Dear Dr. Z. ... Chrysler did not invent the mini-van

TitanIam · 08-25-2006, 08:15 PM

...VW did many years before 1983. It was call the Micro-Bus. Heck, VW even invented the name... Micro (mini) + Bus (van). Get it!

Peugot had a cross-over 6 seater station-wagon 20 years before your Pacifica and the 'new segment' Caliber falls into the Pontiac Vibe category.

Please shut up and stop selling your German heritage out. Man, you are lame!

BKW · 08-25-2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanIam

...VW did many years before 1983. It was call the Micro-Bus. Heck, VW even invented the name... Micro (mini) + Bus (van). Get it!

Peugot had a cross-over 6 seater station-wagon 20 years before your Pacifica and the 'new segment' Caliber falls into the Pontiac Vibe category.

Please shut up and stop selling your German heritage out. Man, you are lame!

...and the Volvo Disco Volante preceded the Peugeot by another 20 years. The first Ford Econoline (1961) was the same size as the VW.

SpiritOne · 08-25-2006, 10:11 PM

The idea may not have been totally brand new, but Chrysler/Dodge did create the modern day minivan. It was rediculously copied too untill a few other companies like Honda and Nissan were able to break the mold so to speak.

Ford and GM played catchup in the minivan market for the last 20 years trying to duplicate the success of the Caravan. And as well all know, during those 20 years the big 3 kept trying to out do each other, and paid little to no attention to Toyota, Nissan and Honda who very queitly snuck in and took the sales for just about every type of vehicle away from them.

Dr Z has got to be the STUPIDEST marketing gimmick I think I have seen from Dodge/Chrysler in a long time. Cause I give a crap about a Krout with a PHD?? Maybe, just maybe if Dodge had invested the money into research and development and could build a damned transmission that didnt blow up after 3 miles, they would not have lost me as a customer.

My vehicle history report:
1992 Dodge Spirit - belonged to dad/ Engine siezed
1992 Dodge Grand Caravan - moms/ Transmission Exploded
1993 Plymouth Acclaim - my first POS/ Transmission replaced, followed by you guessed it Transmission exploded
1999 Plymouth Breeze - oops/You know, you would think I would learn Transmission replaced
2002 Dodge Intrepid - can you say, worthless (the wife is driving it now) 34k miles, counting down to ...
2003 Dodge Dakota - 100k miles in 3 years = yep, Transmission problems
2004 Nissan Titan :-)

next up... 2006/7 Nissan Murano or Pathfinder (wifes not sure yet)

Yellomantis · 08-25-2006, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiritOne

The idea may not have been totally brand new, but Chrysler/Dodge did create the modern day minivan. It was rediculously copied too untill a few other companies like Honda and Nissan were able to break the mold so to speak.

Ford and GM played catchup in the minivan market for the last 20 years trying to duplicate the success of the Caravan. And as well all know, during those 20 years the big 3 kept trying to out do each other, and paid little to no attention to Toyota, Nissan and Honda who very queitly snuck in and took the sales for just about every type of vehicle away from them.

Dr Z has got to be the STUPIDEST marketing gimmick I think I have seen from Dodge/Chrysler in a long time. Cause I give a crap about a Krout with a PHD?? Maybe, just maybe if Dodge had invested the money into research and development and could build a damned transmission that didnt blow up after 3 miles, they would not have lost me as a customer.

My vehicle history report:
1992 Dodge Spirit - belonged to dad/ Engine siezed
1992 Dodge Grand Caravan - moms/ Transmission Exploded
1993 Plymouth Acclaim - my first POS/ Transmission replaced, followed by you guessed it Transmission exploded
1999 Plymouth Breeze - oops/You know, you would think I would learn Transmission replaced
2002 Dodge Intrepid - can you say, worthless (the wife is driving it now) 34k miles, counting down to ...
2003 Dodge Dakota - 100k miles in 3 years = yep, Transmission problems
2004 Nissan Titan :-)

next up... 2006/7 Nissan Murano or Pathfinder (wifes not sure yet)

Transmission problems seem to be a common theme for you. Are you sure they are not related to driver abuse/error? Just a thought. At the company I work for, we have hundreds of dodge products, very few of which have given us problems, especially tranny problems. The only issues we have are on the dakotas, they seem to wear out the front tires way too fast, like 5,000 miles fast regardless what brand we put on them. And don't think our guys don't abuse the sh!t out of the company trucks too. We are in no way easy on them. As of now, most are well above 100,000 miles and some are over 200,000 miles on the original engine/tranny/drivetrain. All you have to do now days to make a vehicle last is regular maintenance. Some people still have yet to see the light though.

