DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen to Build a Minivan for the US Market

[pdoel]

How about keeping this thread on topic, and that is to discuss the actual product. Not whether or not people are morons for buying them.

You want to have that discussion, take it to hot topics.

[Dorado]

A nice handling and fuel efficient VW minivan would sell well in the US, and that's what matters. People thought that VW selling a 40-50k SUV would be ridiculous, well, it already sells better than the Golf and GTI combined in the US:

http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:2005_YTD_Sales:full

So the Golf, by far VW's bestseller worldwide, is outsold here in the US by a newly introduced luxury SUV with an unpronounceable name. Some markets are very different.

We would buy a Sharan TDI wagon if it were available...

[TechnoTrix'd]

Originally Posted by GatorBeetle

I'll reserve judgement until they release some more info on design and how they will be marketing/packaging them...as long as they don't look like this...

I'd buy that for a dollar!!...hehehe

Regarding the droning ramblings of "Mini-vans are for mindless, barbie, soccor mom's", get a grip...

It is a car folks. Metal, plastic (lots) and rubber tires. We own one, and that is because we have 3 very active children, and we are not a couch-potato family.

In our "current" stage of life, we really benefit from all of the positive features that a mini-van provides. Space, comfort, safety, etc....

Now, when we move out of this phase of life, will I still own a mini-van. Heck no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is a mini-van the "ultimate driving machine"?? Get real.......

Does a Dodge/Chrysler mini-van compare to the EuroVan or the T3 or T2's...nahh

Now, if VW does produce a Chrysler based mini-van, would that be a good thing for VW. Absolutely! I would trade my current Dodge badged one for a VW badged one in a heart beat if it were available and the price points were similar.

Oh, and lets take Pete's advise on this topic gang....

Originally Posted by Pdoel

How about keeping this thread on topic, and that is to discuss the actual product. Not whether or not people are morons for buying them.

You want to have that discussion, take it to hot topics.

Peace....TechnoTrix'd.....

[TechnoTrix'd]

Originally Posted by Dorado

A nice handling and fuel efficient VW minivan would sell well in the US, and that's what matters. People thought that VW selling a 40-50k SUV would be ridiculous, well, it already sells better than the Golf and GTI combined in the US:

http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:2005_YTD_Sales:full

So the Golf, by far VW's bestseller worldwide, is outsold here in the US by a newly introduced luxury SUV with an unpronounceable name. Some markets are very different.

We would buy a Sharan TDI wagon if it were available...

Great point! And I agree that if the new VW mini-van had the TDI option, their would be one sitting in my driveway (well, only for about 6 years..)

Never know, the Dodge and Chrysler versions may get the "Jones next door" complex and add the same TDI to their lines as well.

Not seeing a downside yet gang....

[mezonesxbox]

I would love the Microbus!!! But on VW made of course...

[Oyveychris]

See, the new Chrysler-Wagen would have "stow-n-go buy something more interesting" seats. I have had a Chrysler product in the last few years and was not impressed by the long term durability. Not a great idea to get mixed up with a company that has dubious product quality when you are trying to extend your market segment abroad and are starting to finally work out your own quality problems.

[Deserion]

Originally Posted by Oyveychris

See, the new Chrysler-Wagen would have "stow-n-go buy something more interesting" seats. I have had a Chrysler product in the last few years and was not impressed by the long term durability. Not a great idea to get mixed up with a company that has dubious product quality when you are trying to extend your market segment abroad and are starting to finally work out your own quality problems.

Daimler-C has been improving their products... plus, they do have a nice slice of the minivan pie in the US.

-Des

[larryziegler]

Originally Posted by Deserion

Daimler-C has been improving their products... plus, they do have a nice slice of the minivan pie in the US.

-Des

They are losing that slice of the pie....rapidly on the West Coast....The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are regarded as the 2 best minivans on the street and there are far more of them on the streets out here than the Daimler-C products, excepting rental fleets that is. They are both made in North America, which gives US/Canadian workers jobs. I've driven the Odyssey and Grand Caravan on long trips (400 miles plus) and there is no comparison of fuel economy, power, comfort, or long term durability. I'd prefer to see VW use one of their own designs myself, but can see the economic side of it as well....as long as that is a lead in product for something else coming maybe 4-5 years from now.

[Oyveychris]

My wife has an 06 Toyota Sienna and my father-in-law says that it rides better than his Mercedes!

[mentalVdub]

Originally Posted by Oyveychris

My wife has an 06 Toyota Sienna and my father-in-law says that it rides better than his Mercedes!

what!?!?!

not possible!!!

what kind of benz does he own

[Deserion]

Also, from what I have read, VW is only going to do this for a few years until they get their own van set up for the North American market.

-Des

[Hambug]

Originally Posted by GatorBeetle

I'll reserve judgement until they release some more info on design and how they will be marketing/packaging them...as long as they don't look like this...

Or maybe this,

[dunno513]

I love the what-if pictures. Ugly as heck, but made me laugh.

On the otherhand, the standard minivan has become such a "ford taurus" of the road. Practical, but IMHO, not what I want to be seen in.

Now the MicroBus, that is something that if I had 7 kids I could drive around and hold my head high (understand I'm a guy) If you think people make fun of guys in NB's, then you have to hear what they say of them driving around in Minivans.

Chevy tried to masculin'ize (is that a word?) the minivan, but that just turned into a glorified Astro with wierd lights. No one has made a people hauler since the first minivan appeared that is worthy of turning heads.

