A Far Too Brief History of the Chrysler Minivan!
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- Опубликовано: 3 июл 2024
- #Chrysler #minivan
Chryslers minivans have a multi-decade long history of innovation.... let's tour.
Intro: 00:00
History: 01:14
S Platform (1984-1990): 08:43
AS Platform (1991-1995): 12:14
NS Platform (1996-2000): 13:34
RS Platform (2001-2007): 18:20
RT Platform (2008-2020): 20:07
Pacifica (2017-Present): 23:33 
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No one else ran Chrysler like Lee Iacocca did, he brought them back from the grave and made many great achievements for Chrysler Corporation. May he R.I.P
We bought a Dodge Caravan in 1991 and it was an excellent small family car. Plenty of seats when you needed them for hauling around kid’s friends to games and activities. But it had the upside of having tremendous cargo room when you went on vacation or needed a truck. I actually was quite good at removing the seats and thought it was easy. The flat floor was awesome for anything we hauled.
We did end up replacing the automatic transmission near the end of the extended warranty. The paint was terrible and it gradually flaked off in its later stages. But we hung on to this vehicle to move kids back and forth from college.
You still see lots of old ones on the road because they are so useful as small trucks. I don’t understand why people hate them so much. They are almost a perfect vehicle for small families.
Great review it was very interesting!
Thanks for the comment, and I agree they're almost perfect for (most) families. Sorry your '91 had issues, but it's not an uncomon story.
That's exactly what I am doing with my 97 chrysler town & country. Converting into a small panel truck without seats.
My mom has a 2012 dodge grand caravan and it has 222,000 miles, it's been a beast and the first car I ever drove so it will always have a special place in my heart
The commercial at 12:40 is awesome. What a way to show the differences. I’d be on board for it.
We here in Memphis have a personal ride service that uses the Chrysler Pacifica minivan. I'm impressed with the comfortable seats and the roominess inside.
We started with a used 1985 Caravan that we traded in for a Saturn coupe. When daughter graduated she got the Saturn and we got a 1993 Town and Country, 1st of six. In 2009 we tried a Journey but in less than a year we went back to the T&C. In 2015 we tried downsizing again with a Grand Cherokee but when the Pacifica was introduced we had to have it. We are now running a 2021 Pacifica PHEV and loving it. If they are still making them in 2024 I'll buy one more, but at my age that'll probably be the last one for a total of 11.
Quite the revolutionary vehicle. I grew up at a time where these vehicles quickly displaced the large family station wagons (the Caprice Estate and Country Squires come to mind ) that once ruled the road…only to be displaced largely by the crossover.
One interesting tidbit - the first gen Caravan also offered a 150hp 2.5L I4 Turbo option which was their top-performing engine at the time-although it only lasted for the 1989 and 1990 model years.
Thanks for mentioning that. I should have.
Owned a 1988 grand caravan, tore up its Ultradrive transmission twice and repaired twice under warranty but otherwise was a practical efficient family hauler. Later owned a cargo minivan Dodge without the troublesome tranny (older three speed trans) and it was super dependable
The advent of the chrysler minivan was the beetle of it's era.
Great vans. We have had many of them in our family. My current 01' Town and Country has 352,000 miles and still going!
They also came with a Carroll Shelby Package in 1987 had a Shelby tuned 2.5L Turbo II engine with 175 hp as well.
I am on my fifth minivan. Current one is the Pacifica hybrid and it truly is the nicest car I have ever owned. Not the most fun, but the nicest. And the plug in hybrid gets incredible mileage without range anxiety. I have never understood why people switched from minivans to suvs. The van is superior in every way (space, ease of use, ease of parking, cargo capacity, passenger comfort, mileage) other than off-road ability, which let’s face it, almost no one needs. In theory the suv is better in the snow, but a good set of snow tires evens the playing field pretty quick.
Great comment, thanks for being here! Minivans are a "life" choice, not a "lifestyle" choice (like suvs are apparently). Driving a minivan says something about you and where you are in your life....
