Jalopnik: grand caravan

New Chrysler Minivans Selling So Well They're Closing The Factory

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Come Halloween, Chrysler will idle its St. Louis South minivan plant indefinitely. And, just so the 1,500 employees at St. Louis South are clear about the meaning of "idle indefinitely," co-president Tom LaSorda said, "We see no intent to rerun this plant. We're idling it and it will likely be fully closed."

The plant was down to one shift already; after the closure, Chrysler will source the Grand Caravan and Town & Country from its Windsor, Ontario minivan plant. Additionally, on Sept. 2, the St. Louis North truck plant will be pared down to one shift, resulting in about 900 layoffs. Chrysler had spent approximately $800 million in plant improvements to the two facilites over the past two years, so look for Cerberus to increase the price of a Town & Country Limited from $36,755 to $288,995 in an effort to recoup costs. Union leaders speculate that some of Chrysler's decision was based on political circumstances, as both St. Louis facilities voted down last fall's master contract between Chrysler and the UAW, ratifying it only after significant negotiations. Health care costs may also have played a part: According to Glenn Kage Jr., financial secretary at UAW Local 136, Chrysler can make minivans in Windsor, Ontario, for $1,000 per vehicle less than St. Louis South because of the savings to the company of Canada's national health care system.
[Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

NYT Automobiles Gives Chrysler Minivans A Seemingly Unnecessary Smack-Down

Ray Wert — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:00:00 EDT

We don't know if New York Times Automobiles writer Christopher Jensen's got kids, but if he had them, he'd know that handling is not really the most important requirement for a minivan. More important is the need — which he admits in his smack-down this weekend on the new minivans from Chryslerberus almost reluctantly — to pacify children to the point of "superstupor" (Yes C.J., we do like that one and may use it as often as is possible). But to levy charges of inadequacy against the new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country simply because the handling is merely "average" misses the point. No self-respecting driver's driver would ever be caught dead driving one of these, or any other people hauler down the road. No amount of fine-tuning, mechanics or changes in structural rigidity's going to make a minivan with this level of options (and weight) fun to drive.

Yes, yes, we know that's not the normal tack our site takes, but can you blame us? What in the segment is really all that fun to drive? Frankly, the Econoline's too big to compete, despite our desires to make such a head-on competition happen, and C.J.'s not impressing us with comparisons to "fun" vehicles like the Buick Enclave and most definitely not winning points with a Honda Odyssey. Sure, you could get a Honda Odyssey, but the average selling price — as C.J. points out — is almsot five grand more than the average selling price point on the Town & Country and Grand Caravan. It may not necessarily (it may be, someone check this one out for us — do some configurator work in the comments below if you could) be because they're just so much cheaper (re: crappier), but rather that the toys Mom & Dad want to keep the little brats quiet in the back two rows of seats are so much cheaper to get to in the Dodge and the Chrysler.

Also, let's be clear here — Dan Neil says the twin Chrysler minivans are the bestest people movers ever built. And if you're going to go negative on it, you certainly don't have the same panache as Clarkson. Frankly Ms. Cregg, you sir are no Jeremy Clarkson.And that's all there is to it. [NYT Automobiles]

Clarkson on the Dodge Grand Caravan

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:45:00 EST

Some of you may remember Dan Neil's rather glowing review of the new Chrysler Town & Country Limited. You know, the one where he proclaims that a smart, sensible baby haulin' minivan makes him a total DILF. Well, Jeremy Clarkson is having none of it. Clarkson hauls his wife and three daughters to the great city of Ottawa where he rents a Dodge Grand Caravan. We should pause right here and explain that Jezza may very well have borrowed a 2004 Grand Caravan. We doubt he knows the difference. Truth is, we don't really care about Jeremy's take on a minivan. No, we're posting this because of his take on Canada:

But by the same token no one in Canada ever wins on the horses, or escapes from a knife fight with their life, or has an orgasm. It is Switzerland with wheat.

Damn skippy. [Times Online]