CD Article: 2008 Chrysler minivans

[CD_Editor]

Today's First Drive:

Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan: Redesigned for 2008, Chrysler’s minivans are "genuinely nice to drive," says Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh, and can "rival the family room in your house" with entertainment options. Just don’t ask her about the swiveling seats.
   
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Read the article | View the photos: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan | All The First Drives

[2hondas]

It looks kind of...funny. But will it be discounted heavily?

[RunsinLight]

For current Caravan owners is this van going to make them wanted one?

[Arthur Dent]

Looks a bit odd. The previous ones weren't bad looking - much better than this. We'll see how the quality goes.

[mdxtasy]

Looks a bit odd. The previous ones weren't bad looking - much better than this. We'll see how the quality goes.

It looks like they rounded off the original minivan design....holy Batman....she's not pretty.

[stodge]

I think it looks better but they'll have to discount it heavily I would imagine.

[wing]

Looks a bit odd. The previous ones weren't bad looking - much better than this. We'll see how the quality goes.

It looks like they rounded off the original minivan design....holy Batman....she's not pretty.

  It looks like it came out of the '80s

[2hondas]

Looks a bit odd. The previous ones weren't bad looking - much better than this. We'll see how the quality goes.

It looks like they rounded off the original minivan design....holy Batman....she's not pretty.

Now that you say it...it does. 

[UmroAyyar]

Dodge Caravan had its distinct style, a proper minivan look. GM and Ford couldn't emulate it, this one is looking more like GM's minivan like offerings. IMO previous generation was pretty good, this is just not right.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I've warmed up to the design quite a bit. It is more maucho, distinctive, and American in design. Don't really love the centre dash, but it's a Chrysler and didn't expect to really like it. The innovations continue.

Besides chosing to offer the old 3.3L, think they've packaged and priced it well.

Will have to see how GM markets their short wheelbase vans over the next year and a half, and how Chrysler responds with discounts on their Canada Value package. If Chrysler backs off a bit, I expect GM to do the same if not quite as much having an older product.

Called a Hyundai dealer today, and there's still $4,000 off on cash purchase for Entourages, or good rates. That's where my money would go, but think Chrysler has done a decent job.

[libraman]

Where is the diesel version?  I don't want some dated 3.3 pushrod. Give me the 2.7 litre common rail diesel. The one in the Sprinter.

[y2chuck]

I don't understand her problem with the swivel 'n' go seats.  How would they be a distraction?  I thought they could only swivel while the vehicle is parked?

As far as minivans go, I like the design.  I like the placement of the gear shifter too, saves more room for crap!

[Mitlov]

I'm surprised that she's so negative about the Swivel-and-Go, based not upon their function, but based upon the fact that unruly kids in the back of a minivan are distracting to a driver.  Isn't that true regardless of what way they're facing?  Yes, it's dangerous and distracting if a kid takes off their seatbelt to go grab a toy they dropped.  But can't that happen just as easily if they're facing forward?

[CurrentOwner]

= no sale

[JBrill]

= no sale

I concur.  If any minivan were available with a Diesel engine in Canada, it would be my first choice.

[Patrick]

I just read a similar review at Edmunds on the 2008 Chrysler minivans and was surprised by the price difference between US and Canada for the same model. In the US, they start out at the SE level (there is no Value Package model) which appears to be equipped similar to the Canadian SE model. The price for a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SE is $28,795 ($Cdn) in Canada compared to $22,000 ($US) in the US. The Canadian price does not include Delivery Fees while the US price does include Delivery Fees. Even if you add a modest $1,200 Delivery Fee, which puts the final Canadian price at $29,995, and convert to US dollars, that works out to $28,390 US at the current rate, almost a 30% increase over what Americans are paying for the same van! On top of this, and I haven’t heard otherwise, don’t they build this van in Canada?

[2hondas]

I just read a similar review at Edmunds on the 2008 Chrysler minivans and was surprised by the price difference between US and Canada for the same model. In the US, they start out at the SE level (there is no Value Package model) which appears to be equipped similar to the Canadian SE model. The price for a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SE is $28,795 ($Cdn) in Canada compared to $22,000 ($US) in the US. The Canadian price does not include Delivery Fees while the US price does include Delivery Fees. Even if you add a modest $1,200 Delivery Fee, which puts the final Canadian price at $29,995, and convert to US dollars, that works out to $28,390 US at the current rate, almost a 30% increase over what Americans are paying for the same van! On top of this, and I haven’t heard otherwise, don’t they build this van in Canada?

Don't worry...no one will buy a Caravan at MSRP. 

[Patrick]

Sorry 2hondas I realize nobody pays MSRP for a Dodge minivan in Canada but nobody in the US pays MSRP for a Dodge minivan either. To make my point I quoted MSRP. In addition, I doubt very much anyone is going to get 30% knocked off the price of a new Canadian Dodge minivan. Even if they did, all they'd be doing is matching the MSRP in US. Finally for comparisons sake, how much of a percentage do you think americans could get knocked off of their $22,000 MSRP?

The critical thing here is that the pricing for this van was put out now when the Cdn dollar is sitting at .95. The pricing should be much lower especially if it's going to be manufactured in Canada.

And if it's going to be manufactured in Canada why can't Harper just force them to include a diesel option?