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Grand Caravan: Tell Chrysler What You Want
What suggestions do you have for improvememts on the Grand Caravan?
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Put the Instant Economy function back on the trip computer.
Get rid of the "White Face" instrument cluster and replace with black background that does not reflect sunlight.
Eliminate the CHEAP appearance of the interior by putting padded vinyl or cloth, carpet, and lights on front and sliding doors as the Caravan SE had when first introduced in 1984.
Stop building CHEAP Chrysler Town & Country models. Call the CHEAP Chrysler minivans Voyagers.
Bring back a 3rd Caravan/GC model: either an LE or ES.
Offer the largest engine as an option on every level (SE, SXT, LX, Touring in addition to Limited).
Produce a NON "Stow 'N Go" version for people who place comfort ahead of ability to haul cargo.
Make ALL 2nd row seats capable of fore and aft movement.
Eliminate the severe rounding of the rear to increase cargo capacity in the same length or shorter length.
Place the compact spare tire INSIDE the vehicle where it is located on the Honda Odyssey. :shades:
I agree very much with the above posts. First of all, bring back all "de-contented" features, most of them has already been re-placed on some newer Chrysler vehicles, such as the 300 and Sebring, so it's a safe bet that the minivan will have them as well. The only reason Chrysler dropped this stuff (due to money issues) was because almost no other minivan offered them. Who offered a wiper de-icer in 2004? But since then, many imports feature them already, so it will be a wise decision to bring them back.
The engine and transmission sounds very good on paper, and I hope will be in real life, as well. But please, fuel efficient.
Better interior quality is a must. From the leather and fabric quality, switches and dials, carpet, everything needs to get better. Steering wheel needs to get smaller. Cruise control switches illuminated. Get rid of the white gauges. Get into optitron...
Bring back the smooth, quiet ride, as the pre-2005 models. Since the stow'n'go vans, the ride is not as smooth anymore. And the brakes and traction control are not balanced properly. If you hit a pothole during braking - even the slightest one - you could feel yourself loosing control and traction control pops in... Of all the countless cars I drove, none of them has such a bad behavior.
And of course, add "FULL-SPEED" traction control, and add stability control standard on all models, like the Cheap Kia minivans does.
The power sliding doors makes a strange noise when finishing to close. No other minivan makes such noises.
Improve handling, so the driver should have a confident feeling. Lower turning circle.
Make seats more comfortable, even with stow'n'go. Toyota Sienna has very comfy seats, even though the rear seat flushes into the floor. Expend the room in the rear well. DCX vans have the smallest space, compared to any other minivan (except for the Ford Freestar).
Bring back dual lamps on liftgate (or one in center - not like it's on the current), and the security lamps on the front doors on ALL models, illuminated glove box(es), ignition key ring. Big interior door handles as on the 300.
That's for now. I will have some more coming up.
However, I agree with the rest of your suggestions
...especially more comfortable 2nd row seating and decent quality door panels. Why not just COPY the excellent Odyssey 2nd and 3rd row seating with excellent seats and mounting/folding mechanisms?
The Sienna has THE BEST location for the rear heater air intake high up on the right rear so that all of the luggage space is useable unlike the Odyssey where the intake is near the floor.
Is there a reason why you don't like it? not practical or whatever, or just a matter of taste?
What would you suggest Chrysler to do instead of the white faces? Just old-style green lights? All newer vehicles are switching over to optitron, they look beautiful. Most Toyotas, Hondas, Cadillac and many Lincolns, and of Course the higher-end luxury cars as Mercades etc., all have'em.
I prefer the old pre-2001 GC and T&C orange numbers and needle on a black background. I also liked the T&C ability to have the lights on the overhead console BRIGHT and readable at night when I turned the gauge lights dim so the gauge lights would be more restful on my eyes.
I am afraid DC will eliminate the superior stereo controls of the 2001-2002 T&C/GC on the minivans and replace the current watered down minivan stereo controls with the same stereo controls in most other DC vehicles...where there is NOT a separate toggle switch for Bass, Treble, Balance, and Fade that was on my 2002 T&C LX.
I would still suggest Chrysler to cut the size of the A/C vents in half, and bring the climate controls and cup holder up closer to the driver. I also don't like the wheels on the Chrysler.
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.efc7219
What I want -
- RF headphones so the front passenger can hear the DVD audio.
- A real audio system, standard - at least on the DVD/Nav vehicles. 62 watts? Are you joking? I can barely hear the 6-disc DVD changer movie audio! :mad: :mad: :mad:
- Rear sway bar on all models!
- One touch close on the sunroof.
- Steering wheel audio controls and work the audio system even when the navigation screen is displayed! :mad:
- A button that automatically moves the power front seats up for Stow-N-Go access. Yeah, I know, a passenger might get crushed into the dash. Well, tie it into the airbag weight sensors in the seats so they don't move if someone is sitting.
- An open all power doors function if two remote buttons are pressed simultaneously.
There is TOO much wind noise if 2nd row windows are rolled down at speeds above 20 or 30 mph. Additionally, there is wind noise from the 2nd row windows of the Sienna that was not present with the flush 2nd row windows of my 2002 T&C. :mad:
I wonder if AWD got lost because of Sto 'n Go...
We would like Sto 'n Go when heading out to dog shows. As it is now, we need to remove the seats of our pre-Sto 'n Go T&C to get kennels in, a real PITA.
I'm in the market for a 17' fish 'n ski boat, but no way would I want to tow it without AWD or 4WD, so even though Chrysler says their minivans can tow up to 3500 lbs with towing package, I wouldn't dare try to haul the boat back up a wet ramp with only front wheel drive.
Besides, Chrysler doesn't want its minivan owners towing anything anyway. Their transmissions really can't handle it.
So, we're looking very seriously at Saturn Outlook instead...