(first published 7/10/2011) My first car was an Oldsmobile. A 1967 Delta 88, which I wrecked 6 months after I got my driver’s license.
Before you say it, yes, I admit I’m getting older. A part of getting older is looking for some of the finer luxuries of life. A little comfort is appreciated, a leather seating area is nice, and an automatic transmission is appreciated in traffic.
I used to turn up my nose at minivans. They were for families (We have no children). They were not “cool.” It was not the image I wanted to project of myself.
Oh, you foolish, foolish man.
I’m 6′ 7” tall. I would make allowances in previous cars for my height by doing such things as never buying a sunroof (cuts approximately 1.5” off the headroom), reclining the driver’s seat so my head would fit (in an ’84 Camaro), and scrunching up into a “cool” car so I could appear to be something I’m apparently not (in a 1978 Honda Civic).
In 2006 my wife and I moved to St. George, UT to take care of our mothers, both of whom were elderly. I bought a Ford F-150 with the V-6 and a 5 speed to provide for my daily transportation. Still have it. It’s nice to have a truck when it’s needed, and it has lots of room in the cab.
My mom had this 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette GLS. It was converted to carry a power wheelchair. The lift works rather well, actually. Lifts the chair up and swings it in to the back. I would chauffeur Mom around town as she needed to go places, and became very adept in getting the chair in and out.
When Mom died in 2008, I took the Silhouette as part of my share of the estate. My wife is also in a wheelchair, so it was perfect to help her around town. But in driving it I discovered something I never would have thought possible.
I like it.
The Silhouette was first introduced in 1990 as part of a trio of minivans from GM. Its siblings were the Chevrolet Lumina and the Pontiac Trans Sport, later the Montana. GM had a foray into the minivan market earlier, with the Astro, but being built on a truck chassis and not having a lot of amenities, was not the big seller that Chevrolet expected. With the new vans, dubbed “dust-busters” because of their shape, GM finally began making some inroads on Chrysler’s virtual lock on the minivan market. With the new innovative shape, and GM exclusives such as power sliding passenger doors, the new vans began selling fairly well. GM was encouraged and made plans for a second generation of minivans with more conventional features. They based the look on the current Chrysler Town and Country. There was only one problem.
In 1997, when GM released their new design minivan, Chrysler released a totally new redesigned Town and Country.
Talk about being behind the times.
However, the GM vans turned out to be good. With the venerable LA1 3.8l 6 cylinder engine, the vans were finally powered properly. The movie “Get Shorty” made the Silhouette famous as “the Cadillac of minivans.” And it really is.
Leather heated seats. Rear back up alarm. MPG instant/average calculation and miles to empty computer. Outside temperature and compass. Memory power seats. 4 speed automatic transmission. Rear A/C and heating controls that the driver or rear passengers can control. An air compressor built in. Think about it – a minivan that can fill up it’s own tires. All standard on the GLS model.
The last Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on March 31, 2004. Oldsmobile was dead at the point, as well. An old time marque that was killed off by corporate bean counters. Shame, really. They were just starting to bring out some interesting cars.
I truly enjoy driving this van. Legroom. Headroom. I can even wear a cowboy hat inside! Only thing I could ask for is built in GPS navigation, but my netbook and Microsoft Streets and Trips with the GPS attachment fill in just dandy. And since I’m a musician, there is plenty of room for my instruments and amplifiers inside.
Road manners are a surprise. While not up to my Z-28, it is respectable in the corners. Acceleration could be a bit better, especially on grades, but the 4 speed auto downshifts in plenty of time to keep your speed up. I’ve been averaging about 19 MPG in town and 25 MPG highway. With only 38,600 miles on this nine year old van, I plan on keeping it for a good long time.
One ouchie – the front got hit in a supermarket parking lot and the idiot put a nice dent in the front bumper and left the scene. When Paul can afford to pay his correspondents better, I’ll get it pulled out. (Ed: Bring it by; I’ll pull it out. I once “repaired” our ’92 Caravan out front in the street, and “straightened” the inner front structure with a come-along hooked to the back of my Ford after son Edward rear-ended someone. You’re not picky, I assume?)
