What happened to vans?

[RamblingMad]

The Hardy Boys had a cool one. The Winchesters have a good one. I feel like we lost an American icon.

 

[RogueX]

We bought one a few years ago and are slowly converting it into a camper.

 

[GreatLakes]

I suspect many of the people that would have bought a van in the past are buying SUVs now. That is just an educated guess.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Yep. Right after we got our van and had it all decked out with cushy "captain" chairs, plush carpet, and a bench seat that folded into a queen-size bed (which we may have used once), the mini-van became popular. That was our next car, and it was easier to drive, and didn't have to worry about low ceilings in parking garages. Now I have an SUV.

 

[RamblingMad]

Yep. Right after we got our van and had it all decked out with cushy "captain" chairs, plush carpet, and a bench seat that folded into a queen-size bed (which we may have used once), the mini-van became popular. That was our next car, and it was easier to drive, and didn't have to worry about low ceilings in parking garages. Now I have an SUV.

I miss station wagons too. So much space is missing in new vehicles.

 

[tvguy]

Been a HUGE increase in "Adventure Vans" since the pandemic started. Class B motorhomes which are basically just stock vans, with a toilet, sink, stove and small bed in the back. Just back from a road trip from California to Texas and back, could not believe how many of them there are on the road.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url...ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCNick-OQ3_4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAm

 

[RamblingMad]

Been a HUGE increase in "Adventure Vans" since the pandemic started. Class B motorhomes which are basically just stock vans, with a toilet, sink, stove and small bed in the back. Just back from a road trip from California to Texas and back, could not believe how many of them there are on the road.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https://www.fordupfits.com/recreational/vehicles/adventure-vans/&psig=AOvVaw0zY9CKXOISfDKLnYNuwQ1G&ust=1683408845575000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCNick-OQ3_4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAm

Remember conversion vans?

 

[tvguy]

Remember conversion vans?

Yup. Most of those were nothing more than a cargo van with carpet and maybe seating and a bed. Usually no bathroom or cooking. First TV station I worked at in the 1970's had two for the crews who working in satellite offices to use.

 

[fly girl]

Because we went from this:


To this ...




vans are creepy now

 

[RamblingMad]

Remember this one?

 

[bcla]

Minivans are extremely popular.

And the full size van has evolved beyond the almost cookie cutter shape that GM/Ford/Chrysler had during the 70s and 80s.

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz

 

[Smugpugmug]

When I read the title, I thought this would be about the shoes and was disappointed to see that it wasn't.

 

[easyas123]

When I read the title, I thought this would be about the shoes and was disappointed to see that it wasn't.

ME TOO!

I thought it was about sneakers! I was already to tell about the super cool pair I had with flamingos on them.....

 

[tcufrog]

Some neighbors of ours have one but they have 8 kids.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I miss them! I wish they would become a "thing" again.

I used to have a Dodge Caravan, like 2013 model... Sometimes I regret that I traded it off.

 

[tvguy]

I miss them! I wish they would become a "thing" again.

I used to have a Dodge Caravan, like 2013 model... Sometimes I regret that I traded it off.

Tonight's episode of "Hot Bench" was a lawsuit filed by a woman who hired a guy to customize her van. The Judges were discussing how popular vans are again.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Unfortunately when I had one, it had NO customization at all. However those "stow n go" seats were the greatest thing in the world. You could haul so much stuff. It was great because during that timeframe I was traveling a bit it made everything so much easier.

I really hope manufacturers get the idea we need more vans out there. Knock it off already with all these crossovers, bring back vans to the masses.

 

[_19disnA]

SUV type vehicles became more popular, tended to be more stylish and could be used for many purposes. Most mini-vans looked like boxes on wheels. As SUV's became more popular, sales of mini-vans dropped off making them less profitable to produce and were eventually discontinued. Large delivery vans are mostly used in commerical applications and not really something the general public wants.

 

[sam_gordon]

SUV type vehicles became more popular, tended to be more stylish and could be used for many purposes. Most mini-vans looked like boxes on wheels. As SUV's became more popular, sales of mini-vans dropped off making them less profitable to produce and were eventually discontinued. Large delivery vans are mostly used in commerical applications and not really something the general public wants.

What are you talking about?
Chyslery Pacifica: https://www.caranddriver.com/chrysler/pacifica
Kia Carnival: https://www.caranddriver.com/kia/carnival
Honda Odyssey: https://www.caranddriver.com/honda/odyssey/
Toyota Sienna: https://www.caranddriver.com/toyota/sienna/

To answer the OP, IMO, the minivan came about. It was "in between" a full size van and a station wagon and basically took over the market for both of them. And, contrary to what I posted above, are still in production and new models being sold.

The SUV market, again IMO, came about because of the Humvee (people wanting similar but not the cost or terrible gas mileage).

 

[kimmar067]

OP, I thought you were referring to THESE:

I was WAYYYYYYYY off....