My wife, Jennifer, and I almost never agree on vehicles. For instance, I love minivans, as they're the most practical vehicles on the planet, and I kind of don't have much to accomplish in the way of  | | For a minivan, Chrysler's new 2008 Town and Country does look good. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) |
attracting any other members of the opposite sex anymore. Alternatively, she likes crossover SUVs because they're relatively practical but don't yet carry the soccer-mom stigma of minivans. Maybe it's because she's now maturing gracefully into her mid-30s and is beginning to accept what I've long accepted regarding marriage, kids and the family dog, or possibly it's because she actually thinks the new 2008 Town and Country looks more like an SUV than a minivan, but whatever the reason something is occurring that almost never does ... we like the same vehicle. And I'd better strike while the proverbial iron's hot, as her love affair with Chrysler's latest, greatest van may fade away before we ever buy anything new.
Argh! But there's one more problem, Jennifer likes Swivel 'n Go and I would rather have Stow 'n Go. Always the gamester she loves the idea of playing card and board games with the kids while I'm driving, and I want the more utilitarian  | | But could Jennifer and I agree on the best seating system for our needs? No doubt the kids would petition too. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) |
seating system for all of my trips to Home Depot ... not. Well, at least I like the idea of taking trips to the hardware store to pick up building supplies for that finished basement that I never seem to get around to starting and that shed in the backyard that remains an urban myth ... not to mention for hauling music gear to gigs for that band that I'm going to reunite one of these days ... yeah, she's gonna win this one, isn't she? Then again, both of us took note of the larger, more comfortable second row seats in the Swivel 'n Go van, where the Stow 'n Go's second row seats only reach up the back about three-quarters of the way and can feel a little less comfortable for adults and larger teens. On the other hand, the Swivel 'n Go seats are best for the smaller set as adults will find their knees rubbing up against each other (could be fun I suppose), although we were OK as long as we staggered adults and kids ... though prepare yourself to be kicked once in a while. I also had trouble getting the table leg out of its protruding metal mooring, having to leave it in place when returning it because it wouldn't budge. Probably just a problem with my test van, but still disappointing. Which one's more popular in the market? Sales results show a 31 percent take-rate  | | Ralph Gilles, the project's head designer, showed how easy fixing the table into its metal mount is... but I found getting it back out a challenge. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) |
for Swivel 'n Go through October of this year, which is impressive but also it might be too early to judge sales over the long term as early adaptors that buy first-year vehicles immediately upon release tend to buy the newest features too.
I drove the TandC down in Southern California during the media press launch last summer, and while I immediately whipped off a story about the Grand Caravan, being the biggest seller of the two market-leading vans, and therefore the more important, now that Chrysler's version is sitting in my driveway and Jennifer came in raving about it as the “ultimate vehicle” adding “can we take it to Utah to see my sister this week”, I got to thinking about its importance in the scheme of things at Chrysler Group, and how critical it is for the Auburn Hills manufacturer to maintain its product philosophy of the Chrysler brand targeting a luxury audience, Dodge being for sport-oriented vehicles and Jeep focusing on off-road and recreational buyers,  | | Chrysler's image is definitely the most luxurious of the three brands, resulting in the minivan segment's nicest looking interior. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) |
and I'm not just referring to the argument for building multiple vehicles on the same architecture for economies of scale.
Recent talk on the electronic rumor mill says that Chrysler Group's new owner, Cerberus, is considering reducing the company's product range by dropping duplicate models, with the outcome resulting in Chrysler becoming the car brand, Dodge being the truck and SUV division, and Jeep continuing on as the world's 4x4 leader. I immediately felt this would be a grave mistake, and probably mark the end of the automaker as we know it, if undertaken. My point? There's something to be said for the business case that has Chrysler group selling different versions of more or less the same vehicle, especially when it comes to styling and features. This TandC van, for instance, is very different in appearance from the Grand Caravan, at least from the front. You see, I've already brought home the Grand Caravan  | | The interior detailing is very nice, and other than some cheaper quality plastics the TandC is truly an upscale experience. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) |
with most of the same features as this Town and Country, but Jennifer complained about having to drive a minivan. Don't tell her, but this is more or less the identical vehicle, yet due to Chrysler's classy chrome grille, beautiful faux bird's eye maple and aluminum accented interior and full load of fabulous features, she's in love with it. Jennifer also loved the Sebring Convertible and I, well, don't like it much at all, but I like the way the Avenger looks and Jennifer wouldn't give it the time of day. I know many who swoon over Chrysler's 300 and abhor the Charger, and others, like my dear Mom, who wanted the (soon to be defunct) Pacifica so much she bought Chrysler's press car almost right out from under me, where others wouldn't go near it, but are now interested in Dodge's new Journey. I could go on, but I guess you get my point. Jennifer and I might very well become Town and Country owners, giving Chrysler Group one more critical sale, where if the company only made a Grand Caravan we'd still be swapping press cars each week wondering when we'll ever agree on anything strongly enough to sign on the dotted line ... not that we're ever going to stop swapping press cars if we buy the TandC.
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