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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

OP posts:
miggy · 22/03/2006 18:16

we have grand too. Have never been short of space, even going on holiday with all seats in etc.
Sliding doors are considered dead cool by kids and their friends and the electric boot opening is very handy with hand fulls of shopping etc.
I too like the seat configuration, it means plenty of room to climb around inside plus can seat 2 in middle, with gap between them and one in back so puts an end to all that surreptious pinching and poking when bored.
Fold down dvd player is a bonus but dont bother with extra headsets, we bought a third (comes with 2) and our kids never use them.
In the states they do one with privacy glass behind the front seats, soundproof and tinted-thats what I want Grin
Must admit was really worried about the test drive, stood looking at it thinking "no, its too big, I cant drive it out of the showroom" but it was fine. Def rec the rear parking sensor, makes you look really flash in car parks!

DumbledoresGirl · 22/03/2006 18:21

GDG, I imagine the seats come out of all of them.

We too have severly tinted windows - you can't see in from the outside which means, if you are brave, you can strip naked and change for swimming etc when parked at the beach. But it is a bit unnerving as you can see out and it is hard to carry on, even though you know people can't see in.

Also, we used to get long looks as though people assumed we were celebrities! But no more babies screaming because the sum is in their eyes and no more stupid sun screens that fall off after a week.

jenkel · 22/03/2006 18:32

I think in the newer models the seats in the Grand fold into the floor when not in use, handy as you always have the seats in the car and dont have to worry about storing them somewhere else, also when the seats are in the upright position you have extra storage space where the seats fold into the floor.

Think on the older models you have to take the seats out.

We have the newer model, one of the reasons that I went for it and its fab, love it and I can now even park it in Tescos (after a bit of practice). But the parking sensors help loads.

Original poster
GDG · 22/03/2006 20:00

I am now seriously, and rather pathetically, excited about going to the showroom on Sunday!! Bit nervous about the test drive and very tempted to get dh to do it - but a bit pointless since I'll be driving it! Dh is lucky - he gets my hand-me-down Mondeo Grin

OP posts:
geekgrrl · 22/03/2006 20:11

we had one and it broke down with a spectacular 4 serious, unrelated faults within the first month (and we'd bought a brand new one). Sold it after 4 months because it was just so unreliable, a complete nightmare of a car and wouldn't touch Chrysler with a bargepole now. The aftercare service was dreadful, considering the problems we had and the money we'd spent (it was the top-of-the-range model, too Angry)

Original poster
GDG · 22/03/2006 20:12

Arrrrggggghhhhhh! I don't need to hear that!! Grin

Thanks for honesty!

OP posts:
jenkel · 22/03/2006 22:30

Think you get that with any model of car, we had a horrendous time with a new BMW. Guess it also depends on what your dealership is like.

DumbledoresGirl · 23/03/2006 08:56

Well, if you want the downsides too.....(Of course you do but on the whole I am very positive about my GV) the front seats are heated but after about a year or maybe 2, the driver's seat heater broke and would cost a couple of thousand pounds (or something equally stupid) to repair, so now I have to drive around with a cold bottom!

Re dealerships, I do think they vary. We had no trtouble with the one where we bought the car and had it serviced for the first couple of years (Horsham) but the Cardiff one that serviced our car last year did a dreadful job (the handbrake subsequently got stuck and our local garage who fixed it said that could only have happened because the dealership had not even looked at the brakes when it was serviced! Shock) Needlesstosay, we will not be going there again!

ernest · 23/03/2006 11:13

lizs the 807 has the possibility of a 3-seat bench at back instead of the usual 2 individual seats, making it an 8 seater.

how many kids have you got, gdg?

If you're set on a chrysler, then def the grand voyager not the voyager.

The seating is a pain if you have 3 kids or more becasue as well as them having to sit alone ( I'm often driving without dh - next month driving 900 kms just me & kids, gulp, so need to be able to reach them & need them to help each other, just wouldn't work if 1 alone at back)

But you needlessly loose so much boot space. we normally drive on holiday & alwasy have a boot full, would be a big loss to loose half that space to a seat.

I've twice now chosen a new car, and both times it was between the 807 & chrysler. And the 807 has won both times. love it.

Original poster
GDG · 23/03/2006 11:45

I've got 3 kids. I don't understand the leaning back business - you're not doing this while driving so why can't you just go through the side doors to the back while you are parked somewhere? It looks like there is loads of space to move around.

I might put 2 in the back and one in the middle row. Oh, I don't know...

I just love the look of it, the space and the 'cool' factor of it Grin It looks like the only drawback is the seating business. It's whether I can live with that (or rather, if the kids can!)

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 23/03/2006 13:43

I really must leave this thread alone! But what is it with everyone and the seating "problem"? There is no problem in my mind. Yes, you can't hand things to the children in the back row, but you wouldn't be able to do that in any car with three rows. Yes, with three children, you might find one of them sitting alone in one row, but you are not banning them to Outer Siberia - they will still be in the same car as everyone else! When you think about how children can fight over toys and upset each other on long car journeys, I would have thought the chance to isolate them a bit would be a positive bonus.

