2008 Dodge Grand Caravan: Hot Lap Disappointment

James I always love your posts, they are just hilarious! I can't even imagine what spectators must have been thinking seeing a minivan try to round that short-course. I bet their expressions would have been priceless.
 
In all seriousness, though, isn't the Grand Caravan surprisingly nice to drive for a minivan?

I'm wondering when someone will point out to James that he was driving a minivan and then spend two paragraphs listing the differences between the viper and the caravan.
 
+1 Mercedesfan. James knows how to bring the funny.

I think that Dodge is relying FAR too much on their reputation now and not focusing on performance. Last time I was trying to goad a Prius into a stoplight race while in my SRT-4, the woman and her kids just ignored me! I guess the Dodge reputation precedes us.
 
Hopefully this won't become a pattern. If it does, when the time comes in my life to buy a minivan, I'll be getting a more performance oriented Sienna.

Obviously we've got a new parameter to run for our next Minivan Comparo.

Hey don't be so hard on vans, they can be quite rewarding to drive in the track! Just ask any of the instructors on Bondurant how much fun they have in "The van ride" while driving around panic filled students.

The funny thing is that that minivan is probably still faster around that road course than an early '60s Aston Martin or similar old sports car.

Any true racer will tell you that weight savings is the key. I'm sure if you tracked it empty and with the rear seats folded into the floor (to lower the center of gravity), you might shave a second or two off your time.
 
Also, any racer will tell you minivans are rubbish to race in....unless you're Tony Stewart and you're picking up your kid at school.
 
The engine sounds were nice though.

Bring back the turbo vans, Chrysler.

"I'm sure if you tracked it empty and with the rear seats folded into the floor (to lower the center of gravity)"
 
Actually, the third row was folded and we have Swivel 'n Go second row seats. However, if we had chopped the roof off the thing like Top Gear did with that Espace, then hey, maybe we would've done better. Maybe next time.

"However, if we had chopped the roof off the thing like Top Gear did with that Espace, then hey, maybe we would've done better. Maybe next time."
 
If we all chip in and get you a 10 year old Caravan, will you chop the roof and give it a go?
 
Hmmm???? :)

I'm in, Firstwagon. Here's my $0.02 toward the project.

I'll never forgive Dodge for missing the chance to put a Hemi in the vans when the Hemi first came out, nevermind now.

I got a project for anybody willing to bite... My mom used to have a 1996 Caravan with the Mitsu 3.0 v6 and 3 spd auto (lame!) I always wondered if i could wedge a 3000gt vr4 Twin Turbo 3.0 v6 in there. but then you'd have to convert to AWD too... hmmm! Hey editors you got some extra money lying around? Ha!

You're a brave man, James -- not for dragging the Caravan around the track, but for using irony in a blog post.

I wonder how my mother's 1995 supercharged Toyota Previa would fair. It is mid-engined after all.

This is how your mom's Previa would do. j/k :o) Well, it could if you dumped a lot of money into it.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_meHP_ZrliU

Dude, I was just about to request they do the track thing with my mom's Previa. Crazy.

Riswick- you ROCK!!
 
Now when you're ready to be really dissapointed, I have a GMC Safari you can hot lap. Underpowered engine, severe body roll, fading brakes and all !!

I bet it was an absolute blast recording from the Swivel'n'Go seat.

jriz, you're a rock star. great post, what blogs are all about. thanks.
 
gotta say, several years back, when the 6 was introduced, mazda had a great consumer ride-and-drive event, complete with a competitive aspect for piloting the 6 through road courses.
 
also available was the 2.5L V6 MPV... underpowered and a pig compared to the 6-es available on the adjacent course, but it was a hoot to battle slip angles and body roll in that rig, which was a pretty decent handler for a minivan.