Chrysler Pacifica

ms_mayor

CU stands for Consumer's Union, the outfit that puts out Consumer Reports magazine.

maurcedes

I'm considering the Pacifica as a replacement for a 95 Mercedes wagon. I have two concerns:

How is the visibility in the "real world"? My Mercedes has lots of glass and great visibility. In the Pacifica I feel a little bit like I'm in a bathtub and the windows are small.

How does it tow? I don't tow with the Mercedes but if we got this vehicle I may end up loaning it to my husband occasionally and he tows an enclosed trailer with two dirt bikes and gear.

Thanks for any hints. It's an interesting vehicle.

mrl11777

According to the interviews with DCX product guys I have read in the car mags, their new design philosophy is based on the notion that we are all so scared after 9/11 that we want tanklike vehicles. So, they are taking their cues from the chopped and channeled hot rods of the 50s and 60s and making the sides of the cars higher and the greenhouse much smaller. Hence, you get the Pacifica (and the upcoming Magnum), which has a cocoon-like feeling. Visibility is not going to be as good as in your Merc. With the Pac/Mag, style trumps functionality.

You can read more about this DCX marketing mumbo-jumbo here: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=19&article- _id=1791&page_number=1

rcf8000

The late 40s/early 50s Hudsons pioneered minimal glass styling. Look what happened to them. (Another reason for Hudson's demise was no V8 engine. This similarity applies to current Chrysler cars as well, but it looks like they're in the process of doing something about that.)

harryomara

does anybody know how long it takes the pacifica to go from build status to ship status.

b25nut

Maurcedes, I have found that by adding a small $3 rectangular convex mirror to my driver's side mirror, I have full coverage of everything around me by just looking in the Pacifica's three mirrors. In the "real world", however, I'm still not completely comfortable backing up in a parking lot. The high bottom edge of the rear window and large rear pillars create a big blind spot directly behind the Pacifica. I spoke with a Chrysler engineer about this in April and he said they were working on sensors for the rear bumper (which I hear may be available now or soon). I told him that a rear view camera like the Lexus RX330 has would be a better solution and he said they were working on that also. But if you set up your mirrors correctly, I think you'll find your visibilty is acceptable.

maurcedes

The Car&Driver article was hilarious. That Magnum is one weird car. So to cater to these design-o's, the automaker has to have the additional expense of "sensors" so you can back the thing up. Yes, irony is alive and well.

mapleleave

Letter from our great leader states that we will not get any pay raise the first year, and "maybe" in the next year if the company makes money. $2k goes to 401K so it is very much the same deal that the UAW gets. Also company is pretty much forcing empolyees to buy the pacifica, to increase the initial sales. This thing looks like a van, drive like a van, because every one who involove in this vehicle know it is a minivan. Maybe the germans should be buying them in volume here and do a over sea delivery for a change hah!
--Friend of mine was on the phone earlier

deezldub

Ebay has a wrecked pacifica, says its an easy rebuild, but I'd hate to be buying this one as a used car...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&cate- gory=6783&item=2434740246

wcargal9

I have been shopping for a Pacifica using Edmunds MSRP and invoice numbers. However when I showed these numbers @ a Chrysler dealer they informed me the edmunds number are incorrect and supported it w/ an actual invoice for the Pacifica I was looking at. Edmunds base invoice price was 26527 (not the MSRP), the chrysler dealer's base invoice was 28045. In addition the Chrysler dealer invoice included an additional $515 in regional and national advertising. Any input would be appreciated

ms_mayor

Unfortunately, because this fee varies depending on where you're located, Edmunds doesn't factor that in. I ran into the same thing when I negotiated my Pacifica back in June.

The salesman had offered "2% over invoice", I pressed for a specific $$$ amount. He wrote it down and slid it over, but it didn't jive with my computation of 2% over invoice. I insisted he pull the invoice so I could see where the difference was...regional ad fee.

He also pulled invoices for other vehicles and showed me it was added on every one, Pacifica or not. Bottom line though...I still ended up getting the car for the $$ I wanted because I negotiated on actual $$$ price, not a percent-over-invoice. I didn't focus so much on the invoice price, but on what I was actually willing to pay out the door.

msasarman

So, I have to buy a second car.
We moved to a big house in the suburbs and my wife will divorce me if I'll leave her alone with the kids at home while I park our vehicle in the company parking lot.
I'm trying to be reasonable so I want a minivan (family of four), she wants branding and sex appeal so she wants an upscale SUV.
Our decision criteria:
A. Price
   - under CDN$50,000 before tax
B. Features: security/safety, performance, warranty, luxury
   - 5 star security rating, sporty/car performance, 4 yr minimum all-inclusive warranty, six seats minimum, top scale leather/wood trim interior
C. Branding

