2008 Chrysler Town & Country
After 2,500 km, four provinces, 13 hours behind the wheel — each way, not including side trips — as well as several trips to the big box stores on our return, my respect for the cultural love-it-or-hate-it icon that is the minivan is renewed.
The 2008 Chrysler Town & Country is, I kid not, more luxurious than my first apartment (the floors are straighter too). Ours was equipped with two rows of captain’s chairs, Swivel ’n Go seating, a third-row bench that flipped down into the floor, MyGIG infotainment system, nav system, dual DVD screens, rearview conversation mirror, standard flashlight, and so many cubbies and cupholders, it was all we could do to fill them all … We managed, somehow!
We flipped the third row of seats into the floor, creating a flat floor cargo area that we did our level best to stuff full. It’s a smart, easy process that involves pulling three well labelled straps and flipping when required.
Turns out the passenger side footwell is also a good place to store stuff — so enormous it housed not only my feet, but my purse and a garbage bag too.
We left our Whitby home, 50 km east of Toronto, on Saturday at about noon. By 1 a.m. Sunday morning, we were parked at the ferry dock in Saint John, New Brunswick, awaiting an 8 a.m. crossing to Digby, Nova Scotia. We reclined the big, cushy captain’s chairs, shared a blanket in the frosty morning, and actually caught some pretty good Zs.
During the week, we went west one day, along the French Coast to Yarmouth. East another, along the Evangeline Trail to Cape Split (gorgeous). Another day, we headed through the dense centre of the province to Halifax, Lunenburg and Peggy’s Cove.
All this is by way of saying we spent a LOT of time in the T & C. Amazingly, except for the fatigue inherent in driving for 12 or 13 hours at a stretch, the T & C provided such a comfortable environment that we got out, stretched our legs and started a new day none the worse for wear.
Since we had the vehicle and were itching to add a few bucks to the vacation budget, we made further good use of it on our return. One day’s outing was to procure a whole buncha bags of top soil for the garden. Oh, and we somehow managed to accidentally buy a 42-inch plasma TV on the way home. The vehicle swallowed it all — and getting the new TV out wasn’t even much of a chore, thanks to the sliding side doors.
The next day, it took four of us — me, boyfriend Danny, and two store staffers — to figure out how to “Tetris” our backyard goodies in there, but yes, we managed: patio set with six chairs (and not the folding kind, either), umbrella and glass-topped table (in box), as well as a Drink Butler so heavy I think it’s made of iron, a laughing Buddha statue (couldn’t resist), and a chaise longue.
We tried to make use of the MyGIG infotainment system, but we couldn’t make it get along with our iPods. It’s a hard drive system whose controls are a bit convoluted, but the idea is to download MP3 files to be played back over the sound system.
Perhaps our iPods aren’t indexed very well, because after giving it a good 45 minutes on a couple occasions to download it all, the task proved too much for MyGIG. My iPod wouldn’t register at all and Danny’s would register but without an option to download specific playlists. We didn’t find it very user-friendly and ended up using the aux input.
The nav system was otherwise comprehensive, easy to figure out and well used as we made our way around the western end of an unfamiliar province. Even the most obscure dirt tracks showed up.
Our only quality complaint — while we appreciated the versatility of a sliding floor console that could be moved between the first and second row, my first attempt at opening one of its cubbies resulted in the lid’s coming off in my hand. We never could figure out how to snap it back in, although it didn’t appear to be broken.
The Swivel ’n Go seating, which allows you to face the two centre captain’s chairs rearward and insert a table into a notch in the floor, is a nifty idea we didn’t end up using much, but it was simple enough to operate when we did. The table and its pillar tucked into bays in the floor in front of the seats when not in use. The third row bench seat can be faced backwards if tailgating is your thing, although we kept it folded (flat) into the floor most of the time.
The 4.0-litre V6 provided smooth power from all 251 of its horses, and combined with a six-speed automatic, did the performance job you want from a minivan — that is, virtually erased it from your consciousness. We really didn’t have to give it a second thought. Just passed when it occurred to us, stopped cleanly when required, and enjoyed the smart shifts of a transmission that worked quietly and cleanly.
It’s all very pretty too, with tasteful brushed metal accents and wood trim, striking analogue gauges and simple controls. Standard safety features abound.
I know, I know, minivans are still a drag, and you don’t want to drive one because your mother drives one, and how uncool is she? But, folks, if you’ve got a big family, a big life, or big plans for a big road trip, there are few better ways to do it in style than in a minivan like this one.
Summary:
Strong Points
Weak Points
- - space, space, space
- - decent performance
- - all the comforts of home
- - MyGIG didn't rock my world
- - bins & cubbies a bit plasticky
Editors Rating:
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