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My wife has had a 2000 Silhouette and still has a 2004 Pontiac Montana. Both were extended versions with power doors on each side. Neither had problems. They are grandchildren-hauling and garage sale visiting machines.
I would no more want a a minivan without power doors on it than I would want a F150 without power locks. I don't have power locks on my F150 and I get REAL tired of crawling across the seat to let passengers in.
My sentiments exactly. But, I would expand it to include "Power" anything, and add that such things increase weight and decrease fuel economy. Sure, the decrease due to the added weight is barely measurable, but it is there, and over time it adds up!
While we have never owned a mini-van, we did have several Ford Club Wagons (the passenger version of the Econoline van). The manual sliding door on those things is half again as big and heavy as the ones on a mini-van, but we had no problems with them.
Sure, but power windows are something I find awesome, and power locks, I can live without them, but they are nice on larger cars, although I may never own a minivan, adding power windows to the sliding doors was an awesome idea, because vent windows suck monkeyballs. Window motors don't wiegh much either.
Same could be said for power steering, seats, windows, AC but I won't go there
Some of you already know how I feel about those as well. If I evr get mt mustang together, power brakes is the only "power" item it'll have, because even I don't trust manual brakes.
Some of you already know how I feel about those as well. If I evr get mt mustang together, power brakes is the only "power" item it'll have, because even I don't trust manual brakes.
But you do understand you are the exception to the rule. Majority of people would not purchase a car without these "luxury" features (power steering, windows, locks, etc)
Nobody NEEDS power doors on a minivan but everyone WANTS them. The only reason they even still offer manual doors is for the really budget conscious buyer.
Chrysler, Honda and Toyota are the only ones still making minivans so of course any problems with power doors will naturally bring up their names. Power doors have been around a long time and they are built to withstand wear and tear.
Nobody NEEDS power doors on a minivan but everyone WANTS them. The only reason they even still offer manual doors is for the really budget conscious buyer.
Chrysler, Honda and Toyota are the only ones still making minivans so of course any problems with power doors will naturally bring up their names. Power doors have been around a long time and they are built to withstand wear and tear.
I remember non-power doors as being horrendous, way beneath the quality that any car buyer should be asked to accept.
On the other hand, I doubt that anyone making minivans is capable of making reliable power doors. The mechanical problems are still there, power or not.
Heck; power window give more problems from what I have seen than van doors but then so do roll up. See it all the time.
we purchased a used Chrysler Town & Country about a month ago...love the thing!
Two kids + power doors is great. When you've got your hands full, all you have to do is tap a button and the doors are open before you get to the car. Power lift gate is great too. When we park, we can open the doors, and unhook my daughter's harness...then she can hop out, and LOVES pushing the door closed button. Grab the kid in the rear facing seat, and we're off!
I'm not a mini-van person, but I tell you...I love the dang thing. Same time - I'm a guy who now drives a late model VW beetle...so I guess I'm "different"
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