1988 Plymouth Grand Voyager | Retro Review 

Without the success of these minivans you probably wouldn’t see Ram or Dodge today.

Many of my childhood memories were traveled in this van.

It was always easy to spot the Mitsubishi powered Caravans by the clouds of blue smoke that followed them everywhere.

Part of the reason why they pointed out how well the extra length was integrated into the styling was that the extra-length versions of many full-size vans had the additional length very obviously tacked on, even including a knockout plug for where the side marker light would go on the standard-length version.

My grandparents had one of these to take me and my five siblings to church every Sunday. It was even the blue with faux wood paneling paint showed in this video. I genuinely miss that thing.

These things were everywhere in the 80s and 90s the way CUVs are everywhere today. I knew several people who owned one.

My dad had one that he used to do deliveries for his small shipping company and it lasted 340,000 miles before it finally died. I miss that van.

$17,000 in 1988 is about $41,000 today, which would be a decent price now for a fully loaded model. Of course, fully loaded in 1988 didn't include leather, heated seats, screens for the passengers, etc.

My best friend’s dad bought the first one of these I ever saw when the Grand Caravan first came out to replace his Astro. He was a traveling carpet rep. And needed the extra length. He put drove about 30,000 miles a year and got a new car every 2 years: It was fully optioned and really sharp looking. I rode in it many times and it was a joy. They fell on hard times and ended up having to keep it for several years. It slowly fell apart which was sad to see.

Thanks for uploading it. Back 20 years ago minivans ruled the streets just like today with crossovers. Please upload a video of the Plymouth Sundance.

Malcom in the Middle! The family had a 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager with the same color and wood trim!

For people who were not around in the '80s when these Chrysler vans first hit, it's impossible to realize just how massively popular these vehicles were. These vans were just about as hot as the crossover SUV is today. They seem incredibly dated now, but back then they turned the automotive world on its head and we're found in just about every suburban American driveway.

Amazing versatility with that folding 3rd row! Like it’s not even there!

Still recall my childhood in the back of those minivans and the jump seat of the T&C station wagon - great times.

Chrysler minivans were and still are the ideal vehicle. Incredibly versatile, 7 passengers or sheets of plywood in the back, 3600 lbs towing capacity, decent fuel mileage.

In the 90s, my aunt had one. It was very useful when we visited and fit all us kids and parents in it. No issues.

I think the best thing to happen to minivans in the 80’s was having the LWB option. Some of these were so short and stubby with the SWB, but the LWB versions were perfect. While Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge had the LWB options, the Astro and Aerostar had extended rear end overhand models that also served that purpose. I wish some of the foreign vans also had that too.

the way that van leaned in the cones made me nervous, lol. Chrysler minivans used to be "the" people mover for the Joneses. Times have changed!

My aunt had a Turbo one she thought it was fast 🤣 she still talks about it till this day.

My buddy had one for a work van (house painter) we beat, jumped, swamped and over loaded that thing so many times and it just asked for more, little 4 banger was tough.

The first car i remeber my parents having was a 90 all maroon base model voyager. Then they got a 3rd gen 96 caravan. Minivans were the best.

I always remember being at a boat dock next to one of these back in 1989...I was in our Dodge Dakota and it walked up the wet boat ramp with no issue...the Chrysler minivan put on a pretty decent tire smoke show until it had enough front drive traction to get up the ramp.

I'd buy a new minivan if they still had wood grain

These and the General Motors APV vans are my favorites. This is the type of vehicle that is perfect for me to go yard saling in, as i love to pick up tons of stuff, and to bring friends along. A cargo van is too much, and a station wagon is not as tall. Mine will surely be ordered with wood panels and velour upholstery! Make mine a Plymouth™️

4:49 this goes out to all the tech savvy new gens out there, out your hearts out! :)

How antiquated these look today. We bought a new 1992 and drove it for 12 trouble free years. My wife still misses it.

