Auto News 5

Suspension
The complaints about the too-firm suspension, especially on rebound, has reached a fever-pitch now that the pavement has begun to crack and crumble in the winter weather. While a good number of those complaints have come from Road Test Editor Marc Noordeloos - our most vociferous stiff-suspension stickler-many others have now joined him to form a chorus of complaints. "Teeth-jarring," "a fair bit of impact harshness from rear suspension," and "the M3 coupe rides better than the 1-series, as does pretty much everything else BMW makes," are just a few. Short wheel-travel is partially to blame for the ride-harshness. And, because the distance between the tire and the surrounding sheetmetal is so small, snow tends to get packed inside the wheel well, causing some minor vibrations and further degrading the ride.

Do you have your original copy of Automobile Magazine's first (April 1986) issue on hand? Good. Take a look at the cover. No, no, the back cover. That's right: a Chrysler minivan. It was also included in our first list of All-Stars, made our "20 greatest cars" list, and has maintained a regular presence in our Four Seasons fleet. It's safe to say, then, that our staffers - especially those who have been around for a while - have a soft spot for what may very well be Chrysler's greatest contribution to the auto industry. But some ten months into our latest go-around, this time with a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country, we're starting to feel the design's age.