Croc

Why? Dialing and Driving isn't that hard to do...study after study shows it isn't any more distracting than conversations inside the car or the radio.

Even in our 1980 Sedan de Ville, the front passenger seats are wider than the rear. The front and center seat is very narrow...to the extent that only a small child would be comfortable there, and small children should NOT be in the front seat. The driver has a steering wheel in front of him/her, and the passenger has the (usually) soft dash top. The center passenger has a lot of protruding knobs made of not-soft plastic in front of them. Actually, having someone RIGHT NEXT TO YOU versus being several feet away would hinder right side mirror vision. You should be able to turn your head quickly to see the right mirror without having to lean forward. Drivers should be able to have room to their right also in case of an emergency situation so they can react quickly and steer/swerve without jabbing someone's face with their elbow. What about cupholders? They can get in the way of stalks if located on the left-hand side. Also, with a sixth passenger front-center, how do you operate climate controls and audio controls? Their knees are often in the way due to the drivetrain shaft, which is STILL in FWD cars (knees aren't an issue with a small child, but again they should NOT be in the front seat). So you're saying a 6-passenger sedan would have more cargo space than a 7-passenger wagon? The integrated interior with connected cargo area is the most space-efficient design because it is essentially a box. SUVs and wagons have the same overall shape. Also, you're comparing a 6-passenger sedan with a 7-passenger SUV/wagon. The SUV/wagon would have more space if in a 6-passenger configuration (split third row is offered in many minivans and crossover SUVs, including the lambdas). Measured by...exterior size or interior width? I don't think the interiors have gotten dramatically narrower, I think the decreased overall size is due to much better packaging. I DO think automakers are making the front buckets with better side bolsters so the driver isn't sliding all around while driving around curves. I think people just got tired of sliding around while driving in front benches with no side bolsters.

Two vehicles? When we have all of our family members in town for holidays, we carpool with multiple vehicles. You should try it--it's safer and more comfortable.

Because putting a seat there is: a) very uncomfortable for the poor sap stuck there b) is dangerous due to the airbags (or lack therof) and the dash being just in front of them c) cramps the driver who really needs the most room to drive safely (and needs a lot of peripheral vision for side mirrors) d) dramatically decreases the ergonomics and storage space e) is extremely low-demand. People who need to seat 6 trade up to an SUV, crossover or minivan. Why? Because people who routinely need to carry 6 passengers generally want them all to be comfortable as well as need to fit all their stuff in the vehicle.

Nice, I always liked that generation of the Intrepid.

The Bruins played damn well though. I know their stats for the season aren't that impressive, but they exploited Booty's weakness perfectly: Booty cannot read the field for $h! and is only able to throw decently when he can stop and plant his foot down. His passes are pretty inaccurate when he has to think on his feet and pass while in motion. He's been the Achille's heal of the team all season long, and I personally think he will be as long as he is the starting QB. I wish Pete would have put Sanchez in during the 4th. Whatever, Rose Bowl it is. Oh, and Booty needs to just pick a name!

I can agree with that. I was impressed by the interior quality (minus the plood). Also, I'm hoping the problem was just with the show car I sat in, but the sliding cupholder cover looks slick when you open it and it automatically retracts, but it wouldn't close again without some pretty awkward adjusting of the latch!

Sebring is pretty cheap. But it LOOKS nice. If only Chryslers good interior design were matched by equally good materials... empowah, you didn't like the AURA? I came away pretty impressed with it, though I still don't like the plood.

I'm not biased against them. Not at all. I just cannot see myself ever owning one, but for that matter I cannot see myself owning too many sedans, either. I certainly do not hate sedans and campaign negatively against them, but they are not my first choice. I prefer crossover SUVs.Honestly, I would say I've had more than a casual experience with minivans...I was carpooled in them every day for years. Road trips and vacations? Rented a Silhouette. I really don't think I'm unqualified to talk about them, and I'm certainly not biased against them. The point about professionals is true, but don't they usually utilize a panel van option? I don't think I've ever seen a workman use the same minivan for both work and family hauling, especially not a plumber. What do they do, unload EVERYTHING so they can put in the second row? I have a hard time seeing the practicality of that.

I'll agree that a true Chevrolet minivan would prolly be a good idea...I think GM is stupid if they abandon the segment, but simultaneously I don't think they'd be at a disadvantage either.

You should have looked at the Navigator's seats...you'd have been ROTFLYAO.

I have no idea what oppressive laws you are referring to Camino. And California isn't hostile to cars, only pollution. And frankly they're right...cars should be as clean as possible. There's no reason not to...our cars today are so much cleaner than they were in the 60s yet they still get amazing performance.

This is a vehicle you HAVE to see in person. I don't know what is wrong with Nissan's photography, but when beholding this work of art in person it is GORGEOUS and SEXY. There were enough people crowded around it at the show yesterday to know it wasn't just me...especially since I thought it looked pregnant and out-of-shape going into it based on the press pictures. It looks neither in person. Simply awesome.

eh...too falsetto and over-the-top for my tastes

I took no pics, and I definitely skipped some automakers completely...Suzuki holds no interest. Hey PM me I wanna know what you thought about the Lincoln Navigator leather seats.

empowah...then you didn't have the middle row adjusted properly. It slides back and forth for increased/decreased leg room. Look I'll be perfectly upfront here: I don't really care for minivans and do not follow the latest developments in the segment. My experiences with minivans have been growing up, friends had Dustbusters, Aerostars, and of course every gen of the Chryslers. I've been in Windstars a couple times, the occasional rental Silhouette, and I was carpooled in the last-gen Odyssey (first competitive Odyssey...circa 2000). Compared to every minivan I've been in, I see no shortcomings with the Lambdas. If GM wants to build an additional set of "true" minivans, then fine, good for them. But I really don't think GM would be at a competitive disadvantage if they just made a sliding door an option with what they currently have.

Uhhh...getting out of the seat while the thing is in motion? Dude, that's stupid. If you need to be actively taking care of the kids while driving, then you should be in one of the back seats too WITH them.Seriously...before you write them off, experience them in person. And given the number of families who have gone from minivans to midsized SUVs and now to crossovers (it's enough to say the minivan market is shrinking) all due to the soccer-mom stigma...I doubt the veracity of a console-less front row being "huge." EDIT: Both the Odyssey and Sienna have consoles between the two front seats.

It's damned nice. I found 2 nitpicks: I think the 2nd row seats are just a tad bit on the low side (but no lower than your typical wagon or even my $h!acular M-Class) and I wish the entertainment system folded up from the center console and not down from the roof as it will obstruct rear vision...BUT you can have both a sunroof and an entertainment system...so whatever.

Have you seen these in person? They're pretty impressive. The 2nd and 3rd rows fold flat, and there's plenty of cargo space.As far as the pass-through first row...says who? That isn't a requirement at all for the segment. I don't remember if they included a place for a purse or not, but the console storage is HUGE. I think a couch could fit. Not 100% but pretty sure. Seeting is as upright as any other minivan/SUV I've been in. As far as storage compartments/cupholders galore...you're right on that, but that could be easily designed into the new sliding doors No biggie. Honestly look at these in person...they are excellent.

Very briefly.

Honestly the lambdas right now are all excellent and I cannot imagine a reason a family would pass them up for a true minivan...except for the sliding door thing. C'mon GM...make a sliding door an option in them and you've got yourself all you need.

I recall saying I was going today, the first day of the show, and I just returned from it. MUCH better show than last year. I'll post impressions later on.

Finally someone who isn't talking out of their ass about California...

No, Japan.

Again, this will never pass. It was just a design exercise.