Chrysler Town and Country EX/LX/LXi/Limited

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  • ottowrkrottowrkr Member Posts: 778
    back in July . Both plants (Windsor, Canada and St .Louis Missouri) are building 2002 as we speak
  • tallmomtallmom Member Posts: 7
    I would love to know what dealerships are offering the wonderful deals that so many of you seem to have gotten. $10,000 off MSRP?!? WOW! It doesn't seem to be a national trend. Well anyway, it has not come to Dallas. Atleast not that I have been able to negotiate. I'd love to know your secrets. Also just as an aside; when we were out car shopping this past Saturday, all the nearby Ford dealerships had their gates closed and customers couldn't even drive onto their lots. No word came out of bomb threats or anything that we heard. Did anyone else encounter closed up dealerships on Saturday afternoon anywhere else??
  • BKSuttonBKSutton Member Posts: 23
    Live in SE Pennsylvania. Stopped by the dealership approx a week ago and there were some 02 models on the lot. Lots of 01 left as well.

    Did not speak to a sale person at the time regarding prices. Unfortunately my time frame won't be till Feb or March. See how the economy is doing by then and if any incentives exist.

    -- BKS
  • automotiveautomotive Member Posts: 7
    Does anyone know when will the 3.5 liter engine be available as an option?
  • automotiveautomotive Member Posts: 7
    I am not at all associated with Carmax, I just visit their site often just to check out T & C prices. They have a lot of inventories at different locations--might want to check it out.
  • glynnmglynnm Member Posts: 3
    I own a 2001 T&C with 9,000 miles. I've bent two ignition keys. Is anyone else having this problem? Also, would replacement keys be covered under the Chrysler warranty?
  • bjohnson71bjohnson71 Member Posts: 33
    I've heard that with Chrysler's hardship that they have "tabled" the 3.5L. I think I read it on one of the car magazine sites. (e.g. Car and Driver or MotorTrend)
  • catsnglfcatsnglf Member Posts: 2
    The 3.5L will not be in the vans. See this URL for more info: 'http://www.car-truck.com/chryed/buzz/b022101.htm' This site gives a lot of inside info on the DC products.
  • cda888cda888 Member Posts: 3
    I got my T&C LX with AWD from a local dealer in Salt Lake City (It was actually on thier Park City lot). The MSRP was 33,300. Invoice was around 29k. I just figuired out what the incentives were (4100.00 in Utah), plus dealer holdback (980.00), plus about 400.00 in a student discount (I graduated from law school this year)and then still asked for about a 500.00 more off after that. I also had a trade in, a 99 CR-V, which they said they lost money on by buying it for 14,100.00, but I think they know they can turn it for over 15k. In any event, they didn't make a lot of money off of me, but it never ceases to amaze me how they can manage to reduce the price somehow when you are serious and when they are hurting. One dealer told me he would sell the car at zero profit just to improve his dealerships numbers for the month. By the way, I didn't get the price I wanted until about four days after I went in to the dealership, when they offered me about 5k off of sticker. They called me back every day after that with another offer until they finally came down to the number I wanted. I don't attribute this to great bargaining skills on my part, but rather to patience and the fact that in the short term, it is a buyers market.
  • cda888cda888 Member Posts: 3
    By the way, someone on this board said their dealer told them the incentives were 3800- one Chrysler dealer told me the same thing, but when I talked to a couple of others, they told me that it was actually 4100 (gotta watch em every step of the way)
  • bjohnson71bjohnson71 Member Posts: 33
    I was anticipating Chrysler offering 0% financing to compete with Ford and GM. Tonight I was on their site and noticed that they are now offering 0% financing but ONLY for 36 months. The rate for 48 to 60 is 3.9%.

    My wife really wants a T&C but the GM/Ford 0% for 60 months may force me to not purchase a T&C. Do you think Chrysler will lower their 48 or 60 month rate?
  • ajlincajlinc Member Posts: 2
    Our 2001 T&C has started to make some whirring noisesfrom the transmission when cold and shifted from park to reverse, reverse to neutral & neutral to drive. The noise goes away within a minute of shifting gears. We're going to get an appointment and leave the van overnight in early October, when the vechile has warmed there is no noise.Any thoughts?
  • enviromanenviroman Member Posts: 13
    Purchased my 01 Limited last month at Don Davis in Ft. Worth for 10K off of MSRP. I dealt with Kenneth, who is the sales manager. Cash back was $3800.
  • ritc2ritc2 Member Posts: 5
    I've decided that I'd like to buy a 2001 T&C, but I'm disappointed to learn that Chrysler's 0% financing is only good on three year loans, and apparently only for 2002 models. So what sort of incentives and financing (for 5 years) should I expect for a 2001 LX, say the 25H package?

