I had to be most careful with the posh new seats. Not to allow a scratch or any puncture. This definitely adds to class to the minivan experience, more so than the Honda Odyssey. It has gone strong for over ten years and still looks new. The colors are original and fitting; the drive is seamless; the seating arrangements are flexible. The display is simple yet elegant. Interestingly, the rear lights take a step back, but not necessarily in a bad way. There was definitely plenty of room, probably more than your average minivan. The drive was smooth without exception.

This vehicle is one you'd like to forget. However, because it was from the older, smaller generation, it didn't turn out to be as great of a disaster as the next generation of fuel gulping, poor reliability vehicles. Aesthetically, it was definitely ahead it of its time- at least externally. It actually gave off a quasi luxury aura- both from its appearance and its name. Unfortunately, the whole nausea and fumes issue seemed to be an issue just as it was for the Pontiac Firefly (discussed earlier). This may be a trend for older vehicles but its worse in some more than others.

While cheap, longevity can potentially rival that of the Civic's. Generally, we found the quality quite poor no matter how long it lasts. Even with old age, it has chronic ailments and struggles all along the way, even in its younger years. Due to its small size, it was quite a struggle getting 5 adults in (esp. 2 at over 6 feet). We also had visibility issues for something as small as a standard map. Highway driving went well though and we got to 160 km/h plus when we had to without any disconcerting shaking or noises. A simple investment.

The #1 memory is that the heating worked well- almost too well. We had to keep the windows open, and this was in the winter. The heating issue was also a source of contention between family members. Some would turn it up, others turn it down. The sound system was another highlight. Pretty clear and crisp for its time. Overall, it carries itself very well from the outside and in, when when all the chips are drawn, Hyundai's don't stack up to the Honda's when it comes to reliability and longevity. So it was time to move on...to a Chevy?

It was certainly not a pleasure to do carpool with 3+ kids in a vehicle of this size. The nausea factor also came into play, although that more had to do with the driver than the vehicle. All in all, it lasted for a while (10 years), which we were quite pleased about. And we paid a decent price for it. But the space became more of an issue as we all grew and we would have had to upgrade some day or another. Non-power windows were standard at the time but we could have used some air conditioning. Considering our experiences with its successor, we wouldn't have minded another couple of years.

Before experiencing the vehicle, it was branded as unable to carry its own weight. I noticed this in my first ride as well. It possesses the unfortunate mix of a truck base without an adequate truck engine. The struggle is most pronounced on upward gradients, where the wight becomes an issue. Still, this was one of the few vehicles back in the day capable of moving large families, and it fulfilled its mission. Even with more people loaded, the front seats offered tons of leg room. Another drawback was the noise factor- you can barely hear yourself think when the windows are closed.

In high school, I was enamored by these futuristic looking vehicles. Half space ship, have race car (at least from the behind). Inside, as roomy as a warehouse. But a gas guzzler for sure. Also, as part of the old GM lineup, you practically don't see any of these from the late 90's on the streets. Pre-bankruptcy, we're all aware of the longevity standard and fuel economy (which drove the demand for Japanese vehicles in the late 90's. Performance-wise, you'd think it was a V8. If you're less concerned with fuel efficiency and economic sustainability than stroking your ego, it's a good fit.

It becomes interesting when we talk about fuel efficiency for a V6, but as part of the Honda Sedan family. I often fall into the trap of thinking Accord's are just fancier Civics. They're not. While they naturally cannot be as fuel efficient, they still give great mileage for their class. And their longevity rivals even the Civic and easily trumps other vehicles in the same class. The ride is confident- but not overpowering. Overall, a great investment. You pay a bit more but you get it all back and then some. If maintained well, it can go 20 years plus.

Outlived by its children (or younger cars), they're a dime a dozen. I see ads up the whole time from families trying to unload this can-shaped scrap metal. And the asking price is always too high. Based on my experience, a host of debilitating illnesses arise for all critical systems after a relatively short lifespan. In most cases, these issues are at least partially offset by resilience of aesthetic appeal. Not so for Caravan. The corrosion and rust can be just as pervasive as its Japanese counterparts. Time will tell if more recent models can compete with the resilient models in the market or continue in typical Chrysler tradition.

A very radical move for a cautious vehicle line. The new appearance breaks the traditional Civic look, transforming it to a quasi sports car- fuel economic vehicle. The new speedometer display is certainly novel and cutting edge, but some may find it too much too soon. I consider the entire new look and feel as a loss of identity. But if it can be combined into a cohesive Civic culture it will be well suited for the emerging cutting edge landscape. One drawback: it seems a bit shaky, almost as if the parts are loosely glued together. Perhaps they are.

