Chrysler Pacifica

chief321

Is it just me or does it bother anyone else that the 3rd row seats don't have headrests? Just because there's not a federal requirement (yet...it's coming) for it doesn't mean it doesn't need to be there. I'm very suprised Chrysler omited them from an all new product.

ruski

they probably would make it harder to fold the 3-rd row seats.

chief321

The Sienna, Freestar, Explorer and Expedition to name a few all have headrests with fold flat 3rd rows. You just have to have compact headrests that adjust up and down.

In about 3 or 4 years federal regulations will not only require 3rd row headrests but they will also set tough standards for size and strength.

boiler1

Just got back from running the Chicago Marathon and there were Pacifica billboards EVERYWHERE. Don't know if they're new but maybe Chrysler is picking up their marketing. By the way, I didn't hear a peep out of my kids during the drive...could it have been a selection of six DVDs in the stacker?!?

b25nut

If there were headrests on the third row, you would not be able to see hardly anything out the rear window.

chief321

That's why the headrests push down. Look at the headrests on the vehicles I mentioned, you can see fine out back because when the headrests are down they're no higher than the rest of the seatback.

maxmom

The Chicago billboards have been around for awhile. My mother noticed them on a Chicago trip in May and they were there when we were on vacation in July.

Just curious, did you see any actual Pacificas? From Tennessee to Chicago and back, we only saw one other.

IMO, the car is great. There seem to be many naysayers on this board, but with 4 months and 5K miles into ours, we could not be more pleased.

ms_mayor

Nice to hear from you maxmom!

I also have 4K on my Pacifica, and also am very satisfied with the vehicle. It really is a great drive.

One of my favorite features is the steering wheel audio controls...I remember that that was one of the features we were trying to figure out a while back. Changing stations/cd tracks, volume control, etc. is amazingly easy and much safer since I never have to take my eyes off the road to find a knob.

Oh, and my husband still hasn't driven it...I won't let him!!

maxmom

Glad to hear you still stand behind your decision.

It's funny to think back to the "hidden" audio controls topic. Thanks to russklass the learning curve on that one was short. I agree that they are wonderful.

I'm disappointed to see all of the negativity that pops up on these boards. IMO Chrysler rushed to release the Pacifica and in doing so made two mistakes:

1) They obviously didn't qc the initial release scrupulously (based on comments here).

2) They released the loaded version first when I believe much of their best market is at a point $7-8K less than that.

We attribute our lack of problems to special ordering ours.

I'm off the soap box now and headed out the door.

Oh, my husband drives on weekends. I can't rob him of all the fun.

All the best.

boiler1

Yes, I saw 3 Pacificas in Chicago and one today at the gas station here in my small town (35,000 residents). I'm still very impressed with mine after 7700 miles including a couple of jaunts of over 600 and 1400 miles round trip. As a matter of fact, I'm still finding some things out about the car. Just last night I noticed that I have the satellite radio prep that I told the parts counter I DIDN'T have a few weeks ago. I was bummed at the time because I was told I couldn't add the satellite receiver without the prep. Now I can!!!

russklass

Yes, there are a bunch of them. I beleive most fall into one of 2 categories:
1. Just don't like Chrysler products.
2. Have never actuslly driven a Pacifica.
Those who own Pacificas seem very pleased with their purchase. Ours, after 12,000 miles, has met or exceeded all our expextations.

svevar

I wonder how the buying public will react to Buick Rainier pricing. It starts at a relatively reasonable $35,000, but fully loaded the Rainer exceeds $45,000. Seeing as how many people believe that the Chrysler Pacifica, which is just over $40,000 fully loaded, is over priced, I should expect they react in the same way to the Rainier. Personally, I do not believe the Pacifica is over priced at all. To my knowledge, there aren't any comparably equipped vehicles available for less. I have been disappointed by the slower than anticipated sales of the Pacifica, and hope pricing doesn't make this an issue with the Rainier as well. I think the Rainier is a nice SUV, but I'd much rather have a Pacifica.

revka

Hi Folks- A post was removed because it was not within our Town Hall guidelines. In addition, other posts in direct response to this post were also removed, for the sake of continuity. To those concerned: You can refer to my previous Post #1109 for further clarification on this matter.

And let's get back to the subject of the Chrysler Pacifica. Thanks!