However, we agree with you 100%. As I've said, my wife had an Odyssey, now owns a full-sized suv and has 'informed' me that her next vehicle will be another minivan! While our kids are out of the house, so her next car could be a convertible or a Mini or something "FUN", she misses her minivan.... the space, convenience, sliding doors to throw things in.... they're fantastic vehicles and I thing millions of buyers are missing convenience for "style" with suvs!
Totally agree. I love my minivans, especially my current pacific hybrid. It’s so nice to drive and quiet. We have other luxury vehicles in my family, but the Pacifica gets the most use. I had a 2014 odyssey prior and it was ok. I much prefer the Pacifica.
I agree w Jon that the 3rd gen was the best looking. I remember how amazing and innovative it was when it first came out. I grew up w a 92 caravan and 98 grand voyager and they were so functional. My parents now drive crossover bc my mom likes smaller vehicles. But my dad usually takes my Pacifica when driving my kids just bc it’s just so convenient.
I’m hoping a full electrics minivan will come out soon. But I’m afraid this will be the last generation of minivan for all the manufacturers as minivan sales have drop precipitously lately.
The Chrysler minivan was the first minivan to have a driver sliding door after Ford didn't offer a second sliding door when they introduced their new minivan in 1995.
There've been a lot of early minivan firsts that people now take for granted now. The GM APV minivans aka "The Dustbuster" was the first to offer a power sliding door I believe in 1994 and the first generation "small" Honda Odyssey created the fold in floor third row seat when it arrived in the U.S for 1995. Good times.
Actually the Nissan Axxess of 1990 was the first one, and arguably the Stanza Wagon before it. Chrysler was just the first mainstream one
One of my sisters owned a Stanza wagon and loved the dual sliding doors….
After she got married she gave the Stanza to her stepdaughters….
@@Poopsticle_256The Axxess was not considered a minivan. Even Nissan didn't call it a minivan.
The Mitsubishi 3.0 also came with the four-speed ultra drive transmission (41TE) as equipped in my 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager.
I graduated highschool in 1988 and appointed myself as designated driver of a friend's mom's Caravan every weekend when we chose a spot to go camping and or fishing to get away from the DC area. Just a few years later I went to work for Dodge and have owned many. Now that I think of it I can't remember ever getting pulled over in one or know anyone that has.
The changes in 2008, dropping AWD, and short wheelbase... In order to lower costs, while still going full force with 3 different power train combos was an interesting move, but not really complete until the 2011 change to the 3.6 across the lineup. Swivel and go was interesting, but there was no foot room with those two rows facing each other, table was kind of neat....
Never owned one, never will, and drove my sisters Oldsmobile Silhouette out of curiosity a few times. Having had my curiosity met 18 or so years ago, I haven't driven one since. Did it help make Chrysler enormously successful for that period of time? Hell yes it did. But...what sunk the idea of ever owning one was watching how minivan drivers drove and still drive. I believe with the purchase of EVERY minivan, a highly specialized form of lobotomy is performed on the owners where their driving skills were wiped out of their minds.
As a minivan hating millennial, this was surprisingly interesting
My father had a 1986 Dodge Caravan just like the one at the beginning of the video and you can see one of those vans in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC.
When I was growing up I leaned how to drive In my dad's dodge mini ram he put windows and seats in the back with the 2.6 carb and auto
I had the 2006 Chrysler grand Voyager with the 2.8 I think MV diesel hear in the uk verry comfortable while being very practical I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately the safety check or MOT here found problems with the rear axle but the major problem has been the more recent rises and fuel costs. Really made it to uneconomical to run on the UK but it was reliable, powerful beautiful to drive. The engine and gearbox was brilliant, especially the MV Diesel engine until recently, they were very popular, and there was lots of them on the roads but with the rising costs, you going to average scrapyard, and they’re full of them and they where withdrawn from the UK market and I sadly miss them
love my 91 privia the best mini van ever
I've driven every generation of Dodge Caravan and owned a 2012 Town & Country, and currently a 2008 Grand Caravan, but that one is a wheelchair van for my mother. I liked the 2011+ with the 3.6 Pentastar V6 and 6 speed automatic. I sold mine at about 70,000 miles and didn't have any trouble with it. The 2008 has been very high maintenance. I've had lots of minivans over the years. The 2006 Odyssey EX-L was nice, but too many features, I actually preferred my base model 2007 Sienna CE. I now have a 5.7 V8 Tundra 4x4 for towing capacity and occasional off-road use, but otherwise, I'd totally be back into a minivan. Maybe not another Dodge, probably another Sienna.
