Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
2008 Minivans
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Sure. Page 388.
You can start here: http://www.edmunds.com/dealerships/drr/jump.html
I did notice more acceleration power and stiffer steering in Odyssey, but TC LX was Ok too. I'm not a speeder and I don't haul heavy cargo up hills. What I didn't like about the other minivans were the clunky second row seats. I need to push my driver's seat full back and low and also tilt the steering wheel and adjust the pedals away to feel comfortable for long drives or I cramp up. Therefore, the second row seat behind me is useless for any adult passenger for lack of leg room. I would prefer to lower the second row into Stow n Go compartment and let passengers recline in third row seats with limitless legroom. Also, second row seats in other minivans are cumbersome and heavy to fold over and/or remove when I need maximum cargo space Stow N go provides. Some people fuss over the quality and layout of the interior. It's no big difference to me since I have no rowdy family to placate. All these minivans look and operate pretty much the same way and interior finishing details don't override far more important factors to me. The 2007 TC, even with a huge cash discount, was quoted only $2K less than new 2008 TC LX that I really prefer much more in styling. So I will buy a 2008 TC LX, or 2008 DCX SXT if I can bring the dealer down to a lower price than $25K, which is really pushing it on a brand new model, but it's a buyer's market. As for longterm TC reliability that everyone seems to question, my internet research shows that vaunted Japanese and German cars have as many recalls as Chrylser/Dodge over the years, and the Kia warranty is impossible to enforce unless you document all your routine maintenance, even oil changes, with your Kia dealer. Ridiculous! Google Kia complaints and other foreign auto makers to see for yourself. I think Kia and Hyundai will abandon the minivan market as many US auto companies already have. For me, 2008 TC is the right minivan at right price with right lifetime power train warranty. I think it's a keeper.
However, the GC SXT is the clone of the T&C Touring while the GC SE is the clone of the T&C LX. :shades:
I have a 2005 Dodge GC. I mostly keep the passenger middle row seat stowed for picking up things. More convient loading the side instead of the back. It also gives you much more room for dog and getting kids in and out. Glad they kept stow-n-go on the new models. It was the main reason I bought the van and I use that feature a lot. Used it this weekend loading up a new back door and security door.
It sounds like you made your choice before even sitting in any of the vehicles based. You say in your first sentence that you hate all minivans except for the T&C and you must have the StowNGo.
"Therefore, the second row seat behind me is useless for any adult passenger for lack of leg room" If that's the case, then you could just remove the 2nd row seat behind you and just leave it out all of the time, but it sounds like you use it as a cargo van a lot, so the StowNGo is perfect for you.
You also mention that you're a "typical consumer" but then you say you have no family to haul around, so I assume you're using this mostly as a cargo van? That's fine, but I think that the typical minivan consumer is a family with a bunch of rowdy kids
I agree that you made the right pick, and anyone needing to switch between a cargo van and passenger van on a regular basis should probably pick this one too.
The 2008 T&C Touring base 25K has MSRP $ 28,430 while 2008 GC SXT base 25K has MSRP $ 27,535. I have been unable to decipher the extra items the base T&C Touring 25K has that are not on the base GC SXT 25K. :confuse:
You are a stickler for details, as I am. I see you've posted over 2000 times in this forum compared to my four, so I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with everyone. My original post #220 said that my dealer quoted me a $27K cash price for a 2008 TC Touring, not 25K as you reply. He quoted me $25K cash for my choice of a 2008 TC LX with 24H package, or, $25K for a 2008 CG STX K package (aka DCX STX) that does offer better 197 HP engine and power doors and driver's seat. I negotiated these cash prices from the MSRPs you mention and I hope to bring down my cost lower if I can. Hope that answers all your questions. Otherwise, your info is absolutely right.
I just realized after I posted that you meant 25K as an option package for the 2008 GC STX, not a cash price I mentioned. My mistake.
Chrysler has interesting codes: 24 indicates 3.3L, 25 indicates 3.8L, and 26 indicates 4.0L in GC SXT while 28 indicates 4.0L in the T&C Limited.
