Hi everyone! It's great to join your community...I'm looking forward to reading all your posts!

I've got baby #3 coming soon and so I'll be needing a little bit more space to haul the kids around. I'm looking into picking up a used Caravan (thinking somewhere in the 2003+ range and <$7000) and was wondering if you all might recommend the year model that has the best track record on reliability and few issues?

Thanks so much!

 

My 02 has been a very reliable vehicle, has yet to leave me on the side of the road after 3 years and over 50K KMs. I am very partial to this generation, they seem to be the best comprimise between reliability and efficiency. I have the 3.3L engine and average 18.5MPG (US) with most city style driving. Highway only trips get up over 24MPG (US) even when loaded up. I even tow with my van and it is very good at that task.

Best possible advice I have is that if your budget is $7K, spend $6K total on a van and spend the other $1K replacing all fluids and any other wear items that fit in that budget. Most people seem to neglect all maintenance other than oil changes.

 

Thanks for the thoughts on your 02 model! I'll give that a look!

And for the fluids and wear items, what kinds of things are you talking about? I'm not the most savvy in those things