PSA: Dodge Caravans · 2:07am May 22nd, 2017
Have you ever found yourself wondering what kind of car you should buy? Do you want something that's sporty, durable, and versatile? Well, your search is over, because I, the Admiral, have a recommendation!
Dodge Caravan Sport.
Okay, first off, the sport part's handled right away. It says so right on the tailgate. So if anyone tells you its not sporty, you can just point to the badge.
(That licence plate on the back doesn't belong to the van, nor was it ever registered to me, so good luck, stalkers.)
Now, for durability. Mechanically, it doesn't really need too much attention. I've put in a few spark plugs (I could have put in all the spark plugs, but the back ones are hard to get to and replacing just the front ones fixed the misfire) and done some oil changes, and I had to put on a set of tires and brakes as well, which are the kinds of things you'd expect to do on a vehicle. So it's fairly solid mechanically and very forgiving of indifferent maintenance, which is always a good quality in a vehicle.
Also, the one I've got has hit two deer since I owned it, and overall repairs after deer hits have only totaled a few hundred dollars. I probably could have gotten it done for cheaper, but I elected to go with a new radiator and headlight assemblies rather than take my chances with used ones. Other than that, it was mostly zip ties and sheet metal screws to fix it.
So that brings us to utility.
Obviously, you can put a lot of people in one of them. I think, when it had seats, there were seven positions. Now there are only two, but hey, that's plenty, and I can put the seats back in if I want to. It's more useful with them out, though: you can get riding lawnmowers and stuff like that in the back when the seats are out.
Sadly, I'm lacking in videos that show just what it can do off-road: it's hard to be shooting pictures while also driving. But it's capable of hauling a trailer full of shingles around the yard
and also moving an S-10 from one place to another. The tow bar was necessary, since the first couple of dozen feet in my backyard are a pretty steep downhill grade, and the last thing I wanted was for the s-10 to run away from me.
If that wasn't enough for you, I also bumper-pushed a 1980 potato chip truck across the backyard. I don't have any pictures of that, because I was doing my best to focus on all the crunches and bangs that occurred during the movement. I did wind up damaging the front bumper cover a little bit, but that really had very little effect on the overall appearance of the van.
This particular potato chip truck, in fact.
It turned out that it met its match with a travel trailer, though. I think if the trailer had been on pavement, and hadn't had two flat tires, the van would have moved it. Not happily, judging by how far the rear springs are compressed.
So there you go! If you're in the market for a vehicle that's sporty, durable, and versatility, you can't go wrong with a Dodge Caravan Sport.
About half the images are imgur links, which I believe are working now. Somebody let me know if they aren't.
Is rust a problem in Colorado?
Yeah, not really my type of car.
Not bad, it sounds better then my old Jetta. To bad I live several states away.
4542185
I have no idea.
I actually live in Michigan. That plate is one I've had for years, back when I was trying to collect plates from a bunch of states.
The potato chip truck's got an Iowa plate on the front, and the S-10 had a New Mexico front plate on it. My 79 Chevy has a Texas plate on the front . . . normally, cops don't care, although I did have one who made me take an out-of-state plate off my Astro van.
4542199
But it's sporty!
4542210
You can't have this one anyways; I still need it. I bet you can find one in your state, though. Although depending on how far south you live, you might have trouble finding one that's got as much rust. . . .
Standard tranny or GTFO.
Top-Tier Detergent Gas or Diesel? Thoughts?
And it appears to have the rear bumper from Bonnie and Clyde's death car. That'll totes def help the resale value.
4542233
Minivans with standards are hard to find in the US, although I came within a week of owning a manual Astro van. Given my price point, I generally don't get a lot of choice of options.
Depends on what you've got. Right now, in the US, there are still problems with the emissions systems on modern diesels (although they're getting better), so I'd go with gas. But if you go older, and either get a VW diesel before emissions, or an older Cummins, go with the diesel.
4542235
It got torn loose in the second deer hit, then dragged 20 miles down the highway; we re-attached it, and then I bumper-pushed two vehicles with it. So it's got a few scuffs in it. And a lot of sheet metal screws holding it in place.
So, wait, you aren't selling a car?
4542242
No, this one's not for sale. Sorry to disappoint.
It will be, as soon as I get my Suburban roadworthy again.
pre12.deviantart.net/9ab4/th/pre/f/2014/001/d/3/suburban_by_admiral_biscuit-d70fiwl.jpg
A while back I idly did some reading on surplus military hmmwvs and their road legal status. It takes a lot of Kafkaesque paperwork and bureaucratic dealings, but it's possible.