BKW · 08-25-2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiritOne

The idea may not have been totally brand new, but Chrysler/Dodge did create the modern day minivan. It was rediculously copied too untill a few other companies like Honda and Nissan were able to break the mold so to speak.

Ford and GM played catchup in the minivan market for the last 20 years trying to duplicate the success of the Caravan. And as well all know, during those 20 years the big 3 kept trying to out do each other, and paid little to no attention to Toyota, Nissan and Honda who very queitly snuck in and took the sales for just about every type of vehicle away from them.

Dr Z has got to be the STUPIDEST marketing gimmick I think I have seen from Dodge/Chrysler in a long time. Cause I give a crap about a Krout with a PHD?? Maybe, just maybe if Dodge had invested the money into research and development and could build a damned transmission that didnt blow up after 3 miles, they would not have lost me as a customer.

My vehicle history report:
1992 Dodge Spirit - belonged to dad/ Engine siezed
1992 Dodge Grand Caravan - moms/ Transmission Exploded
1993 Plymouth Acclaim - my first POS/ Transmission replaced, followed by you guessed it Transmission exploded
1999 Plymouth Breeze - oops/You know, you would think I would learn Transmission replaced
2002 Dodge Intrepid - can you say, worthless (the wife is driving it now) 34k miles, counting down to ...
2003 Dodge Dakota - 100k miles in 3 years = yep, Transmission problems
2004 Nissan Titan :-)

next up... 2006/7 Nissan Murano or Pathfinder (wifes not sure yet)

The Murano has plenty of legroom for just about anyone. I'm 6-5 300 lbs, and fit with no problems (Titan is much better!). I'm leasing an 05 SL for my wife.

The Pathfinder is very tight on the drivers side, with the smallest amount of legroom (38.5") of any vehicle sold in the US.

Automotive News, an insider weekly magazine I've been reading for over 30 years, has listed myriad problems for Dodge Ram 1/2 tons...transmission failures, weak front ends, brakes, poor fit and finish.

Dr Z seems to be taking a page from the old Lee Iacocca ads.

rvandam · 08-26-2006, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiritOne

My vehicle history report:
1992 Dodge Spirit - belonged to dad/ Engine siezed
1992 Dodge Grand Caravan - moms/ Transmission Exploded
1993 Plymouth Acclaim - my first POS/ Transmission replaced, followed by you guessed it Transmission exploded
1999 Plymouth Breeze - oops/You know, you would think I would learn Transmission replaced
2002 Dodge Intrepid - can you say, worthless (the wife is driving it now) 34k miles, counting down to ...
2003 Dodge Dakota - 100k miles in 3 years = yep, Transmission problems
2004 Nissan Titan :-)

Well, you may not like dr Z., but I bet he wouldn't keep on buying Dodge if they keep blowing up on him

Why did you keep buying Dodges after they failed you time after time? Just asking...

TitanIam · 08-26-2006, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiritOne

The idea may not have been totally brand new, but Chrysler/Dodge did create the modern day minivan...

No, they created the American Microbus. (even the name minivan is a take on microbus) Nissan had the E20, Toyota the Hi-Ace and even VW had the Vanagon in 1977 - which were hugely popular around the world for 'soccer mom's while here in the US we were content driving cumbersome station wagons with fake wood plastered on the side.

What Chrysler invented was a Microbus with plastic wood glued to the side and then we woke up to them. HA!

Dr. Z. is selling the cool-aid with a straight face. Shame!

**Helinut1970** · 08-26-2006, 06:35 AM

At all a big lie. The minivan was here when Chrysler was still an american company. Germans didnt do crap. And Dr. Zero is a stupid comercial!

stlblues · 08-26-2006, 07:02 AM

Who cares who invented them, its who has gotten them right. I'll put my wifes 05 Odyssey against any of them. It out accelerates and out handles all of them, superior fit and finish, and no one beats Honda on resale value. If you don't look behind you, you'd never believe you were driving a minivan. Its much more like driving an Acura sedan (yes I've owned them). And if you have sat in those "Stow and Go" seats.......its torture.

