Chrysler minivans still top of class

By Richard Williamson

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

People's reactions to minivans never cease to amuse me.

Often I find that drivers who need this kind of transportation the most want it the least.

"I wouldn't be caught dead in that thing," a single mother of two boys informed me as I showed her the 2005 Chrysler Town & Country loaded with every imaginable feature you could want in utility vehicle, road car or luxury limo.

Another mother of two boys admitted that a minivan would be incredibly useful for her as she toted her 2-year-old's vast array of infantile accoutrements from place to place. But her vanity wouldn't allow her to make the leap, even though she and her husband belong to the upper-middle income demographic that these vehicles were originally designed for.

What kind of car did she dream of? A Lexus SC roadster.

By contrast, a young, heavily tattooed single man who works in construction thought the new T&C would be a great way for him and his friends to cruise the streets, thanks in no small part to the concert- hall acoustics, DVD entertainment system and the high-quality stereo with optional six-disc CD changer.

As for me, I am with my tattooed friend. I love minivans for all their spaciousness, comfort, storage capacity, ride height and the way they handle the roads.

The 2005 Dodge-Chrysler minivans take all those traits and boost them to unprecedented levels.

After investing $400 million into developing the new generation, Chrysler's showpiece is the Town & Country Touring version, a stretched wheelbase minivan that retains its amazingly attractive shell while adding 15 new features that are sure to frustrate the competition.

All the big headlines this year go to the "Stow 'n Go" seating that allows the user to fold the second and third-row seats into the floor using only one hand. The result is a totally flat floor that creates a cargo bay so grand that you can forget about borrowing your neighbor's pickup truck.

When second-row seats are in the upright position, two large storage bins provide 12 cubic feet of storage. Second-row storage bins also come with lids to keep items concealed.

The features that tend to wow friends and neighbors the most, however, are the power sliding side doors and automated rear cargo door. By simply pushing the key fob, you can open both side doors and the rear door simultaneously. The opening and closing of the rear liftgate comes with a beeping sound to warn you to stand clear.

The minivan power plants have remained fairly constant through the years, with the 3.3 liter V6 powering the standard versions and the 215-horsepower, 3.8 liter V6 motivating the long-wheelbase minivans.

The 3.8-liter engine still feels remarkably strong and smooth, climbing the torque curve through a four-speed automatic transmission that moves seamlessly through the shift points.

Twenty years after Chrysler invented the category, the automaker has sold more than 10 million minivans and is fighting to maintain a 38 percent market share. .

2005 TOWN AND COUNTRY

TYPE: Seven-passenger minivan.

PRICE: $27,070 base, $31,750 as tested.

POWER: 3.8 liter, 215-horsepower V6 engine; four-speed auto transmission.

FUEL ECONOMY: 18 city, 25 highway mpg; estimated annual fuel cost $1,050.

LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 200.5 x 78.6 x 68.8 inches.

WHEELBASE X TRACK: 119.3 x 63 inches.

STANDARD: Power sliding side doors; front/side air bags; rear window defroster; tire pressure warning system; power windows/locks/ mirrors; cruise control; tilt steering; eight-way power driver's seat; remote keyless entry; steering-wheel mounted audio controls; AM/ FM/CD/six-speaker stereo; roof rack; tinted glass.

Copyright 2004
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