New mommyvan

[pishta]

Pulled the trigger on a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, less than 50K on it. I hope it gives us the good years the 2002 T&C did. I was a little disappointed to find that the Dodge didnt have half what the base T&C had in options, ie. power sliding doors and tailgate, 3 zone A/C, trip computer, and a few little things but it DID have stow and go seats (incredible!) Climate control that actually blew hot air and about 120K less miles on it. Oh, and the 3.6 "Phoenix" VVT motor has 283hp! Interesting motor, there are no accessory brackets, the alt and A/C compressor bolt right to motor block. Also there are no exhaust manifolds: they are integrated into the head (for better or worse). E85 flexfuel too, whatever comes of that around here better be more than a 25% saving, as it gets 25% less mileage on that swill. I guess time will tell. Wife's happy, thats worth the $15K....:banghead:

 

[rumblefish360]

Congrats! The Chrysler all ways had more offerings and, at a price as well. The Dodge version was always a tad cheaper in price but of course, as we know, the same drive train body panels and electrical.

 

[moparmat2000]

We have a 2012 grand caravan. It has the power sliding doors and power liftgate. I think its a crew model

Stow n go is great but you pay dearly for the convienence. The spare tire is a pain in the *** to get to. Its under the center of the van. They give you a t handled contraption to crank it down. You got to put this thing through the center console, and crank out enough cable to slide it out from under the van to unhook it. Spare is mounted in a plastic tub.

Its 5 bolt 127mm circle or 5 bolt 5 inch same as a full size caprice or chevy pickup. I am hunting for a donut spare i can keep in the shop as my wifes van has sucked up 6 nails and screws in 2 years, and i am tired of cranking that spare down. I cannot find a good chrysler donut for it in the new bolt pattern from 2008 to present. But if one will work off a caprice then so be it. I will keep it in the shop for the next nail or screw, and pitch it in the back for those long road trips, then i wont need to mess with the undervan donut.

Other than that and a recurring problem with the ABS system that the dealer cannot seem to fix its not a bad vehicle. If the fault light comes on before you shift out of park, you cant shift out of park. Somehow the van knows its going in to be looked at, and they cannot ever duplicate at the dealer.

 

[ScampMike]

for now.. LOL

Wife's happy, thats worth the $15K....:banghead:

 

[MMissile]

Nice unit. I have a 30th Anniversary Caravan model. It has a two-tone T&C grade interior.