**Helinut1970** · 08-26-2006, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlblues

Who cares who invented them, its who has gotten them right. I'll put my wifes 05 Odyssey against any of them. It out accelerates and out handles all of them, superior fit and finish, and no one beats Honda on resale value. If you don't look behind you, you'd never believe you were driving a minivan. Its much more like driving an Acura sedan (yes I've owned them). And if you have sat in those "Stow and Go" seats.......its torture.

I had the Olds. Premium edition Minivan for 4 years when it started to be plagued with problems. I knew I was going to go with a foreign mini van next so I had the choice to go with the Toyota Sienna Limited/Nav or the Odyssey Touring. I chose the Toyota for 3 reasons. 1. Reputation for dependability. I dont want to spend $37,000 on a van and it break down every week after having it for 4 years. 2. Had everything the honda had plus the inferred cruise control system. And 3. Honda liked their vans more than me. They wanted $4,000 over the sticker for it.

And they would not budge!! Like I liked the van that much yea right(sarcastic)! I went over to the Toyota dealer and they gave me KBB trade on my Olds van, $2000 under invoice and loaded the van with every dealer add on for free. Except the step rail wings (I didnt want those wings sticking out). I think the Olds was quieter and rides more like a caddy than either Honda or Toyota. But overall it was a PITA. Not one issue with my Toyo. been a year and a half and never been to the dealer!

TitanIam · 08-26-2006, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlblues

Who cares who invented them, its who has gotten them right. ...

Too true. The Odyssey and Sienna are awesome maxivans and the MPV the perfect minivan.

...yeah those rear seats in the Caravan are the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in - a real pain in the a$$!

What's stupid with the Chrysler lie is that they say it over and over again. VW introduced the 'modern' minivan in Eurpoe in 1977 and in the USA in 1980. It was hugely successfull in the rest of the world and Chrysler rewoked it for the American market in 1983.

Real stupid that a German perpetuates the lie and Dr. Z knows it!

1bigtexastitan · 08-26-2006, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanIam

...VW did many years before 1983. It was call the Micro-Bus. Heck, VW even invented the name... Micro (mini) + Bus (van). Get it!

Peugot had a cross-over 6 seater station-wagon 20 years before your Pacifica and the 'new segment' Caliber falls into the Pontiac Vibe category.

Please shut up and stop selling your German heritage out. Man, you are lame!

Didn't you know that Dr. Z also invented the Pez candy toy? He also invented the steering wheel, just in case you didn't know.

stlblues · 08-26-2006, 07:43 AM

We have owned Hondas for years and ran most of them over 200K with only ONE repair on all of them combined. An Alternator on a 90 Accord. Toyota builds a good van, but it's boring to drive and gutless. We paid below sticker on our Honda, the Toy comparably equiped would have been $4k higher, and we got more than we wanted out of the Pilot we traded in, needed more room. We have two families in our hockey club that are not happy with thier Sienas, an 06 and a 03. Both plan on switching to Honda next time. I guess I just drive more aggresive than you. Jay had an Olds Premium 03 model, I wouldn't give you squat for it. Nothing about it was impressive in any way...and it handled like a pig. Our Honda has been great, 27 mpg at 80mph. Plenty of room for 8, Great acceleration and will rip down the twisties. Every evaluation on vans has Honda 1, Toy 2, Nissan 3, Kia 4, Dodge 5, GM 6, and Ford 7.

stlblues · 08-26-2006, 07:47 AM

Oh, and check to see if your Siena is one of those being investigated for tailgate problems, some have been falling on people nad injuring them. It was listed on the OdyClub site. Piston failures.

**Helinut1970** · 08-26-2006, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlblues

Oh, and check to see if your Siena is one of those being investigated for tailgate problems, some have been falling on people nad injuring them. It was listed on the OdyClub site. Piston failures.

Mine is motor driven so its not one that had those issues. If the price would have been right I would have gone with the Honda. That is what we set out for when we went looking. If I wouldnt have wanted the touring edition, they would have given a good deal on a lower model. But I always told my wife, if we buy a soccor mom van, I will only buy the loaded one. The toyota is not as slow as you might think. And I agree with you on the Olds. It felt a little heavy and boatey but it was a very quiet and soft ride.