So we started to look around and after talking to dealers, taking test drives, we ended up with the following list and ratings:
1. Mercedes M class
   - A7 - too expensive, B8 - lousy third row seating/too small, C10
2. BMW X5
   - A7 - too expensive, B8 - not sexy enough/ a bit austere on the interior/too small, C10
3. Acura MDX
   - A9, B7 - nice but not quite sexy, C8
4. Cadillac Escalade
   - A4 - way too expensive, B9 - almost perfect/too big, C8
5. Lexus RX330
   - A5 - too expensive, B9 - perfect/only 5 seats though, C10
6. Lincoln Aviator - FIRST CHOICE
   - A6 - too expensive, B9 - almost perfect, C8
7. Volvo XC90 - not tried yet
8. Infinity FX35/45 - not tried yet
9. Chrysler Pacifica - SECOND CHOICE
   - A9, B9 - almost perfect, C7

As a matter of fact after struggling to fit the Aviator into out budget, I literaly stumbled upon the Pacifica and fell in love.
Now I need to make a decision, and I am torn between buying on price (Pacifica clearly comes on top), Features (again Pacifica), or Brand (Infinity, Acura, Aviator)

So here is my QUESTION: What would you do if you were in my shoes ?

Pacifica seems to be the perfect choice. On price, it is CDN$10,000 cheaper than the Aviator, CDN$20,000 cheaper than the Lexus
PROS: in-dash GPS, 6 CD/DVD changer, DVD system, power tailgate, 5 star safety rating, European interior, surround sound system, automanual transmission, Mercedes power seats, HID lamps.
CONS: underpowered V6 4 speed automatic, no rear park assist, blind spots in the back, Chrysler quality and service (an unkown), cheap tonneau cover, third row seating leg space, cargo space,
ground clearance.

But then, alongside the RX33o, it is the only car that I found fun to drive. If only, I could fast forward one year and buy the 2005 model that has a more poweful motor, rear park assist, and a few inches more in length and ground clearance.

monark49

between the Pacifica and Aviator. The Aviator is just another truck (Explorer).The Pacifica is unique. It rides great, handles better than the two SUV's weve had, and it certainly does not need any more engine. Plenty of power for the Mountains in Tenn. and it pulls our Camper at 17.5 mpg in the flat lands of Ill. I didn't buy it for stoplight drag racing.

rosie19

I have one with 4000 miles on it, traded in my 01 rx300 and very sorry!!! Suggest you try the pacifica for a couple of days. Clue-- it's aSOB to get in and out. If you set the seats for comfort in driving, I bang my head on top of the door, unless I set there and lower the seat, if I don't I bang my head getting in. Next the door sill are so wide you can't get in the car with out getting your pants dirty, if it's been rainy etc and the sill is dirty. I carry a towel andkeep it wiped off.I get 17 mpg, on the rx300 never below 22. I have bids from three lexas dealers and waiting for the right color. I'am 5'10"

ms_mayor

Sorry you're having difficulty. I'm 5'11" and can't agree with you, though.

If anything, I find it much easier to enter and exit...I think Pacifica has a great step-in height.

msasarman

I have been comparing the looks and features of the Pacifica and the Lexus RX330, and IMO they seem to be pretty similar, hence my perception that the Pacifica is a poor man's family version (read 6 seater) of the Lexus RX330. Unless I am missing something here, despite Chrysler marketing, this is just another crossover providing an alternative to the 30% of Lexus RX330 wannabies that have children under 18 and need three rows of seating, but would love to buy the Lexus. They can now buy the Pacifica if they can accept the Chrysler brand as a direct competitor/alternative to Lexus. I challenge the Chrysler marketing guys to justify their unique niche positioning stance for this vehicle, which, again, IMO, does not hold water.

msasarman

Sorry to hear you are switching to Lexus RX330.
Actually, if my kids were older and I didn't really need a third row of seats, I believe the Lexus RX330 to be a far superior vehicle hands down - no contest. However, my kids are small, I do need six seats, and I do not want to pay a fortune for the larger Lexus SUV to get that extra room. The Pacifica seems to be the compromise I am looking for.

Note that I am looking for a car and have not yet bought one. I am now trying to get a best deal from an area dealer before buying the Pacifica.

twoof1

All Pacifia's come with a feature which retracts the drivers seat when the engine is turned off and the key is removed. This is a great feature to help in easy entry and exit of the vehicle. I'm 6'2" and find it extremely easy to get in and out of. You can activate or deactivate the feature by using the on board computer. Try it, it's just another one of the little features that this vehicle is stocked up with.

russklass

Please look at the nameplate on your vehicle and be sure it is a Chrysler Pacifica!
I bought a Pacifica after 2 300Ms, and one of the features I like most is the ease of entry/exit. The gliding seat feature makes it a breeze. I'm also 5'10".
As far as the sill step over, the Pacifica distance from seat edge to sill is only 10", compared to 17" for the new Cadillac SRX. In addition, the Pacifica sill is clean, due to the placement of the weatherstriping, hence no dirty trouser legs.
The Lexus RX330 is a great vehicle, but I think you get much more bang-for-the-buck with the Pacifica.

intrepidspirit

with the Edmunds long term road test for the Pacifica?

