Just rented a Dodge Caravan (a sad observation)

[Cujet]

I rent every week. I often get to choose nice or interesting cars.

This week, I had no choice, a Dodge Caravan with the 3.6L engine and 6 speed automatic. I drove it from NJ to the back roads of CT. AND it was fun! The engine was super responsive, the van handled the corners really well and it was a tire spinning monster, and plenty fast. In fact, it ripped the RF tire loose in 2nd gear around a mild corner. (traction control off, of course)

The sad part of this is that exactly Zero, affordable cars made today drive like this. With major throttle response, instant shifts, plenty of instant power, and responsive steering. They are all "numbed" down for "eco" reasons or some other nonsense.

It really makes me wonder why manufacturers can't make cars fun to drive anymore.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
The sad part of this is that exactly Zero, affordable cars made today drive like this. With major throttle response, instant shifts, plenty of instant power, and responsive steering. They are all "numbed" down for "eco" reasons or some other nonsense.

I believe the "eco" reasons are what the market wants - a result of high gas prices. For millions of people sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic every day, things like "major throttle response, plenty of instant power, responsive steering" mean little.

Quote:

It really makes me wonder why manufacturers can't make cars fun to drive anymore.

The new Caddy ATS with the 3.6 liter engine is supposed to be fun. Not sure I'd call it affordable though.

 

[sciphi]

They do still make fun to drive cars that are fairly affordable. Problem is, finding them with the manual transmission so the driver can decide on the fly whether they want eco or power is getting harder. And the cars with automatics that are willing to play get dinged as "buzzy" or offer comparatively poor fuel economy.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
...it ripped the RF tire loose in 2nd gear around a mild corner. (traction control off, of course).


Sounds like my Wife parking our Odyssey in the garage.

I've heard the 3.6L and 6spd auto is a nice combo in these vans.

I know I was intrigued by the new Caravan recently when browsing the lots, waiting for my Subaru to get it's State inspection down.

Dodge dealer had some new base model Caravans with the 3.6L/6spd. Just my style, right down to the plastic wheel covers. Sticker price was just over $21K IIRC. Not bad at all.

Joel

 

[Spazdog]

Stop it.

Don't post stuff like this....actually made me consider a Caravan R/T for a minute.

 

[itguy08]

For the Love of God man, seek professional assistance.... FUN driving Minivan? You need help ASAP!

 

[typ901]

I just had one a week ago for a rental, and I would not say it was fun. Better than the Toyota Sienna I had earlier for a day, but my only part of enjoyment was returning it to Hertz.

 

[brentalan]

The Sonic Turbo with the manual is supposed to be responsive and fun to drive while being affordable. I haven't driven it myself, but all the major reviews I've read say it is.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I was surprised to find the new (13?) Kia Forte 4dr rental I had in SW florida this November was phenomenal - the best subcompact/compact? I'd driven - thought its styling was a bit ordinary - And its was an Auto(!) Slaughters any of the low end market Japanese/Domestic competition. Near Perfect. Made my much more pricy '12 Fit feel like a well worn horse cart.

 

[dishdude]

A 200/Avenger can be had with the same powertrain combo, and they certainly are affordable.

 

[UNC017]

The 3.6 is really an amazing piece of work. It needs a 6-speed, although I fully understand why they put the more robust 5-speed (NAG-1) behind it in rear-drive truck/SUV apps like the Grand Cherokee. I haven't had the pleasure of a 3.6 in a Charger with the 8-speed yet, but I hear its a blast. No wonder its selling so much better than the 3.5 or (heaven help the people that bought one) the 2.7.

Now back to front-drives... if you think the 3.6 it fun in a Caravan, try it in an Avenger! Now the Avenger is an antiquated platform with a whole laundry list of shortcomings, don't get me wrong. But it almost reminds me of a mid-60s muscle car- the 3.6 is just WAY more engine than an Avenger it needs or probably should have, and the result is a heck of a lot of fun even if its unrefined and almost dangerous without the traction control on.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Would ithe 3.6 Avenger remind me of my old 81 Citation X-11 but on steriods and 100 shot of Nitrous? Yeah, dats what I yam tawkin' about

 

[Smokescreen]

I have driven in new Caravans and have to agree the pep and power are there...however every singe one gets a rattle near the doors or the doors themselves in very short order...and I hate rattles.


The biggest fault of the Avenger...is its name. Its not a superhero, it avenges nothing, but it does go like stink.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I haven't had the pleasure of a 3.6 in a Charger with the 8-speed yet, but I hear its a blast.


It works good. But full control of all 8 cogs via ANYTHING would do wonders for the driving experience. Paddle shifter, slap shifter, +/- buttons on the shifter, SOMETHING. They put a slap shifter in my folks' 2012 Wrangler for cryin' out loud. My Toyota CAMRY had a slap shifter. Why a premium automobile with sporting pretenses doesn't allow you control over your gears is illogical to me.

