From: rrodabau@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Ronald D Rodabaugh)
Subject: Re: Recommendations for Mini Van
Followup-To: Recommendations for a Mini Van
Summary: How about a Plymouth Voyager/Dodge Caravan?
Keywords: Plymouth Voyager/Dodge Caravan, air conditioning
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: rec.autos
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 18:16:16 GMT

        In the Spring of 1989 my parents purchased a 1989 Plymouth Grand
Voyager SE to replace our 1977 Pontiac Catalina Grand Safari. What a great
minivan the Voyager has turned out to be! Here are some facts you may not know
about the Voyager as compared to its Ford and Chevy counterparts:
      1) The Voyager was engineered from the ground up. It has a suspension
designed specifically for that vehicle, whereas Ford and Chevy simply designed
their minivans on their existing small truck platforms. The result is a ride
and handling more like a car than a truck, and a subsequently lower height,
making the Voyager easily garagable.
      2) The Voyager is front wheel drive, whereas the Ford and Chevy are rear
wheel drive. Of course, this means that you cannot tow as much in the Plymouth,
but if your pregnant wife and son are the primary passengers, then towing is
not a priority anyway.
      3) The Grand Voyager/Grand Caravan have PLENTY of cargo room, even with
both backseats in. My parents have been moving two of their five children back
and forth to Ohio State without any problems, and single trips, too.
Furthermore, if you remove both seats, their is room for most twin size
bedframes and accompanying bedding, in addition to other things, to give an
indication of the size.
      4) The Voyager comes with a choice of 3.0 liter V-6 or 3.3 liter V-6 for
the power mongers. Our Voyager has the 3.0 (the only V-6 available in 1989),
with a four speed automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter for an
overdrive. It cruises at 55 mph at 2200-2300 rpm, and goes 65 mph at less than
2800.

     As for the Chevy freak who also responded to this article proposing a
full-size van, here's why the Voyager would be an excellent replacement for the
Cherokee instead of the full sizer.
      I am currently driving a Dodge Ram 250 Prospector conversion van. I like 
it, but I notice some obvious advantages of the Voyager over the full-sizer, 
especially if the mini-van satifies one's cargo requirements:

      1) There are substantial blind spots in the full size van, especially
using the windshield-mounted rear-view mirror. The Voyager, being smaller, 
lower, and having a monstrous rear windshield, has blindspots comparable to 
that of the smallest car I have driven (a 1981 Subaru 1600).
      2) I am the oldest of five children, and I say that where children and 
pregnant women are concerned, getting into and out of the Voyager is 
substantially easier than a full size van, especially when car seats are 
involved. (Besides, Chrysler now offers a child seat in the Voyager/Caravan. 
Where does Chevy and Ford stand on this issue???????)
      3) Not only does the Voyager handle better (remember, I speak from 
experience), but it much easier to park, especially in a parallel fashion, as I
am required to do often on the streets of the venerable campus of The Ohio 
State University.

      I do not know if dual a/c is available on the Voyager/Caravan, but this I
do know: the a/c on our minivan is cold, and can really blow once in the MAX 
mode.
      And as for the Chevy freak, I have two things to say:

      1) Our minivan gets well over your 20 MPG, and will not complain about it
after 120,000 miles (ours already has 60,000 miles on it). I promise.
      2) Chrysler has the absolute best service on their warranty. With 7/70
protection STANDARD on the Voyager, you can rest assured that problems will be
taken care of, if they arise.

      Test drive the Plymout product. I think you will like it.


     -David Rodabaugh                       1 (614) 299-8588
     Senior, Mech. Eng.                     rrodabau@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
     Ohio State University