    Also, what's the deal with the EX model? It seems to come with much more than an LX but for just a fraction more. Yet, I haven't seen one on a dealers lot, nor is anyone talking about them anywhere. Can I expect to find a 2001 lying around somewhere?
  • bjohnson71bjohnson71 Member Posts: 33
    You seem to be in the same boat as me. From what I have been told by multiple dealers the only incentive currently on 2001 is some dealer incentives (approx 2k). One salesperson I spoke with said that in my area (KC) that there are alot of 2001's left so he expects some incentives to be introduced when the current 2002 incentives expire. (Oct 31st) Keep in mind this information is coming from a salesperson.

    The EX is nicely equiped but the financing does not apply and the most I have been able to negotiate is invoice which is around $1,500 below MSRP. I bet you can't find a 2001 EX because I have heard that the EX is really the only Chrysler/Dodge selling these days.
  • ritc2ritc2 Member Posts: 5
    I spoke to dealer on the phone this morning who has an EX on the lot, but like you say, he doesn't seem too willing to bring his price down. I'm in RI and I haven't got any firm numbers on '01 incentives, just that they're "significant". I think if I could get an LX around 5,000 or 6,000 below MSRP, I'd probably go for it. Of course I'd prefer the 10K off of MSRP like some people above have said they got.
  • sparkoloungersparkolounger Member Posts: 17
    What 2002 incentives? My local dealer is telling us there are no incentives on the 2002. Are you talking about the 0% financing?
  • bjohnson71bjohnson71 Member Posts: 33
    Sorry, Yes I am referring to the 0% financing for 36 months.
  • bjohnson71bjohnson71 Member Posts: 33
    I guess I'm taking the waiting approach since I am in no hurry to buy. I suspect that the economy will get worse before it gets better.

    From the calculations I have done a LX with a 5k to 6k discount is the same price per month as LX at MSRP with 0% financing. One of the dealers I spoke with this morning told me they were "seeing some good interest rates depending on your credit, like 6 or 7 percent". I guess I don't consider that good when they have 0% on all of their vehicles for 60 months except the vans.

    I'll wait, but I might be bit in the butt for waiting.
  • ritc2ritc2 Member Posts: 5
    Here's my approach for the last few days.

    I went to Chrysler.com and located all the dealers within what I consider to be a reasonable driving distance. Many dealers have their inventories on their websites. For those that do, you can view and print out the window stickers of the cars that interest you. Once I printed the window stickers of anything remotely interesting, I could sit down and compare them all to narrow down my selections to just a few.

    Now only two questions remain: What should I pay for the van of my choice, and what's the best way to get my price? To answer these, I followed a friend's advice and visited fightingchance.com. For around $30, you can order all the up to date numbers on your specific car; invoice, hold backs, and the real kicker, the current dealer incentives. In addition they send you their advice on how to go about getting your price for your car. The website seems very convincing, but of course they're trying to make money too. I haven't received my info yet, so I don't know how good it will be. But, my friend just bought a Taurus wagon using fightingchance.com, and he swears by it.

    I'll update things as they unfold.
  • bjohnson71bjohnson71 Member Posts: 33
    I think we are going to purchase a T&C EX but really like the dials on the LXI/Limited. How difficult/costly would it be to purchase and install the LXI gauges into an EX?
  • tlmurdocktlmurdock Member Posts: 9
    In case anyone at Chrysler is listening...

    I've been ready to trade in my wife's 96 Grand Caravan for a while and generally like the new model - especially the better engines. However although the following may seem it minor it comes in big when you want to have that "got to have it feeling" before you have to plunk down your $30k.

    She loves the silver exterior color but the interior choices are "taupe" (too brown) and "blue". What's wrong with having a grey or black interior choice!! (I love my 300m in that combination).

    Okay - We'll go with a black exterior and the tan (sandstone) interior thats always a nice combination. I'd seen some nice black T & C's in the pre '01 models. Oops, black is no longer an available color option in 2001+ models!?? Errr - Maybe its back to silver and try to live with taupe or blue.