The letter F indicates base T&C LX or base GC SE while G and H have more content in either T&C LX or GC SE.
The letter K indicates base T&C Touring or base GC SXT where the 3.8L engine is standard. Letters L and M have more content in both T&C Touring and GC SXT.
The 4.0L is available with GC SXT option M and N but NOT available with T&C Touring option M. The 4.0L is available on the T&C in Limited only and is listed as 28X since the T&C Limited has no comparable GC. :confuse:
Now that I have had power windows since 1991, I would not want to be without them. Probably why many people can't live without power sliding doors and power liftgate at rear.
As masterpaul said, the T&C/GC sliding doors with power sliding motors are designed to be opened as easily without power as those that never had the power sliding doors.
As I recall, the reason is because the power sliding motor is located within the door whereas other brands had the motor located within the van body unless they have copied Chrysler.
Toyota and Honda put one engine in all minivans but don't make the comfortable feature of separate temperature for driver and front passenger on less expensive models. Chrysler is just the opposite: You can get comfort features on less expensive models but not the most powerful engine. :confuse:
Now that I have had 215 HP in my Sienna, I would probably miss the extra 40 HP if I got a Chrysler minivan with only 175 HP while I never missed the extra power in my 02 T&C. A devout Town Hall owner of a 2007 Sienna tells me I would not be satisfied with only 215 HP of my 06 if I drove the 07 Sienna with 266 HP :shades:
Sort of funny since I was able to get by with only 40 hp or whatever in my first Volkswagen Beetle but it was really nice to get a real heater in a car after I had owned the very primitive VW. Winter on the windswept plains of southern Wyoming can be bitterly cold without any heat from the most basic of transportation
As minor as this might seem, I dislike the ugliness and design on some of the foreign minivans that don't conceal the track nicely intergrated near the window. The Dodge & Chrysler do it just right.
Just curious on how you would "miss" the 40HP? Getting to the stop-sign a fraction of a second later?
Good reminder that I don't need blitzkrieg acceleration. :shades:
Let's be fair, here, I did ask for help identifying these. Thanks for nominating several features.
I say "nominating" because many of these are not unique to the T&C and GC. Let's see....
moonroof? That's nearly universal, so no.
front dash video? Most GPS/DVD system will do this. Not unique.
sub woofer? Pretty much universal as well, so no.
two glove boxes? Nope. My Sienna has that.
2 screen DVD was pioneered by Nissan on the Quest, and I already gave Dodge credit for the sat. TV, so no again.
adjustable pedals? Competitors offers a telescoping wheel, so a fair trade. If it had both it would be unique.
Cruise control? No way, that's universal. Toyota offers laser cruise control, which follow the car in front of you at a set distance. Toyota's is unique, no credit to Dodge here for the generic cruise.
Tire pressure monitoring? Universal, in fact this is now required by law so even an econobox would have it. Not unique at all, in fact it's the complete opposite.
Integrated child booster? Nice, but I don't see how you can claim it's the industry's first, given Volvo has had these for ages, and even Subaru offered it in the Outback. It may be the industry's third, not first, but still, Dodge gets credit here for being unique among minivans.
Voice activated NAV was pioneered by Honda, I believe. It's not unique for sure.
rear backup system? again, near universal at this point. In fact most offer both a rear view camera and/or an audio sensor. No way, no how is this unique.
Power folding 3rd row? as I mentioned, Sienna has this first, so it is certainly not unique to Dodge. It tailgates, too.
Also not unique: power passenger seats, Bluetooth for phones, 110V inverter, dual-zone or 3-one ACC, even the removeable console is not unique, Sienna offers all of those things.
So while you made a nice, long list, very few of those are truly unique that I had not already mentioned.
Halo/LED lighting, the flashlight, built-in booster and flex-fuel capability, that's about it. Plus the ones I had mentioned before.
Sounds like you picked up a brochure and simply listed every feature. I was looking for unique features.
I'd like the see the built-in booster you mention. To be honest that's the only one of the 4 unique features you brought up that would interest me. :shades:
The more powerful engine will be able to maintain speed, the weaker one won't. If you set cruise control you'll notice it will downshift at first, then lose speed, then disable cruise completely.
