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Original poster

Chrysler Voyager/Grand Voyager

57 replies

GDG · 21/03/2006 19:44

OK, I'm still on my car search!

Dh is now hot on this one - anyone got one? What do you like/dislike about it?

What's the difference between Voyager and Grand Voyager??

TIA

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Enid · 21/03/2006 19:49

ernest said this on an earlier thread:
"Prob with Chrysler when you've got 3 kids is that 1 child will always have to be on their own, as it's only 2 seats in middle & "3" seats in back (they are not full size seats - you will not get 3 car seats back there. So you will never have the huge boot space, as there will always be 1 kid back there. A real let down in the design. Ok if you've only got 2 kids, but a pain with 3. "

Enid · 21/03/2006 19:49

test drive

test drive

test drive

Original poster
GDG · 21/03/2006 19:52

Indeed! It's getting a chance to go first without the boys otherwise you've got to faff with car seats (though I guess you have to do this at some point).

I agree, the 2 seats in the middle does put me off a bit but it looks nicer than a Galaxy. It's got to be practical though...

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LIZS · 21/03/2006 19:54

Grand Voyager is longer and has more boot space when 7 seats are in.

Enid · 21/03/2006 19:55

dh likes them too

I think they are quite 'bling' for an mpv

tbh the 807 sounds better

Original poster
GDG · 21/03/2006 20:02

Yes, they drive round in them in The Apprentice and there are quite a few round where ds2 goes to nursery and i think they look quite smart!

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Enid · 21/03/2006 20:06

my childminders sister has just bought a gold one with tinted windows Grin

Original poster
GDG · 21/03/2006 20:19

Just been looking at some - they look incredibly spacious inside and I'm loving the ones with the DVD player in the ceiling Grin

It's those 2 seats in the middle putting me off..

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DumbledoresGirl · 21/03/2006 20:24

Yes we have one. We had to go for th grand voyager because of its greater boot space. Don't be fooled by the seemingly small boot. When you bring the seats forward, it can take the kitchen sink if you so wish. As you may know, we are a family of 6 and it fits us all (and one special guest if necessary!) beautifully. All the seats are fabulously comfortable and spacious, being American it has loads of silly extras that are fun, and we love it!

NB my husband knows a lot about cars on a professinal basis (designing them) and IHO the Chrysler Grand Voyager is only matched by one other people carrier whose name I forget, sorry!

DumbledoresGirl · 21/03/2006 20:26

Oh but they are expensive! Ours was bought second hand (about two years old) and cost more than a brand new Renault Espace would have done.

LIZS · 21/03/2006 20:27

is there an 8 seater version (2:3:3) or am I thinking of another mpv ?

Original poster
GDG · 21/03/2006 22:05

Oh great to hear DG - yes, I can see they're expensive so we're looking at an 03 upwards.

Next thing is to go and test drive I guess - is it like driving a mini bus?!

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NannyL · 22/03/2006 09:02

my old family had one of these (the GRAND voyager) ....

i LOVED it.... 4 adults could all travel as comfortable as if they were in the front seat.

As said before you wont get 3 car seats in the back row, but you could get 4 car seats + a child in addition to the front seat.

We also had a DVD player in the back where the TV came down from the ceiling and we had chordless head phones to watch!

There was LOADS of space as well as really quite a big boot.

  • you pressed a button and the boot opened / pressed a button and the door opened (like you do on a train!) me and the kids thought this was so cool!
DumbledoresGirl · 22/03/2006 11:48

GDG, when I first drove it, I was more worried about the height than the overall size of it IYSWIM. You feel very high up and a bit unstable like you do on top of a double decker bus when it rounds a corner. I had to drive our car about 14 miles home from the garage and I did it all at about 30 mph (open road) as I was terrified of toppling over going round corners! But that feeling wears off after a few drives. Now ordinary cars feel really low down and I feel I don't have a good enough view of the road in them. Also our GV has parking sensors at the back so parking is actually easier than in a smaller car, although of course, you need to find a big enough space first.