This may be the chance that minivan land has been waiting for. Now just give it a diesel and the ability to tow something larger than a log splitter and we'll be talking garage space.

[dunno513]

Just read an article and I really hope it's not related to this thread but here it is anyways.

http://autos.msn.com/as/minishow/art...s=bibendum2006

[GaryR53]

Speaking of Daimler-Chrysler, what do you guys think of the Smart car? The Smart ForTwo coupe, which has been all over Europe since 1998 is scheduled to be offered by Daimler-Chrysler in 2008. You can buy one right now, from Zap, but you'll pay almost $30,000 for it. Better to wait until 2008, when DC will introduce it to the U.S. market at around $15,000. If I don't get another Beetle when I've worn my present one out, I may get a Smart, if it's still in production by then.

Gary

[Pulgamovil]

LEt me write something about this venture since I think I am entitled to.

First of all I never had a minivan till 2000 wen I bought a loaded to the gills Grand Caravan, power everthing, 4 captain seats, DVD system, 3 zone air conditioning, 16 inch wheels the whol e enchilada. SEE PIC.



Well we have used it for a lot of hauling, for trips to acapulco twice to CAN CUN and the Mayan Riviera ( a 3400K mile trek), and basically now at 50 k Miles and 6 year old we have just a broken steering pump due to overheat, 1 serpentine belt and a change of tires, it has been one reliable beast. We have used it my wife and 2 kids and taken out the rear seat and took bikes, snorkel gear and such to trips, very confortable and nice to drive, with the 3.8 liter engine it has passing power to spare and its INCREIBLE easy to drive for hours.

I considered changing this minivan when SEAT and VW began selling the Alhambra/Sharan minivans but

With a 1.8 turbo with a 5 speed tiptronic they were slow and the auto trany is always "hunting", the rear door are not the SLIDE type they open just like a SUV door with hinges.
They lack a overhead climate system. They are gass guzzlers (even more than a DC minivan).

So I passed and some of my friends have sold their VW/SEAT minivans because they are smaller, HEAVY, not very practical, and bought Honda or Dc minivans.

VW is going to supply Diesel engines for DC in europe and interior design and DC will design the body and features and gas engines for "amerian" Minivans, I think its a good IDEA.... I really hope they do a good job and Ill change miy current Minivan, because the actual Dc minivans now selling are not as good as the one I Have....

For long trips with a lot of stuff the Minivan is Simply UNBEATABLE

[digitalputty]

Originally Posted by GaryR53

Speaking of Daimler-Chrysler, what do you guys think of the Smart car? The Smart ForTwo coupe, which has been all over Europe since 1998 is scheduled to be offered by Daimler-Chrysler in 2008. You can buy one right now, from Zap, but you'll pay almost $30,000 for it. Better to wait until 2008, when DC will introduce it to the U.S. market at around $15,000. If I don't get another Beetle when I've worn my present one out, I may get a Smart, if it's still in production by then.

Gary

I LOVE the Smarts! And, I would totally get one! Especially for $15,000! I saw a FourTwo driving around town the other day. Dark blue and gray. Awesome! I saw them all over Italy when I was there as well. Tons of the roadsters too.

[GaryR53]

Unfortunately, they've canceled production of the roadster, which is a disappointment, as I was interested in possibly getting one.

But, the ForTwo is really my favorite of the two (or three, if you count the ForFour sedan, which they've also discontinued).

Gary

[ekroman]

I think Minivans are a much more practical and more efficient alternative to families with 2 or more children. Much better than the SUV's we're inflicted with today, which are tall, top heavy, inefficient, and full of egotistical morons.

I remember when I was in college, and we had gotten rid of our station wagon; I grew up with Ford station wagons, and they were great; drop the back seat and you could haul a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood in the back. My Father loved them for that reason.

We needed to haul something, and for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. Maybe a sofa, or something like that. We called U-haul, and when we figured out the mileage we were going, it was going to cost a fortune to move whatever this was about 200 miles.

So we rented a Dodge minivan. We brought it home, removed the seats, and went to get what we were hauling, and then returned it to the rental agency. It cost us about 1/3 of what a U-haul would have been, and it worked beautifully.

I don't have a minivan, since we don't need one right now. However, I would buy one before an SUV any day. I think they're very practical.

You have to understand something about the US auto market: we have different safety standards than Europe or Asia, so the manufacturers have to redesign much of the vehicle to make it pass US safety tests. I'm not saying the US has better safety tests, but different ones which make vehicle manufacturers redesign the structure under the skin so it can specifically pass US tests. VW doesn't want to invest a fortune to sell a Minivan in the US and lose their hides. So they'll partner with Chrysler to build a van to VW specs; this means some differences in the grill and front sheet metal, tail lights, wheels, interior, and suspension tuning. If we're lucky, we'll get a Benz or a VW motor.

I can see a minivan with VW's 2.5 liter 5 cylinder, either in a gas engine or TDI format, with a good 6 speed automatic. That would work for me.

Eddie

[pdoel]

Originally Posted by ekroman

I think Minivans are a much more practical and more efficient alternative to families with 2 or more children. Much better than the SUV's we're inflicted with today, which are tall, top heavy, inefficient, and full of egotistical morons.

Wow. Interesting.

Minivans weigh just as much as SUVs, are just as tall, and just as inefficient.

Heck, most CARS on the road today are extremely inefficient for what they are. It's sad that our precious tiny little NBs get such poor mileage. Mine gets 22-23mpg, that's it. Not too good for such a tiny little vehicle.

And you can find egotistical morons in just about any type of vehicle.