Took a trip to Minnisota with my son and pregnant wife
in a Jeep Cherokee w/o a/c. I am now in the market for
a mini van with dual a/c. Any recommendations?
Thanks in advance, J. Don
—
J. Don Book | AOL: Booker1
AT&T Denver Works | Internet: j…@drutx.att.com
1200 W. 120th Ave. Dept. 434 | Phone: (303) 538-3001
Westminster, CO 80234 | FAX: (303) 538-2652
Why don’t you consider a full size van. The price dif is not that great
and the room is great. Remember you have one in the popper now but ho
w do you know that is yhe last one.
Seriously I have a 20 series Chevy van that pulls 20 miles to the gallon
and wouldn’t complain about it after 130,000 miles. Lets see someone
pull that off a min van.
Dennis
–
###############################################################################
###NEVER – NEVERMORE###########################################################
###############################################################################
####################################What are the contents of the oblong box?##
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The usual disclaimer of self and employer applies to all above comments.
#
In article <1992Aug21.102726.5…@mr.med.ge.com>, bedna…@picard.med.ge.com (Dennis Bednarek Mfg 4-6971) writes:
> Why don’t you consider a full size van. The price dif is not that great
> and the room is great. Remember you have one in the popper now but ho
> w do you know that is yhe last one.
> Seriously I have a 20 series Chevy van that pulls 20 miles to the gallon
> and wouldn’t complain about it after 130,000 miles. Lets see someone
> pull that off a min van.
Our Chevy Astro is only half way to 130,000 mile but I don’t see a big
difference in the mechanical aspects of the van from my previous, full
size chevy van. The engine is even bigger (4.3 V6).
I used to drive our old van but my wife drives the Astro. She is much
more comfortable handling the Astro than she was the old van.
The newer extended Astros might be a nice compromise.
I really like our Astro, in terms of design. It is a small van, not a
big car like some of the others. (I don’t mean to imply this is better,
just different.) We can seat 8 adults comfortably. (By the way, we
have the LT model, which has different seats. I think this makes a huge
difference in comfort for back seat passengers.)
The features in the van are just about perfect for us. (Now, if only
I could afford one of the new ones with ABS and shoulder harnesses all
around.) There are pockets in the backs of the seats so each of my
kids has their own pile of junk when we go someplace. The middle portions
of the rear seats fold down to make tables. (I call these "kid
separators.) We have fit enough luggage and supplies for a two week
vacation, and the newer ones are even a bit longer.
I have had some problems though. The differential failed at around
58,000 miles. The A/C blower motor started to get weaker after about
4 years. I replaced it recently. I had some leaks from the
transmission (rear seal) at around 56,000 miles. The front bracket
that holds the alternator, A/C, and power steering unit to the engine
cracked after about 60,000 miles. The idler arms are apparently
notorius for wearing out after about 20,000 miles. Mine were no
exception. (I heard the front bracket crack is also a common problem.)
My opinion of the entire front suspension is fairly low, actually.
It doesn’t seem to stay aligned as well as my other cars.
While it was still fairly new (less than 1 year) I transmission work
and one of the shocks snapped in two pieces.
I don’t know if the new ones have improved. I guess it depends what
you expect of your car. I like the design enough that I would
probably buy another one, but then, I also own an Alfa…
–
Ken Tubman ARCO
ktub…@arco.com 2300 W. Plano Parkway
(214) 754-3871 Plano, TX 75075
In article <1992Aug21.102726.5…@mr.med.ge.com>, bedna…@picard.med.ge.com (Dennis Bednarek Mfg 4-6971) writes:
> Why don’t you consider a full size van. The price dif is not that great
> and the room is great. Remember you have one in the popper now but ho
> w do you know that is yhe last one.
> Seriously I have a 20 series Chevy van that pulls 20 miles to the gallon
> and wouldn’t complain about it after 130,000 miles. Lets see someone
> pull that off a min van.
My stepfather owns an ’88 or ’89 Dodge Grand Caravan with the 3.0L V6
and the infamous early UltraDrive automatic. Aside from the transmission
(which postings to rec.autos.tech indicate has been fixed), the van has
been virtually trouble-free in its 95K miles. He did have to put in new
valve seals recently, but he drives hard. And yes, he still gets 24mpg
on long drives. And this from a minivan that drives, rides, and handles
like a car. The front seats are wonderful, and the others aren’t bad.
