"Ike" (untitledcarshow)
06/12/2015 at 17:32 • Filed to: Minivans
2
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"Ike" (untitledcarshow)
06/12/2015 at 17:32 • Filed to: Minivans | 2
| 28 |
Who will save the minivan?
I bring up this question because it seems every generation has their “in-vogue” family hauler. So the ever loved wagon family car gave way to the minivan to the full sized SUV which gave way to the CUV to probably sedan or hatchback or who knows what is next.
Below is every minivan that is currently sold in the us (according to my information and does not include “city vans” a weird classification that the Ford transit connect and Nissan NV 200 fall in to)
Chrysler town and country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Mazda 5
Kia Sedona
Toyota Sienna
Nissan Quest
For the minivan to survive it needs people to buy them obviously; with the recent move towards CuVs such as the HR-V from Honda, I fear for their long term survival. In order for the market trend to come full circle minivan’s still need to be a production.
One way to ensure that is to increase minivan sales today. Now minivan marketing, caught in this weird in between zone where so many try and play up the family friendly nature of them were other manufacturers try make them something to be lusted after.
Don’t try and pander to moms,
So the marketing sucks, and that’s a big problem with minivans. If you want to attract people to them just advertise them like they advertise every other car. Throw some fake people going and “exploring” throw some quick shots of the cars and people having fun, and commercial!
So now that the marketing can be sorted out, we have to make it something people want to own after they are amazed by the great commercial. I mean all the current minivans are good no-non-sence family haulers, and that’s part of the problem! There are great cars out there that are great, because of the cars flaws. The Miata isn’t as powerful as most of its competitors; nor is it great looking IMHO, it’s not terrible good on fuel or cargo space, but it’s a blast to drive! It only has to be good at one thing!
So if we start a new redesign minivan what brand has the platforms and the crazy engineers to do right by the minivan? The brand that jumps out to me is Nissan.
Their engineers made the Juke-TR love child, so why not do the same thing to a minivan? I mean I would by that if I had the funds! So that’s gonna be expensive... And costly. So is there anything else Nissan has that they could throw a minivan body on? How about the G37x platform?
it’s a little on the small side so that’s no good, has to be awd/ fwd to be a minivan, really and those platforms otherwise from Nissan leave a lot to be desired.
So who else then? Ford? They have the Taurus/Explorer platform. That’s a good starting point,
Now I know what your saying “but they already have a SUV on that platform” you know what I have to say to that?
“Shut up”
See now it’s a tie!
Besides which platform sharing across 3 cars will help take out a lot of the R&D cost, There is already the Galaxy body over in Europe so that’s a head start; the vehicle will have a variety of engines and a AWD SHO mini van would be amazing! Because it would be worst then the other two, and that’s what it needs, a flaw. Minivans are the go to “no duh” response for people with kids, it’s an easy fit, it’s like a Camry. As much as we oppo’s likes to shit on the Camry for being boring, it’s boring for a reason, because it has no real flaws. So no one lust after one, will it win any one to its side? Will any one lust after it? No, and that’s thing; I want people lusting after minivans!
So I think better advertising + worst vehicles = minivans survival! Thoughts?
Ike is co-host of the Untitled Car Show ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) he has owned 2 dodge challengers, a Volvo C30 / V70XC/ V70R / 740 and a Saturn Ion. He is a new father and loves driving and autocrossing. He can jerry rig with the best of them, and he wrote his bio in third person. He also has 2 dogs, 2 cats and is a crazy person some say!
LongbowMkII
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 17:36 |
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AWD Taurus Minivan?
Have you met the Flex?
HammerheadFistpunch
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 17:38 |
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Minivans are selling pretty well currently, but it is time for the next design generation. Hybrid power, or diesel, lighter, etc. Something to shake things up
For Sweden
> LongbowMkII
06/12/2015 at 17:39 |
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Sliding doors on the flex would be neat.
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Ike
> LongbowMkII
06/12/2015 at 17:40 |
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Yes, good point it's basicly a minivan, but with out the right body.
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Ike
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/12/2015 at 17:43 |
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That's like the city van trend that's poping up, I think of them as the CUV to the SUV, I do think that's the way the industry is going (I'd rather have a gtr based mini van
noise
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 18:02 |
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They just seem like giant compromises to me.
