Car Gazing
20 years later, Chrysler still makes minivans right
By Derek Price
With Corvette turning 50 and Ford turning 100, it seems anniversaries are
everywhere in the automotive world these days. But one anniversary you're
not likely to hear about is the minivan turning 20.
Yep, that ultimate tribute to family practicality is two decades old.
Chrysler brought the first minivan to market in 1983 – if you don't count
the quirky Volkswagen Microbus – making moms and dads across the country
rejoice that the days of being ruled by station wagons were over.
You could call it a regime change for the highway.
That first crop of minivans provided families with the space they craved in
a package that was easy to drive and fuel efficient. They also provided
Chrysler with enough sales to keep Detroit's Big Three from turning into the
Big Two.
A lot has changed since that time, especially with competition among minivan
makers, But Chrysler still knows how to make 'em right.
What started out as a Chrysler monopoly grew into a hot race for adding
features to set many companies' minivans apart, like two sliding doors, then
luxurious interiors, then doors that open with the push of a button.
Chrysler's latest minivan, the Town & County, has all that.
Town & Country is a fairly luxurious minivan that sits atop Chrysler's
lineup of family haulers that have Dodge and Plymouth badges. It's loaded
with features that make it not only practical, but comfortable and fun as
well.
Refinements through the years have included a great gizmo-packed dash and
quiet, smooth ride that rival some luxury cars. It's nearly silent on the
highway, yet its 3.8-liter V6 engine makes enough power to chirp the front
wheels on demand.
Not that most minivan drivers would do that – but it's nice to know they
could.
Three luxurious options are new for 2003: A power sunroof, a
factory-installed DVD player for the kids, and power-adjustable pedals for
the driver. While some of its competitors, including the terrific Honda
Odyssey, can come with DVD players installed, only the Chrysler offers the
sporty sunroof and convenient power pedals.
While the Town & Country touts convenience as a selling point, it's
important to note that the Odyssey has a rear seat that folds flat. The
Chrysler doesn't.
Instead, the Chrysler's back seat has to be completely removed from the
vehicle and stored somewhere while cargo is being hauled, then re-installed
for passengers. That's no fun.
What is fun, however, is watching the power liftgate go up and down, beeping
like a garbage truck before each movement. It's the first power liftgate
offered on a minivan, too.
Other nice features include tri-zone climate control, a rear cargo
organizer, and wireless headphones for passengers.
All in all, the Town & Country is as close to the perfect family vehicle as
we've seen. It has the refined feel of a high-end sedan, yet its roomy cabin
provides the practicality that only a minivan can offer.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.
Contact him at dprice@cargazingonline.com)
The above article is provided for the interest and entertainment of our visitors. The views expressed in this article are only those of the author, who is solely responsible for the content. AutoGuide.net does not endorse any of these views, and is not to be held responsible for any of the content provided in the above article.
Click here to read Derek's past articles!
If you have any questions or comments for Derek or the AutoGuide.net, please fill out this form.
|
