Going Practical Doesn't Mean Getting Boring
In 1995 I was driving a 1990 BMW 525i, but being that I owned an industrial linen supply business and often needed to transport large supplies of coveralls to companies up north, the BMW wouldn't do. Having few alternatives, the reality of moving 'up' to a minivan took hold.
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| Model year 1995 saw the last Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Chrysler Town & Country, to use the original K-car based architecture featured on the first 1984 Magic Vans. While much improved over this 2nd generation, the 3rd variation on Chrysler Group's minivan family displayed night to day advancements. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
What possible minivan could offer anywhere near the style I'd grown accustomed to, plus driving dynamics even remotely close to my BMW? Fortunately for me, Dodge was just launching its completely revised 1996 Caravan, relative to the Plymouth Voyager and upscale Chrysler Town & Country. Having poured more than 4 billion USD of research and development costs into maintaining top market share position, the new Chrysler Group vans not only looked the part but offered new features never before seen in the segment.
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| After billions spent on research and development to maintain top market share, the completely revised Caravan was launched in 1996. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
Remember the TV ad featuring kids throwing snowballs through both sliding side doors? I made sure my new Caravan had the double door option, an extremely handy convenience throughout my ownership. Now there isn't a minivan made, bar the VW Eurovan, that doesn't feature dual sliding side doors. The Chrysler vans featured a track that was virtually hidden amid the lower frame of the rear window, a clever design element. The doors also latched open, no matter the incline, not sliding forward until released.
Being that my van was to be a work/family truck, I didn't sign up for a lot of fancy options. I purchased an upgrade featuring power windows, power door locks with remote access and air conditioning - top-tier vans featured automatic climate control with separate driver/front passenger controls, among other luxury and convenience options. With extras in mind, I wish I had sprung for the top-line Infiniti audio system having heard it in a friends van, but to be fair my stock system was fairly decent.