There hasn't been an update since they reported on the purchase (7/1/03 -- 90 days ago)!

In the past, they have reported on their test vehicles about every 30 days.

Maybe they all went on extended summer vacations or just can't decide what they think of the Pacifica...or maybe one of them liked it so much they haven't returned!

maurcedes

You didn't say what it is that you drive and would leave sitting at the office. Why don't you give that to your wife, and buy a nice sportscar for your commute?

Other than that, the Lexus is boring and the Pacifica has some style.

russklass

msasaman drives a Mercury, so a Pacifica would be a BIG step up. I'm sure he would enjoy it!

revka

Hi intrepidspirit - The subject was also recently discussed in our Ask the Town Hall Hosts discussion (Posts 1593, 1594) on the News & Views Board. As of June, they changed the system of updating long-term reports from once a month to once a quarter (four times a year).

Revka
Host of Hatchbacks & Wagons

intrepidspirit

I'll look forward to reading their report soon!

b25nut

Twoof & russklass: great responses to Rosie. Just proves that even if you make the best, you can never please all the people all the time.

revka

You're welcome! If you haven't had a chance yet, you may also want to check out the Consumer Reviews for the Chrysler Pacifica in our New Cars Guide. Good luck. ;-)

Revka
Host of Hatchbacks & Wagons

ruski

weird complaints you have.

ruski

if RX330 offered third row, I'd consider it. Now we are trying to trade out of an RX300 and get a Pacifica.

harryomara

I purchased a pacifica about four weeks ago, does anydody know how long the factory is taking to produce them? My dealer does not seem to have any idea.

secgen

First of all, it's designated as my wife's car. I just look at it from afar. My wife loves it so much that she gave it a name. Pearl (hence the color and the female NAV voice)

Power: B
Not the strongest but then again, my wife and I don't drag race either. We enjoy the ride therefore we're never in a rush. I haven't used the manual stick yet. I'll use it when we go skiing this winter.

Looks: A-
Not alot of Pacificas on the road around my area. It turns heads. Looks like a van from a distance but I like the style.

Seats: A
Comfortable, easy to get in and out, lots of room on the second a third row. Haven't used the thrid row but people commented that it is definitely roomier than most SUVs. Heated seats on front and second rows seats will come in handy in the winter time:

Line of site:C
Lot of blind spots. Be careful. I'm just used to my Intrepid and Venture Van.

Cool Stuff: A-
My kid just can't get enough of the Entertainment center. He's five and knows how to navigate with the remote and wireless headsets. He's asking for Direct TV in the car. "What about it, Chrysler?" a Jet Blue on Wheels.
NAV is cool too. They definitely got it right on the money. BUT I think the MDX is a little better because of touch screen and integration of other controls in the touch screen. But that would've been another 5-8000 dollars more for an MDX.
Two or more profile settings is a god send. My wife is 5'4 and I'm 6'0. I just click on my remote and "viola" the seat, stereo presets, and side mirrors adjust to my settings.
I love the stereo controls on the steering wheel.

GAS Mileage: C
I'm taking it in in the next two weeks. I've seen in other posts that changing the oil will help. It's better than our second choice. A suburban.

Overall, so far: A

ms_mayor

I've had my Pacifica about 3 months, and I will say that before buying, I had read that blind spots were large. It was one of the things I made sure I could be comfortable with when test driving. I did notice a difference when compared to my existing ride at the time (Volvo wagon), but loved the vehicle and bought it, assuming that I'd just get used to allowing more space to maneuver.

The 'allowing more space' part lasted only a month or so. I think this happens whenever you get a new car. Every vehicle has different sight lines, and you just need to allow yourself the time to get used to them.

I can now easily swing right into my garage without worrying about hitting anything.

Parking spaces, in and out, are no problem.

I'm changing lanes in traffic with a lot more ease because (a) I now have a good sense of the space needed, and (b) I know the acceleration timing required to stay with traffic.