Revka
Host of Hatchbacks & Wagons

fijikm

Just grabbed a tape measure and came up with the following: 2nd row seats have 24" back cushions plus 5" headrests; 3rd row back cushions are 26" which should be more than enough for the usually smaller passengers riding in the "way-back". At 5'6" my head won't go beyond the upper trim piece for the rear hatch opening.

mrl11777

A guy I know is the property manager for a large dealership group. Among the dealerships are a DCX store and a Pontiac store. According to the SM at Chrysler, in the same period of time from launch, the Pacifica was outsold by....

the Aztek.

He said that this was in Automotive News a few weeks back. Anyone have an online sub to AN?

They are selling them for $26k (after rebates, etc) and that is loaded -- AWD, leather. If you are patient you can probably do even better.

mrl11777

http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=6722

stoney39

Have had our Pacifica for about 6 weeks now and love it. A couple of days ago the check engine light came on. The wife was driving and all of a sudden smoke started pouring out from under the hood...then it stopped! She drove back to our local dealer where we had purchased it and they are now in the process of trying to figure out what had happened. They loaned us a Daewoooooo!
A far cry from a $41,000 luxo boat. Has anyone experienced anything like this with their Pacificas and if so has the dealer corrected it or is this maybe one of those "new car" growing pains we all have to put up with? I hope Diamler/Chrysler can fix this problem!

sutton4

The $3,000 rebates on the Pacifica (so soon after launch) seems to confirm what the experts have been saying about the Pacifica and explains why Chrysler is shutting down the factory for 2 weeks. This is all bad news for resale value.

Detroit News Oct 16th: "I had my hopes that the Pacifica, Chrysler's interpretation of the crossover trend, might revive the company's fortunes. But my initial enthusiasm for what is an attractive design faded when I experienced its disappointing performance, lack of functionality and poor quality interior fit and finish."

http://www.detnews.com/2003/insiders/0310/17/insiders-299245.htm

oedipus1608

The Pacifica is selling well albeit currently a little short of expectations. According to AutoData Corp, Chrysler sold 33,352 Pacifica's since its introduction in march. At this rate, over 87,000 Pacifica's will be sold in a year. I think that the new incentive on the Pacifica will help boost sales over the 100,000 mark. Chrysler has realized that in our present economy, consumers are expecting a rebate when buying a car. Chrysler has learned its lesson with the Pacifica and is lightly rebating the new Durango at $500. Furthermore, the Magnum and 300C will have a base price in the 20's unlike the Pacifica's innitial $31,000.

ruski

I drove from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando and back and saw quite a few Pacificas on Florida Turnpike.

svevar

Chrysler has a new press release—I'm guessing it's in response to all of the ridiculous bad press the Pacifica has been getting (Poor Sales! Poor Interior! Chrysler is Failing!). It points out that the Pacifica is outselling its key competitors. Here's the link:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031020/dem011_1.html

sutton4

I think the Chrylser PR people need to have a little reality check. Phrases like "segment-busting packaging", "first-class seating", "sets a new standard in premium automotive transportation" are so over the top its funny!

People go into the showroom expecting something really new and exciting and what they actually find is a station wagon that's almost as long and wide as an Expedition but seats less than a more efficient sized mid-size SUV, like an Explorer.

ruski

and what do you expect? Alien technology?

svevar

I agree... that release is a little over the top. It almost sounds like an infomercial, making the Pacifica out be the greatest, most novel invention of all time.

Having said that, however, I am a big fan of the Pacifica. And I agree with their second row, first-class seating claim. I just wish Chrysler would develop some compelling advertisements so that more people would test drive and buy.

ml320

Here's a scanned ad from the local paper, comparing the Pacifica to its competitors:

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/pix4/pacificaa.jpg

mrl11777

rearward view.

svevar

I think that newspaper ad is very nicely done. Too bad Chrysler's TV ads can't be as elegantly simple and straightforward. In retrospect, I really like the old "Engineered To Be Great Cars" campaign much better than the dreadful "Drive & Love" debacle.

alisac

I ordered my Pacifica FWD a few weeks ago (white/slate grey interior)for delivery in January at the end of my current lease. After I finalized the price, Chrysler added the $3000 cash back or 0% financing in the US, but neglected to give us Canadians any incentives. I find it really frustrating that I can't benefit from this, and wanted to vent...

wale_bate1

I think you'll find after exchange that your prices up North are already pretty well below the US prices.

I certainly understand how you feel, but I bet you're getting a deal already!

