Dodge kills the Caravan

[DeClerq]

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure...faces Dodge is cutting off one of the hands that has fed it well for the past quarter century.In an interview with Automotive News, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed that the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan will die in 2013 and be replaced by a crossover utility vehicle. The decision is part of a larger plan to eliminate duplication of vehicles among Chrysler’s four brands – Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram. The Grand Caravan is currently the top-selling Dodge model.A more upscale version of the Grand Caravan is also sold as the Chrysler Town and Country, which was the best-selling minivan in the United States in 2010. The two combined for over 225,000 sales last year, double that of their closest rival, the Honda Odyssey. The Town and Country will live on as the automaker’s only minivan offering.In 2008 Dodge replaced the standard, short-wheelbase Caravan with the Journey crossover, a vehicle that sells about half as many units as the Grand Caravan does today. The new crossover will be built on the same platform as the Town and Country, so it should be similar in size to the existing Grand Caravan, but with a very different look and swing-out doors, rather than sliding ones. However, details have not yet been revealed. The vehicle will also serve as a replacement for the Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan in the brand’s lineup.Marchionne adds that Chrysler’s long term plan involves eliminating nearly all of its dealers that sell only one brand and that, “we cannot have the same type of vehicle in the showroom because the customer is not stupid. We’re not going to create the confusion and conflict in the showroom.” He added that Chrysler’s long-term plan involves eliminating nearly all of its dealers that sell only one brand.Chrysler is credited with creating the modern minivan segment in the 1984 model year when the first Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager models went on sale. The great success of the vehicles helped allow the company to repay the $1 billion government loan that helped the company avoid bankruptcy in 1979 several years ahead of schedule. Although it has lost market share in the years since, Chrysler still dominates the segment that Ford and General Motors exited in recent years as they switched their focus to the type of crossover utility vehicles Dodge is now planning to sell.

[Old Tele man]

...they need to resurrect the Plymouth Voyager (wink,wink)!

[jake75]

Well, they really didn't replace the Caravan with the Journey. They just cut the SWB (short wheel base) version from both the Dodge and Chrysler line in 2008 because 95% of buyers opted for the longer version. The stow-and-go seats were only available on the longer versions.I have had 4 of these SWB models - 1996 & 1998 Plymouth Voyager and 2004 and 2007 T&C. The 2007 is vastly improved from the 1996. I bought the 2007 MSRP 23,000 for $15,500 (plus tax) after rebates etc., in part because I liked the basic design so much I wanted to drive one for perhaps the rest of my life. Four years later that has only 14,000 miles on it so that may happen. There are many times I am willing pay the extra gas cost for the added comfort compared to our Vibe, especially if there are more than 2 people. It also is a good hauler when you remove the rear seats. These removable seats are more comfortable than the stow-and-go seats.Currently the low end models are in the Dodge line-up, the higher end ones bear the Chrysler name plate. Since all of the dealers now are Chrysler-Dodge it just makes sense to have them all branded as Chrysler. I have drive the newer Chrysler models - they are an improvement over the pre-2008 versions, but I don't want anything that big.

[journeyforce]

Yep as usual Chrysler is its own worst enemy and causes itself the most trouble. By killing the Dodge Grand Caravan, they have effectively chased potential mini van buyers to Honda or Toyota. The Caravan is the bread and butter of this company. By killing it off you force people to ether spend more on a van named Town & Country or buy a Honda or Toyota. The smart move would be to kill off the T&C and dedicate the Chrysler brand to sedans and convertibles such as the 300 or 200. Leave Dodge as the performance(Charger/Challenger) and work (Ram) and people carrying(Caravan) division. Chrysler is screwing up the only vehicle line that still turns a profit

[star_deceiver]

Just wait until more Fiat's show up.... Like this one:

[vit]