My first car was an Oldsmobile. Looks like my last one might be, as well.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I am REALLY enjoying all the different writers being allowed. The different perspectives are very enlightening in many cases, and every new story is like a special treat I can’t wait to enjoy. Some may notice I am often the first to post on new articles, and that is because as soon as I see it posted on Facebook, I MUST READ IT RIGHT AWAY! (Being a night owl when many of these are posted doesn’t hurt, either.)
I said I would do one, and reading these are helping to get my nerve up. I was going to do a new ’80-’89 Town Car piece, but I went back to re-read Paul’s and it really is closer to perfect than I previously wanted to admit.
I keep waiting for “the one” to show up, a car I spot as I drive around that inspires me to actually bust out the laptop and finally do it, but I just haven’t seen it yet.
Then again, if I am following the spirit of CC, they really are all “the one,” aren’t they?
You beat me as usual I seemany old cars on my wanderings but my writing skills arent to flash.
Saw a set of peugeots today pick up and sedan 404s Pauls holy grail both in use current W.O.F.s and rego pump up the foto and check the cars plate
Alas that 404 pickup is no more it lived on the outside of a hairpin bend and a teen school kid with few driving skills and a uninsured Corolla took it out, the owner being a genuine PSA nutter now has a diesel ZX Citroen, smaller target I presume.
It does puzzle me people who park their vehicles on curves or near intersections since they are just asking for trouble and crunched metal.
Mr.Tactful: It’s not a matter of being “allowed”. As I said some months ago, CC is a collaborative site. Everyone is welcome to submit. And I’m getting more and more submissions from new writers daily. There is no limit to the number of ‘takes” on any given car. CC is becoming a very diverse and eclectic voice. Good thing too. I’m loving all the different perspectives.
Write the TC piece; mine has long been forgotten! And you’re right; there is no “perfect” CC. Cars really are like people!
Paul, did you receive the one I submitted? I think I may have sent it to the wrong email. I would also like to try one for a Volvo. Between my parents, relatives and friends, we’ve probably had 20-25 through the years. It didn’t hurt that one of Dad’s friends owned the Volvo dealer in Moline.
You sent me something? What? When? Where?
The Contact form works, or curbsideclassic(at)gmail.com
Back in April – obviously there was a problem on my side. Will resubmit, it is still in my sent items folder. No worries.
So this is where you started writing fr CC? I sure do enjoy your contributions Tom. We often have similar taste in cars as well.
Please keep it coming, No car is too mundane it seems.
This looks like a useful car and its not bad on the eyes considering some of the strange Japanese offerings here its not bad. At 6ft7 you arent gunna fit in a Riley Elf real easy this car sounds ideal lots of creature features is always nice I knew there had to be a reason for the popularity of mini vans
Your awakening to the appeal of minivans is worth noting. I, too, discovered the practical appeal of the minivan by inheriting my fathers…I had changed jobs; the previous job had me in a company truck and traveling…I’d sold my car and now, with new employment, needed wheels in a hurry. There was the eight-year-old Gen-1 Caravan…
As a car, it didn’t immediately appeal to me. But I came to need and love the practical aspects…more room back there than a station wagon; seats come out; protection from the weather, unlike a pickup. As good or better than either. Sliding door is a practical item.
The Dodge was old and didn’t last. But years later flailing around looking for a second car. I happened on a 1996 Plymouth minivan. An entirely different car; even as beat-up and close to death as that one was (transmission and rust) I discovered that with the new design, Chrysler had incorporated actual driving fun. And the streamlined style…to my eye, it was the most appealing of any of them.
When that Plymouth did die of transmission failure, I got to talking with a few Chrysler and Dodge stores. I actually went to take a bath on a NEW Town & Country!
And that was – bar none – THE most practical, and one of the best looking, cars I’ve ever owned. The V-6 was economical…21 miles a gallon. Almost as good as my Chevette of thirty years earlier. And with three times the power.
It towed trailers; it regularly flat-towed my Jeep YJ. It didn’t complain once, either.
It hauled stuff. STUFF! Somehow, inside all those flowing lines, resided PLENTY of space to pack in cargo.