This was quite humling in a '91 Escort GT I used to own. I always felt it was quick, 0-60 and all. But load it up with 4 people and luggage and at altitude it had to limp up a hill even with a seemingly decent 127hp.
A much heavier van with less than 200hp would likely struggle in the same way. I don't want to be that guy limping slowly in the right lane trying to make it up that long uphill, all while being tailgated by big trucks.
Some times power is indeed a safety feature. :shades:
I've had four and don't want any more until they make one like those first vans, but they must "average" around "35 MPG"...........
BTW - I know Visteon Corp built the first voice recognition systems for Nissan about 6 years ago. My company, Tyco Electronics, supplies some of the components. Honda came later.
Chrylser offered built in childs seats about a decade ago, before the 1996 minivans. I don't know why they dropped them later on?
My 2001 BMW had LED lighting, and again, Tyco Electronics supplies both BMW and DCX with light pipes and LED lighting. The LEDs last forever, use very little energy, doesn't distract the driver and helps to differentiate DCX from their competitors.
Without going back and looking, I don't remember you saying what unique features Dodge had over the Toyota. You said what you had on yours and asked what the Dodge had on it. If not mistaken.
Let's see, the integrated car seat, no one else has (on a minivan) which is what we are comparing right? No one has the television, Chrysler has the battery saver. I know Honda doesn't have that unless they just added it. Not sure about Toyota. Could you show me where another minivan has a sub woofer? I had read Chrysler was the only minivan to offer it. Only one to have a rechargeable flash light. I think they are also the only one to offer a AC/DC converter.
Does the others offer a big hard drive to play music and view photos on their screen? Remote start built into the key fob. Third row, auto one touch seat. Swivel second row seats. Only one to offer halo lighting. Many have dual DVD screens, but can't play separate movies, Chrysler's can. Self adjusting front shocks. An umbrella holder. Stow-n-go seating.
These are the things I can think of off my head.
Legroom rows 1/2/3
Ody 40.8/40.0/41.1
T&C 40.6./36.4/37.6
Cargo Capacity behind 3rd row
Ody 38.4
T&C 32.3CuFt
MPG
Ody 19/26
T&C 17/24
WHERE are the other measurements like Shoulder Room, Hip Room, Head Room, Cargo capacity behind 2nd row and total cargo capacity behind 1st row with ALL seats down or out?
WHY not also include the Sienna data if it is bigger inside? :confuse:
I feel that the Odyssey has THE most comfortable seats for ALL people inside it...BUT the Odyssey cargo room behind 3rd row is compromised by having the air intake for the rear heater/air conditioner fan at floor level while T&C/GC is part way up the rear side and the Sienna with THE LARGEST cargo area behind 3rd row also has the air intake level almost at the top of the rear side. :shades:
Not sure if Chrysler put it out or not, but the Oct. issue of Motor Trend says,(including a minivan first subwoofer)in parenthesis. The swivel seats might not be new, but it looks like the Chrysler vans are the only one having them now. I don't think any of the minivans offered a table to go with them, even before.
The thing is, all the standard and options you can get with this van that aren't offered with the other minivans. Even if you take away the subwoofer, the list is pretty long. Depending on what a family wants, there is a model for most everyone. Although, I would never buy the base model. That looks really cheap.
On the other hand, the base Sienna or Odyssey does not look cheap because each IS EXPENSIVE. Both EXPENSIVE Ody LX and Sienna CE or LE minivans can NOT be equipped with the comfort of separately controlled temperature for driver and front passenger (that is optional on every GC SE except the base SE for a reasonable price).
After driving the Sienna LE for 20+ months, I would gladly give up the nicer looking interior for the luxury of separately controlled temperature for the driver and front passenger. :shades:
You can look for yourself if you want to see more data or for the Sienna. I don't have the time to copy/paste everything for you :P
This was for an '08 T&C and I think the 07 & 08 Ody are identical. I was only identifying these measurements because they were different. Some of the other measurements (hip, head, shoulder) were about the same.
