A few weeks ago, as all of you, I'm sure, know, I made this rambling attempt at a thread signaling the end of the all-wheel drive Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.
Today I have more bad news to report.
GM's minivan triplets, the Oldsmobile Silhouette, Chevrolet Venture, and Pontiac Montana, have all lost their all-wheel drive versions for the 2005 model year. Chevrolet and Pontiac have lost their AWD versions and their short-wheelbase fleet favourite versions, and the Oldsmobile will be cancelled after 2004.
This puts an end to logical arguments against AWD SUVs, since the Subaru Outback, now the only non-SUV AWD competitor to midsize SUVs, gets similar fuel economy to the vehicles it provides an "alternative" for.
On the plus side, though, I did see a 2004 Chevrolet Astro today - the first 2004 I've ever seen (I don't even think I'd seen a 2003). So they've made at least one! Out-of-state plates, though - likely a rental.
Today I have more bad news to report.
GM's minivan triplets, the Oldsmobile Silhouette, Chevrolet Venture, and Pontiac Montana, have all lost their all-wheel drive versions for the 2005 model year. Chevrolet and Pontiac have lost their AWD versions and their short-wheelbase fleet favourite versions, and the Oldsmobile will be cancelled after 2004.
This puts an end to logical arguments against AWD SUVs, since the Subaru Outback, now the only non-SUV AWD competitor to midsize SUVs, gets similar fuel economy to the vehicles it provides an "alternative" for.
On the plus side, though, I did see a 2004 Chevrolet Astro today - the first 2004 I've ever seen (I don't even think I'd seen a 2003). So they've made at least one! Out-of-state plates, though - likely a rental.
