No more minivans?

Boilerpro_5

I was looking at minivans when looking to purchase a new work truck in 2002...guess what? When checking on the operating cost per mile for minivans, it was the same or higher than the full size vans, so why bother with the smaller vehicle.

Boilerpro

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JohnNY

Did I hear that right?

Ford? GM? Dodge?

Am I to believe that mini cargo vans are out of production?

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joel_19

mini vans

There are no minivans at all from Ford and Chevy.Dodge still makes mini vans but i do not know about cargo vans. Ford and GM gave up they could not compete with the vans from Toyota and Honda so instead of coming up with something better they just gave up. If you look at any of the magazines like Car and Driver,Consumer Reports etc the Honda and Toyota have ranked higher for years so any consumer doing any research isn't going to buy the GM or Ford.

The downside is that Japanese companies do not offer the wide variety of models including trade type minivans.

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joel_19

mini vans

There are no minivans at all from Ford and Chevy.Dodge still makes mini vans but i do not know about cargo vans. Ford and GM gave up they could not compete with the vans from Toyota and Honda so instead of coming up with something better they just gave up. If you look at any of the magazines like Car and Driver,Consumer Reports etc the Honda and Toyota have ranked higher for years so any consumer doing any research isn't going to buy the GM or Ford.

The downside is that Japanese companies do not offer the wide variety of models including trade type minivans.

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J.C.A._3

Joel is Right!

All of the big companies have made a "Crossover vehicle" to take the minivan's place.

Almost all makers have a 3 section seating arrangement that will accompany anywhere from 6 to 8 passengers, and make the flipping seats disappear...if you need to carry cargo !

The mini van is GONE! Get on with it....but for the smaller business guy trying to keep a small truck for service available....the dealerships and want ads will be filled with used units for a LONG time to come! Chris

Steamhead (in transit)

I think

the newly-redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan will come in a cargo version. Can't remember where I read that though.....

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hot_rod

That Chevy HHR

is supposed to be available in a "no window" a panel truck version. That may be a "cute" option for a parts runner.

hot rod

J.C.A._3

Kinda like....

What My Mom calls the"Mafia Delivery Wagon"1940's looking things?

She's been on those since the Dodge version came out.(she particularly likes the one that she calls "still in the box"...with the faux wood sides). Chris

Scott Kneeland

This just goes to show again how behind we are, When I went to the ISH show in Germany in March I could not believe the MANY MANY differentbrands of cargo minivans they have. All the major European auto MFG. have several configurations, all diesel and all standard trans. Why can't we import some here? beats me.

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joel_19

Yup

The wierdest scenario is Ford they make a van like the Sprinter that I saw all around Germany. How come they don't import it???? Ford Europe has actually been MAKING money on cars while loosing their shirt on cars (not trucks) here. They should just scrap the whole car line and import the Euro fords,better styling,better handling,better brakes.There is a lower roof short whlbase Sprinter that is like a minivan on steroids.

I like the HHR would make a good sales car plenty of room for my blower door and other test gear. Better MPG than a PT Cruiser and it's bigger.

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mtfallsmikey

I've seen

The "panel delivery" style HHR...looks cool!, like Dad's 'ole 53 chevy panel truck. Available by special order.This one is used by a company for it's couriers.

Steve_154

Due to exchange rates Ford claims they would not make any money shipping these cars over here! But with the amount of money they seem to be losing to foreign companies you would think the next time they re-tool they would bring in a Euro design! Here is a picture of the Sprinter looking Ford which kicked Sprinters but in a head to head in Car & Driver!

http://jalopnik.com/photogallery/transitsportvan1/1761176

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DanHolohan

WSJ story about minivans

I remember reading this last month: Minivans

Rich L.

Crossovers

The Ford Flex crossover in that article looks a lot like the cars I grew up in during the 60's. Back then we called them station wagons! That term got to be as unpopular as "mini-van" is getting to be now. With two pre teen kids very active in sports, screw the image, I'll take the praticality of my mini-van, thank you very much!!

A comment to an earlier post on this topic too. I really don't believe that "we" can't compete with the "Japanese" auto makers (My Toyota's made in the USA), so much as we simply choose not to.

Why is it that Honda and Toyota can produce very high quality vehicles in America while paying very good wages to American workers while Ford and Chevy continue to move production overseas and import lower quality vehicles? Screams corporate greed to me.


Sorry, didn't mean to turn this into a political rant!!!

Have a great day guys, Rich L.