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In the old days, of course, that problem was addressed with aftermarket seat-covers. But today, seat-mounted air bags, heating/cooling mechanisms in the seats, headrests, and extensive seat motors/wiring have made the installation of those traditional seat covers either very difficult or not possible at all. In addition, they take away from the enjoyment of the car....you can't enjoy the nice upholstery that you paid for.
no point in getting something luxury like this only to cover up the seats. I would get a cloth interior minivan for the kids to trash.
Leather is a lot easier to clean up than cloth when spills happen. With that said, some simple rules in the car can really avoid the situation of kids trashing cars. It really isn't that hard - sippy/spill proof cups and snacks that aren't sticky or messy to clean up. Done.
no point in getting something luxury like this only to cover up the seats. I would get a cloth interior minivan for the kids to trash.
That's just my point. Today's seats simply have so many high-tech features in them that it is difficult or impossible to use traditional aftermarket covers. And, yes....why buy something once you can't use? Doesn't make sense.
With cloth seats, GM, in its Chevy/Geo-brand vehicles, used to have a good idea for new cars.......a factory-applied ScotchGuard treatment, which offers some protection yet still allows the seat-fabricitself to be enjoyed. The treatment, of course, be done manually simply by buying and holding a spray-can, but the application will not be a through or complete as in the factory.
it is a cargo van with luxury passenger variant... when i was a kid, they were the most popular utility vans around.
Were you in America or Europe back then? In the America of the 1970s, if you are old enough to remember, custom multi-colored paint jobs and interiors in full-size RWD vans were the rage. That was in the days before minivans (except for the famous VW Microbus).
Were you in America or Europe back then? In the America of the 1970s, if you are old enough to remember, custom multi-colored paint jobs and interiors in full-size RWD vans were the rage. That was in the days before minivans (except for the famous VW Microbus).
Europe... they were used for work as much as Ford vans were in US. Passenger versions were much less popular, as VW was cheaper.
These days, they are not used as much, we have a lot of small vans that are very popular, from the likes of Citroen/Peugot, Ford, VW and Fiat.
My 2nd gen 2006 Sienna rocked. Lot's of soft touch materials that didn't make a squeek in eight years of ownership.That seemed to have disappeared with the 3rd gen but they brought it back with the 4th gen somewhat.
This Mercedes reminds me of the VW van that VW bought from Chrysler.
Best looking van out right now is the Grand Caravan with the RT package. Blacked out grill, lights, wheels, at least they're trying to make it look less dorky. I don't think I'd rock a red one, but that treatment would look good on a gunmetal grey one as well.
Also I was on Dodge's website, I didn't realize how cheap they have their vans priced. Cheapest one is $21k, comes pretty well equipped, same engine/trans as the more expensive ones.
Best looking van out right now is the Grand Caravan with the RT package. Blacked out grill, lights, wheels, at least they're trying to make it look less dorky. I don't think I'd rock a red one, but that treatment would look good on a gunmetal grey one as well.
Also I was on Dodge's website, I didn't realize how cheap they have their vans priced. Cheapest one is $21k, comes pretty well equipped, same engine/trans as the more expensive ones.
Problem is, the Caravan might (?) not be in production much longer. For some inexplicable reason (even with its sales success) Fiat/Chrysler management wants to phase it out and leave the Chrysler Town and Country as the sole offering.
Problem is, the Caravan might (?) not be in production much longer. For some inexplicable reason (even with its sales success) Fiat/Chrysler management wants to phase it out and leave the Chrysler Town and Country as the sole offering.
Used to be that there were dealers that sold only Dodge, others that sold only Plymouth, Chrysler and Plymouth, etc. That's why Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth each got their own minivan, to keep their dealer network happy.
Now days almost all of the Chrysler only and Dodge only dealers are gone. It makes no sense to produce two slightly different versions of the same van if they're both sitting on the same lot right next to eachother. The cost savings of not tooling up different bumper covers, grills, badges, and other trim bits is probably significant, which Chrysler could use to improve other areas of the van.(or they just pocket the savings)
Used to be that there were dealers that sold only Dodge, others that sold only Plymouth, Chrysler and Plymouth, etc. That's why Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth each got their own minivan, to keep their dealer network happy.
Now days almost all of the Chrysler only and Dodge only dealers are gone. It makes no sense to produce two slightly different versions of the same van if they're both sitting on the same lot right next to eachother. The cost savings of not tooling up different bumper covers, grills, badges, and other trim bits is probably significant, which Chrysler could use to improve other areas of the van.(or they just pocket the savings)
Well, yes, the consolidation of Dodge and Chrysler into single dealerships is a valid point....that's true. But, still, one reason for the Caravan's success is that many customers saw it as a less-expensive alternative to the TC, though the TC did seem to have more sound insulation and a general edge in comfort. The TC will now (probably) have to offer a somewhat decontented, entry-level version to take the place of the Caravan. Chrysler has already had to do that with its 200 series (while also keeping a fully-loaded V6 version) because of the loss of the Dodge Avenger and Stratus.
Best looking van out right now is the Grand Caravan with the RT package. Blacked out grill, lights, wheels, at least they're trying to make it look less dorky. I don't think I'd rock a red one, but that treatment would look good on a gunmetal grey one as well.
Also I was on Dodge's website, I didn't realize how cheap they have their vans priced. Cheapest one is $21k, comes pretty well equipped, same engine/trans as the more expensive ones.
11-07-14, 07:17 PM
