Learn Me Chrysler Pacifica / Town Country / Caravan future

I saw the new Chrysler Pacifica at the Auto Show earlier this year (pre-launch) and was intrigued. Last week, driving by a local dealer, I saw they had a Pacifica on the lot so I turned around and went back. It was the first and only one on the lot. The salesman seemed as interested in it as much as I was. He had not yet been in it so we took it for a spin. It was a mid level to high mid level model with a $38k price. It was very nice and then I drove the nearly identically equipped (also $38k) current model T&C back to back on the exact same loop.

Both were a metallic dark grey with a tan/black leather interior.
The Pacifica was significantly quieter on the road. The loop included one steep hill and though the two have the same drive train the T&C seemed more labored to get up the hill. We both agreed on this and all we could figure was that it was either weight or more likely aero.
The dashboard on the Pacifica is much lower than the T&C which gave much better sense of visibility over the T&C. Not as low as a '90s Honda/Acura but still much lower which I liked.

My interest is that a larger minivan could be in order here as a replacement for my wife's Mazda5.
I wonder if there will be "give-a-way" deals and incentives to move out the last of the T&C's?
I am intrigued by the $22k MSRP for the stripped Caravan. That seems like a lot of vehicle for the price. Add in any incentive and I wonder if sub $20k is possible.
The stripped out Pacifica is quite a bit higher priced.

This also leads me to wonder, Chrysler did not name the new van the T&C. Could it be possible that the T&C will continue to be made along with the Pacifica and the T&C serve as the fleet and value leader version?
Does anyone have inside knowledge if the T&C will continue? Maybe continue as a Dodge only?
Will Dodge get a version of the Pacifica?

Production continues for another year.....

http://www.autonews.com/article/20150622/OEM04/306229983/dodge-plans-to-produce-17-minivan

DeadSkunk wrote: Production continues for another year..... http://www.autonews.com/article/20150622/OEM04/306229983/dodge-plans-to-produce-17-minivan

I have a feeling this was to appease Dodge dealers who I am sure more than a little PO'd at the prospect of losing their minivan. In the end, I wouldn't be surprised if Dodge ends up with a Caravan version of the new Pacifica.

The article says there were 29K sold in the US in 5 months and that's down, so 60-70K might be normal annually. Additionally, the Dodge version held 55% of the Canadian minivan market all by itself. That's another 52K units. They'll certainly be building something with a Dodge name plate.

In reply to DeadSkunk:

Good find! Thanks.
Makes sense to me. The Pacifica starts at $27k and can easily be pushed into $40k+.
I see where the Chrysler can be positioned as the Lux people mover and the old Caravan can be pushed as the value proposition people mover with lots of versions being less than $27k.

I also see where FCA will likely dump a whole lot of Caravans onto the rental market and rip the bottom out of the Caravan resale market.
My smarter money may be to wait for those rental versions to come to the used car lots.
Or, the incentives at the end of the run may really big so a "new" purchase could be good too.

Interesting comparison. I saw the new T&C on the road a few weeks ago. It looked better than the magazine pics I've seen.

The Pacifica "seemed" to be wider and lower than the T&C.
When I say seemed, I am not sure if the measurements support this but the Pacifica seemed much less top heavy and the floor (and seating position) seemed to be lower.
The Pacifica seemed more agile too.

Keep in mind the depreciation on the current 5th gen vans, I bought ours at 18-months old, with 58k, for 50% of MSRP. They're generally well-regarded vans, so the depreciation is more related to production numbers than anything else.

My hunch is the new 6th gen vans won't start off selling quickly, they'll need some time on the streets to prove themselves.

An interesting side note that I stumbled on. In the Canadian market for 2015 ,FCA was the #1 seller of vehicles, outselling Ford (2nd) and GM (3rd).

http://www.canadianautodealer.ca/2016/01/fca-tops-sales-charts-for-2015/

Just saw a truckload of the Pacificas, I'm not feeling it. Are they all hybrid as was suggested in the sneak peeks? If so I can warm up to it lol....

What I drove was not hybrid. I even forgot that was a thing on these.

Edit: I checked the Pacifica website, there is no Hybrid version offered. Maybe this is something planned for the future or could this have been pre-launch type hype?

JohnRW1621 wrote: What I drove was not hybrid. I even forgot that was a thing on these. Edit: I checked the Pacifica website, there is no Hybrid version offered. Maybe this is something planned for the future or could this have been pre-launch type hype?