I'd be tempted except for probably having to find specialists for maintenance and replacement parts.
4542250
From what I've heard, the originals aren't very good daily drivers. One would probably be fun as a weekend vehicle, though.
Aside from body panels, I think nearly everything else is readily available. And I think that the driveline is mostly GM or Dana.
4542225
Unfortunately I live in the land of 10,000 lakes so ours can get just as if not more rusty.
My ex had one for years. She neglected the hell out of it... It sat so long the parking break rusted in place.
Sledgehammer to fix.
Another time it sat so long the battery died, had to replace that.
Time after that the wire on the tire popped out.
After all, according to her a vehicle should run perfectly fine and require no maintenance if it isn't being used.
What about the 2 michigan plates on the trailer and blue pickup? Or the iowa plate on the potato chip truck? If those fail, I suppose we could just call granger and ask about their dumpster numbered 20-434.
4542256 Chevy truck parts. The body is nothing but aluminum and fibreglass. And it can technically be registered by it's serial number as a VIN, and is emissions exempt because the freaking engine has it stamped on it. Newer models and refurbs even have park and overdrive. Sucks fuel, eats tires that are really expensive and hard to get, handles like a tub in a lake, takes forever to get moving, stops a little faster, requires the driver to shout for the passenger to hear them at idle, and forget hearing what someone is saying going down the road.
Definitely not a daily driver, especially with the hassle. But, doesn't change the fact that I own one, and I will continue to own it 'Til I die.
4542225 a sporty minivan. I'll believe it when I see it.
What in heck is it about Dodge Caravan's that attracts deer? We've hit two with ours too. Well, the wife has hit two. I've been deerless.
Been a fan of the Dodge Caravan (in particular the Grand Caravan) for quite a few years now. The ones at work fire up when you turn the key, and are no drama llamas, although when this one goes to pasture, I've been thinking about a Toyota van.
Would never pass inspection in Maine
About October last year, I bought my first ute. A 2005 Holden Rodeo (which is a rebadged Isuzu, and I believe also sold as the Chevy Colorado). Trucks never appealed to me, but now I'm seeing the attraction. Biggest thing I've ever driven. Bouncy ride, lousy turning circle, drinks fuel like it's going out of fashion...
I have no idea why I love the stupid thing...
I remember when I was a kid, those were everywhere! Every familly had them. Nowaday, there rare relic of the past. Time does fly by...
To replace the rear spark plugs you need to remove the upper intake manifold. I got my self a new car too, a 2002 kia rio manual shift.
4542827
The upper intake manifold is behind the AE-35 unit, right?
4542408 When I was little, a deer ran straight into the passenger door of our Caravan. I think I was in the passenger seat at the time.
4542309
Then finding a match for this one ought to be easy
4542319
Luckily, being a professional mechanic, I know just what you can safely ignore when it comes to maintenance or parts falling off when I'm driving (after all, it doesn't need all of its parts to keep on going). So I can get away with really sloppy maintenance, usually.
Plus, when I go on long trips, I just rent a car.
4542325
The Iowa plate won't do you any good; I don't know its provenance, but it was never registered to me or that truck. The blue pickup probably won't do you much good; the Secretary of State doesn't keep records of plates past two or three years, they say, and that one hasn't been on the road since '07. I assume that cops can get that info, if they really try. Best of luck on that one, though; you've only got a partial. ALthough, admittedly, upon closer examination, there aren't too many choices for what the two partially-obscured digits are.
Trailer's about a 50/50 shot. I don't know how many trailer plates I have--that one might not actually be registered to me, to be honest. If it isn't, I have no idea who it is registered to. So I guess if you do want to track it down, let me know who it comes back to. 'Cause I can't find the registration for that plate, so it might not actually be mine. That's the problem with permanent trailer plates--you don't have to re-register them each year. Makes it easy to save some hassle and leave the same plate on a trailer when you sell it (if you sell it to a buddy that you trust, anyways).
The dumpster is probably your best bet. Granger presumably keeps good records . . . although they may not; they might only have the number for maintenance purposes, and not know who has any particular one.
Anyhow, if you're feeling really stalky, you can also find my house on Google Maps.
4542352
That's kinda what my potato chip truck is like. It drives like . . . well, like a bread truck. It's purpose built for one thing, and driver comfort isn't that one thing.
