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Very close...but not quite. Minivans typically seat 3 across in the second row. Both the Mercedes R-Class (image below) and First-generation 2004-2008 Chrysler Pacifica sat 6 people, in 2+2+2 seating....although, to be fair, one could also say that about a minivan with second-row Captain's Chairs. Steve, I think, formerly had a Kia Sedona with Captain's Chairs.
Right. So a minivan does not lose its identify as a minivan even if it has captain's chairs in the second row. Just like the R class does. So the R class is a minivan with swinging doors, like I said.
FWIW, minivans originally never had three seats in the second row. They only had a door on one side and they either had captains chairs, or a 2 person bench. The 1987 Aerostar we had when I was a kid had captains chairs, and could not be had with 3 seats in the middle row, nor could the original Chrysler minivans. So saying a minivan should have 3 seats in the middle row makes no sense.
Right. So a minivan does not lose its identify as a minivan even if it has captain's chairs in the second row. Just like the R class does. So the R class is a minivan with swinging doors, like I said.
Again, it depends on whether one considers the R-class a wagon or minivan. Margate referred to the one he posted in this thread as a wagon....and there is at least some truth to that. It can also be considered a minivan in some viewpoints. In fact, automobile historians often refer to this general class of vehicles as "People-Movers".
Frankly, I like the term "People-Mover". It simplifies a lot of cross-references. And I'm moving on.
Originally Posted by SW17LS
The 1987 Aerostar we had when I was a kid had captains chairs, and could not be had with 3 seats in the middle row, nor could the original Chrysler minivans.
I may be wrong, but I don't know of any American-market vehicle in this class with 3 Captain's chairs in the second or third rows. That's why I made an exception for them. You are correct that most minivans had two seats in back, but the difference between the classic sliding-door minivans and people-movers with hinged doors is that the minivans had a narrow passageway to the rear bench-seat, which was missing in the R-Class/1Gen Pacifica/Mazda5. How people got into and out of the third-row seats in the R-Class, I honestly don't remember...it's been a long time since I drove or did a write-up on one of those vehicles. Also, the third row in the R-class held only two, where minivan third-rows held three small adults side-by-side.
The original Chrysler minivans debuted before they had the Stow-N-Go and/or pull-down Child-Safety seats in the the rear, so they didn't have to take those added feature into consideration in there design.
On a slightly different note, check your PM......I sent you a video of Alex's take on the latest Kia Carnival.
I'm a big wagon fan. It'll be tough to decide whether I should get a used W213 E63 wagon when I start my family or go for an SUV.
That's actually a pre-facelift (so 2017-2020) W213 E-class in that picture. The brand new W214 E-class wagon that will be coming to our shores within the next year looks like this:
Yeah E Class wagons are so classy. I would buy one in a heartbeat for the family car.
E-Class wagons are still available in the American market. Maybe the sales-rep who leased your S-class for you can get you one. The non-AMG version is somewhat like a more-expensive version of the Subaru Outback, or the Volvo XC70 and Audi-All-Road....done on a raised-suspension and beefier underpinnings.
This is what I'm holding out for and super excited for.. the upcoming A/S/RS 5 Avant. Coming to the US next year, due to the success of the RS 6 and rising demand for sportwagons (BMW also commented they've had an increasing demand for M Wagons in the US.
E-Class wagons are still available in the American market. Maybe the sales-rep who leased your S-class for you can get you one. The non-AMG version is somewhat like a more-expensive version of the Subaru Outback, or the Volvo XC70 and Audi-All-Road....done on a raised-suspension and beefier underpinnings.
owned (and was made fun of) an accord wagon in my early car days, and i miss it so much...i am always looking for an older e-class w211 but they are getting more and more rare every year!
But spending $140K on a wagon is out of my range. Maybe someday I'll snag a 2014 CTS-V Wagon, though. But those are only 5-seaters.
Prices have gone up incredibly for the V Wagons. Gotta be quick with it if you are intending on owning one, otherwise they may just as well reach the RS 6's 140k mark in a few years (at least for manual equipped low mileage examples).
07-10-23, 12:06 PM
