Caravan vs. Sienna

[coopns]

I have a 02 Grand Caravan with 130k. Works ok, done our share of repairs. Just wondering about opinions on whether would I be better off buying a Toyota Sienna with 100k for 9k? The van is paid off long ago but the wife gets concerned carting around 4 kids, like is it going to break down? And we go to Nova Scotia 2 or 3 times a year and we always get a bit nervous with it's age and well can't afford a break down with all the kids in Northern NB.

So would I be better off with a Sienna at 100k ish, a lot are 04's or my 02 Dodge with 130k?

 

[Spazdog]

You know the service history on the Caravan. You could be buying someone else's problem with the Sienna.

The Sienna could be a jewel too.

I do know the 1MZ-FE is a sludge prone engine though.

 

[bepperb]

A Toyota is still a car, and despite probably being more reliable than a Caravan with the same mileage I wouldn't be happy paying 9 grand for a car with that many miles. I'd be much more likely to do it with the 3.3 vs the 3.0 engine, though, and that will depend on the year. Also, what can you get for the Caravan?

Really, I'd try to stick it out one or two more years in the caravan. I'm shopping Siennas, and it looks like I can get something with 30~50,000 miles for 15~16k. And those are 07+ with the 3.5 which has a timing chain rather than belt, and a little better mileage.

 

[wwillson]

I have owned a recent Caravan and currently own a 2008 Sienna. After driving both for about 35,000 miles, my personal bias is definitely for the Sienna - hands down. My experiences has nothing to do the reliability of the particular vehicles you are comparing, so take my opinion for what it's worth. I will tell you that my parents have two Caravans with over 300,000 miles combined.

Wayne

 

[coopns]

Yeah, I don't like the 9k for that many miles. That was kind of the plan, hang on as long as we could. About 12-14K is about all I would like to pay but could go to 15. I don't mind a few miles on it either. Again, just get a bit nervous with all the kids/trips. Fine puttering around town but trips to Boston, NS make us a bit nervous. If I had the coin I would have done it years ago, but teacher's salary and wife at home limit that. Probably only get 1500 for caravan with that miles and 'kiddified' mess/smells.

 

[JHZR2]

If it was a previa, it would be one thing. That RWD drivetrain is bulletproof. But the sienna is just a camry with a big top, and with it comes all the weakness of that era camry... with more mass which means more engine and especially transmission stress. So Id get looking at the camry and sienna isues associated with that year/model to get a feel.

To me, paying $9k to get a vehicle with 30k less miles is a poor decision. Id rather put 5k worth of PM into the vehicle I already own, and save the $4k for a rainy day. Of course this is assuming there is nothing else wrong with the caravan like rust, prior accidents, etc.

What can go wrong that really causes an issue without much prior notice? Fuel pump, coils, radiator, alternator?

All that plus an AT service, an oil change and all filters changed out is likely around $1000-1500, leaving plenty to spare in a rainy day fund and giving peace of mind for all the major components I can think of that could easily leave you stranded without advance notice. Surely others could add a few to the list and get you to $2k of PM which would make the van good for a long while more.

Of course an AT can get really funny really quick without much advance notice but that is a $2k job by itself. Id dump the fluid first and read the situation... Plus that pending failure is as close in the big picture on the 100k sienna as on the 130k caravan...

 

[oilboy123]

Milk it for another couple of years and keep a strict inspection schedule.......until you sell it.

 

[spasm3]

If they both have over 100k then they both probably need the same things. New hoses, coolant, belts, brakes etc. you might be paying 9 grand for a van that needs the same things done to it as the van you currently own and you do not owe 9 grand on. If you have taken care of the caravan, either do it yourself or have it checked out throughly by an independant mechanic. Save yourself 9 grand. You would be paying 9 grand for a van with only 30k less miles than yours.

 

[mopar_monkey]

the grand caravan was named (by jd powers i believe)to be the most reliable mini van, i'd stick with it.



link

 

[5sfe91]

I would keep the Caravan you seem to be on top of your maintenance, and you know whats been replaced. Trust yourself and your van and keep on trucking.

 

[gfh77665]

This should settle it for you:



{direct link to youtube videos as links with profanity are against the rules }

 

[sentra]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
If they both have over 100k then they both probably need the same things. New hoses, coolant, belts, brakes etc. you might be paying 9 grand for a van that needs the same things done to it as the van you currently own and you do not owe 9 grand on. If you have taken care of the caravan, either do it yourself or have it checked out throughly by an independant mechanic. Save yourself 9 grand. You would be paying 9 grand for a van with only 30k less miles than yours.


