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Comments
Likes:
- power
- ride/handling (yes, it's a bit stiff though)
- quietness (except at 2100 rpm)
- power doors and liftgate (use them all the time)
- awd (with Michelin Artic Alpins, it's simply amazing on snow)
- steering radius (compared to my 1990 Grand Caravan)
Dislikes:
- non-illuminated power door buttons when it's dark and the engine is off (Have to punch the adjacent reading light on and hold my hand up as a reflector to see them.)
- long reach to the e-brake release
Overall, I'm really happy with it. I agree with Paul that it's actually fun to drive.
Yes, we could trade for a 2002, but that exceeds my budget. When I buy a new vehicle, I plan to keep it for a minimum of 8 years (probably 10). Have to spread the initial depreciation over that kind of ownership span.
--rolfe.
I bought the caravan ec which is exactly the same as the se but with fewer options available. I have only put about 700 miles on it so far and have to say it is a pleasure to drive. It is no hot rod but with the 2.4 litre engine and the four speed automatic it is satisfactory. The window sticker says it will get 19mpg in town and 27mpg on the highway. It is a smoothe ride and very quiet at highway speed.
P.S. I only paid $14,100 for it at Elmhurst Dodge.
In edmunds consumer rating for vans they rate the 2002 Voyager at 8.6 but rate the Caravan at only 4.1 How can this be when they are identical except for a few trim items? The prices are within $5 of each other for identical models.
I have driven them both and they are exactly the same.
Everyone, please feel free to write a review yourself - drill down to your model from the New or Used buttons and look for the Consumer Ratings graphs and links.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I noticed that the Ody Club has a section of vendors selling Honda parts and accessories at a discount from Honda retail.
Is there such a site for Caravans and Town & Countrys?
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Got some 'been there, done that' for you if you'd like to hear it. It's not a 2001 or 02, nor is this a maint. room, but the host thought you might be interested in a 3 yr owner's experience, so far. (not good)
Let me know.
Some dealers I have talked to say they have received a memo stating the current promotions will continue, but I don't know if I trust them to tell me the truth.
As long as you order your Caravan while the rebate & extended warranty are in effect, the discounts are locked in & you will get them, even if they're not in effect when you take delivery 4-6 weeks after ordering.
For those who look at it realize that you should remove the headrest, turn it around and then put in facing the other direction. It should take 10 seconds to realized this (well ... 15 seconds for me).
The nice thing about the DC headrests is that they are usable. My Acura had good looking headrests that were useless when I was rearended. My wife's old and cheap Mazda 323 had a safer design, but not as pretty.
Just want to pass that along if someone needs to put in a child seat and not use to the system.
I also like the DC's buckle that does not need those annoying "H" bars to keep tension. Much better than Grandma's '01 Toyota.
A "countermeasure driveshaft" is currently being field tested, and apparently looks promising. The TSB is in draft form. It will "go public" in approximately 90 days.
My guess is that your dealership won't know a thing about it until the TSB is published, but you might want to check with them in 3 months +/-.
Keep your fingers crossed.
--rolfe.
They ordered a complete new drive shaft (it is in two pieces) and were told that there was a back order of roughly 40 shafts. Two weeks later the dealer called to say that the part was made available and that they had received it.
They replaced the shaft about one month ago and the vibration is gone. I am aware of it slightly in colder weather but for practical purposes, it is a non issue. The car seems to be fine.
I'm wondering if the "noise/vibration" you referred to is the same as my "rattle", and perhaps this is another manifestation of the same problem, or perhaps an unrelated problem with AWD.
At 27K miles I hear a slight rattle coming back. If I had not heard it before, when it was much louder, I probably wouldn't pay any attention to it now. I'm kind of expecting it to get worse, since that's what happened before.
--rolfe.
Have been complaining about a humming and sqealing sound from the rear of the van. It occurs mostly when you stop and accelerate on turns. During teh past two weeks, the brake pressure has been intermitently failing. Just 1 week ago, the brakes failed at a red light and the van began to roll back despite pressing on the brake pedal. The dealers can not find a problem?
This problem appears to be unique to 2001 T&C and GC vans WITH AWD ONLY. (A very few FWD owners will dispute this.) It is well understood by the DC engineers. It was corrected in 2002. I'm told they are working on a "fix" for 2001's as a TSB.
