Your thoughts on a Van?

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I started this thread:https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4732609/3 and now wondering which van should we consider for maximum $7K-$8K?

May not buy at this second, but at least will keep looking until a right one show up.

Which years of Odyssey should be avoided? Anything for Sienna or Quest?

Caravan is a good and cheaper option too. Anything else?
 
Have never looked at a Van( similar to trucks), so excuse the noobness
smile.gif
 
I'd save the money and get a Dodge Caravan if I had to have a minivan. The resell is pitiful on them and they are not that bad unless you still live in the 1990's.
 
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
I'd save the money and get a Dodge Caravan if I had to have a minivan. The resell is pitiful on them and they are not that bad unless you still live in the 1990's.


Any idea about particular years which should be avoided or are preferred?
 
For the Odyssey, some where around 2008 was when they fixed the trans but the cyl deactivation was optional and uncommon up here atleast. They are nice vans and worth a bit of a premium over the Caravan. Also at that age, maintenance is more important than reputation. Watch for run flats on some of them as well and decide how you want to deal with that.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Also at that age, maintenance is more important than reputation. Watch for run flats on some of them as well and decide how you want to deal with that.


Sorry, can you elaborate on it? Japanese(toyota, honda) vehicles definitely have premium.
 
Stow and go is right after computers and antibiotics as the best invention ever. Transmissions were a weak point for many years on the Dodge/chrysler minivans. Look for something newer than say 2005 with the 3.8 or slide to about 2013 and get the 3.6 which has a buttload of power and still gets mid 20's on the highway easily. Bargain priced as mentioned above.
 
Carvan with the 3.6 would be my vote. The 3.8 or even 3.3 isn't that bad but the 4AT is kinda problematic. But cheap to rebuild... But the 6AT seems to finally be up to the job. The 3.8 might drink some oil, but I'd probably go for the 3.6, it's just newer. But might be outside of your budget. If you don't need seats then the C/V cargo van was made for a few years and I think will hit your budget.

Not sure what years but didn't some years have issues with leadfree solder? Not sure what option level you want--the more stuff there is, the more stuff to break. But with about a billion of them made parts & knowledge should be cheap and common.

Oddessy, I'm sure someone can point out what years didn't have the glass transmission. I think they still have a timing belt? so definitely have that issue in your price range. I'd skip.

I think Sienna is out of your price range. The 3.5L V6 lacks timing belt, but is kinda new. The older 3.0/3.3 is TB so be aware of that. A solid choice which will command a premium on the used market.
 
We picked up a low mile (83K) Sienna last year and love it. I'm not a huge fan of the way the transmission shifts, its a lazy shifting trans and I prefer more firm shifts.

The steering rack was replaced right before we got it, common issue in 04-10 Sienna's. I had to replace the front sway bar links and add some Freon to the A/C, I also did a timing belt service on it. Besides that it's all original and never given us any issues. It's just about to turn 100K.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: maverickfhs
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Also at that age, maintenance is more important than reputation. Watch for run flats on some of them as well and decide how you want to deal with that.


Sorry, can you elaborate on it? Japanese(toyota, honda) vehicles definitely have premium.

You don't want to buy the japanese van that's "needed nothing" for 160k miles, and they haven't changed the trans fluid either.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: maverickfhs
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Also at that age, maintenance is more important than reputation. Watch for run flats on some of them as well and decide how you want to deal with that.


Sorry, can you elaborate on it? Japanese(toyota, honda) vehicles definitely have premium.

You don't want to buy the japanese van that's "needed nothing" for 160k miles, and they haven't changed the trans fluid either.


True dat...
 
Originally Posted By: maverickfhs
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
I'd save the money and get a Dodge Caravan if I had to have a minivan. The resell is pitiful on them and they are not that bad unless you still live in the 1990's.


Any idea about particular years which should be avoided or are preferred?


Like mentioned above, I'd avoid anything without the Pentastar 3.6L and 62TE trans, so pretty much anything older than ~2010 I believe. HD brakes are very nice and long lasting, but that didn't come standard until ~2013-14.
 
Find a clean 01-07 Caravan with low miles and clean body,take the money saved and put it into repairs.What goes wrong with those are all the same thing...they have a normal history of common faults.Makes it easy to repair.Tons of support online with Chrysler minivan forums.Stick with the 3.3 V6,the 3.8 is an oil burner.
 
Since transmission failure is a major event that gets people to sell their Chrysler T&C, transmission shops and freelance mechanics buy them, rebuild the transmission, then resell them. They do this so often that it takes them little time to do the job. If you know this was done, then you only have to worry about the less expensive repairs that are more common on the Chrysler T&C. Actually, you might be able to get a Honda that way, but it will be more expensive because Honda transmissions cost more to rebuild, and because most of the other stuff on a Honda tends to outlast that of a Chrysler if you live where there is no road salt.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Since transmission failure is a major event that gets people to sell their Chrysler T&C, transmission shops and freelance mechanics buy them, rebuild the transmission, then resell them. They do this so often that it takes them little time to do the job. If you know this was done, then you only have to worry about the less expensive repairs that are more common on the Chrysler T&C. Actually, you might be able to get a Honda that way, but it will be more expensive because Honda transmissions cost more to rebuild, and because most of the other stuff on a Honda tends to outlast that of a Chrysler if you live where there is no road salt.


Curious, how much would it cost to rebuild a transmission on a Caravan?
 
Originally Posted By: maverickfhs
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Since transmission failure is a major event that gets people to sell their Chrysler T&C, transmission shops and freelance mechanics buy them, rebuild the transmission, then resell them. They do this so often that it takes them little time to do the job. If you know this was done, then you only have to worry about the less expensive repairs that are more common on the Chrysler T&C. Actually, you might be able to get a Honda that way, but it will be more expensive because Honda transmissions cost more to rebuild, and because most of the other stuff on a Honda tends to outlast that of a Chrysler if you live where there is no road salt.


Curious, how much would it cost to rebuild a transmission on a Caravan?


I'm not really sure. The reason I mention freelance mechanics and repair shops is because some guy does it without marking up the price of parts and he sets his own price of labor. That is why buying a T&C with a dead transmission and paying a rebuilder costs more than buying a functioning van from a repair shop or freelance mechanic.
 
Originally Posted By: Linctex
Lots of 2005-2008 Grand Caravans running around with way over 200,000 miles.

Make sure to get the 3.8


Found an 07 3.8L Grand Caravan with 191K miles. No issues, as per owner.

Should I go and look at it?
 
2011 and newer Grand Caravan, you should be able to squeeze one in on that price range. 2011 and newer have the Pentastar.
 
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