Calling all owners of Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, review/opinions wanted

beccarae1 · 08-15-2009, 10:50:39 PM

We need to replace my van and are seriously leaning toward a 2008 Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L. If you own one would you please tell me what you like and what you don't and if you would recommend it?

I know road noise is an issue, but we are willing to live with that to have the extra storage and the Stow and Go.

TIA for all of your help. It's just such a big chunk of money, I want to make sure I have done all of my research

Mothernature · 08-16-2009, 01:21:07 PM

I do not think Dodge really dealt with the engine slippage issue my 2001 Grand Caravan is plagued with.

JOURDYSMOM · 08-16-2009, 03:52:34 PM

I have 1 girlfriend that LOVES hers.... and 1 that hated hers so much that she terminated her lease after only 5 months (though I think it was more an issue that she went from an HUGE SUV to a van and wanted 4 wheel drive)...

We will be getting an '08 or '09 as soon as the car is paid off.

I have driven one and did not notice any significant road noise. :shrug7:

as to the last comment of a 2001 with engine slippage, my mother and neighbor have owned then right up thru from 2000 to 2007 models and never had any engine issues.

MrsAlias · 08-16-2009, 04:29:31 PM

We just bought one of these about 2 months ago!

I LOVE IT! Its my first minivan.. and its the best thing ever!!

I dont think its noisy... and I love love love the stow and go seating! I dont use it for everyday things like shopping, I find its a pain to move the 2 seats up and back and such.. but for car trips.. its amazing!

2 things we dont like much... there is a rather large blind spot, I think its large at least, so that was tough to overcome.

And my hubby is left handed, and he says there is no place to rest his left elbow while driving because there is no arm rest of the left side.

Other then that, we love it!

manders13 · 08-16-2009, 09:53:43 PM

I would look to see if you like the regular caravan first. There is nothing special about the SXT exept a bit extra on the price. Not unless they have changed since 05.

Found it out the hardway when i bought my neon. There is no diff. between a neon and a neon SXT other then a wing on the back of it.

My BIL has a Grand Caravan (07 i think?) and he loves it. Might also want to look at the Town and Country. Those are nice as well.

iheartmykiddos · 08-17-2009, 12:53:10 PM

I have an '07 Grand Caravan. None of the bells and whistles (stow and go, etc) but it's a decent minivan. Our check engine light is on.....maybe what Mothernature was talking about with the slippage.

We've had to replace the brakes twice in a year and half. EEEK! Other than that, it's not a terrible van, but not fantastic either. It works and that's all that counts lol.

The blindspot a PP mentioned is one of the only "major" issues I have.

HTH!

beccarae1 · 08-19-2009, 11:53:20 AM

Thank you for all of your input

We have not made a final purchase decision yet but are whittling it down. I think we will stick with the SXT because it is the model with the 3.8L engine. My current (transmission broken) vehicle is a 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager with a 3.3 L engine and the 3.8 just seems to have much better pick up.

I apprecaite the comments about the brakes, as I have heard that is an issue on the newer models, though we would be willing to live with that to have Stow and Go. Can't tell you how many times I had to wrestle that back bench seat out all by myself in the old one, ugh!

I am so grateful MrsAlias mentioned the left handed thing, as DH is a lefty as well. I will have to point that out to him, though I hope he does not have the chance to drive it too often, he has something against side view mirrors and keeps knocking them off our cars

As to the blind spots mentioned; Do you all think this is something that could be solved with the back up camera? One of the ones we are looking at has the back up camera, it is at the top of our price range but it might be worth stretching for (it also had the dual DVD, which is what I really want

Happy kiddos = Happy mommy

)

Thanks again for all of your help, reps to all of you

MrsAlias · 08-19-2009, 12:09:16 PM

As far as the blind spot.. my rear view mirrors both have one of those "bubbles" on it.. that makes you see the blind spot better.. but as strange as this sounds.. I dont see the bubble when I look in the mirror. I see the larger mirror, but I have to try and look at the small one!

I dont really know how back up cams work, I dont have one, but if its a cam behind you.. then it sounds like it would work!

As far as the breaks, we have only has ours 2 months so everything works just fine still.. but check out the warranties before you buy. They offered us 4 different warranties, 1 year, 5 years 10 years and lifetime, with no millage restrictions. The lifetime was only 400 bucks more then the 10 year... well duh! So we have the lifetime warranty, since we are planning on driving this thing into the dirt.

cearhart · 08-19-2009, 12:28:54 PM

I will NEVER own another mini-van! I was hit by a Safeway truck and SERIOUSLY injured forever my daughter almost died. There is no support for an accident in them. I would rather have a suburban or other SUV that was stronger. That is just my opinion.......