One of the most maligned vehicles since the Ford Pinto, a surviving Plymouth (and their Chrysler stable mates) minivan could be a viable alternative to a busted transportation budget.

Being First Means Being A Target

1983 for me was stressful time of overcoming the results of years of economic stagflation (astronomic interest rates, matching inflation rates, stagnant business growth, and continual drops in US manufacturing’s quality reputation), while trying to establish both a new family and career. Gas shortages and rising prices battled my needs for something large enough to carry family and groceries. Oh yeah, it needed to fit in my garage too. Halfway through that year the “K Car” became a true box and all those in my position realized our needs were being addressed. The Chrysler S body “minivan” shocked the automotive world! Every other maker rushed into copy it, while those same makers joined the automotive press to criticize it. Stick your head above the crowd and you will get shot at.

The Originals

Plymouth Voyagers are, and were, designed as basic transportation. List prices were within the reach of those seriously in the market, and options available for those who could afford them. Build quality at Chrysler was improving, so warrantees were starting to get better. These were not luxury vehicles, and were not meant to be. Again, you got a vehicle that could carry the whole family, carry all the groceries, go to the hardware store, fit in the garage, get good gas mileage, and rode like a car.

Those Details

Plymouth Voyagers came in Base, SE, and LE levels of trim. Seating for 5 was standard on the Base and SE, and for 7 on the LE. As Base models almost always were propelled by an underpowered 2.5 L inline 4 cylinder engine, I seriously doubt if you will find any that have survived. Available were a standard 5 speed manual, a three speed automatic, and a 4 speed automatic transmission. The 3.0 and 3.3 L V6 engines were much better suited to their assigned tasks. Interestingly enough, the larger 3.3 L V6 engines were prone to “problems” as were the optional 4 speed automatic transmissions.

My Own Experience

In 1989 I could finally afford to make the move to type of vehicle I needed. Added to that, my next door neighbor was the lead mechanic at a local dealer. Relying on his experience, I found a 3.0 L V6 SE that was equipped with the 3 speed automatic transmission, 7 passenger seating, upgraded interior, and trailer towing package. Also based on his recommendation I did not get power windows, or a couple of the other options. At that time Chrysler was offering a 7 year 70,000 mile power train warranty.

Driving

Even with the heavier suspension that came with the trailer towing package, the Voyager still drove like a car. A big car, but a car none the less. Body lean and road holding were much better than full size vans, and about what you would expect from a high profile station wagon. Having no intentions of entering the grocery getter in autocross competition, the handling and control were always well within my driving requirements. Gas mileage normally ran from 20 mpg around town to a one-time high of 31 on the highway (at a sustained 55 mph across a flat Interstate highway). Visibility all around the mini was great, and is something today’s builders could do well to remember. The high back front seats were comfortable on day long trips, and the two bench seats were not much different from those in most sedans of the era. Standard air-conditioning, heating, and ventilation were always up to their tasks during both Midwestern winters and Southern summers. While windshield wipers did need to be the ones designed by the Chrysler engineers, they did a very good job of clearing away the heaviest rain. The transmission shifted smoothly, the engine dealt well with all climates, and the brakes were always capable of bringing the 176 inch long vehicle to a controlled stop.

Loading

1990 Voyagers were equipped with only a hatch, sliding door on the passenger side, and two front doors. Entry into front and side doors required little step up, and dropping into any seat was never a chore. Loading through the rear hatch was a straight-in load, and both bench seats could be removed with little difficulty when there were two handling the job. No, these were the days before minivan seats folded into the floor.

Build Quality

The SE trimmed Voyagers were middle to lower middle of the road Plymouths. I found no surprises to fit and finish based on the price range. Repairs over the initial 70,000 miles consisted of normal required service item replacement. Not In short, everything kept working. There were no rattles or leaks throughout the 135,000 miles of my ownership, nor was there ever a need to “add” fluids between normal fluid change intervals As I understand, there have been only about half a dozen recalls to these vehicles.

Reliability

At the suggestion of my neighbor, at 68,000 miles (2,000 miles short of the warranty) I took the Voyager in for a “warranty” check. At that time I told the service writer that my wife thought there was a bit of a delayed engagement of the transmission on very cold days, and that I thought I had seen a “puff” of smoke between shifts after sitting in some bumper-to-bumper traffic the other day. To my surprise, I was told that they would need to keep the minivan for the next few days as their plan was to replace both the transmission and cylinder heads under warranty!

All Chrysler products of that era suffered from reputations of poor reliability. I believe that most of this is tied to accessories and other luxury options that would quit working at the exact wrong time. Chrysler, in my opinion, was not good at these things and has suffered for it.

Fast Forward to Today

Watching examples I have seen lately in my “rust prone” home town, I still do see a number of these vans on the roads and budget car lots. Paint work has not appeared to have stood up well, but rust does not look to be a problem. Models I have seen seem to be pretty much the same as the one I bought almost 20 years ago: 2.5 L V6 SE models with the 3 speed automatic transmissions. Those with power windows and some of the other “luxury” options have not survived. Maybe that is reason for other owners having had “issues” with Chrysler build quality, unhappy wiring from Chrysler during that era was a common complaint. Chances are if you do find one of these on the market, it will be a true survivor.

Price

Ah, if you are considering an almost 20 year old minivan your expectations are not those of someone looking at a new Toyota Sienna . That is fine, as long as you understand that you will not get 30 times the comfort and reliability for 1/30th of the price. These minivans listed for $12,000 (for the Base Voyager), up to $19,000 for a loaded up SE or LE, so do not expect long lasting luxury. There will be wear on the interior, and do not be surprised to find a dent or two on the rear quarter panels since most drivers were not used to driving to longer vehicles. Even after checking today’s want ads I still see them on the market for between $600 and $1,100. Remember, you do get what you pay for.

At The End Of The Day

At the end of the day you still should be able to find a serviceable Plymouth Voyager minivan for a few hundred dollars. For that you will have something that can carry bulky light loads, about a half dozen people, and still not break the bank at the local gas pump.

Amount Paid (US$): $19,000.00
Condition: New
Model Year: 1990
Model and Options: SE