New here.... I want to buy a caravan help!!!
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Joined: Aug 2006
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New here.... I want to buy a caravan help!!!
I currently have a 1994 Ford aerostar and its finally just gave up on me the motor is shot so now I'm ready to get another van and I was looking at 1998 chyrsler town and country for $3500 cash with 130,000 miles on it, but I need to know from you guys here which dodge, chyrsler, or plymouth van is the one I want to look for and what not and which one has the most cargo space???? this is going to be my first dodge so I know nothing about these vans but I hear lots of good things about them though
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RE: New here.... I want to buy a caravan help!!!
Welcome to the forum!
Generally there's not a lot of difference except for trim/accessories across the D-C Mini-van line. Parts for the Chrysler Town & Country seem to be more expensive.
All of them have about the same problems. Weak auto-tranny, electrical, sway bar ends, brake problems. Better than the other manufactures minis generally. Read the forums and you will get a pretty good idea of what the problems are.
The one your looking at is a 3ed generation (96-00). On these I would put a stacked plate tranny oil cooler (Summit Racing) and flush the transmission replacing it with ATF+4. These trannies are fluid sensitive so only use ATF+4. I'm guessing it's on it's second or third rebuild if it doesn't have an aftermarket cooler.
These vans also tend to throw belts. Fix is new factory or NAPA tensioner and idler pulley with either a Goodyear Gatorback or a Dayco Poly Cog belt.
Engines across the board seem pretty bullet proof. I like either the 3.3 or 3.8 V6. All are hard to work on due to space restrictions, but not anywhere as bad as Ford or GM minis.
There are two cargo versions. Short can't take a full sheet of plywood with out the tail-gate being slightly open. Larger size can. Look around on the street and you will see the difference.
A lot of people will tell you they have over 100K vans with-out problems. Personally I would look for an under 100K 2000, either Dodge/Plymouth. Obviously newer year and lower mileage will have fewer repairs needed.
This is all subjective and others may not agree. I'm not a working mechanic, but I have neighbors who own all of the above, so I see and hear a bit. I do my own repairs on a 99 Dodge Caravan. I'm not an expert, just an owner/tinkerer. I think D-C are the best choice in minis. As always YMMV.
Generally there's not a lot of difference except for trim/accessories across the D-C Mini-van line. Parts for the Chrysler Town & Country seem to be more expensive.
All of them have about the same problems. Weak auto-tranny, electrical, sway bar ends, brake problems. Better than the other manufactures minis generally. Read the forums and you will get a pretty good idea of what the problems are.
The one your looking at is a 3ed generation (96-00). On these I would put a stacked plate tranny oil cooler (Summit Racing) and flush the transmission replacing it with ATF+4. These trannies are fluid sensitive so only use ATF+4. I'm guessing it's on it's second or third rebuild if it doesn't have an aftermarket cooler.
These vans also tend to throw belts. Fix is new factory or NAPA tensioner and idler pulley with either a Goodyear Gatorback or a Dayco Poly Cog belt.
Engines across the board seem pretty bullet proof. I like either the 3.3 or 3.8 V6. All are hard to work on due to space restrictions, but not anywhere as bad as Ford or GM minis.
There are two cargo versions. Short can't take a full sheet of plywood with out the tail-gate being slightly open. Larger size can. Look around on the street and you will see the difference.
A lot of people will tell you they have over 100K vans with-out problems. Personally I would look for an under 100K 2000, either Dodge/Plymouth. Obviously newer year and lower mileage will have fewer repairs needed.
This is all subjective and others may not agree. I'm not a working mechanic, but I have neighbors who own all of the above, so I see and hear a bit. I do my own repairs on a 99 Dodge Caravan. I'm not an expert, just an owner/tinkerer. I think D-C are the best choice in minis. As always YMMV.