May Sales Analysis: Vans

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Minivans, microvans, cargo vans. If it has rolling rear doors, you’ll find it here.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Conslaw Conslaw on Jun 04, 2010

    I'll tell you why the Chrysler vans sell so well, they really fulfill a family's transportation needs. I'm in the middle of my summer vacation. You couldn't ask for a better family roadtrip vehicle. Tons of room, quiet highway cruising. Mid-20s highway mileage. The Sto-N-Go bins hide the computers and more. It's significantly cheaper than comparably equipped crossovers. In the garage, the sliding door is a lot more practical with another car parked next to it. Yes, most of these features apply to the competitors as well. Most likely the Chrysler sells more because you can get more equipment for the same price. Sto-n-go is a nice feature. Statistics be damned, my 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan has never had a serious problem. As to the Routan: I like what VW did with the interior, if it had been available when I got my van, I would have seriously considered it. The middle seats are nicer on the VW, and even though they don't fold in the floor, you still get the underfloor bins. We never fold our middle seats anyway.

  • IGB IGB on Jun 05, 2010

    True that. Also, most people have never read an auto magazine, let alone an automotive blog. I have a good friend now ready to buy a new car. He was going to just get a Camry, sight unseen. He doesn't know what a Malibu or Fusion is, let alone a Mazda 6 is. He might consider an Accord and will base his decision strictly on price. Another friend purchased a Grand Caravan, also sight unseen. They needed a new minivan. That was it, it was a minivan. It had the features they liked. They didn't look at anything else. While they were there, the dealer was giving good deals so they picked up a Jeep Liberty too to replace their aging second car. They wouldn't know a Subaru if it hit them on the head. They're very happy with their decision BTW. The point is, most people have other priorities. For them, the vehicular appliance in their lives is as important as the brand of air conditioner cooling your house is to you and me.

  • Thats one fast cat Thats one fast cat on Jun 05, 2010

    I know everyone likes to slag on Chrysler, but we have now owned three T&C's (never new, I have three small kids who treat the inside of the minivan like a mobile trash bin) and have probably put ~75K miles between the three. With the exception of a dog I bought on ebay sight unseen (but very, very cheap) I have never had to do anything greater than standard service work one would do on any vehicle. Even the parts I had to replace on the Boston-driven ebay T&C were cheap because Chryslers depreciate like a stone and boneyards are full of them. The Stow and Go seats are beyond genius -- no matter what other vehicle is available, the Chrysler products will always be superior because of this one well thought out addition. Too bad the new owners (the UAW and FIAT) don't understand that this ain't the sexiest market, but there are a lot of families that will buy one.

  • Brettc Brettc on Jun 07, 2010

    I keep seeing what I think are Routans on the road from a distance. But when I get closer I find that they're new Honda Odyssey's. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but I think it's kind of funny. Whenever I see Routan, I say out loud "wow, someone actually bought a Routan??" I've been saying it a lot more lately since Honda apparently copied the rear end of the Routan.

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