equally as practical will spell disaster for all minivans. That is unless minivans can implement new, fun technology, and extend their useability, which chrysler has tried to do with the stow/swivel ‘n go seats.

By: tripleonefive

tripleonefive — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:19:55 +0000

Hicks cant afford car insurance

By: HemiRoadRunner

HemiRoadRunner — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:34:41 +0000

I just saved a ton of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.

By: Need4SSpeed

Need4SSpeed — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:29:46 +0000

yeah for real AMGolf, The Ford family is also to blame for why the Detroit Lions suck…

By: AMGoff

AMGoff — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:27:39 +0000

If their sales have remained steady despite a 9% drop in the overall market and a reduction in models offered… then Chrysler’s still on to something and has no reason to jump ship on the vehicle that saved the company way back when minivans were “in” and wagons were “out.” I still think that when it comes to sheer practicality, nothing comes close to the minivan… and the new ones today offer even more incentive than ever.

And despite whatever Mr. FordTaurusForever would have to say… I also still think that the minivan goes down as Henry Ford’s greatest blunder… Ford could have really cashed in, but Henry II was too obtuse to realize the potential. Just another example as to why Ford’s greatest threat to their own success has been and still is – the Ford family.

By: xyunya

xyunya — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:18:49 +0000

johnnycanuck, better were with 2.4L mitsubishi motors. Those minivans were actually minivans. Current ones are definitely supersized.

By: jayjc08

jayjc08 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:09:23 +0000

The Odyssey looks like it took a few steps back into the past…

Just like those trippy commercials.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:08:05 +0000

I miss the old short wheelbase first generation with the 2.2 and the 5 spd manual. They were fairly light, borderline fun to drive, economical and handy as hell. If Chrysler would bring that back with say the 148 horse 1.8 Caliber motor I would buy one. I guess they know best, but not every one needs a V6 and power everything to get to a soccer game or pick up groceries.

By: F451

F451 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:56:48 +0000

I agree. Anything that is practical will live on in one form or another.

By: gizmo2

gizmo2 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:52:07 +0000

The market will not die. It just won’t be a booming market as it was, just like SUVs

By: Need4SSpeed

Need4SSpeed — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:43:59 +0000

I guess all the soccer moms haven’t switched from minivans to CUV’s yet…