More Than an Appliance; Our Chrysler Town & Country is a fine long-distance workhorse.(NEWS)

Byline: NATALIE NEFF

Ferrying four six-foot-plusers on a father-son bonding trip to Colorado and back marked the "Norge's second quarter in our keep, as our intrepid leader eagerly volunteered to spend 4,000 miles and two weeks behind the wheel of our resident minivan. He and his boys littered the confines with the hulls of sunflower seeds and variously abused the plastic and leather interior as only large guys on a leisure trip can, but the Chrysler Town & Country shone in its task without complaint.

"This frost-white box is the finest workhorse to pass through here in some time, our editor enthused upon his return. "Were she fitted with a heavy-duty diesel tow package, I'd marry her.

And rather than fighting for the shotgun position, his boys would instead call out dibs on the way-back seats, wherewith the second row removedthe best DVD viewing was to be had.

Besides being the perfect vehicle for hauling enough gear for fourincluding a loaded-up roof rackthe Norge proved its worth on the road, and not for its handling prowess. It seems the authorities don't pay much mind ...