I was pretty sure that AM General used mostly GM driveline parts, although I don't know how morphodited it was. I do know that the post office's LLVs are a strange blend of S-10 and Blazer parts, probably with some bits from full-sized trucks thrown in for good measure.
4542380
Trust me, mine's sporty. It says so right on the tailgate, in chromed plastic.
4542408
I think just minivans in general, because I nailed one with my Astro as well, but I've never hit one with any other class of vehicle.
I'm not a fan of the Toyota vans, myself. I think that the two best minivans on the market are the Caravan platform, and the Odyssey. Anything else is an also-ran, in my opinion.
Unless you're thinking of a Previa. Those things are delightfully weird. They were discontinued a few years back, though.
4542548
I have mixed feelings about state inspections. On the one hand, it would make our cheap customers fix things that are wrong with their cars, and therefore we'd make more money. On the other hand, not one of my vehicles would pass a safety inspection. Besides the severe body rust, the minivan's got a cracked windshield; my other driver (the silver Impala you can see in one shot, I think) has a broken spring on the rear and the windshield wipers don't work. Both of them have Check Engine lights on as well, and I think the ABS is out on the Impala, too.
4542574
Trucks are fun, that's why. 'Cause you can keep throwing things into them, and they don't much care. And after a while you get used to the bouncy ride. Back in the day, they made up for that by having extra springy seats . . . . I used to have a 1/2 ton truck with 1-ton leaf springs in the back, and the only time it rode decent was when the bed was half-full of concrete. Otherwise, it just bounced you around everywhere. Got 10 MPG, no matter what. And a top speed of 60 MPH, if the winds were favorable. Also it caught on fire sometimes. Man, I miss that truck.
4542602
It's funny; it took me a while to get used to the round ones. I remember when everyone had the square K-car vans. We still see a lot of them at work, though; they're still a pretty strong workhorse.
4543528 Speaking of long trips I still want to drag you out here again sometime, me and Dan had fun last time... Although next time I think we'd all rather go somewhere more civilized..... Never thought I'd say that about Windsor.
Maybe the Falls? I know that doesn't suck. I also know a few good spots that are cheap/free.
4542827
You don't have to. With long arms and some luck you can get them without taking it off, along the left side of the engine (working totally by feel). You can also take the cowl off fairly easily, although getting the stupid drain hoses back in is the devil's own chore. Or you can do it on a hoist from underneath very easily.
I was feeling super lazy and did none of those things. If I ever feel like it, I've got the other three spark plugs and spark plug wires in my toolbox.
4543486
One of my dad's friends had his Chevette nearly totaled when a deer ran into the driver's side door. I don't know if it was that the Chevette was really flimsy, or the deer was particularly large, but it really did a number on that poor car.
4543571
Yeah, I've kind of got bad memories of Windsor. Although I suppose in the day, and not going to strip clubs. . . . I'm still carrying around maple syrup money for the next trip to Canada.
If you mean Niagara Falls, that's a long haul for me. Something more central would be better.
4543559 delightfully weird? Sure, but also just plain delightful, if you get the right one.
And, 1997 is now more than "a few" years back. Hell, I was only seven years old.
Supercharged, mid engine, all wheel drive... minivan.
I sometimes wonder about transplanting Previa guts into the older square ones...
The Sienna, though, is just a puffed up Camry.
See a lot of them (Previas) here in CA, mostly on the banged up side, with central or south american folks at the wheel.
4543577 Yeah we'd have to figure out something for the falls, maybe get a hotel room or something. I think I'm the only one who's close to the falls and I'm still an hour drive out... But it's worth it.
4543559
Certain body rust issues would garner a immediate fail, the windshield is a grey area cause if it isnt impeding the drivers view you'd be fine (but annoyed knowing such a crack exists), check engine light means absolutely nothing in a state inspection (Which is $12.50 Pass/Fail), though the failed ABS would cause some concern. You can read up exactly what does and does not apply here.
4543637
Yeah, they drove pretty well and were really reliable. One of our customers had over 300,000 miles on theirs before they finally got rid of it, and it still ran quite well. Theirs had the unkillable 4-cylinder engine in it.
I was 20.
If I had lots of money, I'd make my Caravan rear-wheel drive and mid-engined . . . if you don't care about carrying cargo, you've got all the space you could want for an engine behind the front seats. Plus, it would be easy to work on: just open the sliding doors, and you're there.