The 8 speed transmission is smooth. But it's almost an "all or nothing" thing. Give it anywhere under half throttle and it's upshifting south of 2,000 rpm. Push past that into the deeper throttle zones and it'll zing to 5,000 rpm before upshifts. There's very little middle ground, and it's hard to anticipate how fast the car will accelerate. Our 2012 Malibu has +/- buttons on its 6 speed shifter.

The 8 speed electronic shifters need that bad.

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
For the Love of God man, seek professional assistance.... FUN driving Minivan? You need help ASAP!

Driving the newer crop of cars is downright sad. Yes, the minivan is not a sports car, far from it. But, it's worlds more fun than a Mustang, Fusion, Taurus, Malibu, Camry, Corrola, etc. that upshifts instantly into 5th gear while pulling away from the stop, takes 4 seconds to complete a forced downshift and full throttle application to achieve a perceptible rate of acceleration.

Sorry, but I found the minivan to be "tuned" better than most inexpensive new cars. Period, end of story. It did it right.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
I rent every week. I often get to choose nice or interesting cars.

This week, I had no choice, a Dodge Caravan with the 3.6L engine and 6 speed automatic. I drove it from NJ to the back roads of CT. AND it was fun! The engine was super responsive, the van handled the corners really well and it was a tire spinning monster, and plenty fast. In fact, it ripped the RF tire loose in 2nd gear around a mild corner. (traction control off, of course)

The sad part of this is that exactly Zero, affordable cars made today drive like this. With major throttle response, instant shifts, plenty of instant power, and responsive steering. They are all "numbed" down for "eco" reasons or some other nonsense.

It really makes me wonder why manufacturers can't make cars fun to drive anymore.


Try a 200 or Avenger with the same Pentastar engine. I drove one in a 200...all I can say is WOW! That thing would get up and MOVE! Yeah, 300HP in a Chrysler 200 is FUN!

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
The 3.6 is really an amazing piece of work. It needs a 6-speed, although I fully understand why they put the more robust 5-speed (NAG-1) behind it in rear-drive truck/SUV apps like the Grand Cherokee. I haven't had the pleasure of a 3.6 in a Charger with the 8-speed yet, but I hear its a blast. No wonder its selling so much better than the 3.5 or (heaven help the people that bought one) the 2.7.

Now back to front-drives... if you think the 3.6 it fun in a Caravan, try it in an Avenger! Now the Avenger is an antiquated platform with a whole laundry list of shortcomings, don't get me wrong. But it almost reminds me of a mid-60s muscle car- the 3.6 is just WAY more engine than an Avenger it needs or probably should have, and the result is a heck of a lot of fun even if its unrefined and almost dangerous without the traction control on.

As old as the platform is, remember the Avenger is still a JX-car, like the old Cirrus and Stratus...and those cars were superb handlers. The 200 I drove was planted pretty well...it handled a pretty tough test--a tight, off-camber curve with washboarded pavement--with zero drama. The chassis seemed tuned mostly for ride quality (as you'd expect), I would expect the Avenger to be tuned for even better handling.

 

[crazyoildude]

they do have lots of power thats for sure i always liked the caravans especially the 3.3 they seem to run forever althought the transmissions are a problem in a lot of cases but i know of many with over 200,000 miles

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
I rent every week. I often get to choose nice or interesting cars.

This week, I had no choice, a Dodge Caravan with the 3.6L engine and 6 speed automatic. I drove it from NJ to the back roads of CT. AND it was fun! The engine was super responsive, the van handled the corners really well and it was a tire spinning monster, and plenty fast. In fact, it ripped the RF tire loose in 2nd gear around a mild corner. (traction control off, of course)

The sad part of this is that exactly Zero, affordable cars made today drive like this. With major throttle response, instant shifts, plenty of instant power, and responsive steering. They are all "numbed" down for "eco" reasons or some other nonsense.

It really makes me wonder why manufacturers can't make cars fun to drive anymore.



You rent a utilitarian vehicle who's target audience are mothers with a pack of toddlers, and expect it to drive like a Porsche?

That's hilarious. And ridiculous.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Cujet
I rent every week. I often get to choose nice or interesting cars.

This week, I had no choice, a Dodge Caravan with the 3.6L engine and 6 speed automatic. I drove it from NJ to the back roads of CT. AND it was fun! The engine was super responsive, the van handled the corners really well and it was a tire spinning monster, and plenty fast. In fact, it ripped the RF tire loose in 2nd gear around a mild corner. (traction control off, of course)

The sad part of this is that exactly Zero, affordable cars made today drive like this. With major throttle response, instant shifts, plenty of instant power, and responsive steering. They are all "numbed" down for "eco" reasons or some other nonsense.

It really makes me wonder why manufacturers can't make cars fun to drive anymore.



You rent a utilitarian vehicle who's target audience are mothers with a pack of toddlers, and expect it to drive like a Porsche?

That's hilarious. And ridiculous.


I feel like you didn't even read his post. He was complimenting the grand caravan saying it was fun to drive, and then lamenting that more cars don't drive that way.