'08 Grand Caravan

[page2171]

I went to the San Diego Auto Show yesterday and had the opportunity to sit in and examine a number of vehicles a lot more closely than I otherwise normaly would without getting pestered by a salesman. I specifically wanted to check out the '08 Grand Caravan and '08 Town&Country, because I have considered these as potential replacements for my current minivan, an '02 Grand Caravan.

First of all, the exterior. I think it is nearly impossible to design a striking minivan and the Grand Caravan is no exception. That being said, it is not a bad design. I kind of like the boxier shape of the '08 and I think it helps to make the GC feel roomier than the previous model. The one I sat in was similar to the picture above. I also saw a base model '08 on the freeway when I was driving to the show and the black body side moldings made it look really cheap, I don't understand why they would even sell one that looked like that.

Next, the interior. Since my '02 was before the introduction of Stow-n-Go seating, this was my first experience with it. This is a feature I would love to have in mine. Not having to drag the seats out when I need to haul something larger and having the extra cargo compartments in the floor when the seats are out would be awesome. I have read that in the previous generation the middle row buckets with Stow-n-Go were less comfortable than without (like my '02), I don't think this is the case with the '08. I believe they are just as comfortable as my '02. Sitting in the drivers seat, which is the seat I am most used to, I like how everything is laid out. The shifter on the dash is different, but is in a comfortable position. The cruise control switches are different than my '02 but I think I would like it better than my '02 and like my '02 it has a cancel feature (which I miss in my '04 Malibu, so I can disengage the cruise without tapping the brakes). The radio and available in-dash nav are located nice and high, within easy reach and viewing, this works real well but results in an odd looking center stack. The main gripe I have sitting in the drivers seat is the quality of the plastics used. My '02 GC, '04 Malibu, '94 Sable, and '85 Olds 98 Regency all used better plastics on the top of the dash than this '08 GC. The T&C fares a little better than the GC because of the different treatment of the center stack. The T&C uses silver plastic (supposed to look like brushed aluminum?) for the center stack, which looks cheap, but looks better than the GC with its black plastic.

Overall, I am disappointed with the new GC and T&C. The cheap plastic used on the dash will probably be what kills the deal for me, especially on the T&C. The T&C I sat in at the show stickered at around 40k. The plastic used all over the dash is inexcusable on a vehicle going for 40k. Keep in mind I didn't drive these vans, so maybe that will change things for me. That all being said, since I am most likely buying used again when it comes time to replace my van I will either be looking at an '06-'07 T&C or I will be looking at an Odyssey or Sienna because I can't see myself getting an '08 GC/T&C.

Sorry for writing a book here, just thought someone might appreciate a look at these through the eyes of someone who actually owns a minivan and will continue to be a minivan owner for the forseeable future.

[montrealvue]

Exactly what I noticed as well....I hopped in the '08 GC and the cheap finish and texture on the plastics used reminded me of the an ION! Its a shame because if they had paid attention to that detail it would be right up there with the Sienna and Odyssey. I'd sugest looking at an Entourage, at least the interior looks decent!

[likearock00]

You're right about the plastic. Chrysler seems hell-bent on making cheap interiors. I guess that's why they're in the shape they're in. I personally dislike the exterior of the new design. Too boxy IMO. My sister bought a minivan a couple of years ago and when they test drove the Chrysler, their biggest gripe was how cheap and thin the stow and go seats were. They ended up going with the Odyssey.....and I recommend you do the same.

[cdp326]

I like the dash well enough on the '08 Chrysler vans. I also never thought that the Stow-and-Go seats were very uncomfortable, either...I think that Chrysler went to enought lengths that an adult won't ride knees-up without support.
I was disappointed in how drab they made the interiors look in the '05 refresh, and that's my only real complaint with the '08s. The TC at least has some wood trim but it's a little light for my liking.
The '08 redesign is awfully late, anyway. Instead of introducing Stow-and-Go for 2005, they really should have introduced the '08 vans for the 2006 model year. The Chrysler vans were redesigned in 1991, 1996, and 2001. The originals went from 1984-1990, but that's back before the advent of the SUV and there were bigger changes (long wheelbase model, new engines, etc).

As for the Entourage...the Chrysler vans are more comfortable. I actually agree with Car and Driver's minivan comparison test from a few months ago where the Entourage placed last.

A used Town and Country Limited would make a great replacement for the '02 Grand Caravan.

[caddycruiser]

I was always a fan of the Dodge/Chrysler fans (we had a '97 Grand Voyager before), and especially so the '01-07 models. They seemed the best styled, best featured, and most "rich" in feel and features.

