In the Avenger, the 3.6L is ill-suited to this car's chassis. In the T&C, not so. Some torque steer does creep into the steering wheel under medium to hard acceleration, but it's nowhere near as bad as in the Avenger. And then comes the transmission.
Mated to the extra oomph over the outgoing 251-hp, 4.0L V6, this autobox has race-like gearing: engine rpms drop little between 2nd, 3rd and 4th, sustaining the engine in its juicy power spot. Passing manoeuvres are brisk, but driven this way, the T&C looses composure. Also, the powertrain is best suited to a smooth driver. The minivan hates to be rushed as it gets agitated, even unruly.
That last part has nothing to do with speed. In town, the 'box would oftentimes hunt for gears and on occasion, driveline jerks were felt when shuffling between “D” and “R”. What's more, I found many more rattles than expected from the hatch, seats and trim.
Truly and honestly, the T&C and GC are competent minivans. Of the lot, the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are the only two with equal or better build quality, but if bang-for-the-buck is high on the priority list, the Grand Caravan cannot be beat.
This is what hurts the $40,000 T&C ($52,000 as tested). Chrysler is typically generous where discounts and deals are concerned, but the fact remains that the T&C is not necessary, at least not in Canada.
Mated to the extra oomph over the outgoing 251-hp, 4.0L V6, this autobox has race-like gearing: engine rpms drop little between 2nd, 3rd and 4th, sustaining the engine in its juicy power spot. Passing manoeuvres are brisk, but driven this way, the T&C looses composure. Also, the powertrain is best suited to a smooth driver. The minivan hates to be rushed as it gets agitated, even unruly.
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| This is what hurts the $40,000 T&C ($52,000 as tested). (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
That last part has nothing to do with speed. In town, the 'box would oftentimes hunt for gears and on occasion, driveline jerks were felt when shuffling between “D” and “R”. What's more, I found many more rattles than expected from the hatch, seats and trim.
Truly and honestly, the T&C and GC are competent minivans. Of the lot, the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are the only two with equal or better build quality, but if bang-for-the-buck is high on the priority list, the Grand Caravan cannot be beat.
This is what hurts the $40,000 T&C ($52,000 as tested). Chrysler is typically generous where discounts and deals are concerned, but the fact remains that the T&C is not necessary, at least not in Canada.
2011 Chrysler Town & Country Limited
2011 Chrysler Town & Country Limited
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