And as a road car, it couldn’t be beat. It tracked well; felt nimble. Driving position was ideal for me – chair height; steering wheel low in my lap.
And the price was right….bought it in the spring of 2008, it was a 2007 left-over. $3000 markdown on it.
It was the last of that era; and it was a shame that Cerberus saw fit to change the body style. The current manifestation, to my eye, looks a bit dumpy.
But the practicality remains. The minivan is THE most underrated, most disparaged, vehicle on the market. Half the car buyers in the country need nothing else; and yet, somehow for being associated with motherhood in an era where motherhood is disparaged, these vehicles don’t sell.
Or sell as well as they ought to.
My current car also comes as a minivan the Xsara Picasso apparently they too are ok and handle well but I have no need of the extra space right now as its only me and my 10yr old daughter here so the hatch back suits fine at pres
I have a friend who has 3 little boys. The mini van would be an utterly practical means of transporting the brood, but the wife “won’t be seen” in such an appliance. It somehow reflects poorly on her self image.
Instead she drives around in a hulking, inefficient, Chevy Trailblazer, that I’ve had the displeasure of driving on one or two occasions.
Unless you are pointed dead ahead on the interstate, one could literally get sea sick in this thing with the endless side to side motion, like the amber waves of grain.
Thankfully though, it seems the Trailblazer and old style Explorer’s seem to be falling out of favor.
(But I love my Xterra!)
Another minivan lover here. I am actually a late convert from being a big van lover, but they are about dead and gone. I enjoyed the quirkiness of a 1st gen Honda Odyssey and when it was hit in an intersection found a 99 Town & Country. I have been surprised a how much I really like that T&C. I bought it as a cheap appliance, but find that I really enjoy being in it. This was the vehicle that rekindled a Mopar flame that had almost gone out. And one of my sons is 6’6″ and has plenty of room (although he would rather drive the 93 Crown Victoria).
I have had no experience with this generation of GM minivan, but I see a lot of them around. From what you say, the Olds is the one to get.
Richard: This drummer loves his 2002 Grand Caravan for the same reason. Gear hauler
6 pc Gretch w/ Gibralter rack, lights, 2 monitors..25-26 mpg drivin’ to gigs. Cant beat that
for practicality. Ive had vans since 1975. Anyone remember the NSVA truck-ins?
I went to one at Bowling Green KY, 12000 vans there, it was back it the 70’s van craze.
I drove my Dodge Tradesman to California twice, back then gas prices did not dictate whether I drove a full size van. Ill take my van over a truck for ease of entry, 2 sliding doors, gas mileage, etc. I just bought some Vision Shockwave rims, to make my mini a little different than all of the rest…
Great to see another new writer. Hope you will contribute at least weekly.
Actually, Ric (‘Rico”) has written two pieces before; on his Pacer and a ’37 Packard. They’re in the Index.
Oh great, I’m not the only Oldsmobile-loving Richard around here anymore!
Nice story, thanks for sharing.
As a certified Olds lover, I will agree that the Silhouette was a nice step up from the other mini’s, with the Chrysler Town and Country being it’s direct competitor.
One thing of note though, when the 1997 vans came out, they were only available with the 3.4 V6, the 3800 was only offered in the dustbusters for a few years, they sooo should have included it in the new vans.
I’m glad to see that you are enjoying your Olds, and luckily it has low mileage. It has been my experience that as these vans age, it’s not a pretty sight. And it’s too bad as I find the seating and overall packaging to be quite nice.
One last thing, did you know that for 2002 The Silhouette got the Aurora’s steering wheel???
You will love that V6 up to the moment you have to replace the intake
manifold gaskets. Take it to a pro, that is one bad job.
I bet you could repair that bumper by getting underneath it and giving it a good hit from the inside. I did that for a co-worker’s Altima and it worked nicely.
That’s what I was thinking too.
Use a heat gun (a couple of hair dryers will work in a pinch) to evenly heat up the area (or just leave it out in the direct sun all afternoon), and then push it out (leather gloves if the plastic is hot). These plastic parts have a “memory” and will usually return to (almost) their original shape with a little assistance.
That’s the way! A bunch of hair dryers or a heat gun.
