The minivan has a bad image because so many people feel their car defines them and their success. My wife and I and four kids have enjoyed our minivans for many years. Fords, Chryslers, Dodges, you name it. Only problems were after many miles and years of service. Just bought a “micro van” from Mazda and love it too. Same people who want the SUV are probably living in their McMansions that are just about ready to be foreclosed on!! Good thing they have the SUV so they can live in it down by the river!!

Never owned one but my mom has been a loyal Caravan-ist since 88. She likes it for the space as most do.
Yes,they have the potential to have a transmission problem at 70,000 as all Dodge’s do. But through all of the vans she has owned( I believe 8)only one,a 1996,had the problem. As far as engine,electrical,and body problems….no. As someone who works on automobiles for a living though I will say this…they treat you the way you treat them.Take care of a car(or anything)and it will last you.
I really like the design of the new Chrysler/Dodge mini van. I hope that it makes a comeback,and I’m sure that it will. When it does will be determined by gas prices or the availability of alternative fuels.The vehicle makes too much sense to too many families for it to become a thing of the past.

And by the way,TooFunny…..how dare you bash Americans while sitting in America,reading an American website,probably spending American money given to you by the American government.Go back to where you came from

Why would you buy a Mazda? And then question what happened to Chrysler and Ford

Minivans got a bad rap and SUVs gained favor because most people are shallow posers. Once there was a type called “drug store cowboy”, who wore the hat and the boots but never rode the range - he just wanted to look like he did. Enter the SUV, which evoked the image of being a rugged outdoors-type person. Even soccer moms want to be taken for something else. This is nothing new; once people were happy to drive expensive big cars to seem rich and successful. The SUV allowed the the extra dimension of looking tough as well. Hey, this is the USA, where we like everything big, including our egos. The SUV promises ego enlargement. All the minivan promises is more space, more comfort, better gas mileage, and a lower price to buy. But it totally lacks pretentiousness. How can it be anything but despised?

Our family purchased its first minivan (brand new Ford Windstar) in September, 1995. We had two young children at the time (ages (4) and (2)) with one on the way - and we loved the vehicle. After driving the Windstar until 2005, we purchased a used Honda Odyssey that same year.

The answer to your query is simple:

The people who don’t like minivans don’t have children. From their perspective, ‘children aren’t cool’…maybe, it’s just ‘families aren’t cool.’

It’s a shame that people have to appeal to ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ as a ‘cool movie’ to justify their use of a minivan. My wife and I walked out on that wretched movie because we simply got tired of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies beating each other up. When Pitt kicked his wife in that movie repeatedly, that was it for us…

Minivans are practical.

Minivans are fun.

Families are fun…a lot of work - and a lot of love - but a lot of fun.

I love my 2005 Town & County. The 2008 body style change was a tragedy. I would have bought a new one if Chrysler hadn’t changed it to look like a shoe box. The T&C gives a smooth, comfortable ride with a lot of pep and it’s easy to get in and out of. I hate climbing up out of small compact car (I’m 6′1″). And, I can haul almost anything I could with my Ford F-150, but with a lot better gas mileage. To sum it up, at least for my 2005 T&C, it’s styling, comfort and performance that I love.

I think one of the main reasons why the SUV got more love than the minivan was that the SUV, I do believe, orginated out of California, and everyone seems to want to do whatever the movie stars or people in Cali are doing. Back in the 80’s when the SUV came out, it was the “hottest” thing since sliced bread, but now everyone is seeing them for what they really are. I should know, I used to drive a SUV, and it was the biggest gas guzzling vehicle I have ever owned. Yes…I too was a victim, but never again…

Now I have driven a rental minivan and it was nice. It was a Chevy Uplander. It had a lot of space for my wife and kids and the luggage. It was a good vehicle.

It all boils down to that everyone wants to be “cool” and at that time, they thought the SUV made them, or at least projected, that image.

Stop trying to be “cool” people and just be yourself…if people don’t like you for who you are, then they aren’t really your friends….

I am on my 3rd Dodge mini-van since 1992. My kids are all grown now but we just purchased another extended van a couple of years ago. I love the Dodge mini-vans! I like sitting up higher. I like being able to move things in it. We just moved recently and it is amazing what we can haul in it. My next mini-van will be the Dodge with the seats the hide in the floorboard. I honestly don’t care what people think about it. Those same people wouldn’t think anything about asking me to pick something up for them and haul it.

I learned to drive in a 95 Ford Windstar, but when I recently became a mom, could not bear the thought of owning a van, so I drive a 2008 Scion XB which is considered more a wagon than a car or van. Just large enough to haul me, my child and our stuff around, but not overbearing. I hear that the redesigned box is now called the “soccer mom XB”, but I think it’s just a neat little ride. And, I’m averaging 30-32 mpg. Cross-over vehicles will never fully replace minivans, but are definitely becoming more and more appealing.