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The extra gear in the Sienna is actually 1st, which is a very short 4.24, compared to the 2.56 of the Ody. So it should feel quicker off the line, but will require a very quick up-shift (35mph at WOT according to C&D). Which is better? I dunno. Performance wise they seem to be about the same in the real world. I guarantee a lot of folks think the Sienna is more powerful during a test drive simply because it will pull harder right at first. I would say the Sienna is also the better choice for towing, which is even more obvious once you look at Honda's asinine tow package option.
Thanks for every ones advise. I'll keep you posted on how it works out as we put more miles on the van.
Is it a 2005 or a 2006?
The production date appears to be September 1, 2007.
No more four cylinders: four speed automatic on base models with 3.3 engine
Top end 4.0 engine with six speed
ESP (stability control)
MyGig sound system with built-in hard drive for music storage and more
Power third row seat
Rear backup camera
Illuminated cupholders, probably heated and cooled
Heated second row seats
Ventilated front seats
HID headlamps
Sirius Streaming Video (movies on demand over the air?)
Hybrid-electric version (possibly late availability)
We'd also expect the fancy new LED lights used in the Sebring and Aspen to make their way into the Caravan and Town & Country.
2008 DCX Van Details and Pics
Autoblog Article
Market Collapse: Detroit 3 count on fleet sales to move minivans
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070103/FREE/70102005/1528
I think DCX is trying and even if you omit fleet sales from DCX numbers, they're selling more Minivans than anyone else.
Personally I think CUVs aren't much better than SUVs!! Unless you need AWD, you're losing space, MPG, utiity, and ride. How many Pilots, Murano, Highlanders are on the road compared to Odys, Quests and Siennas? Not Many! CUVs aren't going to save GM/Ford!! Look at Ford's new Edge - weighs 2.5 ton!!!! no space and seats 5!!! NO THANKS!!!
Hate to say it but I would find it really hard to live without a van in my family now that we have one. I can't day that about a CUV or SUV or even a car.
Meanwhile, Honda and Toyota greatly improved the Odyssey and Sienna while Kia improved the Sedona and they have replaced GM and Ford in the minivan market while Chrysler still remains THE MOST Popular minivan.
It will be VERY interesting to see how well the public likes the new, more conservatively styled 2008 DaimlerChrysler minivans.
2008 Town and Country
Three distinct seating configurations are available for 2008 in North America: a second-row bench seat with second-row covered storage bins and third-row fold-in-the-floor seating, a Stow ’n Go® seating and storage system with the only second- and third-row fold-in-the-floor seats in the industry, and the new Swivel ’n Go seating that allows the second row seats to swivel 180 degrees to face rearward. Swivel ’n Go also includes a removable table that fits between the second and third rows with a fold-in-the-floor third-row seat. A one-touch power-folding third-row seat also is available.
I think a couple of vehicles beat Chrysler to the power-fold third-row seat.
Check out Toyota Sienna Limited with Option Package 3. It has a power folding 60/40 third row. The Ford Expedition has offered this for awhile now, also.
EDIT: - I just realized you may have meant that this was a first for Chrysler, and not to the vehicle market in general. If so, my apologies.
I honestly don't know when they started offering it. I know the design was refreshed a little bit in 2006 also, so it could have been then. I'm not sure though.
The Sienna third row power seat was a new option for early 2006. It is not available with the four wheel drive option. Really excited about the T&C and hope the tactile quality is there as well as overall improved reliability.
Now for some interiors--
I must say though that I don't care for the chrome mirrors much.
Chris
The attention to detail is fantastic, storage nets in side of seats, window shades, sliding console with cooler, and I love the interior shapes etc...IP, seat frames... How was the quality of the plastics overall??
I wish DCX would bring out a diesel here in US!!
I'm not sure I have the desire to head to downtown Detroit though. I could buy some $75 supplier passes, but even those days are jammed and the parking downtown sucks!!
I like the instrument lay out and looks like they borrowed the cruise control stick from Toyota. Leg space is what you'd expect when the seats are turned to each other.