Gosh… you mini van loving people seem ok. I”ll have to rethink my stance on your mini van drivers. 🙂
I, too have gone out of my way to avoid transporting my tribe in a minivan— for now the Volvo wagen has sufficed but I confess that we have family that ran off to buy his/hers Tahoes because they are way too cool for school.
A few weeks back, we vacationed in beautiful NE Georgia with these folks & the applicance of choice was a T&C that impressed all with its layout and practicality. Mrs. Fastback was also duly impressed by our 2 week test drive but for now I am resisting…. but as always the writing is on the wall. and I guess that’s ok—-
especially if I don’t have to drive it!
“Fastbaaaack……the dark side summons you………….” 8^)
Thanks everyone for the comments. Wasn’t sure how a minivan was going to go over here – thank goodness I’m not the only one who appreciates them.
A Silhouette that served as the medical car in the Indy 500 during whichever year the Bravada was the pace car (?!?!) actually sold for 18 grand at Barrett-Jackson a couple of years back.
The guys over at Carlust feel the same way (that is actually where I first heard about Paul’s writing while he was still at TTAC). http://www.carlustblog.com/2010/05/a-minivan-is-better.html
Nice write up. Very informative and entertaining.
Couple clarifications…
All second gen U Vans had the 3.4l V6, of lower intake gasket fame. The 3.8 was optional or standard only in the first gen depending on year and make/trim.
The Chrysler vans debuted in 1995 as 1996 models. The second gen U Vans did debut for 1997. It wasn’t quite the sneak attack from Chrysler the article hints at. GM was definitely late to the game, as usual, and mostly due to launch schedule movebacks and production delays.
We have had two Chrysler mini vans, good usable vehicles, like a huge
station wagon.
Also had an Astro van. It was very truck like, a worker. Bought that in
Pennsylvania near Philly. $700 cause it needed a little work. Drove it
to Honduras with wife and two kids. We hauled supplies for a bush
hospital. The poor Astro was sitting on the blocks. Great trip and I really
loved the Astro. Sold it in Honduras for $700, ta da!
Vans are good.
You had me at “foolish, foolish man” and went from there: amusing tiny car picture, Olds history, minivan comfort and cargo handling, all of it. My wife and I have a first generation Odyssey, which shares many of the same virtues, and even has the same bumper/parking lot story. Its benefits are as you have recounted, and I don’t know why we would ever replace it. Next stop, cult classic, a suitable successor to the 245 wagon!
I never was a minivan fan, save for the original VW Bus which,contrary to Chrysler`s claim of them “inventing” the minivan ” was in reality the first one. This Olds just screams “soccer mom”, but the `90 Olds, Chevy and Pontiacs do seem to be a bit more stylish-if thats the right word- that most of the others.BTW, my brother once had a Ford Aerostar that was an absolute horror to drive at highway speeds. The worst handling vehicle that I have ever driven, and I drove many.
I don’t understand the stigma of the minivan. Folks bought minivans in droves in the 1980’s-2000’s to avoid the stigma of the wagon. Now the SUV(or CUV) is kind and the minivan has the stigma but I believe the minivan will be popular again(perhaps repackaged though) after all a SUV is simply a wagon with height.
I actually like minivans and if I could get one for a good price I would. They are very practical and much better for most home depot trips then a truck and easy to park also.
The original poster is correct, the Oldsmobile Silhouette was dubbed the “Cadillac of minivans” due to its luxury and quietness of it.
Getting a good minivan for a good price should be no problem at all. The stigma works in your favor. Go shop!
My Still Stylish 80 year old Mother, who called my Town Car “an old man’s car”; would not even consider a mini-van or SUV.
She has ALWAYS considered her car as part of her jewelry and accessory collection.
She STILL comments on the Jaguar XJ6 that I owned….even if it was an unreliable, Lucas electronics laden, irritating POS. “But it looked SO good on me!”
Conversation between Jacob, age 16 and his grandmother.
“Jacob,aren`t you excited? Your fathers going to buy a new car on Saturday”.
Jacob, barely looking up from his video game. “Not really grandma.he`s gonna buy a minivan”.
