CD Article: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Touring with Stow N Go seats

[CD_Editor]

Today's Test Drive:


Touring, with Stow N Go seats: With a big price reduction for 2008 and more "family-friendly" features, the redesigned 2008 Town & Country Touring luxury minivan has "all the goodies that parents need to keep their offspring happy," says Editor-in-Chief, Greg Wilson.
   

  More:

Read the article | View the photos | All The Test Drives

[Winklovic]

Wow.  This van sure is generating a lot of comments. 

[Cortina]

Wow.  This van sure is generating a lot of comments. 

Well It is a Minivan, Hardly sets your pulse on Fire

Well. What can you say....Its clean. Its Moden. Its practical. And it does what it says on the tin. But OMG It should be a Diesel, cause this Minivan It Is bit juicy. .

It just not darring......Now this is....








Do the grills come from the same factory? 

[2hondas]

I saw a 08' Black Grand Caravan.

Ugly.  The previous generation is 2000x better, it terms of looks.

[stodge]

Wow.  This van sure is generating a lot of comments. 

Well It is a Minivan, Hardly sets your pulse on Fire

Well. What can you say....Its clean. Its Moden. Its practical. And it does what it says on the tin. But OMG It should be a Diesel, cause this Minivan It Is bit juicy. .

It just not darring......Now this is....








Do the grills come from the same factory? 

I think my brother bought one of those Citroens.

[safristi]

..HOW many KIDS can YA STOW & GO?................

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

[redroadster]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

That 3.3 was the most reliable part of the van.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

That 3.3 was the most reliable part of the van.

Could be but it's grossly uncompetitive these days.

[Cord]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

That 3.3 was the most reliable part of the van.

Could be but it's grossly uncompetitive these days.

Uncompetitive with who? Ford minivans? GM minivans? Nope and nope. I can't say for sure, but I highly doubt that someone looking at a mid-line Chrysler van is really cross shopping against an Odyssey or a Sienna. I don't feel like pricing them out but can you even get either of those within $5000 of a volume-spec Chrysler?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

That 3.3 was the most reliable part of the van.

Could be but it's grossly uncompetitive these days.

Uncompetitive with who? Ford minivans? GM minivans? Nope and nope. I can't say for sure, but I highly doubt that someone looking at a mid-line Chrysler van is really cross shopping against an Odyssey or a Sienna. I don't feel like pricing them out but can you even get either of those within $5000 of a volume-spec Chrysler?

Just meant no other full-sized van offers an engine under 200hp, don't think. GM's have 240, think all the others' V6s are 230+hp. And the GM's are priced under or with Chrysler, at MSRP (which they aren't sold at often) within $5,000 of the Kia/Hyundai, Ody, Sienna's base models... don't forget the Chryslers can get more pricey with options. 170hp/4AT might be okay for a Mazda5 or Rondo, but pushing it these days on a full sized minivan... not that it doesn't get the job done. I also know the 3.8L can be purchased for little more cash.

Now I do understand that the Chrysler vans represent incredible value. I didn't say they weren't, and just because of the engine wouldn't discourage someone from looking at them. Was just saying that with how far the rest of the package has come IMO, the base V6 is the big standout in the negative column - one of the few. Kind of a shame, although not all feel this way.

[redroadster]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

That 3.3 was the most reliable part of the van.

Could be but it's grossly uncompetitive these days.

Uncompetitive with who? Ford minivans? GM minivans? Nope and nope. I can't say for sure, but I highly doubt that someone looking at a mid-line Chrysler van is really cross shopping against an Odyssey or a Sienna. I don't feel like pricing them out but can you even get either of those within $5000 of a volume-spec Chrysler?

Just meant no other full-sized van offers an engine under 200hp, don't think. GM's have 240, think all the others' V6s are 230+hp. And the GM's are priced under or with Chrysler, at MSRP (which they aren't sold at often) within $5,000 of the Kia/Hyundai, Ody, Sienna's base models... don't forget the Chryslers can get more pricey with options. 170hp/4AT might be okay for a Mazda5 or Rondo, but pushing it these days on a full sized minivan... not that it doesn't get the job done. I also know the 3.8L can be purchased for little more cash.

Now I do understand that the Chrysler vans represent incredible value. I didn't say they weren't, and just because of the engine wouldn't discourage someone from looking at them. Was just saying that with how far the rest of the package has come IMO, the base V6 is the big standout in the negative column - one of the few. Kind of a shame, although not all feel this way.

I see your point of view they are not keeping up in the horsepower wars. I made my comment because everytime chrysler brings out something all new it takes them forever to work the bugs out or never.
I like the new styling. The one it replaces hadn't really been restyled much. That body had been around since 1996 with minor trim changes .

[sailor723]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

You mention "competitive quality"...Isn't that a bit of an assumption in a new vehicle? If history is anything to go by wouldn't it be fair to assume poor quality from Chrysler until proven otherwise?

[jww]

While I think these are ugly, with design that reverts backwards rather than forwards, I do get the space thing. These puppies are huge inside, when you compare with the Chrysler mini-vans of yesteryear. If I had 3 or more children at home, I would probably still be driving one of these - but thankfully, my mid-life crisis hit about the same time our oldest was moving out, so we could opt for a car rather than a mini-van. And now that I am aging, the next vehicle will likely be a SUV or CUV because I no longer hunger for power and performance, but rather want visibility, height, and space/load-ability. 

[ChryslerInfoCenter]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

Glad to see that the 2008 Town & Country has turned your head.  Just wanted to let you know that if the 3.3L is not your favorite, it does have a 3.8 or 4.0L option.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Sean T.
Chrysler Online Dialogue Representative
ChryslerForum@bbdodetroit.com
1-800-CHRYSLER / 1-800-247-9753

[redroadster]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

Glad to see that the 2008 Town & Country has turned your head.  Just wanted to let you know that if the 3.3L is not your favorite, it does have a 3.8 or 4.0L option.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Sean T.
Chrysler Online Dialogue Representative
ChryslerForum@bbdodetroit.com
1-800-CHRYSLER / 1-800-247-9753

Wow ,see the big guys are watching

[safristi]

CEREBUS_BELLUM ...RULES THE WHIRRLED.....BRAIN is that U??

[2hondas]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm really impressed with the new generation of Chrysler vans. Both the styling (it's boxy for a reason, tonnes of upper room inside), innovative features, and competitive quality. Now, if they could only get rid of the 3.3L...

Glad to see that the 2008 Town & Country has turned your head.  Just wanted to let you know that if the 3.3L is not your favorite, it does have a 3.8 or 4.0L option.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Sean T.
Chrysler Online Dialogue Representative
ChryslerForum@bbdodetroit.com
1-800-CHRYSLER / 1-800-247-9753

 

[mar1990]

While I think these are ugly, with design that reverts backwards rather than forwards, I do get the space thing.

I find with this latest incarnation Chrysler is trying to be similar to the boxy shape of the Odyssey, while still trying to keep the Chrysler signature style.  The previous generation(s)' jellybean shape was starting to get a little tired.

I don't mind the look of the van, except the back end. It looks too truck or SUV like. Perhaps they should have pulled the rear lights across the hatch as is done with the Odyssey and Sienna, to give it a more car-like appearance at the back end.