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My '99 Chrysler 300M has been very reliable. Only significant repair (other than warranty recalls for minor stuff) was a transmission speed sensor. I went to the cloud, diagnosed it myself, got a new sensor for about $25, and the installation took about 30 minutes - mainly just to jack up the car and put it on stands.

I do all my own maintenance: oil changes, coolant, transmission fluid, differential oil, etc. I let someone else mount and balance the tires, though. It's a very comfortable ride with more than enough power and handles decently. It can also carry a lot, but I wouldn't try to carry any mulch in it :-).

I happen to like Subarus a lot - their flat four and flat six motors are marvelous. I rented a Legacy once (sedan) and loved it.

If you were buying a new ride I'd suggest the Ford Transit. It comes in a variety of body styles, seems perfect for hauling, and is frugal on gas (or so I read). Probably one of the most practical rides out there since the VW Microbus went away.
 
Thanks, Rick, but the 300M is a "regular" car and I need something higher. Same with the Legacy. And, for the Transit, I need to go used right now.

Thanks Doug and Scott. A mechanic I know who is keeping track of what I'm looking at recommended the 01 CRV followed by the 06 Kia and 04 Hyundai, though he thought the price on the latter two was a bit high. I'm gonna do an in-person of a CRV hopefully tomorrow to check out the size. Otherwise, I may ask why the Hyundai is so far above KBB.

Wonder what tomorrow's ads will bring up???

Chuck
 
I would skip the Kia if I were you- Friends of mine just bought a 2003 Sedona and everything about it screams "CHEAP". One door handle is broken off inside (you have to roll the window down, open the door from the outside, then roll the window back up!), Another door only opens from the inside, the sunroof doesn't work, all the buttons and knobs have the lettering worn off, the cloth seats are worn and nasty looking, rust in weird places ETC.
 
Avoid the Kia!!!

+1!

 

Around this time and from the mid-1990's, about 50% of ALL vehicles had their engines replaced due to head-gasket/cylinder linings. The Korean's licensed the Rover V6 for these, and those engines were quite troublesome to begin with, even more so if you throw in a brand-new Korean manufacturing facility that can't get things right!

 

Just research "Kia Sedona" (or Carnival) "Head gasket," and you'll see what I mean. Cars with mileage all over the place with persistent problems.

 

Although, I hear Kia picked things up later on in the run of the Rover V6 - but they weren't perfect still.
 
I remember we test drove the minivan and SUV Kias when I was looking for a car (bought the Aztek) and one of them seemed really cheap. I thought it was the SUV. Apparently my memory can't be trusted!! Thanks!!!!!
 
Success (I hope)!

She's mine, lock, stock and no payments! The settlement from the Aztek plus just a little help from my checkbook took care of it. It's an '02 with just 84k on it, my local mechanic gave it a green light, and it's loaded too! The only thing I have to get are the remotes for the locks/doors and a center console. The remotes are on the way and I'll have a locksmith program one once they're in (supposedly easy to self-reprogram a second one if you have one that works).

I don't know if I could have stood another week of looking through the ads, sifting out this and that, and getting in and out of Rich's spare (though I'm thankful to have had access to it!).

Thanks all for your help!!

Chuck

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Congratulations Chuck. That is a fine looking minivan. Chrysler has the most experience in the design of those vehicles. I have driven a friends in the past that looks similar to yours and I was impressed with how quiet, smooth and easy to drive it was.

Have it with many years of good health and happy driving,

paul
 
Good job!

Good the best van on the road! Keep good on the trans serves! Caravans have a 999.9999 micron filter in the trans that should be replaced every 75,000 mi! And use the ATF+4 fluid. If you don't do this you will find the one week point in a caravan.

Anthony
 
It's an '02 with just 84k on it,

I think you'll be happy with the T&C, its comfortable, rides nice and is very useful for hauling everything from lumber to W/D sets.

The 3.3/3.8L engines are relatively bullet proof, but the transmissions can fail if not maintained, I would have your mechanic change the trans fluid and filter soon. As with other Chrysler products they have rust issues, especially around the rear wheel wells, fuel filler door and door bottoms. Those areas and the underbody should be flushed out with a garden hose regularly. Also, the A/C evaporators are known to leak, replacement cost is around $1500 as the dashboard must be removed, (don't ask me how I know).

Otherwise, they are good vehicles and can easily go 200,000+ miles.
 
absolutely beautiful........congrats.......

my sister has the stow n go seats in hers......great for storage of items, as well as folding the seats quickly out if sight.....on any given notice!....
 
YAY for Chrysler Mini-Vans

Between my brother Jeff and the business that Jason and I run, we have purchased 13 of these spanning from 1984-2008 and 8 are still on the road, 2 reached around 300,000 miles and none have ever failed to reach at least 160,000 miles.

And between my brother and I we have purchased over 30 Union Built American Made Chrysler cars and trucks since the 70s and have NEVER been disappointed with ANY of them or wished we had not purchased any of them.

Chuck I think you will love your new van, and just think of all the cool stuff you can bring home in it.
 
I had bad luck with Chrysler products earlier on. Then I was given a Dodge Caravan to drive to the nine million phone company places I had to go to and it turned 200,000 and still worked like new. Just what I wanted, a white soccer Mom van. You got to remember, if you subtract Rhode Island from New England, Maine has more land mass in square miles than the rest of all NH, VT, CT, MA combined. So I did alot of miles in bad weather and that Caravan always got me back home. But I think it was the service the phone company did on their vehicles every night after I finally went home that made all the difference. If you service your vehicle and dont neglect issues, you'll be good
 

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