And the minivan slowly evolved into the crossover suv. BK aired an anti-minivan commercial about a decade ago. With no apologies to Helen Reddy, a group of guys sick of health food being forced on them began singing "I am man! Hear me roar!" They were flaunting Whoppers, and at the end they pushed a minivan over the bridge! I wish all ads were this entertaining! 😆😆
A bit of a clarification if you do not mind. The first generation minivan the 2 engines were BOTH 4 cylinder the 2.2 liter from the K-car and the 2.6 liter from Mitsubishi. There was no 6 cylinder engine offered until later model years and that was yes the Mitsubishi 3.0 liter V6. I know as I was a heavy line mechanic when the minivan was initially released. I in fact have had 4 of the minivans over the years a 3.0 liter 1988, a 3.3 liter 1995 one and two 3.8 liter 1998's. I moved away from them when the kids left the nest and into a car based utility vehicle today a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox with a. diesel engine.
Nice history Jon. Actually the short wheelbase FWD minivan is base platform for modern small FWD SUVs. In a sense an SUV is not true SUV without 4wd to "sport" off road. I had SUV first and then short wheel base minivan. 7 passenger minivan so much more useful "utility" for everyday street use than SUV. Still have that 30+ yr old minivan.
I had to leave a second comment and it's most important.
Thank you very much , I enjoy and appreciate your clear and concise reports on automobiles .
Great work and best regards
I appreciate that!
Paldies par informāciju-Thank!!
Fully agree on your high water assessment in all regards!
Thanks!
A friend of mine has a Pacifica, great van, lots of power, and room!
I respect your work
Thank you!
Dodge Journey! If I were the ad man for that, I would get a license to use "Don't Stop Believing" in the commercial. 😊
Good call!
I've driven the number of variations of these over the last 30 years... Bought a 2008 new, after having owned 5 prior used and abused ones, it served well, but should have been a 2011... Because pentastar.... Drove rentals of those... Then landed in a Pacifica.... (Pentastar plus a 9 speed transmission is quite an upgrade even from a pentastar with a six speed). In the old units (2nd and 3rd gen) the 3.3 v/s 3.8 with a 4 speed probably had different amounts of power, though I never found either particularly lacking, 3.3 was easier on gas around town... And the 3.8 really was nice out on the freeway... 2008 was similar with the 3.8 not being budget friendly in town. The 3.0 with the three speed (88) started to burn a little too much gas above 55-60 mph.
I love my 2014 Grand Caravan 30th anniversary , but the only complaint I have is that the RADIO bailed out and it is only good for a clock .
As a guy who loves these old Chrysler minivans I'm going to sum it up with this.
Excellent ideas but not executed as well as it should have been. These Vans could have been far more legendary if they didn't cut so many corners on build quality. A Truck size vehicle with car grade brakes and car grade transmissions. If these fans were a little more robust they could have really been legendary.
On the Chrysler Pacifica, it has a nine speed transmission not the 6-speed.
I'm surprised that you commented about the dash area being an area where Daimler did their cost cutting on the 4th generation minivan but are okay with the 5th generation. I personally liked the fact that the 4th generation had a very well padded dash, had one of the smoothest shifting column shifters ever. The biggest fault I had for the 4th generation is the third row seats were not good for adults with that rear curve that impacted headspace.
I never had much experience with the third generation so I can't say what they were like in comparison though they definitely were beautiful looking and I can attest the back seats in the town and country where's the best seats I've ever sat in for a minivan.
On the 5th generation, it handles great, it's powerful, but I never have liked the interior personally. The seats aren't as comfortable, the dash is very hard even on the revised version of the dash from 2011 which is a problem when you bump your knee against it when getting in or out.
