Dodge Grand Caravan or Chevy Uplander

[DrPizza]

Looking at a new replacement vehicle for the wife. Car accident 2 weeks ago was determined to have totaled the vehicle. We're hanging onto that grand caravan though, and will wind up with a salvage title. Reason for keeping it, quite frankly, is that we beat the shit out of it. (Hauling hay, goats, grain, coal, dirtbikes, etc. It's had alpacas in it... it's had 7 goats brought back from Va in it, it's had a Yamaha 250F stuffed inside it. We've filled it with landscape timbers, 1200 to 1500 pounds of coal (bagged) and grain, etc. We've transported as many as 6 kayaks at one time, and had a couple hundred pounds of 16 foot cattle panels up on the roof rack. Far more utility than either the Jeep cherokee or Nissan pathfinder ever provided us.

Anyway, for usefulness, reliability, etc., which do you find better? Grand Caravan or Uplander? We only had time to take a glance at the Uplanders tonight; the dealer we went to is open til 8pm every night except Friday. Only 6:00 on Friday. Weird.

 

[Tiamat]

I've never had any problems with Dodge Caravan / Chrysler T&C from 1985 and 1996 respectively. Since you have experience with the caravan and how well it has served you, I might be tempted just to stick with that. I don't know anything about the Uplander though.

Usually if I find something that works, I stick with it unless someone convinces me (difficult to do) otherwise.

I take it you are not interested in a full-size truck (seems with all the cargo you move, perhaps truck is a good solution)

 

[iamwiz82]

The GM minivan division is poor, to say the least. That is why they are rumored to buy out the Chrysler minivan department if/when Cerebus cuts Chrysler up.

 

[JulesMaximus]

With that kind of record why are you even considering the Chevy?

 

[shabby]

Does the power steering still make that noise when turning on the caravans?

 

[DrPizza]

I'm not the one considering the Chevy... the wife is the guilty party. I'm quite happy with the Dodge we had (except the radio... something happened to the radio. Know what it's like to travel 1000 miles in 2 days without any music??)

 

[DrPizza]

Another thread made me lol...
When we were just glancing at the vehicles last night, dealer said, "and this one has the really nice alloy rims." I looked at him and said, "maybe if I was 23 and trying to impress the ladies, I might give a shit." Wife looked at us and said, "if you were 23 and trying to impress the ladies, you wouldn't be buying a minivan."

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'd buy the Chrysler in a heartbeat because of the lifetime powertrain warranty.

Set up the mandatory checks on your e-calendar & drive the piss out of it.

 

[Thump553]

Also a fan of the Grand Caravan. Our '96 (totalled by son) was far better than the Toyota Sienna that replaced it.

 

[DrPizza]

Ended up getting a grand caravan, the one my wife liked most last night. Drove the T&C, seemed pretty much the same. But, passenger leg room in the rear seemed a little tighter. Also test drove a Durango... wife liked the feel and the pick-up in it with the V8, but I didn't like the gas mileage, and it was much more cramped in the rear end for the kids. So, we ended up with a grand caravan, 2007 (used) for 12999 + tax etc.

 

[iamwiz82]

Can't beat the price, IMHO.

 

[theeedude]

I see a lot of caravans in my neighborhood, and usually people are anti-American Honda and Toyota buyers around here. So that may be a good sign.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: senseamp
I see a lot of caravans in my neighborhood, and usually people are anti-American Honda and Toyota buyers around here. So that may be a good sign.

Where do you get off with this crap?

Buying an import doesn't make you some kind of pinko traitor :roll:

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: senseamp
I see a lot of caravans in my neighborhood, and usually people are anti-American Honda and Toyota buyers around here. So that may be a good sign.

Where do you get off with this crap?

Buying an import doesn't make you some kind of pinko traitor :roll:

Well they are anti-American when it comes to cars. I call it like it is.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: senseamp
I see a lot of caravans in my neighborhood, and usually people are anti-American Honda and Toyota buyers around here. So that may be a good sign.

