I never understood why people have problems with the mini-van. It replaced the stationwagon as the family hauler, and is now being replaced by the CUV, which will have the same stigma as a family hauler.
Quite frankly, I think the minivan was a very good solution, a vehicle which can carry your kids, your luggage and go on vacation. Or fold down to move things. Or have your kids and their friends go to a party. All that, but it uses far less gasoline than a full sized van. Parks easier, drives like a car (not very well, but still better than an RWD Econoline), what's not to love?
As for the Pinto, an example of how not to do PR. The car was great (several members of my family drove them, my mom's was yellow with fake wood paneling. My grandfather drove, and wrecked, several red ones. Not even once did he die in a ball of fire.)
I can't say I was ever a fan of Iacocca, but he really was the sort of visionary car companies need at the top.