And if you think the GV is roomy and the seat configuration allows you to move about the car without getting out, you would be right. I remember when ds3 was a baby and screaming the place down and it was raining outside, I was able to climb over the front seat and get to him without having to get out and get wet. (we were parked of course). Also, as there was still a spare space in the back, even with 4 children, I was able to continue the journey sitting in the back with him, without having to compromise safety by making one of the older children move into the front seat.

I was thinking about your test drive this morning GDG. I dond't know if you are planning to take the children with you, but I really think you should. Letting them see what it will be like to travel in the car, and practising putting them in and getting them out may help you make your mind up about the car. (Just don't let them press all the automatic opening door buttons!)

ernest · 23/03/2006 13:57

sorry i'm being thick gdg, what do you mean "I don't understand the leaning back business - you're not doing this while driving so why can't you just go through the side doors to the back while you are parked somewhere?"

I guess you need to think how often you will need a really big space, and if the boot minus space needed for 1 kid will give you enough. It's not enough for us, that's for sure.

Also, how often will you need to carry more than your 3 kids? I take 2 of ds's friends to football everyweek & thef def would not all 3 fit on back row with their car seats. Also am pretty sure that even 1 car seat in back row would make it a squeeze to say the least for 2 adults also in back row. The 807 has 7 full size seats. the cryhsler doesn't. you can also get dark tinted windows in the 807!Wink.

Also, I don't know how old you r kids are - can they do thier seat belts up themselves? I didn't fancy the thought of having to physically climb into the car & to the back every car journey to buckle up, instead of just leaning in & doing it from the side.

Whichever you get, good luck. It is a nice car, I just found with 3 kids and half a boot it def wouldn't do us, but does have some nice features. If it had 2-3-2 and not 2-2-3 seating we would be getting it too. Jealous of the electronic reaar door, but I'll have to make do with my electronic slideys Smile

ernest · 23/03/2006 14:01

I agree, I should leave alone too.

Also agree with taking the kids plus car seats (of course) so you can get a good feel for it. Like dg said, it's a good feature the gv & 807 have in common is the clear floor so you can easily move from front to rear of car & not have to get out. Found this invaluable.

Original poster
GDG · 23/03/2006 16:52

Thanks for all your comments, they've been brilliant!

Agree DG, I'm not sure the seating is really an issue for the reasons you mentioned (this is why it's good to ask - can bounce thoughts off everyone Smile).

Mine are 5, 3 and 18 months. I've quite often got one extra child - surely I can use 2 middle seats and 2 of the back seats since 3 of those children would only be in a booster?

The only thing to do is go and look at it - agree about taking the kids but I think we'll go and look in peace first, see if we like it to drive, like the boot space etc then if we do we'll take the kids back another time. Can't buy one until the house goes through anyway (probably about 6 weeks time!).

OP posts:
SecondhandRose · 23/03/2006 17:15

We had one a few years ago, just a Voyager, when we read that if you had a head on collision in it you would be de-capitated by the steering wheel, we got rid of it fast. You may want to check their up to date safety records. Apart from that great car, loved it.

CarlyP · 23/03/2006 17:34

we have a gv and they are fab. no complaints.

cx

4blue1pink · 23/03/2006 18:13

our gv has been in the garage for over a month because of ...wait fot it...a flat battery!
They have to ship it from the states - I find chrysler dealerships crap!

DumbledoresGirl · 23/03/2006 20:05

4blue1pink -our GV was always refusing to start because of the batery. In the end, I got the AA out and they told me the battery it comes with is not big enough. They got me a bigger battery - while we waited, so to speak, though I was actually at home - and I have never had a problem since! It was free as well, being part of the AA service!

geekgrrl · 23/03/2006 20:33

oh, the battery was what finished our ownership of the GV off in the end, too. The garage we sold it back to had to come and tow it away. Pile of cr*p.

DumbledoresGirl · 23/03/2006 20:41

Join the AA. The guy looked it up in a book and found out that for the size of the car/engine/whatever, the battery fitted as standard by Chrysler was ludicrously too small. He bought me a new one, fitted it in moments and hey presto!

Original poster
GDG · 23/03/2006 20:42

Please, don't dampen my excitement Grin

OP posts:
swedishmum · 23/03/2006 22:47

We love ours (GV), and I'm the woman who refused a people carrier because they make you look mumsy. With 4 kids I had no choice. I like driving it, comfy for passengers, and loads of boot space (show me another mpv you can fit a labrador in cage and large 3 wheel buggy plus shopping in the back of). We've done loads of European driving in it. Kids love the dvd system for long journeys too. Fil borrowed it to take grown ups to a do last week and very comfy for them too.
Downside? Expensive to run and not as much fun to drive as my little MX5.

4blue1pink · 23/03/2006 22:51

GOSH RE OTHER BATTERY STORIES...WHOOOPS sorry! What would 'once gv owners' recommend as i woiuld love to ditch our but have 5 kids?

swedishmum · 23/03/2006 22:53

Mmm. Peugeot, Chrysler? Not much decision making needed for us. The finish on our Grand Voyager is great. I just tell the kids where to sit and they rotate. End of story.

geekgrrl · 24/03/2006 09:14

yes, AA membership is a must as Chrysler are right at the bottom of Which Car? reliability ratings. Ours broke down twice on French motorways - still shudder to think af that experience.

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