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Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this threadFuture Classic: 1984 Chrysler Minivans
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Jon55 @ May 9th 2008 12:35PM
May God's wrath torment the man who invented the minivan.
Keith Griffin @ May 9th 2008 12:40PM
Why? They have proven themselves to be excellent family haulers. As gas prices increases and people shy away from third-row SUVs, they'll start to look favorably on minivans again as a more fuel efficient alternative. Besides, our blogger Dan might be in the market for one!
MachinaDC5 @ May 9th 2008 12:43PM
The minivan was not invented by a man, but a demon, sent here to defile the car world for decades to come.
Dude @ May 9th 2008 12:45PM
You'll have to get past Snoop Dogg first.
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/dt10208042345.h2.jpg
Noah @ May 9th 2008 12:54PM
You know what? My family had a station wagon, even with 4 kids. One of us had to lay down in the cargo area with no seatbelt because it didn't have a 3rd seat. When the 5th kid came around, we had to get a new vehicle. Thank God for the minivan! The Ford Aerostar served us very very well, and was much easier to drive (and on gas and purchase price) than a full size van (which we did have shortly).
The minivan was a godsend to a family with 6 kids. These new ones are luxurious, are much sleeker than brick-like SUV's, and certainly aren't pretentious like SUV's and the mindset of those driving them (who could just use a minivan). Minivans are great, and if I have more than 3 kids someday (don't plan on it), I'd love to get one.
I have a feeling that people who hate minivans have never had one. Or if they have, they are so concerned with image and looking cool to their neighbors that they "have" to have an over-the-top SUV.
jb @ May 9th 2008 1:00PM
The problem with minivans is that people think they need one as soon as they have one kid. Whereas, realistically, if you don't have 4 kids or more, you don't need one. But then, people rarely buy what they need, they just go with what the advertisement people want them to need.
geo.stewart @ May 9th 2008 1:25PM
jb-
says the man without a kid.
yes, you can do without but there is a benefit to having the minivan even with one kid, over a sedan or compact SUV. just the ability to walk/crawl through the van to tend to a child, or reach back unencumbered, is a benefit. If its raining, the mother and kid can go in the side and mom scoots up front.
noah has it right
You cant beat the utility of the minivan.
and the number of couples that stop at 1 kid are a minority.
jb @ May 9th 2008 1:50PM
Well i do have a kid, and will probably have one or two more but I have NO intention in buying a minivan. The reasons you give are pretenses. There are mere conveniences, but certainly no needs. This means the marketing people have done a good job.
tcc3 @ May 9th 2008 2:20PM
By that logic you really dont *need* a car.
And that one kid has friends, soccer teams, scout troops, etc. Not to mention space for all his crap to keep him quiet on long trips.
Even with one kid the mini has its use.
Benfolio @ May 9th 2008 2:47PM
When you're at the store in the crowded parking lot trying to buckle a kid that can't walk yet into a carseat in a van with sliding doors you'll NEVER want to go back to a 'normal' car again.
Xcountryflyer @ May 9th 2008 2:55PM
I wouldn't call the original Chrysler minivans classic, but they were groundbreaking and seminal. Created a market segment that is still important today. In 25 years though, the creator and leader has fallen to 3rd/4th in the minivan race in terms of leadership.
Disgruntled Goat @ May 9th 2008 3:42PM
I have 3 kids and went from a Suburban to a Corolla. It was a little scary making the jump but once you get pasting _thinking_ you need something large you find that you get around just fine. Camping trips, softball, scouts, no problem.
salguod @ May 10th 2008 12:00AM
I'm on my second minivan. Dad passed down his '88 Grand Caravan (with big 160 HP V6) to us early in our marriage and we traded it 7 years ago on a Honda Odyssey. With 3 kids, the day to day would be OK with a car or wagon, but our 2-3 times per year trips to grandma's 600 miles away would be much more difficult and towing our pop up camper would be impossible.
I'm a huge fan, there's no other vehicle that can do all a minivan can do for the price and with the MPG a van gets. Fashionable? Nope, but immensely practical.
Our family van history: Dad's had a '72 Chevy window van, '74 Dodge Maxi van TEC camper, '88 Grand Caravan, '97 Grand Caravan and now '07 Town & Country. I've had just the two - so far. My sister has an '01 Odyssey and Dad's old '97 (They have 5 kids).