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I would go with the 3.3 V-6 to get reasonable performance. Even the short wheel base dodge minivan is a bit too much for the 4 cylinder engine for most people's preferences.
Since this discussion is for talking about the features/attributes of these vans, the recent posts concerning problems have been moved to the Dodge / Chrysler minivan problems discussion.
ClaireS, Host
Coupes & Convertibles | Vans & Minivans
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How many years were these different models in production and why did DaimlerChrysler discontinue them?
Was it the same reason the Plymouth Voyager line; Dodge Caravan Sport, Grand Caravan Sport, Grand Caravan LE, Grand Caravan ES; and Chrysler Voyager and Town & Country LXi names were sent to the graveyard? :confuse:
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Looks like you have to get the Grand Caravan (long wheelbase to get the 3.3).
The GC SE Plus was a rip off from the beginning :sick: as it had the smaller 3.3L V6 and when power sliding doors, the overhead console, and triple zone temp was added, the GC SE Plus cost more than the GC SXT that had all of these items plus the larger 3.8L V6, cast wheels, and other nice items standard.
The 3.3L V6 is standard in the Caravan SXT and SWB Town & Country. The Caravan SE (SWB) was the only 2005 DC minivan that had the 2.4L - 4 cylinder engine.
In all the trip consumed 35 hours 7 minutes of engine time, 2,223.5 miles and 102.25 gallons of gasoline, which yields an average speed of 63.31 miles per hour and fuel economy of just shy of 22 mpg, which is pretty good considering that the van was fairly heavily loaded, with the A/C running most of the time and the Cruise Control set at a constant 75 mph. My best tank was between Glen Ellyn, IL and just shy of the Pennsylvania state line on I-80, 399.2 miles on 17.34 gallons of gas (I could easily have gone north of 400 but there were some very angry looking clouds in front of me and I decided to fill it while I could still stay dry). I know that those of you who have the more fuel efficient four bangers and the 3.0 and 3.3 liter sixes are able to routinely see over 400 miles per tank, but for this vintage of the 3.8 I think that I did pretty good. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
I am not sure if this omission is directed at the Canadian market?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
A Caravan or SWB T&C with Stow 'N Go and middle row seats that move fore and aft would be just the right size for us. Would be even nicer if the more powerful 3.8L V6 were offered in ALL DaimlerChrysler minivans.
The reason why I'm asking is because I am renting a Dodge Caravan to go to drive to Texas from California. I am taking 2 adults and 4 small kids with me for a total of 7.
My main concern is the luggage area in the back of the vehicle behind the 3rd seat. Realistically, what can fit back there? It looks SUPER SMALL back there. I mean, what is it like 6 inches of space or something? Or can I actually fit luggage back there?
If you could give me your honest, realistic opinion of what would and what WOULD NOT fit back there, I would appreciate it. The luggage cases that my wife and I have are about 12" thick at the smallest point. We are taking two of these plus a few smaller cases.
So that's 2 large suitcases and like 3 medium to small sized bags for the kids.
If you can give me an estimate in inches, I would appreciate it. Thanks for your feedback...
P.S. I know I'm pushing it, but what about a small ice chest?
I want to add a remote starter to it and I need to know if I need to get a security bypass kit also..
Thanks!
Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler minvan problems
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The problem is... I want a new car, and so I've been looking for any hint of any problem with my current mount, the 1998 GC Sport 3.8 that I've written about from time to time. Even though I'm driving about 100 miles a day, and even though gas prices are currently high, and even though my GC only gets about 22 mpg at 75 mph, I cannot justify buying something new given that I have yet to spend a total of $100 on unscheduled maintenance over the life of this vehicle. The fact is that while I could easily save between one and two hundred dollars per month in fuel charges alone buy buying a smaller and more fuel efficient (and more fun) car, the cost difference between the GC (long since paid off meaning that it is essentially free) and a new car (I'm thinking Audi A3 6-Speed Manual) is so much that I really can afford to buy LOTS of gas for the GC and still be WAY ahead from a financial perspective.