Are you still running the Olds in 2015? With the low miles it should still be treating you and your wife well. Always like to see a well cared for older vehicle still serving their owner faithfully. Sounds like it fits you well. The 3.8 is a good engine. I like the color and this is one of the better looking minivans. Glad to see you stepped up to take care of aging parents and your Mom left you a van that is set up for your wife’s wheelchair. I got a similar dent in the bumper cover of my Titan not long after I bought it new. Caused by a Geo Metro on the freeway, no less. And it didn’t leave a mark on the Geo, although the car was lifted up by my tire and thrown into the center divider, which was only dirt and somehow it bounced to a stop without rolling or hitting anything. His insurance replaced the cover, although the first time the paint started to peel but the second time the body shop got the repair right.
Hi! Yes, it’s still with me. The F-150 got sold off a few years ago, but the Olds remains. Coming up on 65,000 miles and still running great.
Not using the wheelchair lift at all now. My wife passed away in 2012.
It’s still my music hauler. I carry loads of gear in there, and it’s never once complained. Even with the two 50-60 pound speakers and mixer in the back.
Next year this will be the car I’ve kept the longest. And I still enjoy it. Not writing CCs as much these days as I’m a reporter for one of the local news outlets here and my off time is spent away from the computer, mostly, but I might be able to drag something out of the woodwork here in Southern Utah soon.
Thanks for asking! Nice to know I’m remembered.
Richard Wayman
Sorry to hear your wife has passed. I have lost a few family members also in the last few years. Happy to hear the van’s still going strong. The Olds should help keep the music and the memories going for a long time.
I cannot understand the dislike for minivans often professed by (women). So what if you look like a soccer mom? Especially if you ARE a soccer mom. Who now all drive minivans, made over into CUVs by jacking up the floor and putting bigger tyres on.
You cannot get a more practical vehicle than a minivan, for my money. Flip down the seats or take them out, and it’s a truck, with the advantage of not everything gets wet/stolen. You can carry people, and things. It’s great for impromptu beach trips, trips out of town, come on guys! Let’s go to the casino this weekend! I love the sliding doors for cargo/people, the smooth and quiet ride, the reasonable handling, and capacity. Much larger than the equivalent CUV inside, much better than a truck for hauling furniture, etc. No, the cargo capacity isn’t as heavy, but if it’s too heavy for the caravan, I cannot lift it anyway. I don’t tow anything.
It’s not a corvette, or a miata, but 95% of my driving is stuck in traffic or interstate steady speed, so how sporty it is is largely immaterial.
And despite many dire predictions, my ’06 Caravan is going strong with 200K miles. I love it and if I could only have one car, that would be it.
Excellent summary of the minivan’s virtues. It is a sensible kind of vehicle for sensible people.
I used up 2 minivans and was glad to go to a smaller vehicle when my boys grew up and had their own cars. Call it “rightsizing”. I sold this one to a large family. Call it “rightsizing” again.
Yep, big minivan fan here. I’m a single guy so no need for it really, I just like the van part. You can haul furniture, go camping, etc. In fact I just bought a 96 Lumina DustBuster, low kms, immaculate interior, etc. I love it more than anything I could buy new-Ish. $1200. Nobody wanted it. Funny thing, they never sold the oldsmobile DustBuster version in Canada. My new van…
I like the Pontiac best they are great on fuel these vans. Here in europe I wish mine got rear disc brakes standard. The european model had disc brake on all 4 wheels standard. The only way you the disc brakes in the back was in 2002 when gm offered the versa track. Gm need a new van like that again.
i would have loved to have a minivan on Friday. Four friends and I headed about two hours away on a trip. I cashed in some Avis coupons and ended up with a 2014 Ford Escape. That is the least-roomy SUV i have even driven. Trying to fit three in the backseat was a mess. I should have just grabbed a Focus, since it is the same thing.
Of course the one time I wanted to rent a Malibu and ended up with a minivan there were just two of us. It was a nice Dodge Caravan and very pleasant to drive. We also have one at work that seems to have survived the slings and arrows of fleet use very well.
While driving three girls (and their stuff) back to college after spring break yesterday, I confirmed for the umpteenth time that I have no regrets in owning a minivan. It is the perfectly balanced compromise between comfort, performance and utility. The ’12 Sedona now has 38k on the clock. It is sure to become a collectors item, as one of about 9 ever built without those nasty power side doors.