BTW, the Windsor Pacifica and minivan plant is going to be idled:
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/031024/autos_chrysler_plant_1.html

New orders will be out of the question, at least for a while, so shop from existing inventory!

sutton4

It seems that Chrysler, in addition to the recently confirmed Factory closing and the addition of the new $3,000 rebate may also be dumping some of that "bloated" Pacifica inventory to the rental car agencies. I saw some new Pacificas at a Dollar Rent a Car outlet.

b25nut

Has anyone test driven the SRX yet? I did on Saturday. The V8 does make a difference. The acceleration is effortless. Score one point for Cadillac. But the Pacifica shuts the SRX out for the rest of the game. First is price. Over $52,000 MSRP on the one I drove and that is with no sunroof or navigation system. Looks are probably a draw, since the perception varies so much from individual to individual. I was not impressed with the exterior fit of components on the SRX.
   What stands out in the interior is how narrow the SRX is compared to the Pacifica. The front seats would be rated as comfortable as the Pacifica's by probably most people and the second row isn't bad (with the same legroom as Pacifica), but a bench seat will never be as comfortable as Pacifica's individual seats. The openness of the Pacifica's interior just has me spoiled. The SRX's third row is a joke. The floor is about 3 inches from the top of the seat. No adult will ever sit back there for long, if ever.
   The SRX's interior finish is good, but I don't think it looks as nice as the Pacifica's. Ease of entry for front and second row seems almost as good as Pacifica's. We didn't try third row access, but it appears it would be difficult.
   Our salesman was smitten with the SRX's OnStar system. It was his answer for most things that I would point out that the SRX was lacking in. When he saw that I drove a Pacifica, his response was, "Well, the SRX is no Pacifica". How right he is!

mrl11777

also has Pacificas. A few short months from now they will have them for sale, and then whatever high-end mystique DCX has tried to cultivate for their chopped minivan will evaporate. They are killing the resale for their early adopters. You will not see Caddy do this with the SRX -- Lutz knows what he is doing.

russklass

Ditto, B25nut!
My neighbor just got a SRX, and I'm not impressed.
Other than the Northstar engine/transmission the Pacifica has it beat.
Two curious notes:
1. The ignition switch is in the steering column.
2. The window switches are the old style, unsafe, rockers.
Strange to see these archaic touches on an all-new, high priced, vehicle.
As for the styling, maybe it will grow on me (not)!

imidazol97

SRX: ignition switch in the steering column? What is the problem with that?

Describe the window switches that are rockers please. How are they unsafe?

The styling is interesting. The Pacifica is more in my price range.

mrl11777

Over the course of many, many years of use, power window switches (the rocker type) have been blamed for a few deaths (kids and pets stepping on the switch, sending the window up and strangling the occupant who's head was out the window). I am not discounting the loss of life and horror that was visited upon those unfortunate souls, but I believe that something like 25 incidences of this have occurred in about 50 years. So, naturally, the nannies in the gov't think that this is an epidemic and want the automakers to not only stop using those type of switches, but to refit all of the power-window-equipped cars on the road with the type of switch that is used by the Japanese and Germans, namely the switch that one pulls up to send the window up.

Gov't thinks that by idiot-proofing everything we will all live to be 100. Of course, cost is no object. Just look at the whole Exploder tire fiasco. Because some people refuse to responsibly operate and maintain their autos, the gov't is now mandating the makers add expensive (and of dubious value) tire pressure monitors to cars.

You don't see this type of crap in Europe -- drivers there are held to a much higher standard -- they are expected to drive, not eat, drink, read, look at nav screens, comb hair, apply makeup, etc, ad nauseum.

Funny, the P seems to be aimed at this type of "auto consumer", rather than drivers.

Off the soapbox now, and putting on my asbestos suit.

imidazol97

I wondered if that was the problem with
the switches. I love mine. I lock the
other windows with the main lockout
when the child is in the car or the wife
so they can't control their own window,
since it's so dangerous.
Too, my windows don't work when the
ignition is OFF. Brilliant theory for
safety. So my dog hasn't choked
himself lately.

wale_bate1

Unfortunately, the Caddy is bloated and hideous by comparison, and even a V8 punch won't cure that. Neither will "onstar"...;)

Art and Science has just about played out its very best hand with the XLR, since the Cien will never see production.