Where do you get off with this crap?

Buying an import doesn't make you some kind of pinko traitor :roll:

Well they are anti-American when it comes to cars. I call it like it is.

Unless every product you own is either American, or they don't make the equivalent in America at any price, then you're a hypocrite.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: senseamp
I see a lot of caravans in my neighborhood, and usually people are anti-American Honda and Toyota buyers around here. So that may be a good sign.

Where do you get off with this crap?

Buying an import doesn't make you some kind of pinko traitor :roll:

Well they are anti-American when it comes to cars. I call it like it is.

Unless every product you own is either American, or they don't make the equivalent in America at any price, then you're a hypocrite.

I am not talking about buying a Japanese car. I am talking about people who refuse to buy a car if it is American, simply because it's American. They are anti-American wrt to cars. It has nothing to do with hypocrisy.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: senseamp
I see a lot of caravans in my neighborhood, and usually people are anti-American Honda and Toyota buyers around here. So that may be a good sign.

Where do you get off with this crap?

Buying an import doesn't make you some kind of pinko traitor :roll:

Well they are anti-American when it comes to cars. I call it like it is.

Unless every product you own is either American, or they don't make the equivalent in America at any price, then you're a hypocrite.

I am not talking about buying a Japanese car. I am talking about people who refuse to buy a car if it is American, simply because it's American. They are anti-American wrt to cars. It has nothing to do with hypocrisy.

It does, because you're making the assumption that they bought an import because they're anti-American. Just maybe, they bought the car for other, perfectly rational reasons, that aren't anti-American.

Those reasons might include: they liked the car, they've had a bad experience with a domestic, or just that they are buying an import because they perceive that it will be of better quality and have better resale value than a domestic (which is certainly a matter of debate, but just because they might not be correct doesn't mean they're traitors to their country).

I'm assuming that you own imported goods that are also produced in the US because you're anti-American with respect to those goods.

On the basis of my assumption, you're a hypocrite, and anti-American to boot.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: senseamp
I see a lot of caravans in my neighborhood, and usually people are anti-American Honda and Toyota buyers around here. So that may be a good sign.

Where do you get off with this crap?

Buying an import doesn't make you some kind of pinko traitor :roll:

Well they are anti-American when it comes to cars. I call it like it is.

Unless every product you own is either American, or they don't make the equivalent in America at any price, then you're a hypocrite.

I don't care, as long as it wasn't made in Australia

Dammed forced labor of kangaroos is horrible, man, how do you put up with it?

<---Just bought a Samsung TV & refrigerator.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Ended up getting a grand caravan, the one my wife liked most last night. Drove the T&C, seemed pretty much the same. But, passenger leg room in the rear seemed a little tighter. Also test drove a Durango... wife liked the feel and the pick-up in it with the V8, but I didn't like the gas mileage, and it was much more cramped in the rear end for the kids. So, we ended up with a grand caravan, 2007 (used) for 12999 + tax etc.

Great price...

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Ended up getting a grand caravan, the one my wife liked most last night. Drove the T&C, seemed pretty much the same. But, passenger leg room in the rear seemed a little tighter. Also test drove a Durango... wife liked the feel and the pick-up in it with the V8, but I didn't like the gas mileage, and it was much more cramped in the rear end for the kids. So, we ended up with a grand caravan, 2007 (used) for 12999 + tax etc.

Great price...

We thought so. According to our salesman, the powertrain warranty doesn't transfer to us, because "it was a daily rental". That was a big concern of ours, since we're going to be using this to tow our boat a few times a year. However, the 35k or whatever it is bumper to bumper still covers everything til we reach that mileage. (And, the way we drive, it'll be the mileage before the time)

Anyone know if this is true? Or was it just for them to use it as bargaining leverage for an extended warranty?

 

[NutBucket]

True. Powertrain warranty doesn't transfer.