Dodge Grand Caravan Review (long post) – B+

So this last week I was part of this test drive program, and got to drive the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan for a week. I really wanted to love this car. I was so excited to get it, and when it arrived it was so sparkly and cool and new. But I just didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it either. There were some things I really loved about it, and some things that were great in concept, but execution was somewhat lacking. Overall, I would say this new edition brings Dodge up to be competitive with the level of the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. But it could have been better.

First, a few things you need to know. I have a 2004 Toyota Sienna and LOVE it. I have three kids – ages 1, 3, and 5. While we currently have an entertainment system in our minivan, it is only used for trips over 2 hours. However, for this test drive, we let the kids watch tv/videos when we were just driving around, to test it out.

The other big thing to know. The minivan they gave me had some problems. As they told me when they dropped it off – the doors were acting weird – automatic open not always working, although both could be done manually. The automatic stow and go was not working. Given that the car only had 3500 miles on it, this definitely gave me some pause. I mean, I know a lot of different people have driven it, but still, I’m surprised stuff was already going wrong. That said…

There were several things I loved about the car. However, they are features you can now get on many high-end cars. 1) backup camera. Anytime the car was in reverse the backup camera images popped up on the center console screen. VERY cool. Made parallel parking (even in a big minivan) easy. 2) Remote start. This was so cool. It was cold this week. I loved being able to turn the car on from inside the house and let it warm up. 3) Center console media center – on the center console there is a big video screen. It contains all the media/gps you could even need. Easy to use/easy to see. The car had satellite radio and satellite tv. Very cool features. Although I doubt I would ever pay the monthly fee – certainly not for the tv. But it was nice to not have to have videos with us. But I would hardly ever use that in real life. The GPS was great too, and the satellite radio included traffic updates which was great in our congested city.

There were several things I loved the idea of, but could use some more refining. 1) Swivel seats and table. Everyone I mentioned this car too asked about the table first. I was excited about it too. So when they delivered the van, I asked them to setup the table and swivel the seats, so as soon as I picked up the kids they’d see it. The marketing people said, “you have three kids? You can’t use the table. Not enough room.” I was like, “what??!! The commercial shows 4 kids around it.” I had them set it up. Sadly, she was mostly right. The table is a great idea. But with kids in car seats, and small backseat area, the table was pretty crowded. When the kids are just in boosters or less it will probably be better, but then there will be leg room issues. That said, my kids loved being able to color back there while I was driving. With about 3-5 more inches, it would have been perfect. Set up and removal of the table were pretty easy – but difficult with car seats in there. The table stows easily in floorboard storage. The swivel seats were cool. Even without the table, the kids like facing each other. Of course, the back-facing row couldn’t watch tv. 2) Automatic stow and go. Again, great idea, but it was not working in the car I got. We did get it to go once, and it was very cool. No more pulling and pushing on the seats. But if it is broken in a car with only 3500 miles, how reliable is it?

The trunk space is very big. In fact, I wish they would take a few inches out and put them in the backseat. But it is probably all needed for the stow and go. There are lots of great storage spaces in the car, and they use every bit. Lots of cup holders too and great in floor storage units. They have a backseat conversation mirror (I call it the bus driver mirror) that is great - even better than the one in my Sienna, and behind it you can stow your sunglasses. There is cool ambient lighting in the back that is nice. The car drives well. It handles as well, if not better than the Toyota due to a V6 engine - although the Sienna has a better turning radius.

Overall rating – B+ I wanted to really love this car. It was good. They thought of everything, at least in the fully loaded model I drove. The extras are great. The storage is great. If you take alot of road trips or have a very long commute with kids in tow, this is a great car for you.

DH will probably weigh in with his thoughts...

Test Drive Dummy

So, I was recently selected to partake in a marketing campaign for Dodge Grand Caravan. In fact they suggested I was "one of only 50 influential women in the Washington" selected - hee hee! Anyways, I get to drive the van for a week, and then tell them what I think of it. For those who haven't seen the commercial the Caravan is the cool minivan with the table and the swivel seats. I can't wait to try it out. I will let you know how I feel about it once I get it... We have a Sienna right now that I love, but that table and swivel seats sure sounds amazing!

My Crazy Life

So 90% of the time, the whole family commutes together. We all drive in, they drop me off at the office, then they go to hubby's office, where all three kids also attend daycare/preschool. In the afternoon, I walk over to his office, pick up the kids, and go home.

In the summer I maybe take my own car once a week, because DH is playing softball when we need to get the kids. Well, yesterday was one of those days. I drive my own car in (kids waving and blowing kisses from their car as we drive side-by-side) and park at work. 5:00 comes, and I finish up my work. At about 5:25 I leave the office and head over to his office. By foot. In the 95-degree, 110% humidity. I am not happy in my black pin-stripe pantsuit. I get over there about 5:35, walk around gathering the kids supplies, and am surprised to see our stroller in the lobby. Usually DH leaves it in his office.

At that moment it hits me. The car is back at MY office. DAMN. It is now too late to walk back, get the car, drive back, park and get the kids out of daycare by 6pm. So..i fill the kids sippy cups with water, gather everyone up, and tell them "Yayy..time for an Adventure!" We all leave the building and start heading to my office (about 6-7 blocks away). One block into it (the girls are walking, big man is in the stroller), my middle daughter says "mommy, its too hot, pick me up!". I just say no..mommy can't carry both of them, so we can walk slow, but we have to walk. They were remarkably good about it. We did all walk over to my office, I rewarded them with cream shakes from the Starbucks in our lobby, which we drank in front of my office fountain. Then we made a stop at the "cookie store" (Harris Teeter - local grocery which provides free cookies at the door), and picked up some groceries. Made it home around 7pm.

Totally cracked DH up.

Not for the Faint of Heart

If you are easily grossed out STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW. If you are eating, you probably should come back to this too. This is really truly gross and gives me the creeps every time I think of it. Why am I sharing? Misery loves company.

So on Thursday we are driving our beloved PT Cruiser to work. We don't get to drive the little guy much, as the three kids pretty much have to be pried into the back seat. But we were driving it that day. As we went through the tunnel we take on the way to work we started to hear a funny noise in the A/C. When we came out of the tunnel there was a distinctive thudding noise. We thought, oh great, stopped using the A/C and figured we'd call the mechanic. Didn't use the A/C again that day and promptly forgot about it as we went back to driving the van.

On Saturday I took the car out for a quick trip to the store, turned on the A/C before remembering and got a yucky odor. Sadly, a familiar yucky odor -- dead animal. Got the car home, mentioned it to DH, and forgot about it again. It was probably 95 degrees on Sunday.

Monday I call the mechanic and we drop off the car Monday night. They call yesterday with the verdict. Dead mouse in the fan. Easy $85 fix. Here's the gross part (as if a dead mouse weren't bad enough). Due to the excessive heat there were now maggots and bugs all throughout the ventilation of the car and in the car. Say it with me, EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Mechanic dealt with the broken fan and left instructions on how to deal with the rest. DH is a saint and was the one to drive the car home from the shop. Last night it was too dark and late to deal with. Tonight we will use gloves to dispose of everything in the car, and then set off a bug bomb. We also have to open the hood, and where they have no covered the fan with a screen, spray it with high powered bug spray. Then we need to go into the car and turn on the AC to circulate said stuff throughout the system.

Needless to say it may be a week or more until we drive the little guy again. My friend at work said she would just sell the car.

YUCK!