I agree with spasm's opinion. It appears you want to buy the Sienna strictly for peace of mind while you are on a road trip with your kids. With the mileage on it, however, it's likely to have, other things being equal, the same problems that the Caravan will. Therefore, the mental comfort may remain elusive, and you may discover that after you are out of a significant sum of money.

Instead of buying, save the money and just keep up with the maintenance. If the Caravan is in good shape, and you have taken care of it, you will have to spend a lot less than $9k on it to get a few more years out of it.

Also, things usually don't fail all of a sudden on vehicles, so you should be able to take care of any issues on the Caravan before you go on a trip.

 

[Hokiefyd]

We just sold a 2007 Town & Country. And largely for peace of mind. That's worth a lot to some people. On our T&C, it wasn't necessarily the money (for repairs). It wasn't even all the downtime (trying to get loaner cars or swapping our own vehicles around). It was the unknown: what's going to break next? With the uncertainty, and the history that vehicle already presented us with (we owned it since new), we had to get out of it.

We bought a two-year-older vehicle with 10k more miles, but with a known service history. I know we were in a unique position in that we KNOW the vehicle we bought has needed precious few repairs, but still... I can certainly sympathize with the OP.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
I do know the is a sludge prone engine though.


It's no picnic to change the timing belt on that engine in a Sienna, either.

 

[IndyIan]

Maybe these days it not much of an issue but I'm sure there are far more old Caravans running around NB than Siennas, so the local parts place will have anything your van may need on hand.
If you keep on top of maintenance and get little problems taken care of before they get bigger, your Caravan should be fine.

 

[meep]

keep the dodge. is it the 3.3L? solid engine. the AT is decent IF you actually service it. with zero maintenance, I'd wager the AT will make it to slightly over 100k ymmv.

most of the problems i've seen with those vans at this age are electronic nuisances, rare to get stranded. I had an '01 and it was terrific.

I had a buddy who picked up a early model used Sienna that dumped it's AT within 2 years. What year sienna? The new ones are very nice, but for the $ I think you are better off with the dodge for now. 9K is high...

M

 

[kkreit01]

If you were concerned about breaking down, buy something with < 50K mi or warranty. I would never spend $9k on something with 100k miles. I'd finance, and buy new for low $20Ks.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
We just sold a 2007 Town & Country. And largely for peace of mind. That's worth a lot to some people. On our T&C, it wasn't necessarily the money (for repairs). It wasn't even all the downtime (trying to get loaner cars or swapping our own vehicles around). It was the unknown: what's going to break next? With the uncertainty, and the history that vehicle already presented us with (we owned it since new), we had to get out of it.

We bought a two-year-older vehicle with 10k more miles, but with a known service history. I know we were in a unique position in that we KNOW the vehicle we bought has needed precious few repairs, but still... I can certainly sympathize with the OP.


Alas, your position is not unique at all (not said with any bad intent at all).

The fact is, once you lose subjective confidence in your vehicle, it's over, whether you keep it for years or trade it tomorrow. It's like marriages -- some stick with bad ones for years, and others bail out at the first sign of trouble.

What's right for you is up to you (and your finances). Only you can decide what's best for you. Think it through, decide, act, and move on from there.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
The fact is, once you lose subjective confidence in your vehicle, it's over, whether you keep it for years or trade it tomorrow. It's like marriages -- some stick with bad ones for years, and others bail out at the first sign of trouble.


Yep. We tried. Tried really hard. The first warranty repair was the first week we owned it (Sirius receiver on the radio quit) and it never really got better. A part of me didn't want to sell it, because I had put so much time and effort into working with that vehicle to make it right. But "right" today could be another A/C compressor tomorrow.

You makes your choices and takes your chances. I'm certainly not angry at the van or at Chrysler about it. We've moved on.

 

[fdcg27]

Find a forum for these vehicles.
I'd bet a paycheck that there is one.
Find out what typically breaks and when.
This will give you some idea of what you might have to look forward to, and what you might just go ahead and replace on a proactive basis.
Any way you look at it, this vehicle should have a couple of years of reliable life left in it, at least.
There is no telling whether the Sienna would be a more reliable machine.
You know what you have now.
You only know what you think you're getting in the Sienna.
You could replace literally everything that wears or breaks on your current vehicle for way less than half of $9K, also, assuming you can do most of the work yourself, or farm it out selectively.