I'd say that now, sight lines are a non-issue for me anymore.

fijikm

Two weeks ago I joined my wife by picking up my own Pacifica after driving her's whenever I could for the last six months. Passed on the AWD, moon and nav--saved over $6-grand that way. Somewhat more torque-steer than her AWD but quicker (and quieter) acceleration. Love it to death!

revka

on your second Pacifica purchase! We look forward to hearing about your Pacific experiences. We expect to be seeing you here around here twice as much now. ;-)

Revka
Host of Hatchbacks & Wagons

sutton4

"DETROIT, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The Chrysler unit of DaimlerChrysler (NYSE:DCX - News; XETRA:DCXGn.DE - News) is expected to idle a key North American assembly plant later this month in a move highlighting its poor sales performance in recent months."
 
"The plant, which builds Chrysler's upscale Town and Country minivans and the Pacifica wagon, produces 1,370 vehicles a day and employs about 6,000 people, Lewenza told Reuters"

http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/031003/autos_chrysler_1.html

sutton4

Here's another article.

http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031003.daimler/B- NStory/Business/

"amid slow demand for both the minivans and the Pacifica, which has been on the market less than six months."

ruski

what an assinine way of dealing with the issue - instead of making the car more attractive, instead of putting some more effort into the marketing campaign... noooo, let's shut down the plant!

Next thing you know they will be killing a great car because "oh, there wasn't enough demand"

BTW, I haven't seen any Pacifica ads on TV last 2-3 weeks.

revka

Russklass- I tried to email you and it bounced back. Please let me know when it's corrected, so I can try again. Perhaps you need to adjust your mail filter. Thanks.

To Everyone- Please be aware that you must keep a valid email address in your user profile in order to maintain your Town Hall membership status. Your email is private by default, so other members will not see it, unless you want them to. For additional privacy, you can also use an online email (i.e., hotmail/yahoo) address in your user profile.

And now, let's get back to the subject of the Chrysler Pacifica! ;-)

Revka
Host of Hatchbacks & Wagons

fijikm

I've been seeing them everynite on David Letterman's Show and at least one every other day on prime time.

ruski

and how many Toyota Camry ads do you see per day?

rasldasl

Way back in message #619 russklass mentioned getting an upgrade coupon for the NAV dvd in the dvd case. I did not get one - does anyone know if this only went to early purchasers? My NAV dvd is code AG so I think it is pretty recent. My dealer just stared at me blankly when I asked about an upgrade coupon.

needsanewcar

I live in New England so I will drive in the snow on occasion (I currently have a 1989 Volvo that slides all over the road unless it has snow tires and weights in the trunk) but except for casual weekend driving I would basically be using this car to take my 3 children to daycare/school (within 3 blocks of our house) and to drive to the train station 5 minutes away. Thanks so much for any input - I'm so glad I stumbled across this site. The resources here are fantastic!

Julia

russklass

The coupon was part of the label on the DVD jewel case. Ours was purchased in May, with the new DVD coming out the end of June. All production from Sept. on probably has the new DVD disc.

russklass

We have the AWD, Buffalo NY area, and are already impressed. We have had considerable rain lately, and the Pacifica is sure footed when the road is slick.
Recently had the opportunity to drive a FWD Pacifica during heavy rain. When accelerating from a stop, the front wheels were fighting for traction, with the traction control trying to do tt's job. The AWD would have just pulled away smartly.
Do you NEED AWD? I don't know, but I'm sure glad we have it!

ruski

Julia, what do you think? I would get AWD if I were in New England. I would even consider AWD in South Florida with all the rainstorms we get here.

Do you currently drive an AWD or FWD or RWD? How is it working out?

rodut

Man ... this is lack of knowledge ...
Obviously Julia has RWD ! All 1989 Volvos were RWD !

Actually the main question is if she really needs a car, because that car will drive 200,000 to 250,000 miles and till then it will be very cheap and easy to fix ! If she has a honest mechanic, obviously.

By the way, I have a 1989 Volvo me too. Can't get rid of the damn thing. It never dies. That's why I can't get the Pacifica.

needsanewcar

now I do have an AWD . I bought my Pacifica this morning. It's jade pearl with the taupe/jade leather, moonroof, chrome, cargo, cd changer, and lift gate. Thanks for your advice on the AWD - I was concerned because a couple of dealers(!) had told me I didn't need it (maybe they were trying to get rid of the FWDs?). I LOVE it! Rodut - I totally agree - I probably could drive that Volvo another 100,000 miles (it only has 130 on it) but unfortunately it won't fit three car seats. I have to say, my husband was totally against even looking at a Chrysler vehicle but he didn't even want to look at another make/model after he test drove the Pacifica.

Thanks again!
Julia

monark49

Same combo of colors and options as ours and we love it.

ruski

if you put car seats in the second row, how can you then fold the second row seats so that someone could get into the third row?

needsanewcar

The two older kids will sit in the third row, with the baby in the second row, so we can flip the empty seat for access.

ruski

or I guess the older kids could just climb back over the console.