Here's the description: when the vehicle has some load on it, like when traveling on the freeway or going up an incline at city speeds, at 2100 rpm there is a 'roar' or 'drone' type of sound Below about 2050 there is no such sound; above 2100 it rapidly diminishes and is pretty much gone about 2300 or 2400, although if the engine is working (still climbing or accelerating), you will still the engine -- just not the annoying low frequency resonance. If you live in a hilly area, like I do, the noise is frequent because 2000 rpm is pretty much where the transmission likes to keep things.
I don't recall the specific speeds around town that are a problem -- it varies, depending on what gear you're in and whether the transmission is locked up. On the freeway, its at about 68mph in my vehicle. Frankly, my problem is more annoying at lower speeds. At 68mph wind and road noise tend to mask it.
I suspect that there is some variation vehicle to vehicle, but I'm not positive.
Sounding "like a truck" is not a bad description. To confirm that we're talking about the same phenomenon, try finding a hill that you can cruise up at a constant 2100 rpm. Should be somewhere between 30 and 35 mph or so. See if that's the same noise you hear at 50mph.
--rolfe.
However, I don't believe it relates to brake performance, so you probably have an additional problem if not a different one altogether.
In my case, I would hear the squeal for a few seconds when starting up from a stop, and only rarely. Other owners would complain that it occurs during low speed turns. The TSB mentions both situations, as I recall.
If safety is a concern, and it sounds like it might be, you might want to acquaint yourself with your state's lemon law.
http://www.carlemon.com/lemonstat.html
Good luck.
--rolfe.
Thanks for the help. They have both been very helpful.
My suspician is that something in all these vans (awd & fwd) has a natural frequency that corresponds to 2100 rpm. Hence the comments from owners like you. But the awd driveline manages to 'excite' it or become exicited at just the right rpm, making the vibration more pronounced.
I'm expecting any 'fix' to be an attempt to dampen the vibration by absorbing energy rather than addressing the cause. Cheaper that way.
--rolfe.
However I am hearing a clicking/rubbing sort of noise coming somewhere the front of the van when turning at low speeds. Dealer says its normal but I don't think so. Anyone else experienced this?
(Thanks for the suggestion, claywaterfill).
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Best Regards,
Shipo
Anyone have a crystal ball?
Chrysler Posts Quarterly Profit
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I'm also curious about gas mileage. The EPA ratings seem to be identical for a SWB/3.3 and a LWB/3.8. I seemed to get about 19 MPG in the SWB/3.3 which I drove with a heavy foot most of the time. I'm sure that could improve over time.
Also of note are tranny issues. This GC rental has 8000 on the odo and has an occasional "hiccup" in the last few feet when coming to a stop as though it were slipping into neutral for a split second and then back into gear with a jerk. I also hear the "normal" buzz/flutter sound discussed in this forum when shifting from R to D and D to R. The SWB with 3000 on the odo exhibited none of the above tranny thingys.
Some parents are being told by dealer and manufacurer that only one [or two] child/carseat may be installed in the 3rd row of the 2002 models. In addition, Chrysler apparently switched the number of factory installed tether anchors from three to one from MY2001 to MY2002.
Any information on this would be appreciated. A scan of the relevant pages in the owner's manual would be great. Please no flames or attacks, I need the information to assist parents with proper carseat installation information. If you do have information, I'd appreciate a copy to the email address in my profile in addition to a response here. Thanks!
Chrysler makes them ?
The Chrysler Voyager and Dodge Caravan (short wheelbase models) come with either a 2.4L 4 cylinder engine or the 3.3L V6. I'm not sure on the horspower rating on the 4 cylinder. It is also made by Chrysler and has been in service for some time.
Nor do I have any complaints about the 158hp 3.3 liter V6 in our Town & Country.
-Adam
The difference between the 2001 and 2002 model years is the PTU (power take-off unit) and the driveshaft. I don't know what's different, but suspect the newer ones are beefier somehow. At any rate, that's what DC changed to correct the original design problem (2001 model year) for the 2002 model year.
I don't know at what point (2001 or 2002) the engineering change was implemented on the manufacturing line.
--rolfe.
Richie