While some of the mechanically unreliable North American makes I've written about at least had an some aesthetic appeal, this vehicle takes the triple crown. There was a chronic issue of fumes filling the cabin which didn't seem to go away. Unlike the Civics of our world, once it gets to old age, it becomes completely uneconomical to own. None of these are seen on the streets now or even 5 years, with the brand dying out in line with popularity. Externally, the vehicle in unsightly even at a younger age. The electronics and gave a rather "papery" disposable impression.

Believe it or not, this is the first car I've driven. It was a perfect "student's" car. It was basic, simple and reliable, so if you mess up on something, less can go wrong. One thing I liked was the lower sensitivity of the accelerator relative to other vehicles. This was great when learning how to drive, since you get a more realistic feel of how much you should be pushing the gas. Common enough to find replacement parts, yet durable not to require constant repairs. I do think that it's tough to beat the Civic when it comes to life expectancy.

There is one thing which was predictable: add 8-10 years to the make of the vehicle. That will be the final year of its life. There is a reason why you don't see any of these on the streets anymore, and haven't seen them for a good few years. The only positive: it had a bit of a "nimble" feeling while driving. In our case, the engine went. While I admit there could have been some additional preventative maintenance, the outcome would have been the same. Considering the top dollar we paid for it, this was by far the worst car investment we've made to date.

To date, I don't recall having so much leg room, arm room, any room in a sedan. But apart from an original external appearance, the fun ends there. The fuel economy was simply miserable. One of friends owned this car simultaneously when I had my 93 Civic (reviewed earlier). At times, it seemed like I was getting double the mileage. Ultimately this vehicle was an unwise investment, although the purchase was pretty cheap to start. Like most American models, it was ravaged by incurable terminal illnesses to its most functions in its old age. May it be forgotten.

While we've been tempted by family and friends to follow the trend and buy one, it's just too expensive. But for good reason. For the 8 years in use, it's needed virtually nothing by way of major repair and overhaul. It (uncomfortably) seats 7 (like any minivan). The seats can be conveniently folded or removed to a number of configurations with little effort. The back seats can be seamlessly compacted into a cavity in the floor, making for an ideal amount of storage or moving space. And being such a popular vehicle, replacement parts are not hard to come by.

As a rental in Vancouver, it offered a smooth ride with lots of room. Gas consumption was reasonable for a car of this size. While not expensive, our relatives were impressed with the quasi regal aura it offered when we pulled into their driveway. Our rental was too short to see how well this car would do in the long haul. Chances are it follows in the footsteps of other Chryslers and will be living on borrowed time after 10 years. The back seats were also easy to clean. They're outer material didn't let spills absorb- quite useful if you have kids.

Growing in the 90's, you wouldn't expect to be impressed by something from 89, especially when driving it in 2005! Yet we squeezed every last bit out of it. We even joked how when the gas was low, it somehow crawled back up, probably by using parts of the car itself for fuel. Most impressive if when we were hit hard from behind. There was barely a scratch. Only the tape deck loosened and the rear bumper sagged. Till the very end, most essential systems worked with the dedication later seen in the 90's models. Even better was that this model was less susceptible to the rust and head gasket issues seen in 90's models.

After 9 years, it has needed little by way of major repairs. Since there's always a trade-off, here are the downsides: some poor mechanical attachment of external aesthetics. Some have started coming off from wear and tear. They've become a bit of nuisance as they block some doors from opening and closing. The absence of some warning beep if you leave the lights on. Even my 97 Civic had this; it should be standard. It cost me on a couple of occasions. The accelerator is sensitive even to the slightest touch; it takes some getting used to. Other than that, it boasts the hallmark durability of its predecessors.

As my first car, it certainly fulfilled its mission: get me from point A to point B. At the time, fuel economy was simply amazing: 700 km per tank of highway driving. While small, it actually afforded greater room when it comes to cargo, due to the hatchback style. Yet it can (uncomfortably) seat 5 when needed. The first major problem was corrosion of the gas line. Typical for Civics, there were later issues of of leaks in the head gasket, leading to coolant leaking into the engine. In the grand scheme of things, the model I owned probably lacked the maintenance it needed before I purchased it. Otherwise I see a greater potential lifespan- perhaps greater than the 97 model.

Like the Energizer bunny, it keeps going and going. Now at 310K and counting. One of the very few vehicles with mechanical reliability withstanding the toughest tests of time. Nothing is perfect. There are shortcomings typical and chronic of many Honda's. The greater susceptibility to rusting and corrosion, and fragility of the general CV shaft, boot, ball joint, etc. system. If you're willing to live with a bit of inconvenience, the vehicle saved you a bundle if kept for many years. Being such a popular car, it is easy and affordable to find replacement parts. Mileage is good but can be better.