Conversion Vans - Looking for converts

[Ming]

Looking for converts
JEAN SPENNER
THE SAGINAW NEWS



Conversion vans -- typically equipped with four captains chairs and a sofa seat in the back -- range from moderate to luxurious. Leather, high-definition televisions and sound systems are included among luxury items. Conversion companies typically buy vans from GM, upfit them with premium paint, interiors and audio-visual equipment and sell them to GM dealers.

"Once the public realizes how far (the industry) has come in the last 10 years, (a van) is something they would consider," said Brian Bivens, vice president of Majestic. Leather.

Twenty-four van conversion companies from across the country -- including two in Thomas Township -- have joined with General Motors Corp. to promote their vehicles in the battle for sales with popular SUVs.

The two entities last month launched the Conversion Van Marketing Association, a group formed to raise consumer awareness and increase sales of Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana conversion vans.

Jim Hollingsworth, new car sales manager at Draper Chevrolet, Dodge, Dodge Truck and Toyota, 4200 Bay, said the Saginaw Township dealership rarely has the conversion vans on the lot.



"When we do have customers, we take them out to Debut (Coach Co., 8175 Gratiot in Thomas Township) and take them on a tour of the whole manufacturing plant," Hollingsworth said.

"They help us to actually sell them. They know everything about them, and there's no guess work."

While there, the customer also has the opportunity to select exactly how they want their van equipped, Hollingsworth said.

Debut and neighbor Majestic Van Corp., 8297 Gratiot, are members of the association, whose goal is to increase GM conversion van sales by 25 percent in the next two years.

As a group "we can tell the story" of conversion vans better, said Rod McSweeney, association president and owner of Southern Comfort Conversion Inc. in Trussville, Ala.

In 1988, conversion van sales topped 200,000. Consumers bought about 38,800 conversion vans last year, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association says.

"Sales have flatlined," McSweeney said.

Dodge stopped producing its full-size van a year ago, and Ford has not changed its product in 10 years, said Craig Bye Sr., owner and president of Debut. To increase its sales, GM hopes to win customers from Dodge who are left without a vehicle and lure over Ford owners with GM's newest van features, a left-side door behind the driver and all-wheel drive.

"The consumer that we're trying to reach has an active lifestyle, the baby boomers who have enough money to travel. They have the capability of towing, and they're roomier and fit more people comfortably," McSweeney said. "They're less expensive than an SUV."

Full Story Here

[SUPERBADD75]

and they're ugly, and have a goofy driving position, and from the conversion vans i've seen, the couches in the back have no seatbelts. vans are not what SUV buyers want. if they were, then people would have been buying them. it's not like they've ever gone away. Ford has invested no time or money in their full size vans because the large majority of them are sold to service fleets. people buy SUVs for image first, then utility, and a van has no image.

[blueengnr]

As one who has had a conversion van for more than six years, an SUV cant compare to the room inside for my taller than average family. Plus the vans can tow just as much as i need. Now that GM has full size vans with all wheel drive, I will more than likely replace my Crew Cab truck with another Full Size conversion van. Now if they had a diesel van, that would be something.

[SUPERBADD75]

blueengnr Posted on Oct 9 2004, 05:26 PM
  As one who has had a conversion van for more than six years, an SUV cant compare to the room inside for my taller than average family. Plus the vans can tow just as much as i need. Now that GM has full size vans with all wheel drive, I will more than likely replace my Crew Cab truck with another Full Size conversion van. Now if they had a diesel van, that would be something. 

Ford has a diesel van.... :lol:

[jro4566]

I've always like the Express conversion van, every luxurious inside! The only thing I'm worried about is safety in rollovers...

[SUPERBADD75]

RCtennis3811 Posted on Oct 9 2004, 05:48 PM
* I've always like the Express conversion van, every luxurious inside! The only thing I'm worried about is safety in rollovers...*

you know, RC, that's one thing i didn't even think of.... rollover possibilities. full size vans are prone to rollover. i bet people avoid them because of that sentiment you expressed, especially after the widely publicized 15 passenger van rollover debacle. that's a great point. SUVs are prone to roll over, but not like a van whose center of gravity is very high.

[Ming]

Actually, aren't most vans lower to the ground than SUVs?

[GMObsession6]

My family had a Savana and it is definelty the best vehicle to be in when your driving to Florida from Michigan.

[CaveTroll15]

I'm sure an extra tall van with lots of weight in the lower half would be more likely to tip over than roll over. It would be pretty tough to mange to flip one over on the roof. . . Even if you did, I can't think of a way it could stay up like that for more than a second or two. That said, I'm sure someone will find a picture to disprove everything I just typed. . .

[jro4566]

One plus feature they added for safety is Stabilitrak to help prevent rollovers, or "tip overs" :lol: as cavetroll stated.

[SUPERBADD75]

Ming Posted on Oct 9 2004, 06:01 PM
  Actually, aren't most vans lower to the ground than SUVs? 

sure they are, but the bodies are so tall. with an SUV you have a shorter body, and the reason it's so high off the ground is the higher suspension and taller tires. besides, the vans suspensions tend to be softer, and therefore roll easier than an SUV's suspension.

[Askani]

Originally posted by SUPERBADD75@Oct 9 2004, 04:40 PM
and they're ugly, and have a goofy driving position, and from the conversion vans i've seen, the couches in the back have no seatbelts. vans are not what SUV buyers want. if they were, then people would have been buying them. it's not like they've ever gone away. Ford has invested no time or money in their full size vans because the large majority of them are sold to service fleets. people buy SUVs for image first, then utility, and a van has no image.

Say whatever you want, but the Chevy in the pic looks pimped out... Every year when I go on vacation you see them all over the hotel parking lots. If you're traveling more then 2 hours with a familly they are far superior to an SUV as far as confort and ammeneties are concerned...

[casket_demon]

I drove a couple of Express Vans a couple of years back for a company that I used 2 work 4. Let me tell U those vans were great (2500 series they were)!!!. I could drive all day @ 100 mph through the Poconos and the truck would miss a beat. I totally fell in love with the Express, comfy seating position and would take an *** beating all day.
Then there was the diesel Express that I drove (abused) for 2 weeks all I could say is WOW, that beast made me a diesel junkie. :wub: :wub: wub: !!!!.
If I could find a nice used Express and trick it out a bit I'd buy 1 in a New York minute. Maybe after I finish collecting the cars on my list here and restore my T/A I'll look 4 an Express 2 hual parts with or something.

[scrapinby]

Those vans are really nice for going on vacations. They are a lot better since the redesign in 2003 when they introduced rear doors on both sides, AWD, and the 5.3 V8. They are quieter and ride better now too. That top pic and interior pic is of an "Explorer" brand conversion. The dealership I work at sells those vans. I have been down to Warsaw, Indiana where they produce those and took a tour of the plant. It is very impressive. They make just about everything for that van at their facility. The only thing they buy is the electronics and tires and wheels. The rest of the stuff is made there in that plant. They are also now available with direct TV, and navigation head unit with rear view camara. One of my friends bought one and often times will end up in the driveway with his kid playing PS2 in his van.

[giagastormer]

Originally posted by GMObsession6@Oct 9 2004, 06:03 PM
My family had a Savana and it is definelty the best vehicle to be in when your driving to Florida from Michigan.

Tell me about it, I made that trip in a Express van about 8 years ago!