They should concentrate on improving the quality.The 08 was a disaster year, those vans should have been bought back and crushed.We were in a market for a van this year. Somehow ended up at a Chrysler dealer - they look nice, have a ton of features for not a lot money, but I'm glad I went home and did some research. Still somewhat problematic... but at least they supposedly fixed the brakes.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by journeyforce »Yep as usual Chrysler is its own worst enemy and causes itself the most trouble. By killing the Dodge Grand Caravan, they have effectively chased potential mini van buyers to Honda or Toyota. The Caravan is the bread and butter of this company. By killing it off you force people to ether spend more on a van named Town & Country or buy a Honda or Toyota. The smart move would be to kill off the T&C and dedicate the Chrysler brand to sedans and convertibles such as the 300 or 200. Leave Dodge as the performance(Charger/Challenger) and work (Ram) and people carrying(Caravan) division. Chrysler is screwing up the only vehicle line that still turns a profit I think you misread Chrysler's intentions. I fully expect that the rebranded Grand Caravans will be in the line up and priced the same whether they carry the Town & Country logo or the Grand Caravan logo.. For awhile there were similarly priced and equipped Dodge Grand Caravans and T&C's. In the past couple of years the lower end of the T&C line was discontinued. If someone like me wanted a "value" minivan they had to buy the Grand Caravan. Especially since virtually all of the Chrysler and Dodge dealerships now carry both, it just makes sense to have one brand.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by vit »They should concentrate on improving the quality.The 08 was a disaster year, those vans should have been bought back and crushed.We were in a market for a van this year. Somehow ended up at a Chrysler dealer - they look nice, have a ton of features for not a lot money, but I'm glad I went home and did some research. Still somewhat problematic... but at least they supposedly fixed the brakes.My only experience with the post 2007 Chrysler/Dodge minivan have been rentals. I was very impressed. My personal opinion is that they were equal to Honda or Toyota. Of course, a rental experience cannot judge long term reliability.

[journeyforce]

Only time will tell if your thoughts on this bear fruit. I like to think the same way as you do on this topic but alas knowing Chrysler, I fear the worst. The Chrysler brand has always been touted as the luxury division of Chrysler Corp so all the vehicles are more pricier then Dodge and Plymouth(up to it was phased out) (for instance price between the Charger and the 300)Then there is the other factor, name loyalty. On the mini van front Caravan and Grand Caravan names have been around since the 1980's. The T&C name did not come into being with mini vans until 1989. Yes I know that the T&C name was used from the 1940's to 1980's on station wagons(especially those nasty fake wood K cars) but if you were to ask somebody to name a mini van the first name that comes to mind is Caravan.Didn't they learn from Fords mistake in dropping the Taurus name in favor of 500?Dropping a vehicle with Caravan in the name is about as stupid as dropping the Corolla name plate. It will come back to haunt them

[jake75]

Reminds me of when I ordered a Buick Estate Wagon in 1977. I looked at the virtually identical Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Buick versions. I ended up with the Buick for two reasons. 1. There were a couple of minor options available on the Buick that I wanted. 2. The Buick dealer had a deal with my employer of $135 over invoice but I think the Pontiac dealer would have come close to that. When I bought my 2004 and 2007 T&C's the Chrysler version had slightly different options that I preferred vs. the Caravan . The price difference between the Caravan and the T&C was minor. I fully expect that when the Caravan is discontinued there will be a value priced T&C, like the low 20's I see advertised for some of the 2011 Caravans.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »Just wait until more Fiat's show up.... Like this one: ZOMG... SOUL hooks up with TRANSIT CONNECT... Anyway, good luck Chrysler. I do appreciate the statements of your new boss, "we cannot have the same type of vehicle in the showroom because the customer is not stupid. We’re not going to create the confusion and conflict in the showroom.” Looking back, it would have been nice if someone said that sooner. Saving us from all that badge engineering we've been forced to endure for decades would have been very welcome. lol

[journeyforce]

Did your old Buick wagon have the big clock in the passenger side of the dash just like the full size Park Ave and LeSabre? It had the Buick 350? What a durable engine that was.One of my big regrets was that I did not buy a 1996 Roadmaster estate wagon that came up for sale a few years back. 5000lbs of boat that thing could tow

[Salsa Guy]

I've owned all flavors and years of this mini-van and to be honest I don't understand their direction. Looking at the Pacifica it a smaller Caravan but not by much. My biggest complaint with these beasts has been the transmissions. Once you get to 120K it will fail soon.

[journeyforce]

You speak the truth Salsa Guy. The biggest issue with these vans (and a lot of Chrysler products) is the transmission. On my LeBaron, the trans started to leak out the front pump seal. I removed the trans and replaced the seal and it started to leak again 2 weeks later.

[jake75]

My 2007 T&C has a "lifetime" powertrain warranty. For awhile I thought that was going to be useless - but Chrysler survived. At the present time I plan on keeping that T&C for a long while - though given how little this senior citizen drives that may never be an issue anyway. If I happen to give it to one of my children, I will not change ownership as that warranty is not transferable.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by Salsa Guy »I've owned all flavors and years of this mini-van and to be honest I don't understand their direction. Looking at the Pacifica it a smaller Caravan but not by much. My biggest complaint with these beasts has been the transmissions. Once you get to 120K it will fail soon. The Pacifica is a whole different beast. More like a station wagon.