Friend was recently given (really, given, like for free) a Purple Y2k Caravan.
160k or so, miles, 3.8 liter engine was "replaced a couple years ago", has new tires, needs tie-rod ends, and has a fair amount of cancer on the hood, rear wheel wells, and rockers. current plan is to make this her youngest's car.(he just turned 16) aside from the "******* wagon" connotations, anything particular fairly common issues we/she should be watching out for?

so far she's suprised herself that this van gets better MPGs than HER vehicle- (02-ish Pontiac Aztek(3.4l RWD) with 130k-ish mi)

 

> Front strut towers are known to rust out creating major repair.

> Heater lines to rear heater rust out creating coolant leaks both behind the engine and aft near the rear heater.

> Erratic or dead instruments sometimes combined with stalling caused by poor solder joints on the instrument cluster.

> Erratic headlights caused by flackey switch.

> Some good news? If your horn, cruise, or airbag systems die it is most likely caused by a bad clockspring assembly behind the steering wheel. It has a free lifetime replacement warranty.

 

oh yeah, the window motors are kinda flakey, (aka work when they want to, she told me "i bet when you turn the key, the window will go up." it didn't)

good info in above post. have to pass along.
all in all, as long as the structure is sound, it should be a decent first car.
dang...this kid WAS in autobody @ the local vocational school, lets just say that didn't work out... would have made a great project car for school...

 

Until she gets around to replacing the window regulator assemblies just hold the switch up or down and slam the door. They sometimes come alive. A few more:

> Squeaks, thumps in the front caused by sway bar bushings and/or links.

> You can run instrument cluster and HVAC system tests, and read OBDII codes in your driveway without a scanner. Go to the "TIZZY1 and others DIY info" thread at the top of the forum.