I can’t imagine a scenario where a minivan would be a better decision than a transit connect or similar van, a station wagon, or an SUV.
Also, on the topic of your signature. Maybe i’m biassed as a new englander but i prefer Jury Rigged to describe my temporary fixes.
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Ike
> noise
06/12/2015 at 18:08 |
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Yeah, I think the issue is there good at every thing and a master of none, they need to get a shove to something worst to be better
AM
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 18:15 |
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I think the company credited for creating the minivan is going to be the one saving it. Talking about Chrysler Group of course. The next T&C is going to be a hybrid with an alleged rating of 70+ mpg. Pair that with Chryslers current design language and it might end up being a very nice minivan.
I think the Kia Sedona has a good chance as well, it looks good and is built pretty well from what I hear.
G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 18:17 |
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The inventor of the minivan shall, one day, save it as well. Long live the Chrysler minivan.
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Ike
> AM
06/12/2015 at 18:18 |
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Those are my favorite 2 current minivans, I would love if Chrysler can do a hybrid proper; they don't have a lot of examples of hybrids at the moment though
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Ike
> G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
06/12/2015 at 18:19 |
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Stow&go is the shit!
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G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 18:22 |
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Agreed. My friend and I went up to the local Chrysler dealer to see the Viper and 500 Abarth, and I demonstrated the Stow N Go to him. His response? “Damn, I need one of these!”
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AM
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 18:23 |
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I’m pretty sure they haven’t had a single hybrid since FCA took full control of the company.
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Ike
> G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
06/12/2015 at 18:24 |
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When my challenger was in the shop I always asked for the fiat 500 or a minivan love the stow and go
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Ike
> AM
06/12/2015 at 18:25 |
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That's what scares me when they do make one
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AM
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 18:26 |
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Ford’s leasing out their patents so if it doesn’t work out maybe FCA can ask them for some equipment?
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Ike
> AM
06/12/2015 at 18:34 |
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Let's hope so
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G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 18:35 |
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Isn’t it awesome?
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Ike
> G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
06/12/2015 at 18:41 |
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Yes one of the best inventions in vehicles Of recent
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G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 18:42 |
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I agree.
shawtimothyj
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 19:08 |
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I agree with your point about the flaws that make a car desireable. That’s what causes my lust for a Mazda5 (for the family, not my car). I love the less-is-more appeal—how much storage space do i really need? The same has been said in recent reviews of the Transit Connect “wagon”...
There it is, what i’m really lusting after are wagons with sliding doors
TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 19:17 |
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Solution - make a minivan that has a luxurious interior, preferably with captain chairs for singular individual comfort. As the owner of your new minivan, it is suggested you pay to hire a driver, preferably a South East Asian, preferably a Filipino.
Note - this does not have to be restricted to the Toyota Alphard, its stablemate the Vellfire is equally plush and luxurious. This driver will then be capable of ferrying you and your brood around, although it is recommended that families start having less than 3 children in order to comfortably accommodate everyone and their shopping. You want to sell minivans? This is how you sell them in Hong Kong. They’re everywhere.
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Ike
> shawtimothyj
06/12/2015 at 19:18 |
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Sliding doors are amazing when you have cargo or children, especially if they open automatically
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Ike
> TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
06/12/2015 at 19:20 |
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Well I’m off to Hong Kong cause that Interior is amazing
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noise
> Ike
06/12/2015 at 20:32 |
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I mean when they came out they were an excellent alternative to suvs which were giant body on frame monsters that drove like tractors and got single digit mpgs, or vans which were giant commercial vehicles that drove like cement mixers and also got single digit mpgs, but all that were really were really tall wagons with all the disadvantages associated like worse mpg
Now with suvs getting great mpgs and euro style vans I just don’t see the benefit. Suvs drive like cars now and vans get good mileage. Your essentially buying a sliding door, which is great don’t get me wrong, I just think their niche has been encroached
BaconSandwich is tasty.
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/12/2015 at 23:33 |
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I’m 100% with this. It’s more than high-time that someone made a plug-in hybrid minivan.
X37.9XXS
> Ike
06/13/2015 at 08:50 |
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If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire...
Vimto
> Ike
06/20/2015 at 10:17 |
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The Mazda5 is in its last year for the U.S., not sure about other countries but it’s being discontinued here.