This gem was sitting quite unnoticed in the Mopar booth of the SEMA Show. The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T isn't a production model, but it should be.
Hardware includes a 260-hp 4.0-liter V6 with ram induction and dual exhaust, a lowered sport tuned suspension and 20-inch alloy wheels and Goodyear tires. Inside we touched the suede headliner and the performance seats with suede inserts and red stitching. Exterior mods include custom front and rear fascias, a custom rear spoiler, a new hood with a functional hood scoop and LED driving lights...
Moms don't seem to want Magnums, maybe they want this. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
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aww look its a air scoop... on a mini-van...
Sorry thats almost as bad as those wheels. If you want performance.. dont get a mini van
My wagon has a fake air scoop and it's pretty silly. Does this thing have a hemi? My current minivan scrapes on road dips as it is - this lowered one must be a real grinder.
Meh, I think it looks cool. Sure the bumper could be a couple of inches higher, so what?
I saw an Odyssey with what were probably 19 inch 285 series wheels a few years ago. Absolutely hilarious.
Now, had Honda offered a tasteful Odyssey Si when my dad bought one in 2000......let's just say he would have taken advantage of that!
I would buy this...Just to be differnt..I think this shows how crazy and smart Dodge is
They had this one a about 5 years ago at SEMA. Wish they would have built it and I wish they would build this one. You'd probably see more guys driving minivans if they did. Maybe on the new Journey they can do some of this. Are those replicas of the Charger SRT-8 Wheels?
http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/02images/02sema/apc_dodge_grand_caravan.jpg
Very nice. Who says square isn't cool?
It took a long time for my wife to warm up to the minivan idea. She loves her Odyssey now, but at one time she said things like, "over my dead body", and "only if you paint a flame job on it."
Had this been available at the time she was going through this - in this precise color and R/T treatment - she would have willingly made the switch in an instant.
Do it Dodge. Whoever is first to break down the uncool wall in the minivan market will rule the segment. SUV fatigue and obscene fuel prices mean the time is right, right NOW.
Can we stop with the soccer mom stigma? I'm in college right now, and while I love expensive sports cars like everyone else, I think minivans are the most underrated vehicles out there. They're so convenient, comfortable and what I love the most are the numerous storage spaces they have plus all the reconfigurable seating. I really like this Caravan and Dodge makes it. With the death of the Magnum SRT8, this is the next best thing.
I totally agree Daytona. My personal minivan (let's just call them vans because they're huge now), which my wife drives during the week and I use for weekend errands and Home Depot runs, is more useful for hauling just about any-thing or any-one than our long-term Tahoe, and the third-row seats are just fine for full-sized adults too - better than a Suburban, in fact. The inability to tow anything over 3500 lbs is a (mini)van's only achilles heel.
But where I live, the stay-at-home moms my wife knows through the PTA are universally dead-set against being seen in a (mini)van. I've tried asking them why, and they get all indignant about it and clam up. And my neighborhood is not unusual - I see it everywhere.
As an experiment, try taking one of the coeds at your college out on a date in a Toyota Sienna and let us know how it goes. Attitudes don't change very much after they're married and start having their first kids.
Face it: practical has nothing to do with many car-buying decisions. Image and fashion are more important than just about anything else. I've seen many after-purchase surveys delving into "purchase reasons" and styling is almost always a clear #1. High fuel prices should be drving customers back to (mini)vans, but they're not going yet. Something like this Dodge Caravan R/T might be needed to break the stigma that, like it or not, exists.
I'm all for minivans and all the practicality they offer. I'll never buy one, because I just don't care for them in general. That doesn't mean that I'm against anyone else buying one.
The one thing I AM against is putting an R/T badge on one. Put any other moniker you want on it, and a world of cool mods, but not R/T. I happen to be very traditional. I know that R/T really doesn't mean anything today, but it used to, and if Chrysler Corp is going to use it, they should recognize and follow their heritage. R/T means Road and Track. I can't recall the last time I saw a minivan racing series. I also can't recall ever seeing a Dodge Caliber or Dodge Journey in a racing series. I can't stand seeing them with R/T badging. It just makes my blood boil.. An R/T badge on a Ram pickup seems odd, but at least they're raced somewhere.
Although minivans provide a heck of a lot of utility, space and convenience for the money, and a more economical source of all this in most cases, I draw the line with putting R/T badges on them. If Dodge does build this van, I will never buy another Dodge product again. If that sounds petty, that's just too bad.
66 - I agree with you in principle, but I think the damage is already done. The R/T, SS, Z, and even GT (to a lesser extent) badges have each lost their significance. I've come to accept the fact that they're just marketing ploys.
You're absolutely right, Estreka, and it's a damned shame.
Yeah, I hear you and agree. It isn't the R/T badge that I'm voting for here. But if image helps sell a car, they've got to give the name a boost somehow.
I LOVE IT!!!. I wish they had this when I bought my wifes Honda Odyssey. I wouldn't of had the displeasure of sitting for countless hours while they try and rebuild the transmission twice on it. I also wouldn't of had the pleasure of threating to sue Honda motor sales for the garbage minivan that rattles, squeaks, sliding doors fall of onto my sons foot, and other countless problems. I can't wait to say goodbye to Honda and Hello to Caravan R/T. DODGE... BUILD THIS!!!
As pathetic as it might be for a twelve year old to comment on this, i have mixed feelings about this car. First if the R/T really plans to be something specials its goings to need more than just 9 more horsepower than the regular model, i think it should have at least 280hp to really stand out. Also many are biased against poor americann reliability, i think Dodge should do something about their image in terms of that. Also, Dodge is known for inferior interior quality which it should also fix. Otherwise Dodge/Chrysler beats all other companies in terms of value, power, looks (especially the r/t, finally an attractive car my dad would consider buying even though it has horrible reliability.)and bang for the buck. I think this car should be mass produced and would sell pretty good having no competitiion (there are no other sport oriented minivans). This is the one van kids would be proud, riding in.
IN CONCLUSION: IT SHOULD PACK MORE PUNCH, RELIABILITY, and a better INTERIOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love it! while I have a 06 GTO with 405bhp at the rear wheels and full track suspension under it my version of the R/T 08 Dodge Caravan is a blast! my wife wanted a minivan- I said no prob but it's gonna be an R/T (my version) 4.0L as stripped as you can get one, Black on Black, 30% tint on the front windows, 19" Journey wheels painted satin black(no one makes custom 19"s yet) 245-50-19 Yokohama Advan ST's, custom Corsa exhaust, performance friction brake pads and a slight camber adjustment and WALA, a 60+ MPH freeway cloverleaf carver! can't wait to get it to the track!- Thank You Jeff Gale for creating the R/T that spawned my little friend!