as some of yall know , i have a daughter due in 2 months very stoked . unfortanately my single cab truck wont get the job done for family buissness. she has 2 girls already and a car or a truck wont work.

im looking at a 2005 dodge carivan, anyone have any exsperiance with these vans > it currently has 127k miles on it and asking 3800, he thinks blue book is 6700 but i looked and its about 3000-5000.

anyways it has a bad window motor and no cold air , and inspection is due in 2 months . if i decided to buy he will get it inspected and he says he has alot of receips of work that has been done . is this a good deal or should ipass

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/3608254378.html

 

Not a good deal for a van with 127,000 miles. The 2005-2007 were plagued with water pump failures, intake gasket failures, ABS failure, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve failures, Body Control Module failures, and significant steering and suspension issues (Rack and Pinion assembly).

Now if the seller is willing to sell it for a reasonable price you should buy it. If you are handy, most of these issues are no big deal.

 

If he can show you a lot of maintenance and repair receipt, it runs great, and your mechanic don't find anything obviously wrong with it in the inspection, I think it is worth buying.

Yes, you will run into some problems in near future, might cost you a grand or two to repair in worst case scenario. but Honestly, for less than $4000, what do you expect?

If you buy this one, pay $2,000 in repair and maintenance, and get 5 year out of it, I think you got your money's worth.

Or you can buy a New Minivan for $25,000.

On the No Cold air problem, Rear Evaporator leak is the most common failure. But you can just remove the rear A/C unit, and block off the lines.

 

My 2003 has 130,000 miles on it and besides regular maintenance I have had to replace:
1. valve cover gaskets
2. steering rack
3. struts 2x
4. sway bar links
The front end noises are a persistent problem but more of a nuisance. All in all I'd say it's a pretty good vehicle.

 

i have an o6--I don't want a vehicle to cost more then 1200 per year. What could be the worse thing to go wrong with it other then blow engine. Tranny down in my area 1800. Electrical issues can be crazy. Does there appear to be a problem in these areas?
Your timing change replacement may need to happen with that many miles on it. That might be 700 to 900 for a side shop (my area of the country). Maybe it won't. Take these things into configuration.

 

The timing chain is not a service item, and 127,000 miles is nothing for a chain. Don't worry about replacing it unless it is making a noise, which very few of them do.

The later 4th gens (let's say, 05-07) do have a couple common gotchas, the rear A/C lines leaking is one of them. The repair isn't that expensive but it is a little bit difficult. If you had a shop do it the total bill should be well under $1000. Window motor failures are not a chronic problem so once that is repaired you should be good to go.

That said, the price sounds a little high. In my area a van with that mileage would be worth about $5000 in perfect shape. Given the immediate repairs it needs and possible other issues it might have I wouldn't humor a penny above $3200 and would be happy in the $2800-3000 range depending on body and interior condition.

If the inspection it requires is an emissions inspection or something have the seller take care of that, but always do your own mechanical inspection at a shop you trust.

 

True about the rear a/c. I had to replace mine. Local shop did it. evaporator and expansion valve and reload with 134. cost 475 in ft lauderdale, fl area.