    Then there's the leather - the lower end leather looks very hard and vinyl like. Even the Limited leather doesn't look as nice as the 300m leather. And then in addition to the extra $$$ you have to spend to get it then you get a 3rd seat with an armrest but loses the split it in half feature! I know a neighbor who got the Limited but had them change the third seat to an LXI split one.

    Anyway - it feels like Chrysler is trying to say that minivan owners aren't allowed to have classy color combinations or decent leather. Its enough to drive us to the Toyota Sequoia which is much cooler looking and high on the got to have it feeling but of course more expensive and less practical.
  • sparkoloungersparkolounger Member Posts: 17
    Chrysler now offers the limited with your choice of full bench or split 50/50 third seat. I agree the color combinations could be better!
  • tmesichtmesich Member Posts: 6
    I just started reviewing this list and I noticed a couple of mentions of steering wheel noise. If you gently pull up and push down on the steering wheel while driving, you will hear a clicking noise. There is a TSB for this problem and they will replace the whole steering column.
  • tmesichtmesich Member Posts: 6
    We have a 2000 LXi AWD and occasionally when we are backing up, there will be a big clunk and the van will jerk like we ran over something. The dealership replaced a rear axle and now it does the same thing going forward also, although to a lesser amount. Does anyone have any experience with this? The dealer has chosen to give us the "known problem with no fix available" line, now.
  • geoduckgeoduck Member Posts: 52
    While I agree with you that only two interior leather color choices is meager, have you been inside a taupe interior? Ours seems very grey with blue undertones. Not a speck of brown to me. . .
  • abbanatabbanat Member Posts: 57
    I have a 98 T&C that has the clicking noise exactly the same way you describe it. My question is, does the vehicle still have to be under warranty for the TSB to fix it? What is the TSB # so I can refer my dealership to it.
  • tmesichtmesich Member Posts: 6
    Sorry, but I did not see the TSB, the service department just mentioned it to me when they ordered the new part. The new column is part# 5066108-AB.

    I did notice last night that it still clicks a little. I believe that they will not fix a TSB out of warranty for free, only recalls.
  • ttalbottttalbott Member Posts: 1
    I bought a 2001 T&C – EX in February. I’ve put about 5000 miles on it and am ready to get rid of it. It has a gear whine when you drive between 30 and 45 mph. I’ve taken it to the dealer and they replaced the gears in the transaxle , it didn’t make a difference. They say that they use a different transaxle assembly behind the 3.8-liter engines than the 3.3 engines. In talking to the mechanic he said that they have had some complaints from other people but mainly in the trucks with this same transaxle. Chrysler’s stance is that I just have to live. Hope this helps someone else to look at potential problems that they may encounter.
  • BKSuttonBKSutton Member Posts: 23
    Question - Early generations of the AWD system offered in the minivans sent a maximum of only 10% of the torque to the rear wheels if slippage was detected in the front wheels. Is this still the case on the 2002 models or has Chrysler updated the system? They offer *very* little technical information on their website.