Arguably, the Town and Country is an oversized Dodge Aries station wagon. In the early years, nearly all the parts were common between the two. And Ford and GM both did that with their FWD minivans, too.
Most of them here are gone, 'cause of the rust.
4543825
I just skimmed through the requirements, and the van would fail. Rust holes in the tailgate, the front bumper is repaired with zip ties, there are three cracks across the whole width of the windshield, the rear wiper's non-functional, there's no parking brake. . . at least the sun visors work, so that's something. I think the horn does, too.
The Impala isn't as rusty, but the exhaust leaks on it, among other issues.
Now that I think about it, odds are that every vehicle I've owned for the last twenty years would fail a Maine inspection for at least one issue, if not more.
You are my favouritest, most glorious asshat.
4544561
They tightened the restrictions within the last 8 years because of a incident where a freshly inspected vehicle had a accident after her brakes failed. (as in it happened not long after the person left the inspection station) Plus we do have a fair few things that require some strictness, lest we have REALLY badly maintained vehicles on the road
4544561 why not cargo and an engine? A Subaru boxer or a corvair motor or a slant six could be made to not take up too much room...
Hell, the old Dodge A vans had the slant six slightly behind the driver, in a little box. They were forward control, so you can't call that mid engine, but it don't need to take up much room.
4544663
And that's how Equestria was made.
4544757
.
I actually read an NTSB report where that happened with a school bus (not in Maine). It had passed an inspection, and when they looked at the wreckage, it was obvious that it had a brake line leak and had had that leak for a long time . . . then they inspected the rest of the busses this garage had been inspecting, and put a whole bunch of them out of service for safety failures. (And also pulled the shop's certification.) The idea of inspections is good (and I'm all for it), but there are a lot of people who would take shortcuts.
Believe me, I know all about that. All of my vehicles are mostly safe (like, there are no vital deficiencies in them), although they'd never pass an inspection. I see stuff at work all the time that makes my cars look really good.
4544803
Yeah, you could do that. You could even seat a boxer engine down pretty low, and it'd hardly impede on the cargo space.
But if you're going to that much effort, why not a 500 cubic inch V-8 with a supercharger? Why not go crazy with it?
Plus, as long as it looks stock outside, it would be the ultimate sleeper. Nobody would expect a minivan.
4546987
4546987
Just a little love and simple things and youd be all set TBH
Also I HATE pathetic excuses for garages like that.
My plymouth voyager is going on 300000 miles soon, hasn't needed any maintenance
4547223
I'm really curious what he's got under the hood on that thing (besides the turbo). I don't think that a 3.3 or a 3.8 is robust enough to handle that kind of boost, nor were the stock transmissions known for their strength.
4547278
New doors, windshield, rear quarter panels, bumpers (front and rear), and fix the parking brake and she'd be good to go.
If we did have state inspections, I wouldn't buy vehicles that were so crappy. But we don't, so I can get away with it, and since I'm a cheap bastard who would rather spend his money on conventions and pony action figures instead of a decent car . . . well, here we are.
My boss got mad 'cause I failed a DOT inspection on one of his friend's cube vans. He probably shouldn't have asked me to inspect it if he just wanted it to pass. I wasn't gonna claim that things were okay that weren't.
4547864
It's gonna be rust that kills mine. Engine and transmission are still working fine, despite my nearly complete lack of maintenance. Actually, my old Grand Marquis, which had about 260,000 on it, still ran and drove okay, but when the brake lines rusted through, that was more work than I wanted to invest in the car. Otherwise I'd still be driving it.
4548907 video description says "srt4 engine, 72mm turbonetics, 4["] exhaust, auto trans"
If wiki is right, that would make it a 2.4
Admiral's jokes and the Frankensteinian ziptie stitches on the bumper aside, caravans are really excellent minivans. You really shouldn't be buying any other minivan.
But fuck the 4 cylinder caravans. Garbage/10
4549372 I hadn't thought about that one. That would be a good choice; it would practically be a bolt-in, and from what I've heard, SRT-4s were beasts.
4549701
Odysseys are good, too--I like those. I have an allergy to buying Japanese cars, myself, but for anyone who doesn't, that's also a good choice, in my opinion. Nobody else makes an minivan that's worth a crap. As I recall, GM and Ford both gave up on it.
Unless it's like the one that 4547223 linked the video of--that's a pretty good four banger to put in a Caravan.
4548907
Dude... Pony merch