Newer MPV? Older Oddity? Anything I'm missing? Figure $15k-ish max price.
Newer MPV? Older Oddity? Anything I'm missing? Figure $15k-ish max price.
T&C is the easy button for that price range, '14+.
We have a 2010 Caravan that we bought new. It goes through brakes pretty frequently, but other than that it's been good to us.
Slightly insane "nuclear option:" I picked up a 2003 Disco for $1500 as a "farm truck."
Mommy and the girls LOVE_IT. Buy a $1500 Disco once a year, scrap it when it inevitably breaks (or keep for parts,) rinse, repeat for the next ten years???
Do you think a $1500 Discovery will last a year. I wouldn't expect it to get to my house.
In that range, the Mopar twins are the way to go. 2012+ gets you the Pentastar V6 and guaranteed big brakes.
In reply to poopshovel again:
I'll sell you my '14 T&C for way less than $15k. 
Gotta love the Pentastar.
I bought my Jeep Wrangler based on the performance of a rented Pentastar Caravan. Holy mother of moo moo that thing would haul as$. Unfortunately neither my Wrangler or subsequent Caravans and TC's would boogie as well. I don't know if that first one was just a ringer or if it had shorter gears or a looser torq converter or just what. I've even had Pentastar 300's and Challengers that wouldn't run as good as that van did. Not that any of them were pokey, they just didn't quite rip as well above 5K.
1989 voyager turbo all the way baby! 
Whenever the first Disco breaks, get another, and combine parts once that one breaks.
FIL just bought a 20k mile used 16 caravan with fancy wheels and dvd but kinda bare inside for around 15k. Mom bought a loaded 17 GT for 26 with everything but roof rack. They're cheap for what you get and the stow and go is nice but it's kinda infuriating to deal with. I'm still not quite sure how it works, i just know I eventually get the seats into the floor somehow
A 401 CJ wrote: I bought my Jeep Wrangler based on the performance of a rented Pentastar Caravan. Holy mother of moo moo that thing would haul as$. Unfortunately neither my Wrangler or subsequent Caravans and TC's would boogie as well. I don't know if that first one was just a ringer or if it had shorter gears or a looser torq converter or just what. I've even had Pentastar 300's and Challengers that wouldn't run as good as that van did. Not that any of them were pokey, they just didn't quite rip as well above 5K.
I bought my 2015 Grand Caravan based on a prior rental of a 2011 model which also "ripped" to the point of really putting a smile on my face. That '11 must have been geared differently from my '15 as I was able to catch rubber several times driving that one. I particularly remember catching rubber powering out of a clover leaf, and yes it was dry pavement
I've driven two other GC's and TC's all with the same 3.6 Pentstar and they were not as quick as that '11 rental.
The stow n go is great and easy to use. I've hauled many more items in this than in my short bed pick-up truck. 12 foot pallets, 4x8 sheets of plywood and sheetrock, yes they will all fit with minimal hassle. Well the long pallets took some extra work
And for mpg, I've pulled 28 mpg twice on long flat road trips. I'm guessing mine is geared taller than that '11 which was more fun to drive in certain situations.
After two years of ownership, my only knock on this van is the heater seems to take forever to reach max heat (in comparison my old '87 Chev g20 van had a heater that would roast you right out of it and much quicker). And the AC does not blow very cold. Actually will be taking it into the shop soon for this being its still under warranty.
And if someone can show me where the transmission dipstick is on these vans please post it. When I bought mine I was told these transmissions are sealed units and they don't have a regular dipstick.
That's very interesting drainoil.
The first one I rented that got me lusting for a Pentastar was in the summer of '12. It had several thousand miles so it's not improbable that it too was an '11.
So,... OP find an '11. 
RossD wrote: Gotta love the Pentastar.
After they figured out the head gasket thingie.
Mitchell wrote: Whenever the first Disco breaks, get another, and combine parts once that one breaks.
At the 10 year mark, he will have nice boneyard.
drainoil wrote: I bought my 2015 Grand Caravan based on a prior rental of a 2011 model which also "ripped" to the point of really putting a smile on my face. That '11 must have been geared differently from my '15 as I was able to catch rubber several times driving that one. I particularly remember catching rubber powering out of a clover leaf, and yes it was dry pavement
The first few doses of crack are free too!
Not that Chrysler would ever do something like that.
My '08 GC turned 191K miles on the drive into work this morning. I have beat on that van mercilessly since I bought it 3.5 years ago (@ 78K) for $10K. I agree it does go through brakes (fortunately a cheap job) and the A/C won't hold a charge anymore and I'd say it owes me nothing.
Were it not my desire for a larger van, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.
Love the GC - mine is '11 with 125K
BTW the transmission dipstick tube is a little hidden, I can't remember where, but it has a plug and happily the engine dipstick fits, just mark a new line when you change it.
They are not sealed, they are just trying to discourage doing it without the proper tools, since the level is fairly temperature dependent.
My vote, as always with minivans, is the Sedona. We've had one since 2007 and think they're far and away better than the GC. We've rented a GC a few times over the years and have been disappointed in it, in comparison. Our Sedonas have been bullet proof and taken beatings. You can get the previous gen Sedona all day long for far less than your max budget...I think the last model year for it was '12 or '13.
I know the Stow n Go is a big deal for some. For us, it isn't, so we don't care the Sedona doesn't have it.
These Mopar vans are the right answer.
Here is my decenting remark...
Stow N go seats are magical but they are a compromise. What I mean here is that if your main goal for the van is to seat people in the second row buckets, these folding seats are not the most comfortable second row seats.
Though, in your cases, the people sitting in these seats are likely your young'ens and they are likely actually sitting in booster seats anyway.
I make this analogy, the front seats are like upholstered living room chairs but the second row seats are like folding patio furniture. Sure, they are a high quality folding patio furniture but can never be as nice as the real living room furniture.
Like noted above, the Sedona has more comfortable second row seats.
However, in your business, the ability to transform to all cargo setup should be wonderful in the Mopar.
We rented the newest Sedona on our last family trip, and the Caravan the trip before that.
The Sedona was a much nicer place to be, and drove very well. We never averaged more than 20mpg though, and it was a little smaller (not much) on the inside. The Caravan felt ancient in comparison, BUT it knocked down 25mpg with ease even fully loaded through the mountains, and swallowed an enormous amount of gear for us, our infant, and our inlaws for a week of camping.
I'd buy a loaded up Town and Country in a heartbeat.
In reply to John Welsh :
I agree with that. Stow-n-Go was the #1 reason I bought the GC, but people hauling is way down the list of priorities for me (pretty much last). I've only used the 2nd and 3rd row seats for hauling coworkers to lunch, so comfort isn't much of a concern. Were I to get another GC of similar vintage, I'd be tempted to remove the seats all together so I could make use of the bins for storage.
The steel attachment loops for the seats make for great cargo lashing points.
My '08 gets in the low-mid 20's in normal driving, but the 3.3L OHV V6 has to work pretty hard to move the van around. You can tell the engine bay was designed for a DOHC V6 (I've sometimes wondered if a HEMI was even considered) as the diminutive OHV engine looks tiny down there.
One more, a GC and T&C can carry a flat 4x8 in the cargo area. I don't know if the others can.
Take if from a former T&C (X two) owner and current Oddy owner. Get the Chrysler. The Oddy is the single most over rated vehicle ever. It's nice, but falls short of the Chrysler and cost a significant premium
You'll need to log in to post.
