Chrysler Voyager / Grand voyager - views please?

malc_b

I have the voyager (not grand), 2l petrol. Had it since 1997 from new. I can't say that I have had any major problems with it. When I chose it I look at all the other ones, galaxy etc. (I hated the seat in the galaxy, so hard you could read my CC number of my a....). Build quality was better than others IMO. Not speedy and you have to drive it hard as the 2l power band starts at 3000 rpm (i.e. high revving engine, 6500 is red line AFAIR). Very comfortable though. I went for the LE and leather seats. Nice individual roof lights allowed the kids to read on long journeys (no DVD players back then). Now it is the work horse for moving kids stuff to uni and back.

Taking the seats out is not easy but I'm not sure about fold away seats myself. Perhaps they are better now but in 1997 when I looked at the vauxhaul MPV the fold away seats were on the floor, legs up under your chin for an adult. The voyager seats are adult sized on mine. Yes more tricky to take out but not that much of a problem. Easiest is to take out the 2 middle seats and roll the back seat forward. I also like the 2/2/3 arrangement as you can walk to the back with out going outside. Useful for british seaside picnics (i.e. in side the car watching the rain, the usual british holiday).

devizes18193

have you consisdered a kia seddona ?

pinkcandyflossprincess

we had one in august for approx 2 weeks had a crash in it as brakes failed and the front crumpled like paper, thankfully we are all live! the grand voyager is big and looks nice but very high to run if you get the 3.3 like we had and after reading reports did have the worst crash results out of all the people carriers(as we found out!). im just glad we are still alive as thankfully werent going at a high speed and not on the motorway:eek:
maybe not what you want to hear but if you have kids like i do i wouldnt risk putting them through that situation ever again.

im getting a ford galaxy next time as had mondeos before and never had a crash or problems with brakes etc..never again!!

malc_b

You do know that on most cars the fronts is designed to crumple on impact? That is what absorbs the energy and brings the car to a stop. The alternative is a car like tank which would use more petrol and more importantly, in an impact the passengers would be injured more as they would hit the seat belts and interior harder. The question is how did the passenger area survive the impact. Did the doors still open ok? Was there any significant reduction in passenger space?

Brake failure is worrying though. They have split brakes as most new cars do so strange that both sides would fail. I assume this was a manufacture fault. The AA doesn't list a recall for this so a one off? Or has there been a recall?

The aa list the crash reports too http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/ncap/ncap_home.jsp which are interesting. The tests for the 1999 model are rather poor.

moonrakerz

LandyAndy wrote: »

As far as I remember they did very poorly in tests for safety of the occupants in an accident.

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/chrysler_voyager_1999/56.aspx

lauren_1

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't touch one. I'd have a Galaxy instead.

I did consider these but the boot space is not big enough.

lauren_1

devizes18193 wrote: »

have you consisdered a kia seddona ?

Too far out of our budget but did think about the ford explorer, but they are a rareity to find.

AdrianHi

Suddenly remembered the VW carravelle.
May be not in budget, you need to go to a VW van centre, but I think it does 7 seats, sliding doors and boot space.
Unusual size of tyre that's hard to get hold of I've heard.
http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/caravelle/floor-mounted-rail-system/#features_image_label

lauren_1

My dad used to have a caravelle, loved it but it was a company car so he couldn't keep it forever, it was and would be the ideal one for us but as you said they are out of our budget at the moment.

The crash tests were a bit of an eye opener, quite suprised the 99 Espace came out quit good! May be worth another look.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

lauren_1 wrote: »

I did consider these but the boot space is not big enough.

I'm presuming this is for family holidays - in which case I'd buy a roof box.