We also had a 91 with a 2.5 4 cylinder 3 speed. It lasted 127,000 mi before it threw a oil light and we were just tired of it anyhow. Our 02 caravan with a 3.3 V6 lasted to 208, 000 miles. We have a 13, with 95,000 and we had two company Vans. The fifth generation vans are the least problematic out of all of them so far. The only thing that ever went wrong on the 13 th then is one still and go seat broke so we had to get that fixed. Otherwise they've been glitch free. They'll also note ours are usually more low to middle range still having cloth stow n go seats, and rear climate control but no power sliding doors or rear hatch so It doesn't have the things that I would expect to break either.
One of the things that I think also helped Chrysler to keep so much of the market is up till now, transmission problems aside, they are some of their more reliable and will built vehicles. I think one of the things that really hurt Chrysler has been some of their bad engines like the first generation neon engines, the 2.7, and some of the problems with their post LA v8s. In comparison, the 3.3 and 3.8 are a safe bet for 200,000 miles from what I've seen. The pin a star had his teething problems in the first few years but most of those have been fixed and it has continued a good legacy of reliability. One of my biggest regrets as a Chrysler fan is the fact that Chrysler barely ever used the 3.3 and 3.8 outside the minivans. If they never would have made the 2.7 and kept using the 3.3 in all applications filled by the 2.7, I think they'd have a much better reputation today.
To anyone reading my comment above, I apologize about the parts that are hard to read. This smartphone misunderstands me constantly. I try to edit before I post, but even then I miss a few things. And it doesn't give me the option either to go back and edit it.
It's cool buddy, I appreciate the really detailed comments!
The Chrysler Town & Country minivan was introduced in 1990! The driver-side airbag came in 1991! The passenger-side airbag came in 1994!
I may be in the minority but I actually like minivans. They are the ultimate road trip vehicle with plenty of space, great seating configurations, and have comfortable rides. Me personally, I would choose the Honda Odyssey because I do like the driving feel and that Honda V6 is sweet.
Totally agree! As I've said, few people want a minivan but once you have one you tend to love them!
No BK Whopper for you! 😁
@@MisterMikeTexas awwww
Imagine a hellcat minivan
My parents in 1984 purchased a gen 1 w/ Mitsubishi guts...it was a great vehicle until hit by a drunk driver.
Never owned one but my younger brother bought a '18 limited before his devorced with 3 kids 2 boys and a girl, his ex got the van, and he bought a Toyota Corolla
Hi Jon, think you understate the innovation in the minivan universe of the Pacifica PHEV….even though the system is a knockoff of the Toyota system, it’s still a pretty innovative vehicle for this segment
You did a really good review but forgot to mention on very important thing, the handling! The regular vans don't handle good. The front wheel drive minivan really handled good! I had two and am now looking for a 1994 or 1995 with driver and passenger air bags but not so much electronics. Get back if you get a chance. Thanks.
The Mitsubishi 3.0 was a V6. and was introduced mid year 1987. The Ultradrive was available with the 3.0 engine in 1989. Also the Ultradrive was used from the git go in the Mini van. It came out in 1988 for the 1989 model year. It was far from refined and the first ones almost always went down. I did nothing but repair the Ultradrive (604) for over three years in the dealership. I would take issue with your assessment of the Dodge Journey. We own a 2017 that has been trouble free.
Excellent video! My parents had an 88 Caravan LE with the 3.0 V6. I loved that car. I could fit all of my friends and was incredibly practical. My dad hated it because it was very unreliable. When my kids were younger I considered getting a 4 gen Grand Caravan but my wife hated the idea. She said that only fat women drove those vans. That perception I think killed the minivan. the crossover looked cooler.
Thanks! I hated the idea of a minivan for years, as it reflects your life choices and tells people where you are in life, rather than your lifestyle.... but I strongly believe once you own one you'll love it. They're just SO convenient.... so long as you don't care what other people think!
SUVs aren't as "nerdy", but they're less convenient and efficient.... but much more popular now!
The Voyager was advertised as the magic wagon
US cars mostly aren't very populair in Europe. Maybe as taxi, as hearse, as ambulance, et cetera. RAM's and some other pickups are populair for companies because they can tow more load, because of the ladder chassis. (That's another story) But mostly US cars were and are bought by fans of US culture. Until the Chrysler Voyager (as it was known here) arrived and it was everywhere. I don't know numbers, but it could be the most sold US car in Europe. I wouldn't be surprised.