Being the long-wheelbase model, there is plenty of legroom for all, and
luggage room besides. The engine has plenty of power. And it doesn’t
wander in the wind. He says he has a friend with the non-stretch model
who has over 140,000 miles on it, and it’s still going strong.
We have had two other Caravans in the family, both of which have been
dependable and comfortable. On the other hand, the Chevy G20 conversion
van that my father had wouldn’t hold an alignment and would go through a
set of GM or Monroe front shocks in 15K miles. It was also uncomfortable
for the front passenger, who had nowhere to put his feet.
To each his own!
–
——————————————————————————
Bob Rusk | An egoless acceptance of stuckness is a
rr…@ssd.csd.harris.com | key to an understanding of all Quality.
My thoughts, probably not Harris’. | - Robert M. Pirsig
In the Spring of 1989 my parents purchased a 1989 Plymouth Grand
Voyager SE to replace our 1977 Pontiac Catalina Grand Safari. What a great
minivan the Voyager has turned out to be! Here are some facts you may not know
about the Voyager as compared to its Ford and Chevy counterparts:
1) The Voyager was engineered from the ground up. It has a suspension
designed specifically for that vehicle, whereas Ford and Chevy simply designed
their minivans on their existing small truck platforms. The result is a ride
and handling more like a car than a truck, and a subsequently lower height,
making the Voyager easily garagable.
2) The Voyager is front wheel drive, whereas the Ford and Chevy are rear
wheel drive. Of course, this means that you cannot tow as much in the Plymouth,
but if your pregnant wife and son are the primary passengers, then towing is
not a priority anyway.
3) The Grand Voyager/Grand Caravan have PLENTY of cargo room, even with
both backseats in. My parents have been moving two of their five children back
and forth to Ohio State without any problems, and single trips, too.
Furthermore, if you remove both seats, their is room for most twin size
bedframes and accompanying bedding, in addition to other things, to give an
indication of the size.
4) The Voyager comes with a choice of 3.0 liter V-6 or 3.3 liter V-6 for
the power mongers. Our Voyager has the 3.0 (the only V-6 available in 1989),
with a four speed automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter for an
overdrive. It cruises at 55 mph at 2200-2300 rpm, and goes 65 mph at less than
2800.
As for the Chevy freak who also responded to this article proposing a
full-size van, here’s why the Voyager would be an excellent replacement for the
Cherokee instead of the full sizer.
I am currently driving a Dodge Ram 250 Prospector conversion van. I like
it, but I notice some obvious advantages of the Voyager over the full-sizer,
especially if the mini-van satifies one’s cargo requirements:
1) There are substantial blind spots in the full size van, especially
using the windshield-mounted rear-view mirror. The Voyager, being smaller,
lower, and having a monstrous rear windshield, has blindspots comparable to
that of the smallest car I have driven (a 1981 Subaru 1600).
2) I am the oldest of five children, and I say that where children and
pregnant women are concerned, getting into and out of the Voyager is
substantially easier than a full size van, especially when car seats are
involved. (Besides, Chrysler now offers a child seat in the Voyager/Caravan.
Where does Chevy and Ford stand on this issue???????)
3) Not only does the Voyager handle better (remember, I speak from
experience), but it much easier to park, especially in a parallel fashion, as I
am required to do often on the streets of the venerable campus of The Ohio
State University.
I do not know if dual a/c is available on the Voyager/Caravan, but this I
do know: the a/c on our minivan is cold, and can really blow once in the MAX
mode.
And as for the Chevy freak, I have two things to say:
1) Our minivan gets well over your 20 MPG, and will not complain about it
after 120,000 miles (ours already has 60,000 miles on it). I promise.
2) Chrysler has the absolute best service on their warranty. With 7/70
protection STANDARD on the Voyager, you can rest assured that problems will be
taken care of, if they arise.
Test drive the Plymout product. I think you will like it.