I enjoyed my 2001 Venture a lot, sometimes I still wish I kept it.
My ’05 Grand Caravan was my first car purchase that I was utterly indifferent about. But it’s been everything I could ask in a family hauler. Roomy, comfortable, efficient, reliable, versatile.
The new crop of vans take a step backwards in visibility, driver legroom, ride comfort, and style. I’m not very excited about buying another. But I’m sure I will.
From what I recall, GM vans were not known for their quality back then. They all did spectacularly bad in first IIHS crash tests. Here’s the throw back Dateline segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaeloWsRe_s
Skip to 7:55 to see this generation of mini van in action.
The post-1996 U vans had their issues with certain aspects of quality. The ubiquitous installation of the 3.4L V6 and it’s funky gaskets make it almost a certainty that sometime during the ownership you WILL be replacing the intake gaskets, at a minimum. The Dexcool issues didn’t help and there were some body hardware issues, too.
These post-1996 U-vans did have dismal crash test results, but by 2006 when GM heavily revised them, their scores improved considerably. In addition to the availability of the revised 3.9L V6 with better reliability and power ratings, these are pretty nice vans, as far as minivans go. But by the time GM got around to revising these things, the SUV/CUV craze had taken over and there would be no further investment in a minivan platform again.
Yes, I would like to find a late 2008-09 Chevy Uplander or Pontiac SV6 to use as a daily driver…
Add me to the list of minivan lovers. I’d once said that for young (or single) people the most versatile vehicle they could own was a pickup truck (with a cap or tonneau). Once you get children, the minivan is the most versatile vehicle you could own.
I’ve never quite understood the stigma some (women in particular) feel about minivans; some of the hottest women I have ever seen have driven minivans. Of course they usually have a brood with them, but it is what it is…
In fact, my wife is one of those women. Back in Y2K, neither our Dakota extended cab or our Mercury Topaz wasn’t big enough to hold our rapidly growing kids. I wanted to get a minivan. My wife was dead set against it. Vehemently so. I thought about a nice big sedan like an Olds Intrigue or a Dodge Intrepid, but no dice. She fell in love with the Aztek of all things! We’re now on our third one, mostly because when my Sunfire GT became too costly to fix, she shot down my idea about getting a minivan… Again!
Several friends of mine had Grand Caravans over the years and I really liked the way they drive in the later editions. A friend still has a rather nice 1996 Voyager (got if from Grandma), still my standard for how a minivan should drive. Another friend has a 1999 or 2000 MY Chevy Venture LWB model, which I rate a close second for driving pleasure. My MIL’s 2004 Mercury Villager is a tank to drive and maneuver, but it soon will be going to my younger daughter to replace my 265,000 mile Cavalier. I’ve driven a couple of different generations of Honda Odysseys and Toyota Siennas. Between the two, I prefer the Honda for driving, but the Siennas seem to be bigger. (Can you tell I was rather active in the local kids soccer leagues?)
When my kids were very little, my FIL had an original minivan that he let us borrow for about a year or so, I really came to love that particular packaging. But these things have grown immensely in the last 30+ years. I think when this Aztek finally expires, I will be looking for something small like the original Caravan. Here’s hoping I can find something I like!
Serendipity of a sort… I happened to click on this article again, and my comments from a couple of years ago are still here. I smacked a deer with my Aztek about a year ago. I decided rather than try to fix it, I would spend the money on another car. This time I got my van; a 2004 Olds Silhouette! So here I am a year later and still loving it. In the interim, I’ve lost my musical gig, but I use it to move all kinds of things. It’s not the fastest or most fashionable thing, but it works every time.
I still have mine, Geo. Glad to hear you moved up to the “Cadillac of minivans!” Mine has 92,000 on it now. Not sure if I’m EVER going to retire it, but never say never, I guess.
Richard
One interesting demographic of minivan drivers are empty nesters, contrary to conventional wisdom.
The vehicles transform from kid-haulers into cargo haulers — for home projects, garden projects, etc., now that the parents have time to spend on non-children related activities.