Hmmm, maybe if I hadn't fed both of our GCs a steady diet of Mobil-1 the engine of the 1998 might could well be way more tired than it currently is, and justifying a new car would be easier. Thinking about this another way, this is the first concrete negative I've ever been able to come up with regarding using Mobil-1 in my cars.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Our 1996 short wheelbase Caravan SE Sport with the 3.3 has always only been fed the cheapest brand name conventional oil (I stock up on those Checker Automotive store sales with a rebate for either 49 or 59 cents a quart, usually Chevron), changed every 2,500-3,500 miles. It is using little if any oil, now at about 83K miles, and I don't expect it to suddenly turn into an oil burner by the time we get to 97K. So you may have wasted money on your Mobil-1 as well.
I even use those blacklisted cheap Fram oil filters and have from the first oil change with no detriment to engine life to date.
I haven't been quite as lucky as you on other maintenance, however. Two major and costly AC repairs. Otherwise, every other piece of maintenance could be considered routine on this vehicle. One front only brake job, one serpentine belt, one serpentine belt tensioner pulley, one set of tires, a couple of batteries, one transmission oil change plus a transmission shaft seal replacement is about it other than routine oil changes, several cooling system flushes, wiper inserts, etc.
I can't imagine you would be completely satisfied driving that Audi A-3 exclusively without the minivan available for those Home Depot trips, however.
Maybe you should buy a new toy and keep the trusty Grand Caravan for lugging "stuff".
Were it that I had the time and energy to do 3K oil changes, I'd say that you were absolutely correct. Having said that, the shortest OCI that the 1998 has ever seen was about 7,200 miles and the longest was somewhere north of 12,000 miles. The average is probably between 8K and 9K miles, and as such, I'm thinking that the extra few dollars per oil change was probably money well spent. ;-)
"I can't imagine you would be completely satisfied driving that Audi A-3 exclusively without the minivan available for those Home Depot trips, however.
Maybe you should buy a new toy and keep the trusty Grand Caravan for lugging "stuff". "
No question that being restricted to just an A3 would be a problem. Fortunately we are currently a two GC family, Mrs. Shipo is currently driving a 2003 GC ES 3.8 with all of the trimmings (yeah, even the power pedals and the DVD player). That one is just now breaking the 50K barrier and as such is quite young compared to the 1998, and it too has been fed a steady diet of Mobil-1. Our current plan is for both of us to opt for new cars over the next year or two, keeping the 2003 GC ES as the family hauler/Home Depot hack. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
No way could you vacation with seven people and all their luggage. Doing that might even be a challenge for a long wheel base Grand Caravan or T&C, even including the floor recess storage with the stow and go seats up.
The short wheel base Caravan will serve most people's needs. They have met our needs for the last 20 years!
Now if DC could only figure out how to shoehorn in stow and go into the short wheel base versions. I know this is not likely to happen even if feasible, as short wheel base versions probably only amount to 10 per cent or less of DC's minivan sales.
The 3rd row of Stow 'N Go provides extra cargo space but for most uses, the old fashioned 50/50 split 3rd row that my 2002 T&C LX has is much better. It is much easier to lift groceries from the rear of my T&C than it would be with Stow 'N Go, Ody "Magic Seat", Sienna "Split & Stow", etc.
We get groceries once every 5 or 6 days but only go on long trips once or twice each year where we need maximum storage.
I also prefer having the spare tire conveniently located underneath the back of the minivan...with the ability to have a full size spare if desired.
We have been able to take ALL the luggage, snacks, etc. for 4 adults and 2 children on lengthy trips with our 02 T&C. We put some soft sided bags between the front seats and between one sliding door and the 2nd row seat and we have NEVER used the luggage rack on top of the van . It would just take a little more creativity with the shorter Caravan/ SWB T&C .
If I were to get a 2006 DC minivan it would be the Caravan SXT since I do not want Stow 'N Go.
I have a 2002 Chrysler Town and country Caravan and the 2
swiches for the automatic sliding doors don't activate the doors.I can open them with the overhead controls but have to close manually.Checked fuses under hood OK.
Do these have fusable links somewhere?.
Thanks
kdegen
i do hope someone can help my i have a 1998 chrysler grand voyager which iam having problems with the memory iod fuse circuit which ihave been told by a auto electrican .does anyone know what is on this circuit or have any ideas please help
which controls power to rear door swithes
Thanks!
Contraindications?
Compativility with sinthetics oil?
Thanks!