Looks like they've caught up with Honda and Toyota with windows that roll down in back and sun screens.
I like the overall style and these should sell better for them.
The mirrors I can live with. I just wish the T&C has some non-chrome wheels offered, but I doubt it from the pictures. The wheels on my 04 are impossible to clean, and are basically permanenatly stained now. I even tried power washing them, didn't work. I know you can keep them clean with religious maintenance from the start, but who needs that hassle?
I was thinking of keeping my 2005 for a good 5-7 years. Now I'm not to sure. I really like that van.
As with any car company, I'd give them a year or two to work some bugs out of the new model. Just a thought.
Prices will also work their way back down with time.
Also, although the Tranny and Engine are new, they've been in production in the 2007 Pacifica for over a year without any issues.
With this in mind, I'm betting the 2008s will have minor bugs.
/Andy
That is a bummer. I would think instead of making two individual wells, they could make one big one and stow them both. They don't have a drive shaft to worry about. They could still make two doors and one big storage bin. Really do like those bins. Can get just about anything in them.
My sister's 1986 Caravan with 4 cylinder engine was much more comfortable for 7 people than a VW and also got better gas mileage.
I owned a 1971 VW Bus and a 1977 VW Bus which were fine if a person does not like simple things like a heater, sufficient power, and reliability. My 2002 T&C LX with 3.3L V6, heater and air conditioning front and rear, automatic transmission, power steering, quality stereo, sliding doors on both sides, and MORE and still got better gas mileage than either Volkswagen with their anemic, wheezing, inadequate 4 cylinder engines.
There is one feature that a lot car makers do tend to overlook: automatic shutoff of lights. My 2004 Quest can shutoff its internal light automatically when I accidently left the doors ajar. My friend who owns a Sienna told me that her van doesn't have that feature. She said she had to jumpstart her van twice because she forgot to close the door.
I think I prefer the current tapered back end, although teh new tail lights are better. The front end looks WAAAYYYYY better now. Really cool looking. It also will give me some peace of mind about something that is a longshot, but I often wonder about as I drive on the windy roads near my house in NW NJ. You see dead deer on the roads contantly around here. The way the current DCX vans are designed, if you hit a deer at a decent speed, that thing will almost definitely just slide up the hood and through your windshield. And that can be deadly. The squared up front would help with that. I know it's a minor issue, but it's an added benefit of what I think is a better look, too
"There is one feature that a lot car makers do tend to overlook: automatic shutoff of lights. My 2004 Quest can shutoff its internal light automatically when I accidently left the doors ajar. My friend who owns a Sienna told me that her van doesn't have that feature. She said she had to jumpstart her van twice because she forgot to close the door. "
My 2004 T&C must do that - we left one of the sliders open over nite a few months ago and the lights were off the next day
My 2004 T&C must do that - we left one of the sliders open over nite a few months ago and the lights were off the next day
Our 2000 Odyssey had this feature too; it was a 10 minute shutoff. I know the new ones do as well.
Boxy means more room for the same outside size. A van must carry things so more room is good. If gas prices rise, boxy will be even more popular so that a boxy big van can carry more and a boxy smaller van will carry what the Odyssey does today with better mileage. At city speeds, more turbulence does not eat enough gas to make up for more weight. A boxy van can be made lighter and smaller and carry just as much. Japan has many boxy small vans and cars. Gas is expensive there and space for roads is at a premium.
"There is one feature that a lot car makers do tend to overlook: automatic shut off of lights."
My 2002 Odyssey does not have this feature. My ancient Chrysler van does have it. I dread the day when battery is dead due to lights on.
My 2002 Odyssey does not have this feature.
Leave your doors or hatch open for 15 minutes, then return to your car. Unless you manually switched the lights on, they should automatically turn off.
I love the battery protection - it's really just a very low cost timer circuit. It probably costs manufacturers $0.15 to add to vehicle. When I'm camping, many times my sliding door and hatch are open for easy access to gear (and my brave pittbull likes to hide in van when something scares him!). Its nice knowing I won't end up with dead battery