Chev. Venture MiniVan

1999 Chevrolet Venture Minivan

"An Automotive Love Affair"
By Joseph Mavilia [Back]

Overview:
This week’s review is the Chevrolet Venture minivan. It is perfect for young families and I wish they had them when my kids were little. And it’s interesting to note that my rich and not so rich relatives like what minivans have to offer. When they have real family concerns this vehicle platform is very appealing for a few basic reasons.

For starters, it is easy to get in and out of for young and old than its more popular rival, the sport utility vehicles, or SUV. It is car like in most every way but better. Cars are good before and after kids and the SUV is fine after the youngest kids are twelve and older. That’s when they have outgrown their little league and soccer uniforms and are ready for some serious "off road" camping trips. It’s like the auto industry is actually listening to consumer needs. In this case they hit the jackpot with the minivan, because it falls smack dab between the old style van, (like the Chevy Astro Van, Chrysler’s Caravan and Voyager and VW’s Euro Van, etc.), and the sport utility’s (like Jeep, Chevy Blazer, Ford Explorer, Infiniti QX4, etc.). It fits so well and serves a need so perfectly that it’s no surprise this vehicle has grown so in popularity.

A couple of years ago after daughter Jenny had been wrestling with car seats, toddler and all the rest for about a year, her wish was to someday own a minivan. The need has grown by magnitudes now that she has number two child. I thought twice about visiting while driving this Venture but I did anyway and it heightened her sense of urgency to buy a minivan. "Which one is best, dad?" - Jen, they’re all really good and they all look the same. The only difference in appearance is the manufacturers badge. I suggested they test drive a few to get a feel for which seemed better from the standpoint of: ride, solid feel, and be sure it is well insulated (so the world can be sparred the screaming kids), and neat features like this Venture’s baby seat built in to one of the seat backs, and of course PRICE. And since all the competition is closely priced, that will be more a factor of how much the dealer will "DEAL". As for this Venture, Jenny, I like it just fine. It handles great, is powerful, comfortable, fun to drive, good gas mileage and I simply like Chevy’s.

My first car was a 1934 coupe with a rumble seat – and no, I didn’t buy it new. I’ve since owned a 1946 Pickup, a 1957 2-door hard top, a 1967 2-door Malibu hard top- which I did buy new and that’s the one I brought you home from the hospital in, a 1967 Convertible for the fun of it, a 1971 Station Wagon – to be practical (they didn’t have minivans then), and finally a 1991 Camaro Convertible – to relive the thrill of it all when I wasn’t riding my Harley Davidson. And I loved them all.

Chrysler dominates this class but since its introduction in 1997 Chevrolet’s Venture seems to have met consumers wants. It is squarely in the current mainstream of minivan design and if you, like me, lean toward Chevrolet products, you’ll include this one in your test drive and consideration. Venture is available in three trims: Regular 3-door and 4-door and an Extended 4-door. Venture's windshield features a unique metallic coating that helps keep the interior cool and serves as the radio antenna as well. I like the look of the regular length model, but I have to say the storage space is almost useless. You literally have about one foot of depth to the last row of the eight seating configuration. If you don’t need more than five seats, forget my last comment.

I hope I answered your question Jenny….(buy the Cheeevy), love, Dad.

The competition:
Chrysler Town & Country $27,385 - $36,340, Dodge Caravan $18,205 - $31,710, Ford Windstar $18,425 - $30,415, Honda Odyssey $23,000 - $25,800, Mercury Villager $22,415 - $25,015, Oldsmobile Silhouette $24,610 - $31,200, Plymouth Voyager $18,205 - $23,075, Pontiac Montana $21,325 - $24,040, Toyota Sienna $21,508 - $26,574.

Good News:
Comfortable ride, good performance, smooth shifting trans, lots of neat features including built in baby seat, storage compartments and cupholdera galore for all the rug rats, Chevy reliability.

Bad News:
Less than solid sounding front doors, poor engine access – but only the service department will complain.

Standard Equipment:
3.4-liter 185-horsepower V6 engine, 4-speed auto trans, dual front and side airbags, anti-lock front disc – rear drum brake system (ABS), daytime running lights, power door locks and outside mirrors, theft deterrent system, dual sliding doors, air conditioning, integrated pollen filter, multiple cupholders, intermittent wipers, tilt steering wheel, and AM/FM stereo.

Gas Stats:
18 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:
MSRP $22,045

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is movello@earthlink.net.

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