    -- BKS
  • rmgarmerrmgarmer Member Posts: 1
    Am considering purchasing a 2002 T & C LXi FWD 3.8 engine. Would appreciate any input, both pro and con, about quality, handling, value, maintenance, etc. of this mini-van.
    Thanks
  • abk4abk4 Member Posts: 2
    For those of you looking for price comparisons - I just purchased an 02 T&C EX in the Arlington, VA area. I paid $25,500 which included the optional side-impact airbags and the powered sliding left door. Invoice for this configuration is approx $26,500, and MSRP is $27,620. I had to negotiate with several dealers to get the deal. The three offers I received were the $25,500 that I took, $25,900, and $27,000. The guy offering $27,000 claimed that no one would sell this vehicle for anything less than invoice - yeah right!!! The point is that some dealers are willing to negotiate on the EX even though they will initially tell you that the price already includes a "built-in" discount. I am curious to know if anyone had received the $400 college grad rebate on the EX. The dealer I worked with claimed that the college grad rebate does not apply to the EX. I have no reason to doubt him and Chrysler's web page says nothing about it. Good luck negotiating!
  • carolprcarolpr Member Posts: 2
    Does anyone know if the VCR option then gives you rear audio control of the CD/radio? That's how the Odyssey works with their DVD player. Maybe that's the difference. Just wondering
  • grh7grh7 Member Posts: 10
    The gages (instrument cluster) can be replaced but you must replace a 4 gage unit with a 4 gage unit (you cannot upgrade from a 3 gage to a 4 gage unit). The cost at the dealership for a new 4 gage unit will likely be in the $400 to $500 cost range. The only tools required are long and short shaft screwdrivers.
  • carleton1carleton1 Member Posts: 560
    Just go to Edmunds pricing and price the EX and LX, LXi, or Limited. The difference between invoice and MSRP is much smaller with the EX.
    On the Grand Caravan, the GC eX has invoice of $25049 with MSRP of $26,725 while a GC Sport with "K" option has invoice of $25,961 and MSRP of $28,420. The GC Sport with "K" has markup of $2459 while GC eX is only $1676. The GC eX has many more nice features for a much lower MSRP.
  • bjohnson71bjohnson71 Member Posts: 33
    Wow! $400? Thanks for the information but I thought that the gauges would be an easy swap. Can I not just get a LXi overlay to put over the LX/EX gauges?
  • ttownjonttownjon Member Posts: 4
    Currently own a '97 T&C LXi AWD w/ 65K. Paid 34K in NYC. Leased for 39 months @$525/month (+2 extra months until I decided what to do [dumb!]) then bought out the lease for $20K from Chase Bank [even dumber!]. Kept car for 1 year more at which time retail book is $16K, dealer offers 10K on trade and only 2 buyers in 6 weeks interested in $12K sale price privately (both decided no go).
    Car has held up very well: no tranny problems, no engine problems, drives GREAT in snow, but suspension makes all sorts of noises. Car is surpirsingly powerful for AWD (3.8 liter). So...ownership for 1 year will wind up costing me 10K + new set of tires and a battery!
    Lessons: #1 Never buy out the lease from a bank; just dump car or negotiate fiercely with dealer for "buyback". #2 T&C AWD is a reasonably good car but don't count on getting to 100K miles #3selling these things privately has not been as easy as people say.#4 same as #1.
  • ttownjonttownjon Member Posts: 4
    Did I mention that Chrysler offered $10K for trade- in (for ba 2002r T&C AWD ) but Toyota offered $7500 as trade for a Sienna.
  • carleton1carleton1 Member Posts: 560
    We have not involved banks in our vehicle purchases after using a bank loan on 3 vehicles. Financed through a credit union beginning with a 1971 VW Super Beetle in December 1970. Later, we kept making same payment to our savings after we paid off the 1972 Volvo and have paid cash since.
    I prefer to pay myself the interest instead of the bank. Most of our friends trade off their DC minivans before 100,000 miles.
    My sister's 86 Caravan had 170,000 problem free miles before they sold it. Her daughter's 96 T&C LXi had transmission failure at 150,000...but they tow a trailer with it. Her 93 Taurus had transmission failure at 135,000...she says they should have sold the Taurus but the 4 cyl in 86 Caravan had just too little power to feel safe. A friend of our daughter started having problems with A/C in the 96 T&C with 100,000 miles so they traded it in on a used 99 T&C Limited. She looked at all minivans but said all seem so plain and undesireable after owning a Town & Country.
    It is hard for me to trade off a vehicle with no problems but your experience may help me change my mind.
  • carleton1carleton1 Member Posts: 560
    With the exciting new models from DC, this should be updated to the Chrysler Town and Country eL, LX, eX, LXi, and Limited Forum to show the NEW models DC has for the Chrysler Town and Country.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Any reason why we shouldn't just call it Chrysler Town and Country?

