I'll lounge this even though there is auto content. Although I'd be hard pressed to consider a minivan a performance auto! :D

Anyway, I was just thinking the other day that I couldn't think of a single luxry brand (Lincoln, Cady, Lexus, Audi, etc) that had a minivan in it's product offering. Not that I'm looking for such a vehicle, but it just seemed stange. The closest I can think of is some of the new wagons that have come out.

Any thoughts on why this might be (besides just slamming minivans)?

Minivans?

Well, it's not an MV, but the Toyota Estima is a pretty damn cool van. It's especially sexy with the Veilside bodykit.

http://www.veilsidejpn.com/catalog/img/goltier/estima_car.jpg

Back in the '80s and early '90s (and it may even still be true in other parts of the country), van conversions were all the rage. Of course, these were usually full size vans. I don't remember seeing any "mini" van conversions, unless you count the Astro as a mini van. These were those vans where you had a bunch of totally plush captain's chairs, TV (when it was a cool thing), separate stereo for the back, etc... I guess you could consider those luxury vans, but not exactly an MBZ S class.

Luxury SUV's = Luxury Minivans

rich people don't realize (or care) that minivan is in fact the most efficient people/cargo mover vehicle.

instead they want high riding, inefficient SUVs... people never learn... sigh.

Minivan is a bad term in the auto world, kind of like “Hatchback” People buy Minivans for the same reason they buy toilet paper, they don’t want to but NEED TO have that product. Also the majority of people still buy cars for transpiration, not looks or performance. The “void” of the luxury minivan has been filled with the luxury SUV. All things being equal would you drop $45 G on a Lexus 470 or a 40G Lexus version of the Sienna MV?

dude if they have a Lexus version of Sienna it'll rock!

The new 2005 Honda Odyssey (http://www.hondacars.com/models/interior_overview.asp?ModelName=Odyssey) sure seems danged luxurious to me... I wonder why they don't badge it as an Acura.

Well--prices of alot of these Minivans is already in the mid $30K.

The Mercedes M class is a minivan. I don't know how you can argue that. And I would certainly call a M55 luxurious.

I think a true minivan needs sliding rear doors, so the 'minivan from Alabama', as I refer to the M-class, doesn't count. Neither does the Caddy SRX or even the upcoming Mercedes R-class. I wish Lexus or Acura made a luxury minivan - I would get one immediately for the wife to replace the Acura MDX (nee Odyssey but without the useful sliding doors...).

Best line ever from Dilbert: "I'm going to write myself a minivan".

Probably showing my age. Context was poking fun at the latest management rage - to pay a bounty to software developers for finding bugs. Wally jumped on that like flies on sh*t.

Minivan=kids and carseats with melted M&M's, spilled juices, fast food wrappers, french fries under the seat, scuffed seatbacks from kicking, grass and mud from soccer cleats, sweat, crayons, etc. etc. Talk about resale value of a luxury "mommy-van"? :D

I wish more vehicles had sliding doors :D

For the purpose of decapitating the little urchins or to prevent door dinging? :D

Prevent door dinging! I like kids

Me too, when they go to sleep. -jk- Been there and bought the T-shirt.

(You thought I was gonna say "with A-1 Steak Sauce", didntcha?) :D