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Geez,

I'm sorry you folks had such a bad time with your T&C.  Seemed like it did all the things a 'minivan' should do, but ya still didn't like it!

I have one of these, in a 'lesser' Touring version, with the 3.8, and the Stow 'n Go seats....which REALLY are appreciated, after having two previous vans without such a feature.  Your option list doomed you from the start!

The table and chairs feature and the 'utility van' features are mutually exclusive, as you found out, or only 'convertible' with a great deal of grunt work to make the conversion.

...and the tire wear....what in heck did you folks DO to that van?  Mine has about the same mileage as your tire replacement point, and they still look like new!  My average fuel mileage is about what yours is.....and yes, I've tracked it since new.....and it's right in line with my old 1953 MGTD!

No, it doesn't handle like an Odyssey...but nearly....and the power doors work manually, very easily....not like the Honda (which I happen to like, as well)

Yes, the plasticky parts are not terribly cool, but it does ride and drive well for touring.....recently from Seattle to Tucscon and back...about 4k miles...and all was very well!

The capper is that mine cost about $20k LESS than yours, without all the trickery, and is really a better vehicle for it.....no, I don't transport a tribe of rug rats in it.....I'm over 70!

I use it as my everyday 'car', and its versatility serves me very well, from my model airplane hobby to moving furniture...and 'stuff'...I haven't put a motorcycle in it....I prefer a trailer for that.

Anyhow, even with the current Chrysler problems...although Fiat could be a saviour...I like the van.  I'd really like an M-B V-Class with a turbodiesel, but alas, I fear that will never make it across the water....particularly at an affordable price...but they're all over Europe!

It's always interesting to see another view of one's vehicle choice, but I'm sorry it fell so far down your list.  It's really a very good car/van.

Dave Gardner  

Mr. Gardner,
You bring up some very good points about how the extensive options list of our Four Seasons Town & Country had a negative effect on our test, at least in some ways. However, we felt it was our duty to load up the Chrysler so that we could test all of the latest features.

Late in our T&C's time with us, we sampled a short-term Caravan with the Stow 'N Go seating. Read our impressions on that Caravan here.

As someone who's put thousands of hard miles on every generation of Chrysler minivan, though, I was still impressed by the usefulness and versatility of our Four Seasons T&C. That said, I have told a number of people in the market for such a vehicle to forgo the Swivel 'N Go option unless they're certain that they'd use it frequently.

By the way, I get about the same mileage as our Town & Country (21 mpg) in my 1967 MGB/GT. I expect the B's economy to improve once I can find a carburetor grose jet that does its job through the entire rev range, though. More about that HERE.