My wife wanted a vehicle that would comfortably hold 6 people. So I found a very nice Lincoln Towncar. It was a 2003 w/ 47K on it for about 9 thousand. I was going to get it down to about 8 thousand. But NOOOO, the wife did not like that. Hello Dodge Grand Caravan!! So now, I have a minivan. Somehow, I just can't see them ever being cool like some station wagons are now. Seems to be a good vehicle (2006 w/41K on the ticker and 3.3L). It is comfortable, handles ok, accelerates ok, and is practical. I guess I can hang my nads off the rear view mirror like a pair of misshapen fuzzy dice.
We have a 1999 Dodge Caravan with the 3.3L engine. Have fun changing those rear spark plugs! LOL
Anyway, it is pretty handy. It also works well for light truck duty. Unlike most trucks, you can take out both rear seats and lay 4x8 sheets of plywood in the floor... and shut the hatch.
A BUNCH of stuff can be crammed in the back with the seats out. Plus, it's all enclosed, and won't get wet or stolen.
Loading is easy too, as the loading/unloading height is very low, and you can get to the cargo not only from the back, but also from both sides.
Yea, it's a minivan, but they are extremely handy. We've got four kids, and if a kid/baby was having a hard time on a trip, the wife could simply walk back and take care of things without ever pulling over to stop. Ours gets around 21-22 mpg on trips.
I am going to the Orange bowl in Miami in this thing. So, I will see how good the highway mileage is. EPA rating is 18/26. Yes, it can be used to haul a small amount of weight. That was one of the factors-it would do most hauling that I need done. The other was 3 kids andone coming. This one has that stow and go floor compartment for the third row seats. Anyhow, I am not really upset. It is simply not a vehicle I have any passion for. Maybe she will grow on me. It is the vehicle that will fit my requirements for now.
Ive never driven a Caravan. But my wife had to have a mini van. We have a 07 Freestar 4.2L and I must say for general use its a good vehicle. Accel. ride and handling are far greater then I ever expected. Buy a cheap tarp to keep in the vehicle. If you need to buy salt, Mulch etc. Or when you go over to Dad's to borrow the snow blower. lol.
I would end my life before I would be seen driving a minivan. But that's just me! Have fun Mister Mom!!!
Many years ago I had to take a short highway trip, about 100 miles each way, in a then new Ford Aerostar. Maybe a '90 I guess. I was surprised how nicely it drove.
We made it to a college age kid, a 12 yr old dog, and hauled lots of groceries too.
Honestly, they are very nice vehicles, easy to drive, good pickup, awesome creature comforts, they are good vehicles, far better than the equiv 4 door sedan nowadays.
We've had a couple of them over the years..They ride nice and get good mileage so I never complained too much..Biggest complaint is a dumb sway bar end link setup that seems to wear out easily and makes lots of noises..
I had an 89 Caravan back around 91-92. Bought it with about 35,000 miles on it.
While I liked the thing, it was very versatile, it was still a Dodge. At about 50,000 miles I traded it ii due to all the little things going wrong, but it was stuff that coud have you sitting at the side of the road waiting for a tow. I think youll appreciate its versatility
Dave, I bought a white 87 Voyager (same as caravan without the gussiness) back in 95 for $500 bucks...
Put in a new water pump and timing belt and drove it until 2002, with a one time transplant into a Silver 89 Body while in the U.K. Had over 300,000 when I gave it to my best friend who lived in London. He sold it to a resident there just before coming back to the US, and it's still being driven on that same engine and tranny to this day...
They're not that bad to drive really, you're just not very cool when you drive them, that's all... No biggie...
I've had minivans assigned to me as company vehicles since '90.
Started out with a '90 Aerostar, then a '93 and then a '96.
Changed jobs and got a '94 Safari, then a '97 Windstar and then a 2000 Windstar.
Then I got a '03 Venture, 2 weeks ago 12/15/2008 I got a '08 Uplander, already have 1500 miles on it.
I hate fwd, especially in the snow and ice. Try to take off in the snow/ice and the front end just slides sideways off the road and into the curb or ditch. No fun at all, I like my truck with Detroit locker in the slippery stuff.
Actually this new Uplander is the best fwd I have ever driven in snow/ice, with its traction control and stability control. The traction control prevents the front end from breaking traction so bad that there is no steering control. The 3.9l v6 has good power and the mileage isnt too bad considering it has a ladder rack on top and is loaded with about 700 lbs of shelving tools and parts. Been getting 23mpg, down from the 26mpg I got with the '03 Venture.
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