A little more than year ago the notion of a video system in a minivan seemed like some kind of curiosity, but now there are eight videovans and it's unlikely this will be the end of it.
With DaimlerChrysler's three minivans getting into the boat with the three models from GM, the aftermarket system on the Ford Windstar (with Explorer and other sport-utes to follow soon), and Nissan's built-in system on the Quest, it's clear that the videovan is a techno-toy whose time has come.
Last week we reported that GM of Canada added the Chevrolet Warner Brothers and Pontiac MontanaVision models to a lineup that had already boasted the first videovan, the Oldsmobile Silhouette Premiere.
Now there are videovan versions of Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country to tell you about, which DaimlerChrysler says offer "entertainment to go." The company hopes to appeal to the "feature creatures" who are minivan buyers by offering the system through its Mopar original equipment replacement parts division, which means it can be added to new units as well as existing units, as long as they're 1998 vintage or after.
Because it's not built-in like GM's units, DaimlerChrysler's system can be moved (or removed, if theft is a concern for you) around the vehicle to suit the situation. The system plays VHS tapes and comes with an overhead 6.4-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen that DaimlerChrysler says provides superior picture quality.