The first vehicles I remember in my family are my mom’s old S Van and my dad’s ‘66 Bronco. These old vans were pretty reliable and a farcry from the low teens highway mpg of their full size counterparts.

My parents bought the first year "Grand" Caravan..I was probably 7 years old.. That thing was a workhorse, it was black with wood grain..

Needed new shocks from the factory!

My parents had a 1989 Voyager, not the Grand Voyager. Red/magenta in color. My dad bought it brand new in 1989 and had it for a little over 10 years. I loved that mini van.

My Dad bought a used 1990 Ford Aerostar in fall of 93. By 97 it was a total rustbucket. Always wished they got one of the Chrysler vans these seemed to be way more reliable, held up and handled better in bad weather unlike that Aerostar which seemed alot older than these, yet these came out in 83 2 yrs before the Aerostars did!

I love the woodgrain on the exterior, i guess the modern version of woodgrain would be the Bronco Sport Free Wheeling special edition

I know it's boring but I think Motorweek should bring back turning radius and parking. People still do these things and it helps to make a decision.

Always amazes me when a brand new vehicle already seems to look 30+ years old right from the showroom floor

The mini van of the 80s and 90s!

This is one voyage, I don't plan on taking ;-)

My grandmother bought one for driving all of us grandkids around when we visited. I’m 43 now and she still drives her van to church.

This dude is so likable! He gets to ride in brand new cars and road test. Then he tells like it is for a Brand New Car!

Just a fun fact, the mitsubishi 3.0 V6 and the grand caravan and voyager were actually introduced during the 1987 model year.

I would still love one of these. I have a soft spot for every minivan before the Windstar.

These were and still are great vehicles. As to the trans problems it is critical to service the trans every 30k miles and use only Mopar fluid. The later ones started to morph into the midi van size. The best combo was the 4.0 engine. Great runner and plenty of power. Oh, the brakes will need regular attention as they are a bit undersized for the job.

I remember by neighbor had one of these in a beige color, the paint was long peeled off which was characteristic of these old Voyagers.

I owned three at the same time. And more over time. Minivans are the best

Both our 84 Caravan LE and 90 Grand Caravan LE had the woodgrain applique and I liked it even as a kid. I don't know what my parents paid for the 84 but the 90 was just shy of $20,000.

My folks bought an ‘88 Grand Caravan in 2-tone maroon without the fake wood paneling brand new. Lots of memories from childhood!

I forgot this one in my requests last week. Thank you so much. 1985 Toyota Van, please.

These did ride quiet and soft. Very comfortable. They did have that going for them. .

ah... reminds me of being a kid and getting a ride to the mall with my girlfriend and that gnarly backseat action! SRT needs to do a V2 turbo minivan!!!

That's Chrysler; give it more power, make it heavier, make it bigger, but don't make the brakes any bigger

I love this vans!

Can still see the puff of blue smoke when taking off at a green light.

The King of Minivans !!

I always thought the MoPar minivans (let's face it "brands" had NO DINSTICTION at Chrysler Corp since the late 60s) were PRETTY DAMNED GREAT BASIC RIDES! They were DEPENDABLE (in general, MoPars ALWAYS were), they were comfortable and WELL SUITED to ANY purpose!

This generation was not very popular in Europe, but the next one was a hit.

My dad used to have a 1989 LE edition.

I wish minivans weren't replaced by SUV's and crossovers. It would be even better if stationwagons till existed

3:00 - 3:41 : Makes this best video on RU-vid, ever. Period.

MW HITS -- Extra Room -- Careful Styling -- V-6 Power -- Front-Wheel Drive -- Car-Like Handling

If minivans still looked like this (woodgrain and all) I wouldn't mind driving one. Instead I drive a bright red woodgrain P/T Cruiser. I have had both the engine and transmission replaced, it has been repainted and the original woodgrain was upgraded to a much higher quality version that doesn't peel off like the original did.