Just a casual observation from an outsider here...

b25nut

I forgot one additional point for the SRX: it has very good (compared to the Pacifica) visiblity to the rear. There was no tinting on the windows, however, something I really like on my Pacifica.

ramzey28

You maybe have tried this but in the menu options on the dash you can program your pacifica to have acc. power for up to 90 seconds, maybe yours is programmed for zero. Just a thought.

ms_mayor

I, too, am a big fan of the tinting.

I'd never driven a car with tinted windows before, so I'm still getting used to it. Daytime is okay, but there is a significant difference at night in poor lighting conditions when moving in reverse. I guess I'll learn to get used to it.

The tinting really keeps the car cooler in the warm weather, and my kids love that there's little glare on their Gameboy screens or sun in their eyes while driving.

sutton4

http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031027.wxchrysle- r1027/BNStory/Business/

"The Chrysler group is planning to build a new, cheaper version of its struggling Pacifica crossover utility vehicle, industry sources say, a move that deals a blow to the auto maker's strategy of distancing itself from competitors by offering premium-priced vehicles"

"But initial projections were that 120,000 Pacifica models a year would roll off the assembly lines in Windsor, where it is put together along with Chrysler's minivans.

About 80,000 will probably be sold this year, said Mr. Schuster of J.D. Power.

"I don't think they're going to do 120,000 next year," he said.

b25nut

The initial project by Chrysler was 100,000 the first year. This is the first time I've seen the the figure 120,000. I felt 100,000 was overly optimistic, but even 80,000 Pacifica's are more than the largest number of RX-300's sold in one year, which is 75,000. Has anyone seen the sales figures for the RX-330? Compared to the vehicles that buyers compare the Pacifica to before buying (MDX, RX-330, Murrano, XC-90, etc.) I think the Pacifica comes out on top when numbers sold are considered.

mrl11777

comparison. They sell those things at sticker (or very close). DCX has to pile on the incentives to move the P. What is really clobbering the P is that a loaded Town & Country is $10k less than a comparable P, and it seats 7, not 6.
The sad fact is that DCX is turning the P into an orphan. A year-old P is going to go for $15-$16k in the secondary market. DCX hosed their early adopters and sold them an Edsel.

b25nut

I plan on driving my Pacifica for the next eight years, so I'm not really concerned about its value two years from now. I paid full MSRP in April, and it still saved me over $4,000 by not buying our second choice, the RX-330. Thank you Chrysler for producing a vehicle that has filled all my needs, which the Lexus would not have done. When a company produces an excellent product, they deserve to make a decent profit, so I have no qualms about the price I paid, since I still saved money compared to my alternatives (which did not include a mini-van).

mrl11777

They mispriced the P for the market. Some bought it at the original, pre Eco101 rate (and some are very happy, as you are) and now some (probably more) are going to buy it at the price that DCX realizes is closer to the market clearing price (which, right now, seems to be at least $10k less than what they had planned on getting). By cutting the price so fast, without letting the P to find the market that DCX was hoping it would find (never mind that it was probably pie in the sky), they hosed the people who paid full price by a) overcharging them in the first place and b) by killing the resale for the original buyers.
That is what I mean by hosed -- leaving $10k+ on the table is alot of money.

boiler1

a Pacifica, it's DCX Financial that'll be hosed!!!

russklass

"What is really clobbering the P is that a loaded Town & Country is $10k less than a comparable P"
This is total BS!
The owner of our company just took delivery of a loaded AWD Town & Country with an MSRP over $42,000.
This was with no rear seat entertainment system, 3.5l/250HP or Autostick.
I still say the Pacifica is a good value compared to any comparable vehicle.
The sad truth is, Chrysler's marketing department did a terrible job introducing the Pacifica.

mrl11777

Can be anything. It is certainly not grounded in reality. Check out today's WSJ. Article on car pricing quotes Detroiexecs saying that a Caddy Deville has an MSRP of around $50k, but are really selling for $35k. Then why not drop the MSRP closer to the real, out-the-door price? Because the high MSRP connotes a high-end car, and it is pure marketing BS. For this year, GM will make about $15 per car -- fifteen dollars. DCX and Ford are losing money.
So, if the boss paid $42k MSRP -- $42K out the door-- I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to him.

mrl11777

is a gimmick that nobody would pay extra for, especially in a minivan.

twoof1

mrl11777,
So why did you pay $1,275.00 extra (msrp on a 3 series for automatic) for the "Steptronic" gimmick in your BMW??
PS: Don't bother with the rhetoric, I have owned both.