3.8L vs 3.3L engine
6spd vs 4-spd transmission
Upgraded door trim materials
Leather wrapped shift knob & steering wheel
Illuminated front cupholders
Tachometer
115V AC power outlet
Dual power sliding doors (that can be manuall used instead with no extra resistence)
Courtesy/map lights
Rear dome light
Ambient lighting
Fog lights
Tip start (don't have to hold key in start position during crank)
Homelink garage door opener
3-zone climate control
Power adjustable driver's seat
6-speakers
Aluminum wheels
Body colored sideview mirrors
You can put whatever value you want on those items, but there is more than 20 peak horsepower, power doors and seats.
DFI..Direct Fuel Injection.
Lexus GS & IS series have DFI engine but I haven't seen it indicated for any other Toyota/Lexus vehicle as of yet. DFI allows 12:1 compression ratio but requires a more extensive/expensive catalytic converter (oxygen in exhaust gasses).
And the Sienna AWD, actually F/AWD is highly, HIGHLY over-rated. The VC, Viscous Clutch, used to somewhat "faccidly", "rubber band" (NEVER fully locked) couple the rear driveline to the front was eliminated in the Sienna some time ago, 2004?
Not even the F/AWD RX350, now again equipped with the VC, is a sensible, "thinking man's" AWD vehicle IMMHO.
These days, like the RX330 series, the only way the Sienna's engine torque can be routed, nay, "forced", to the rear driveline is via application of both front brakes, and that ONLY after wheelspin/slip is detected on at least one of the front wheels. The Sienna's F/AWD system, like the TC, Traction Control, mode, the braking of the front wheels will be instantly accompanied by dethrottling of the engine so as to prevent overheating of the front braking rotors should the driver (try to) persist with a high engine torque output.
And there is an additional danger since tire chains cannot be safely used on the Sienna in the adverse wintertime conditions wherein their use might be otherwise an ordinary course of events.
Also not sure how much six cubic feet would make a difference. With my stow-n-go seats, I can stack in a number of 4X8 sheets of sheet rock or plywood easily in my van and the convenience of not having to take the seats out to do it would weigh heavily in it's favor.
Again, it has to do with what your going to use your van for, what kind of features you want and who your hauling, as to what you should buy. Every person has different wants and needs. I just think Chrysler covers more of them. But if your only buying it as mainly a people hauler, Honda or Toyota both would be excellent buys.
This question is for all you minivan shoppers/posters : What's wrong w/ the newest Quest? Not much mention of it ever in these comparisons. It seems like a pretty decent well equipped minivan with avail. dual DVD's & cool Skyview roof. And many improvements have been made in the latest update. And it's interior & exterior are not the usual stuff for a minivan. So like all minivan's out there, someone will find some features not on one while on another. But again, why is there such little interest on a unique looking Nissan Quest? Is is just being overlooked? No one seems to want to volunteer info. on this van. What's up?
Exterior
Wheelbase 124
Overall length 204.1
Overall width 77.6
Overall height with roof rack 71.9
Interior
Head room (front/second/third)
without SkyView 41.7/41.7/37.6
with SkyView 40.5/42.8/37.6
Leg room (front/second/third) 41.7/42.1/39.6
Hip room (front/second/third)) 65.6/67.4/50.0
Shoulder room (front/second/third)
That why I don't see the big advantage of the StowNGo. For folks with carseats in the 2nd row, they won't use the StowNGo much. And how often is someone driving around then all of a suddent want to carry 4x8 sheets of plywood? Plus if you're able to slide in and pull out 4x8 sheets of plywood, removing the 2nd row seats should be pretty easy.
1) POOR RELIABILITY (brake, transmission, electrical) :lemon:
2) Harsh engine noise anywhere above 2k rpm; many vibration on steering/seat/cargo
3) The 2nd row seats has a sloped floor (on the foot area)
4) lack split fold 3rd row
5) lack scroll down 2nd row windows
6) Full of rattle, even on 2007 Model
8) 3rd row is seat tiny(small cushion/seat bottom). When you seat there, your shoulder is at the top of the headrest.
9) the cargo is least in class
10)ugly
Test drive one and then try sienna/odyssey, then you will know what i am talking about!