But yes, we call it the minibus and used to joke with the kids about having to shout to be heard in the back! Also, you need a good aim chucking things from the front to the back as you are driving, or you need a child with long arms in the middle row who can pass things back for you! But it is great fun! I would really recommend them. I haven't seen a roomier car on the market. Dh could tell you all about the engine - that sort of stuff doesn't interest me!

We don't have a DVD player BTW, but it was an option. Our boys play their gameboys in the back and there is a power point there for them to plug their leads into so they don't have to run down the batteries. Ours is a 2001 model BTW.

If you want to ask me anything about it, I can do my best to answer. Dh is away this week, but he could answer technical questions better than most at the w/e if you have any. Smile

smellymelly · 22/03/2006 11:55

love ours, def go for grand, about 9" longer, and we know size matters!!! Space shows more in the boot. Try and find one with seats that stow and go if you can, if I was buying another I would.

I chose ours because, amongst other things I love the seat configuration with the 2 seats in the middle, it means I can climb from the front to the back without getting out the car, and kids can go in the side doors to get to the back. We have 4 kids.

Love my power sliding doors too. But mine is a USA import with a 3.8 auto, which does drink, so consider getting a diesel maybe?

Our gear box just blew up though on our 2001 model and it cost 4,500 euros!! Agghh!

DumbledoresGirl · 22/03/2006 12:01

I second everything positive you said smellymelly, especially re the seat configuration which I know was criticised further down the thread, but then we too have 4 children so there is never a need for one to be on their own in a row (but is that really a problem? mine like to have their space sometimes). Ours is a diesel and fuel economy seems very reasonable.

Original poster
GDG · 22/03/2006 12:14

LOl at throwing things from back to front!! It does look enormous! I too like the fact you can go through the side door and between the 2 middle seats to get to the back. I'm not sure the 2 in the middle, 3 in the back is that big an issue. Two of mine are in booster seats now so could have 2 of them at the very back and one in the middle.

The second hand ones I've looked at, a couple have the DVD player and are around £18K. I also found some on autotrader with interior pics and the GV does look much better as the boot is a great size plus you've got your 6 proper seats.

Are you sure I couldn't get 2 booster seats and a stage 2 seat across teh back?

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smellymelly · 22/03/2006 13:48

we have 2 maxi cosi full child boosters in the back row, and can hardly fit a size 10 adult inbetween them and ours only has a lap belt there too. No way another car seat. The car looks so much bigger when the car seats are out.

But the best thing you can do is try them. Go to your local dealer, and try all the seats out, by far the easiest way.

smellymelly · 22/03/2006 13:50

thinking about it, it is probably the back rests that take up most of the room in the back, if you are just using the base boosters then it might work.

smellymelly · 22/03/2006 13:50

Just to make you jealous, I got my 2001 on ebay from america for $10,500 !!!!

4blue1pink · 22/03/2006 13:56

LOVED the voyager LOATHE the grand!

The man in the showroom told me that you could put bench seat in middle row to stop one lone;y one in the back - i have yet to try it....any one tried it?

jenkel · 22/03/2006 14:03

We have a grand and can fit everything in, its so lovely having a car with lots of space. We have the two carseats on the middle 2 seats and we can get 3 adults in the back. And even with all the seats up you still get a decent boot. And the electric doors are so useful, especially when its pouring with rain and you have to get all the kids in the car as quickly as possible with least fuss. We also have the one where the seats fold into floor, so while all the seats are upright we get more storage space in the floor area.

Original poster
GDG · 22/03/2006 14:14

Keep it coming!! Love all these views! Didn't realise some seats went into the floor so something to look at when we go this weekend

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DumbledoresGirl · 22/03/2006 17:06

Also GDG, consider this: with the seats all out, you can transport moreorless anything in the space behind the front seats. We have moved wardrobes, double beds stc. Also, I fantasise about going away with dh and sleeping in the back as you can easily lie full length without the seats!

Original poster
GDG · 22/03/2006 17:42

So do the seats come out in all of them or is this something I need to look for?

D'you know what else is cool - the tinted windows! Gawd I'm sad!!

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