There were many noteworthy things about the 4th generation Dodge Grand Caravan and this particular example displays the car’s harmonious design. This van continues to give its owner a full measure of all that one expects from a good minivan. This van seems to give the owner very little treble, probably because it is much easier to keep in tune than, say, a base Sonata. This one seems to get no rest.
These were perfect cars for the staff of a youth organization and were only half or a quarter or even an eighth as likely as most other vehicles to give the driver difficulty with the key. The 3.8L V6 could really sing on the highway, with the kind of performance necessary for the carmakers who expected to play in this class.
Yes, Chrysler knew how to put the accent on the kinds of features sure to put a melody into the heart of the buyer. And buyers’ certainly listened, which was instrumental in Chrysler’s major success with the minivan.
I came across this car midday on New Year’s Eve. Can you imagine a better car for ringing in a new year? I have only one question: If this minivan were to stall in a forest, would it make a sound?
Oh, and if you have not yet figured out the answer to the riddle in the title, here you are: A Concert Grand Caravan.
Dodge Grand Caravan: A van big enough to hold The Planets!
I admire a man who can keep a good musical joke in the Holst-er. 🙂
His wife drives a Honda Achord.
You guys are dreadful. I can’t get a handel on all these puns.
I couldn’t even begin to Liszt all of them.
The only thing to do is to jump off a clef.
Treble makers
Bach humbug!
Oh, Doug, you sound like you need a snack from Pachelbel.
Careful now, about an hour later, you may hear (and smell) Taco Bell Cannon.
That’s a song that’s moving quickly up the sharts.
Yes but is it carrying a baby grand piano like this Town & Country.
Funny, I carried a spinet in my pickup just last weekend!
Guess that means if they ever bring out an all electric one it will just have to hum along the highway if it doesn’t know the words?
It looks like that is the Indiana Jones theme, if my eye to brain to ear is working correctly.
You’re right! That’s what my ear hears, with those notes.
I believe you are right.
Thanks guys, my musical sight reading was never worth a thing.
My experience as a music major many years ago: First- and second-year theory, combining sight-singing, harmony, keyboard harmony, some basic composition, identification by ear of various composers’ styles, form and analysis. That was along with music literature classes, ensembles, and individual lessons and studio classes in one’s major instrument. Think total immersion. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
In 2 years of piano and 3 years on trombone in band I had a fight to the death with every single measure until I had it memorized. Sort of the musical version of trench warfare.
You’re right! That’s what it is.
Seconded
Congratulations to bowman and the others for your eye-to-ear skills; gave this college ear training teacher a smile:
That’s epic. Now that I know I can see it, but I fight with every note.
My son reads music fluidly. It’s like I see letters but he sees sentances.
Official road vehicle of the Black Keys! But, being a Chrysler, we can say that this one is not always treble free.
The one on the cover of El Camino is a first-gen Town & Country, IIRC.
Does it work in augmentation or diminution? How about contrary motion? Retrograde inversion might be a challenge, though.
I used to think that CC had high standards but I guess those are now a thing of the past.
So you’re saying this article isn’t really a high note.
What do you get?? A car that will never be in tune.
And if it got keyed, how would you know?
Which gets more attention; Grand Caravan, or Baby Grand?
You can make music if you hold a trumpet to your lips and blow. You cannot make music with a minivan, but it will blow.
And the worst thing when it gets out of tune – it won’t top 40.
No doubt it is a well orchestrated design that will conduct itself with brio.
If the kids in the back are trying to “Pass The Dutchie”, you may have found the touring van for Musical Youth.
Notable!
The owner should have marked the score “allegro”. It might help with speeding infractions. Then again, maybe not.
But then they would be driving a Tempo.
Guy Lombardo’s racing boats were named Tempo 1,2,3,…,. Not quite the same image as Ford’s Tempo, but quite deserving of the names.
Or an Austin Allegro. By the way, are those notes painted on or are they a rap, as in vinyl?
No idea, it was cold and I shot this from my car.
“Rap”, “vinyl” … that was my attempt at musical humor. I guess it went flat. But thanks for the serious answer ?
“These were perfect cars for the staff of a youth organization”
All 88 members of staff had a key.
The biggest problem, though, was all those flats.
But it was fun to drive, being a three-pedal model, although the bench seats
wasn’t comfortable.
Liberace’s ride
Homeschool-mobile
Despite all the applause, this mini van is in no way classical
Will you guys stop harping?
You all need to give J P Cavanaugh his due achord for finding this van. The place it is parked in front of looks uptempo. However it looks like it has been there a little while since there is a scale of icicles on the side.
Perhaps the owner lost their key and rushed home to beat the weather or perhaps the owner came out to find that he/she canto start it up or that the cadence of the engine was off.
Perhaps a tire was flat and changing it was not the owner’s forte? Perhaps he/she got a ride home in a friend’s Prelude or Sonata?
Oh, hey. There’s a van in that pic.
When the Pacifica came out, the word was FCA was going to let the Caravan run down, then kill it in 17. Turned out Caravans sold so well in 17 that they decided to continue production, which necessitated a temporary halt in US production last August while modifications were made to comply with a new air bag reg for 18.
Interesting comments from Marchionne in his presser at the Detroit auto show a couple days ago. Now, instead of killing the Caravan, he’s talking about continuing production for another 2-3 years, then introducing a replacement for it. A year ago, Marchionne was only talking about Jeep and Ram in his presser, and ducking questions about the future of both Dodge and Chrysler. This year, he included Dodge with Jeep and Ram as the growth engines of FCA going forward, with no mention of Chrysler.
Found this analysis of US minivan sales for 17. The old Caravan, with no advertising, outsold their latest science Pacifica, and both of them outsold every other minivan in the market.
http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-analysis-q4-2017-minivan-segment/#more-48328
This stuff about the Pacifica is interesting and all, but can it carry a tune? 🙂
Interesting, as always I say driving a cheap Caravan frees up money for things that actually matter, like music and instruments. Currently in our home we have:
4 Acoustic Guitars
2 Electric Guitars
1 Bass Guitar
1 Trumpet
1 Violin
1 Piano (electronic, but with weighted keys 🙂 )
A new Pacifica is $53,000 we wouldn’t be able to afford any of that music stuff. I guess we could just drive around, and sing along to the fancy satellite radio…
This stuff about the Pacifica is interesting and all, but can it carry a tune? ?
Tommy has always been scrawny. I’m sure a Pacifica could carry several of him at once.