My grandma used to own this exact model and exact color.

My parent's had an 89 grand voyager for years, was my first vehicle actually. Boy did that thing love to eat oil and go through transmissions though lol. I think it finally died on its fourth transmission, and after about 100K miles it really ate oil.

We went with a Sienna SE minivan as Toyota quality is outstanding but as a little kid in the 80's I know many kids whose parents owned these Dodge Minivans!

2:34 I miss those huge chunky turn signals. I don't want some swoopy thin line of turn signal, give me a big block of cheese!

my dad had one of these mini vans and would travel from chicago to gto mx every year from 94 till 99

Starter of minivan trend in the USA

I remember those vans as a kid.

I grew up in one of these, clear through my senior year in high school, and to this day I wonder what it would be like to rescue one and do an EV conversion with it.

He is saying that they got a lot of mail. I was thinking about e-mail :D

And Still Champion

Haven’t seen these on the road in prob 15-20 years? My parents were going to get this, but got a Mazda MPV instead.

I remember my uncle had problems with his radiator fans sometimes not working on hot days. He had a 1995 Chrysler voyager. Well it started to overheat while we were on the highway from stop and go traffic. Finally when traffic was lighter he figure if he goes faster it would cool off. Nope it didn't work and 8 minutes later (boom) the engine blew and it started rattling and steaming everywhere. Antifreeze pouring out below the engine. I believe he blew the head gasket. lol

Wood paneling on a Plymouth?! Fancy.

5:36 I remember them wheels, I used to like them, I think they also were on a Mitshubishi badged vehicle too, can't remember which, I guess Chrysler-Mitsubishi cooperation was ''well-footed''. :p

A friend has one that was short wheelbase 4WD It was really nice

That wheel hop 😅

This van and the grand cherokee was what helped lee iococca save chrysler from bankruptcy.

My mom bought a 1990 base 4 cylinder Voyager used in 1998 as mainly a delivery vehicle. It burned through 12 quarts of oil every 300 miles and couldn't even get up a slope to save its life. Every other 1986-1990 voyager/Caravan in the late 90's was billowing out blue smoke as well whether it was the V6 or the 4 banger. These pretty much disappeared from the road by the mid 2000's. Seeing one in good condition is a very rare sight. Maybe 3 or 4 a year is about it these days.

The Malcom in the Middle mobile!

0:21 When John said they get mail about the minivan test he ment snail mail.

I can hear the CRT whine!

I wish i could have bought one this body style brand new

I remember that about everyone I still saw going in the mid-late 90’s smoked like crazy.

This V6 did better in fuel economy than the old 2.6 liter I4. It's too bad antilock brakes weren't available back then. It needed them. Airbags as well.

Nostalgia-when America was America-miss dose days

I always thought these vans made GM’s A car wagons look extra sexy in comparison.

I wish they'd re-release the review for the 87 Toyota 4wd van

Tons of them on the road today!! My aunt had one until some kids put sugar in the fuel tank back in the day. Damn kids from the era 😂😅

I'd like to order one immediately Chrysler!

Damn, the price was expensive 😮😮

Those 2.6 Mitz engine had real problems with overheating and warping the heads.

Ford starvans are my favorite because my mother has a 2002 ford windstar sel two tone

Cuantos kmxl rendian estos motores el 4 y el 6 cilindros?

My sister friends mama had a 1989 Dodge Caravan not the Grand Caravan, but it was a Yellow Cab.

MORE MOTORWEEK RETRO REVIEWS ... ... JUST AROUND THE BEND !!!

It had a *voltmeter* _and an_ *oil pressure gauge!* John Davis must have had a stiffy looking at that minivan dashboard.

This was my first car at 16

I wonder if some upgraded brake pads would help that stopping distance.

3:05 yikes that thing is about 1 degree away from rolling over

Cool 😀

My crack head neighbor still has one. You hear it rolling by when she has a moment to put down her cigarette and drive away.