    Steve
    Host
    Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

  • clevacnclevacn Member Posts: 8
    Just talked to enviroman a couple days ago about the 10K off of MSRP. Apparently, the deal isn't 10K anymore. The best I could do is 8K off MSRP on a 2001. I was looking at a loaded T&C Limited with split rear bench, 4cd indash unit, heated seats, and rear cargo holder. Not that I wanted all that stuff, just that the models I found had all of it. Anyway, It seems that there is a substantial difference between what Edmunds and Carpoint list as MSRP and what dealerships post as MSRP on their ads. In Fort Worth, there is as much as 800+ difference in the MSRPs. I am curious if anyone is still able to get 10K off of MSRP or if you think the DC will sweeten the deals in November to try to get rid of the 2001s. One last thing, Even at 8K off of MSRP, would that negate the 1st year's depreciation of the T&C Limited since it would be sold about 2-3K below invoice?
  • jbrinda2jbrinda2 Member Posts: 12
    So far we love our 2001 T&C LXi van. I did notice a slight noise in the steering column when going over bumps. Dealer's service department replaced the "sway bar" (I never heard of this before) and the noise was gone. The stitching came apart in the leather passenger seat behind the driver so they ordered a new cover. The only major disappointment so far has been the rear hatch automatic opener. It started acting strange occasionally about 3 or 4 months after we bought it (i.e. it would beep and then not open/close or it would open about 3 inches and then close). It would only happen occasionally at first but within about 6 weeks, stopped working altogether. Service department said the motor was shorted out and ordered a new one. That is fine with me, though I've lost the use of that feature for the month it took to get get the car in, have them evaluate it, order the part, wait for it to come in, and then schedule it to be replaced. It drives like a dream with plenty of leg and head room for the driver and passengers. My favorite features are the leather seating (invaluable with three kids < 5), trip computer, instrumentation, blue gauges are beautiful, sound system is awesome, smooth ride, powerful 3.8 engine, tri-zone air and center console (stores tons of stuff...CDs, wipes, phone and charger, candy!). I'll probably end up purchasing the extended warranty before the original expires, just in case, but it is a great car so far. The power sliding doors are great too. Wish I had the tire pressure sensors of the 2002 but, other than that, so far, so good.
  • bmalikbbmalikb Member Posts: 6
    Installation of this unit does NOT give you any control of the CD/Radio.
  • bmalikbbmalikb Member Posts: 6
    I had seen this before but couldn't find it. Is there a TSB or any information for water trapped in the "chrome" door trim on the LTD. With winter coming, I can only imagine that it will get worse.Thanks!
  • grh7grh7 Member Posts: 10
    No, you cannot purchase just the overlay - wouldn't work anyway. The gages and the backlighting are an intergal part of the face plate.
  • pigfanaticpigfanatic Member Posts: 14
    I have a 2001 T&C EX. Yesterday after filling up with gas I was resetting the trip gauge. I normally do this while it is running,
    but this time I did it after I had turned off the engine. While I was holding down the reset button waiting for it to reset the
    gauges went nuts. Now the speedometer and RPM gauge is pegged out at just below 0. I'm going to call the dealership
    tomorrow, but was wondering if anyone had ever had this happen to them.
    ~Thanks
  • grh7grh7 Member Posts: 10
    By trying to reset the trip odo with the ignition off, you've initiated the instrument cluster self test. Allowing the test to complete before turning on the ignition will result in the gage pointers returning to their correct position. The proper way to reset the trip odo is with the ignition 'ON'.
  • pigfanaticpigfanatic Member Posts: 14
    Talked to the service department. They wanted me to bring it in and drop it off so that they would have time to go over everything... after reading your post I pressed the reset button with the engine off and let it go through it weird set of test. Took a couple of seconds, but finally came back to normal.
    Strange thing is it says nothing in the manual about resetting while the engine is still running... but I have learned my lesson.
    Thanks for the help and saving me from a trip to the dealership. ~ Have a great day!
  • lsherlsher Member Posts: 29
    I've now driven 900 miles since taking delivery of my '02 LXi AWD (29U) last Wednesday. Here are some major and minor items:

    ****No 2100 rpm resonance****

    Despite a clear statement to the contrary in the brochure, the right front passenger seat came *without* any power adjustability. I'm insisting on getting it replaced. Stay tuned.

    The supplemental side air bags are in the outer edges of the front seat backs--a surprise.

    I fell victim to an unclear statement in the brochure that described the radio as having CD changer controls. It has, in fact, no CD player. It does promise that its buttons will work with a customer supplied CD changer. That's deceptive, I think.

    A minor puzzle: One of the dashboard's lower bins had in it a loose coin holder, the sort that has push-down stacks for three coin types. It looks as if it should fit in or hook on somewhere but I don't see where. So I called the DC customer assistance line. It took the person about 6-7 consultation minutes away from the phone to return, only to tell me that it is meant to be loose. That's crazy. It clearly has a lip for attaching somehow. Maybe it attaches to some other car???

    First 900 mile impressions: Silky smooth, powerful enough, very comfortable and quiet, and seemingly filled with enough computers to keep me busy for the next month figuring it all out.
    The "navy" interior is medium blue with grayish seating surfaces. It's perfectly nice.

    -Larry
    Naples, NY
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