And yes. The Dodge was available too in Europe as a commercial 'van'. I can't remember the model name.
Lee Iaccoca had the minivan idea when he worked at Ford, but Ford rejected it. So after being fired from Ford, he brought the minivan to Chrysler. Henry Ford didn't always get along wit lee Iacocca which one of the reasons Ford fired him
My aunt had a 84 Dodge Caravan she said never buy one that year they eat through transmissions. We had a Plymouth and caravan growing up the dodge was good Plymouth wasn’t. Then my mom had a 99 carry an good had a 2001 caravan bad. Now all my family has Fords and we got a Bronco sport and a 2017 caravan don’t think I’ll buy another caravan.
The origins of the 'K' Car & the Chrysler 'MiniVan' was the British made Talbot Horizon.
I don't understand why they made two completely different Pacifica vehicles.
The Pacifica car/ crossover thing and the Pacifica minivan.
Talk about lack of creativity.
Not downing Chrysler though.
I LOVE my 2012 Town and Country
I think that V6 engine that smoked after about 50,000 miles turn people away from the Chrysler mini van , and that engine did smoke , every one of them . Value stems, rings , who knows , but they ALL smoked .
I had many of these but the only one that didn't give me problems and the one I really kick my @$$ for getting rid of is the 1st Gen 1987 4 Banger. I called it the K-Van and it just wouldn't die but it was getting rusty, I should have fixed the body because the only problem I ever had was the timing belt broke and it did not cause damage, a belt for under 20 bucks and on my way.
Chrsyler brought back the Voyager name which is just a cheaper version of the Pacifica
The Mitsubishi 2.6L in the first generation was a 4 Cyl, not a V6. It was then replaced by the 3.0L V6.
I'll have to go back and re-listen, if I said it wrong I apologize.
We had a 99 and a 07, The 07 is spite of be a few models up, was "cheaper". Calling it "interior by Rubbermaid" would be an improvement, big time. Mercedes Benz did terrible things to Chrysler.
I have a 99 Grand Caravan with 127k. Drove it from Ohio to Florida and back twice in 2020 lol. It's not "nice" either. The 3.3 needs a qt of oil per month when I drive it a lot, but it will be fine for sometime I imagine. About to sell that one. They ruined everything with the Pacifica IMO. The early ones seem like junk and I don't see many new ones.
Family Matters😭
How can you not mention the 89-90 2.5 turbo charged power train?
15 million
Town and country came out in 1990 only first year wasn’t 1988 . 1991 was the revised on first gen town and country came out with new 3.3 v6 which was a mopar engine and new 4 speed pos Ultra Drive
Unfortunately by the mid-90s when the Chrsyler minivan was redesigned for 1996, Chrysler used allot of cheap plastics in the interior, so their quality and reliability wasn't good
WE don't love to hate it. Speak for yourself.
That Renault version looks soooo much better than the Chrysler.
Don't forget two more important vehicles that influenced minivans: the Fiat 600 Multipla and the DKW Schnellaster.
And if I remember correctly the Chrysler Voyager was sold since 1987.
Chrysler Town & Country?
@@MisterMikeTexas nope, the european version of the Voyager.
The Voyager came out in 1984 in USA with the Dodge Caravan
Thx. I didn't try to hit all the spiritual successors to the "minivan", just a couple. As for the Voyager, I was shying away from the European offerings as it became an endless discussion of different powertrain options. For those reading, the "Dodge" name didn't exist in Europe, so the Chrysler minivan was named the Voyager. I understand it was an okay seller but never a stand-out in the crowd?
@@AllCarswithJon well the popularity of the Voyager depended on the country. Of course it was a gas guzzler for lazy driving compared to the Espace but it found the own market niche. And used EU-spec Voyagers were plentyful in Russia.
The pacifica had a 9 speed automatic
One thing I wouldn't call a minivan is sporty
Just for completeness, in fact Ford Transit minivans have been around since 1965...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit
The Ford Transit vans are considered fullsize vans now.