The new '08s have some more nice features and the outside look has grown on me, but I just can't fathom how they created such a horrible, horrible interior in them. It's not only worse in layout and materials than the worst of the worst right now, but it can't even match the overall feel of a '91-95 Caravan interior--which themselves were nothing special.

The interior design looks chunky in a cheap way, and the materials are just so beyond bad, it ruins it all immediately. Even beyond that, in many of the Dodge models, the seat cloth also is awful and the seats themselves made less comfortable than earlier models.

Otherwise, they're quite good. But that interior...woof. Even bad for Chrysler, and that's saying something now.

An cheapie outside:


And that oh, so lovely generic garbage can interior (close-ups really show how awful things like the drab black center piece and the "pushed in" electronic pieces with big gaps around them really are):




^^Love the gaps around things so poorly done you can see right through inside to the connections and wires...

Note to Jim Press and others...here's 2 models that need rush interior re-do's much more than the Sebring/Avenger. Minivan buyers like quality too, and the last gen was so much better as it was.

[page2171]

My '02 Grand Caravan only has 100k miles on it now and is still running strong. We really like it and it is paid off now so we will be keeping it for a few more years. When the time does come the Odyssey will be high on our list. The '06-'07 T&C will be on our list, but finding one that meets my requirements for buying a used car will be difficult (less than 3 years old and under 30k miles). I checked out the Entourage at the car show also and was impressed with how nice the interior was. I can't put into words how frustrated I am with what they did with the interior of the '08 GC and T&C. I have had almost no problems with my '02 (I got it with 20k on it, it has 100k now), so the GC or T&C would be first on our list for our next one, but I really don't think I could handle that interior. Maybe they will fix it before I am in the market for a new one.

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by page2171

Maybe they will fix it before I am in the market for a new one.

Don't count on that at all. Even as awful as it is (one of the worst they have right now), few still seem to even be mentioning it...so toss it on the pile of "eh, we have other fish to fry".

It'll be hard, shiny, ugly, and gapped like a made in a barn Chinese car for quite some time.

[86fleet]

I know it's a minivan (and the people who you buy a minivan for generally don't give a crap about dash feel) but I can't get over the cheapness of the inteirior. It's a definte step down from my parent's 2003, and other than the fancy HVAC knobs is inferior to my 1993 Grand Cherokee

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by 86fleet

I know it's a minivan (and the people who you buy a minivan for generally don't give a crap about dash feel) but I can't get over the cheapness of the inteirior. It's a definte step down from my parent's 2003, and other than the fancy HVAC knobs is inferior to my 1993 Grand Cherokee

I know. I'm still baffled more reviews haven't done more than simply mention it.

We had a few 90's/early 00's Chryslers...and most of the current stuff, especially these vans, can't come close to even what they were putting out then. Just shockingly awful...only a clue of which can be seen in those pictures I posted.

Our 300M was world-class compared to their current junk...and even our '97 Voyager was more impressive. It at least had very strong styling, and was solidly screwed together. Of course, Chrysler had other issues at these times, but jeez...I don't know who's hand was in doing these interiors, but they're really honestly the worst by far in the entire market.

[King Riffle]

Oh how far they've fallen.

That interior is terrible. To think that back in the 1990's their interiors were great. The Germans really destroyed Chrysler.

They used to have the best looking minivan too.


Though I don't dislike the current one.

[GMfan1111]

Originally Posted by caddycruiser

I know. I'm still baffled more reviews haven't done more than simply mention it.

We had a few 90's/early 00's Chryslers...and most of the current stuff, especially these vans, can't come close to even what they were putting out then. Just shockingly awful...only a clue of which can be seen in those pictures I posted.

Our 300M was world-class compared to their current junk...and even our '97 Voyager was more impressive. It at least had very strong styling, and was solidly screwed together. Of course, Chrysler had other issues at these times, but jeez...I don't know who's hand was in doing these interiors, but they're really honestly the worst by far in the entire market.

Yeah WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND PUTS THE SHIFT LEVER ON THEDASHBOARD!!!! sorry for the yelling but the dashboard is the last place to put the shifter. and chrysler has officially devolved if you look at their old vans and cars from several years ago they had decent interiors and somewhat good styling. Now it seems like the designers don't even care about styling and quality anymore and the result is cars and vans (except for the charger/300c and the viper) that look like they were styled by a middle schooler and interiors that were probably made from the remnants of old tonka trucks. I know Chrysler is technically bankrupt operationally but even a "bankrupt" company can put more effort into a car than the cars we are seeing right now