-David Rodabaugh 1 (614) 299-8588
Senior, Mech. Eng. rroda…@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Ohio State University
In article <19…@drutx.ATT.COM> j…@drutx.ATT.COM (BookJD) writes:
> Took a trip to Minnisota with my son and pregnant wife
> in a Jeep Cherokee w/o a/c. I am now in the market for
> a mini van with dual a/c. Any recommendations?
> Thanks in advance, J. Don
Mercury is coming out with a new minivan which is a joint project with
Nissan called the Villager. It will be built by Mercury and sold by both
Mercury and Nissan. It’s been getting rave reviews in many auto
publications. It sounds like it is worth checking out. I drive an
Aerostar, and have been satisfied with it also although the design
isbecoming somewhat dated.
Mark T. Evert
Friendswood, TX
My opinions are my own.
ces…@kn5f.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Taylor Evert) writes:
> > Took a trip to Minnisota with my son and pregnant wife
> > in a Jeep Cherokee w/o a/c. I am now in the market for
> > a mini van with dual a/c. Any recommendations?
> > Thanks in advance, J. Don
> Mercury is coming out with a new minivan which is a joint project with
> Nissan called the Villager. It will be built by Mercury and sold by both
> Mercury and Nissan. It’s been getting rave reviews in many auto
> publications. It sounds like it is worth checking out. I drive an
> Aerostar, and have been satisfied with it also although the design
> isbecoming somewhat dated.
Yea! This is great! I could get this mini-van, break out some old Disco
records, and be ‘The Villager People’.
Oh.. I kill me…
—–
Dan Reed (Blu-Max) b…@cellar.org – AutoCad Geek – VW Lover – InlineSkater
68 Cougar XR-7, 89 VW Golf, 72 Honda CL360Twin, Ti/99/4a, Vextrex, Timex
In article <1992Aug25.205807.8…@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> ces…@kn5f.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Taylor Evert) writes:
>Mercury is coming out with a new minivan which is a joint project with
>Nissan called the Villager. It will be built by Mercury and sold by both
>Mercury and Nissan. It’s been getting rave reviews in many auto
>publications. It sounds like it is worth checking out.
Since we are about in the market for a minivan, I stopped by a Mercury dealer
and a Nissan dealer this weekend to check out the new minivan. It’s called
Villager under Mercury and Quest under Nissan. The engine is a 3.0 V6 used
in Maxima GXE with 156 HPs and 175 lbs of torque. Mercury designed the body
and Nissan (obviously) tuned the Maxima engine for better torque in low
speed.
They claim Villager/Quest is the second minivan passed the federal automobile
safety requirements, whatever they are, including side impact protection,
passive driver restraint (aka attacking seat belts), etc. Unfortunately it
doesn’t have air bag which I consider a major marketing fault.
The interior design is very pleasent, especially the clever seats
arrangement. The middle seat (bench or captain) can be removed quickly by
unlocking latches. The rear seat is the most interesting one. The rearback
can be fold down, or the seat can be fold up like a folding chair. There’re
trakcs on the floor so the rear seat can be moved all the way to the middle
so the minivan becomes a supersize five seat station wagon. With a few tools
the rear seat can be also removed from the minivan completely.
According to the specification, this van is heavy, over 4000 lbs, comparing
to 3500 plus in others such as MPV, Previa, and Grand/Caravan. However, the
EPA mileage is about the same as the others (17/22). The chasis looks like
the Tarus/Sable wagon although I don’t have any fact to back this up.
I didn’t have a chance to drive it because I didn’t have time. Both Mercury
and Nissan dealers were eagle to get me on the driver seat. The main
differences between Villager and Quest are the front and rear end treatment,
one looks like a Sable and the other looks like a Maxima. Others include
packaging, four-wheel ABS is standard in Villager whereas air condictioning
is standard in Quest. Then there’re several trim levels and colors.
Unless other minivan buyers have the same concern as mine for the lack of
airbag, this minivan could really compete with other minivans. I didn’t have
all the pricing information, the model I looked at listed for $23k with fully
loaded gadgets such as dual A/C, leather seats, about the same as a MPV I
checked on the same day. I expect a Grand Caravan fully loaded is about the
same price or lower.