30 mile all-electric range, coming to a Pacifica near you within a year or so:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1101960_2017-chrysler-pacifica-hybrid-more-details-on-30-mile-plug-in

As mentioned, the hybrid version comes later. It also uses the Stow-n-Go wells for the batteries, so it loses that function. As much as I'd like the 30 mile range (would make my commute up here in NH an all-electric drive), my GC spends 90% of the time with all of the seats "stowed", that would be a deal-killer for me. And currently living in an apt on the 3rd floor, manually yanking the seats ain't happening.

Gotta wonder what the premium will be for the hybrid over the gas engine. I'd be all in for a minivan that has a 30 mile electric range. My wife's commute is 15 miles round trip. But if it's ridiculously expensive, it's not worth it. I don't care all that much about the Stow-n-Go. 99% of the time, our middle seats are in. In fact, I took them out this weekend for the first time since we bought our current Sedona...and we've had it over a year.

Just be warned that stripped Caravans may not include things like rear HVAC and A/C. We agreed to buy one privately, and then backed out based on discovering this "feature".

Our (grossly over-rated) 2011 Honda Oddy doesn't have middle row stow and go. I HATE that. I'd live with it on the Pacifica because you're gaining something (hybrid functionality) at the expense of S&G. But yes, the extra $$ they will want is going to be critical.

Unless Chrysler has a rabbit up its sleeve with its hybrid system, I just don't see extraordinary mpg #s in such a heavy vehicle.

To each their own but I have used my '15 Grand Caravan as a pick-up truck many times thanks to stow n go. Especially nice when it's raining or snowing out as the cargo stays dry. Then in an instant, I can flip the seats back up and haul the little ones around.

I think the rabbit up its sleeve is the Volt-style hybrid system, with a large battery pack and ability to travel 30 miles on electricity alone. That would make it possibly equivalent to 100+mpg around town.

I'm eagerly awaiting pricing on the Hybrid as well.

Klayfish wrote: Gotta wonder what the premium will be for the hybrid over the gas engine. I'd be all in for a minivan that has a 30 mile electric range. My wife's commute is 15 miles round trip. But if it's ridiculously expensive, it's not worth it.

Thing is, if the round trip is 15 miles... you're only talking 3600 miles a year of possible hybrid usage. If that cost is zero, and the normal drivetrain gets 20mpg, you're only saving $360.

dj06482 wrote: Just be warned that stripped Caravans may not include things like rear HVAC and A/C. We agreed to buy one privately, and then backed out based on discovering this "feature".

Oddly enough, my '08 GC is pretty much a stripper model except it has rear HVAC controls. I think Stow-n-Go was an option in '08 as well. Those are literally the only options it has. If there is one option I wish it had, it would be powered rear side windows, which would make airing out the van on a hot day go faster.

ProDarwin wrote:

Klayfish wrote: Gotta wonder what the premium will be for the hybrid over the gas engine. I'd be all in for a minivan that has a 30 mile electric range. My wife's commute is 15 miles round trip. But if it's ridiculously expensive, it's not worth it.

Thing is, if the round trip is 15 miles... you're only talking 3600 miles a year of possible hybrid usage. If that cost is zero, and the normal drivetrain gets 20mpg, you're only saving $360.

That's just her commute to work. The van gets plenty of other use...shuttle kids to practice, get groceries, family trips, etc... We've put 20k miles on it in the 13 months we've had it.

The great thing about a Volt-style hybrid is that 30 miles of range is all you need 90% of the time, but the range extending gas engine is there for when you need it.

Case in point, say you have a 30 mile round trip commute. Then you get home and you need to run some errands - that's on gas power right? Not necessarily. If you can plug in to your home Level 2 charge station while getting the kids ready/ stuff together, you'll have a good 15-20 miles more of electric range by the time you're ready to leave the house again.

Love the idea of a high-range hybrid van.

Still won't buy one unless it has Stow-n-go, I use that A LOT. Also the Pentastar is pretty thrifty.

How do you guys use stow n go so much? I have had the Seats out of my van once. It's a pain. I have three giant car seats and you need to move those beasts before you do anything with the seats.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: How do you guys use stow n go so much? I have had the Seats out of my van once. It's a pain. I have three giant car seats and you need to move those beasts before you do anything with the seats.

I think it's all about individual needs and use. If you're using it for nothing but kid transport, your need for stow n go may be a lot less. We've had a Kia Sedona for over 9 years now. No stow n go. In all that time, I've pulled the middle seats out maybe 10-15 times total. Just have very little need for it. 99% of the time, we're transporting our 3 kids around. Occasionally, we need to grab something that requires us to fold the 3rd seat down, but even that's not often...and it folds flat into the floor. Most often, we fold 1/2 of the 3rd row down to be able to fit all 3 kids and their gear/luggage (when we go on vacation mostly).