dfreder371

Last week I posted a thread bitching about the shit resale value of dodge minivans and shit prices offered for trade ins in general.

So we went to another dealer who said they would discount the Pacifica by $4,888. Yea, sure. Guess what? they did!

So, the pacifica was $35,700 on the window sticker, and had everything but the chrome wheels (we didn't like them anyway), the navi (which I checked out, I have a cls navi, and it was no where near as friendly as out system) and the rear seat DVD entertainment center. We traded a nice Dodge Grand Caravan ES with everything on it except leather and 40,015 miles on it.

Dad paid $23,000 for the deal on the nose. All taxes, fees, license fees included in that 23 large, so I think he did ok. But we did have to settle for a demo with 2,900 miles on it.

The Pacifica is rather new, so here is an explanation. The Pacifica is a "cross-over" vehicle. It is halfway between a pure suv and a regular car. I guess the best description is that the thing is a station wagon on steroids. Whatever, at least I got Dad broken of 7 dodge minivans in a row.

This is the first product of joint Chrysler and Mercedes Benz engineering, and I really like it! The chassis, brakes and suspension are from Mercedes, and you can really tell it. The engine is 250 hp, up from the 180 hp in the minivan, but unfortunately, this thing weighs a lot. I am guessing north of 5,000 pounds.

Features: ALL of the windows will do auto down, but not up. It reports to you if the tire pressures are 25% (about 8 psi) low. The rear hatch opens and closes at the touch of a button. It has three rows of seats, and the first two rows are heated (unless you go really cheap, and get cloth and no options, mid $29,000). They have adopted our two memory seat position, but have kicked it up a notch: Moveable floor pedals! Like our CL seats, 8 way on the left, 4 way on the right, Pacifica has that too, but the switches are mounted on the doors, and the switches look like seats! The second row of seats has its own climate control center right between the seats at arm level (the caravan had the controls mounted on the roof, very unfriendly). The third row of seats, admittedly thin, fold to form a flat "trunk", but it will hold a set of golf clubs when the third row of seats are up. When flat, the trunk is about 7/8 the size of a 2003 CLS trunk.

I like the moveable floor pedals, because my 85 year old mom is a shrimp, and anything that gets her further away from the airbags, I am all for. We have 13,000 some odd members on this board, and I am sure we have a few minivan owners here and there. If you HAVE to have minivan like qualities, you seriously need to check out this, a...whatever it is.

Now, for the Crossfire. Wow! I am totally UNIMPRESSED! I shouldn't say that without driving the car, but here is why.

My CLS-6 speeder, navi, with spoiler, 2003 was precisely $34,000 and has 260 hp. Crossfire? No spoiler, no navi, two seats, 210 hp, 6 speeds (but it does come with a handsome 3 piece luggage set in leather, wonder who approved that) comes in at $34,475!

We're gonna have another PT Cruiser effect here. First, customers will be paying over window sticker price for these things. A year later, Chrysler will be giving these things away.

CLpower

I think the pacifica is just a GORGEOUS GORGEOUS automobile. I only hope they smartten up and put some real motor into it

dfreder371

I thought my CLS6 was a pudgie at 3,470 pounds. GASP! Pacifica: 5,800 pounds! And yea, it does need more motor. Everytime I drove the Caravan onto the expressway, it was a full throttle experience. The Pacifica is only slightly better.

I like this car so much, the next time the Chicago CL guys get together, I will bring the Pacifica instead of the CLS6.

kansaiwalker1

Wow! Almost 5K off the sticker price. Was this an end of the 2003 model year sale or a special Chrysler incentive or loyalty program?

Good deal, keep us posted....

Red Rider

I saw my first Crossfire today in San Francisco, lot's of people were checking it out. It does have a spoiler by the way, it was up, one of those that moves up and down with speed i think.

Meth

murano?

Silver™

He said: "But we did have to settle for a demo with 2,900 miles on it."

So I would think that would account for the discount. I would never buy a demo, thats like buying a used rental car. I think we all know how much a demo gets beat up while it is on the lot.

CLSter

I heard the Pacificas were not selling as expected so you can expect more of the big three's "get me off the lot" deals.

1killercls

CHRYSLER

That is all.:P

Infamous425

ive seen a few of them with 20's on em. the dealers are selling them with dubs too.

Sdog2012

i think the pacifica looks awesome in black, the crossfire would be an awesome car if it had even 50 more hp

dfreder371

Kansai: Nope. The Pacifica we picked up was a 2004 model year car. And I just found out if you fold the middle seats forward, you now hane a "trunk" that is now bigger than the CLS trunk. also, 23 gallon gas tank so at $1.80 per (thank god this thing is ok to use regular), the first fill up was $36.

dfreder371

Killer: Yea, in a way I know what you mean, but remember, this car is one half Benz also.

Christ, it was hard enough to get dad to look at something else than a minivan. The stress of changing manufacturers completely, well, the stress would probably have killed him.

Now his choice for a CAR might suprise you. It is a 1999 Acura 3.2TL with 10,000 miles on it.

YuppieCL

matteichenfels

Pacifica is awesome!

gdubb

I really like the way the Pacifica looks. A real improvement for Chrysler.