_ Minivan decisions n Honda and Mazdsz. Chrysler engineering peo- ple tell me that the well in the floor needed to receive the folded seat is 2 source of noise and vibration and also inhibics Tony Whitney Contributing Writer WHEN the folks at Chrysler Corporation jump-started the “mini- van revolution” back in 1984, they couldn’t possibly have imagined that by the turn of the century, the market would embrace quite so 4many models and vari- ants, ‘Minivans scem to have found a permanent place in _the automotive scheme of things and although much .. gossip surrounds the future of _SUVs, few believe that buyers : will ‘cool off on minivans. . “. Minivans are undeniably practical — especially for fami- _ly users who have come to ~depend cf them not only for their own needs, but for those of the local “little league” Sports teams too. And: “altho at families right from the start, there are lots of “non-family” users who’ve found them the “ideal vehicle on which to base almost too many models to: . choose from and this dilemma ° is compctinded by the fact that every One of them has its minivans were aimed» abort BORG attributes and advantages. Automakers entering the minivan market either have to get their product right first time around, or leave this sec- tor alone. A minivan mod that wasnt quite up to snut? simply wouldn't fast very long ina marketing environment this intensive. Chrvsler is still the market leader, but plenty of other makers are snapping at its heels. You can buy a minivan from Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Toyota and Volkswagen. Saturated the market may be, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to sce a few more manufacturers launch minivans. Two that spring to mind as obvious contenders are Saturn and Hyundai As I’ve pointed out, choos- ing a minivan can be a diffi- cult process, but the compen- sation is that it’s almost impossible to blunder into something poorly-designed and impractical. It often comes down to personal pref- erences and what kind of options are available for a par- ticular vehicle. Right now, both Chrysler - and General Motors are get- ting set to launch revised minivan ranges, so the shop- ping process isn’t going to get any easier. One key feature some of the newer minivans have is the , ability to fold the rearmost seat into the floor, rather than removing it altogether to cre- ate extra cargo space. Among _ minivan builders, there are two schools of thought on this process. Chrysler’s new range has its rear seat remov- able in two sections, making the procedure easier than with: * earlier one-piece units. GM has gone for folding seats that disappear into the rear load deck — a system also used by Che battery, antireeze, belts & hoses KOS, viol | inspection report” .. Tune-Up: HIGH TECH ‘ One of BCs top AiCare tachnicians wil check your engin, report freings & tune wih scope foading & tu mad est also 0-2 Fug. INJECTION SEAVICE Perforrs pressurized induction cleaning, direct pressurized injector cleaning. _ Aim conp. & COOLING , Check compresser, hoses, baits, condenser, check radiater, test antifreeze condition, test *CADILLA CK: AG» BU PONTIAG « BUICK:e CADILLAC * GMC PONTI ‘ DILLAG. TIAG adaptation to all wheel drive for the vans. GM believes it’s solved the noise problem and will offer all wheel drive on its new van range. Either way, the customer does get to Fridey, May 19, 2000 — North Shore News - 29 choose on the basis of which system best suits his or her needs. 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