Seeking Used Minivan!

[Fat Jeff]

Re: Seeking Used Minivan!

How much of a difference does the HEMI make? Or is it more marketing?

Me thinks it plays on the teenage memories of some of us children of the 70's who all dreamed of the "original Hemi"* Cudas & Challengers. Restored originals routinely sell for 6 figures. Yes Hemi head engines have some performance advantages, but the modern Hemi is very different than those 70's collectibles.

*426 cu. in. Mopar Big Block Engines, tons of torque & horsepower. The starting point (but many times removed) for the engines used in NHRA nitro cars.

[Da Rolling Eye]

Re: Seeking Used Minivan!

It's confusing, to be sure. On the side, it says Dodge! In fact, it's parked out in the driveway next to our neighbor's Dodge Grand Caravan, and they look exactly the same.

Nice find! Darned good price!

Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler vans are all the same. The only difference are the emblems, standards and options packages. What's offered as an option on Dodge would be a standard offering on a Chrysler, Chrysler being their "top of the line".

A caveat. Keep an eye out for front end trouble (rattling on rough patches of road or clunking sounds when shifting out of park or neutral into gear). Even the service manager at Pearl City Cutter Dodge told me the corp makes one of the worse drive train/suspensions on the market. We have an 05 GC, 36000 miles and already had the rack and one axle replaced. Thank goodness we bought the extended warranty. YMMV We may simply have bought an abused used van.