Presently I own a Dodge Caravan 97. I am planning to change the van and buy another one (Van for sure).
I find it hard to decide whether I should go for an American car as opposed to Japanese which are expensive though, yet considered more reliable.
- Are there any reliability figures in the market making a comparison between the two?
- What could possibly be so bad about the american cars as that is the normal impression that I get? After all there are so many American car owners in this part of the world today!
Please help me in making a decision!
Thanks...
Ram3500Dually
02-28-2006, 11:22 PM
Why buy the rest when you can buy the best? DCX still holds about 50% of the mini van market so what do you think is the best mini van?
gas28man
03-01-2006, 12:36 PM
Well, if you go by Consumer Reports' methodology for rating vehicles (and I do), in the minivan world, head to head comparisons on quality and longevity are fairly equal across the board. The differences are minor. The same is true with pickup trucks.
The reliability difference between the Japanese vehicles and everyone else's become more readily apparent in cars and SUVs. And Honda, Toyota and Subaru stand out as the leaders. Nissan and Mazda are close, as are the Korean makers, Kia and Hyundai. The American makers fall in line with these, but their quality and reliability varies widely from product to product. The European vehicles, surprisingly enough, are worse than the American brands in many cases. Mercedes in particular has had some serious quality issues dating back to the late 1990s.
Another interesting note, as I said, among U.S. manufacturers, quality and reliability varies even within the product line. Using a Chrysler example, the PT Cruiser has as good or better reliability than anything Honda or Toyota makes. But the Neon has been among the worst performers over the long haul. I can offer no explanation as to why this might be, since the PT Cruiser shares many parts with the Neon.
Rick
shelbydodgeimp
03-01-2006, 01:12 PM
Chrysler invented the minivan ;)
Depending how long you can wait, it might be tempting to see if you can wait until the next generation of minivans comes out (should be fairly soon) 6speed automatic, updated version of the 3.x engines- should be worth the wait.
Hemi Pete
03-01-2006, 03:22 PM
Consumer reports should be ignored, they go for the highest bidder and show favoritism to all things non-USA.
Buy Domestic and help OUR economy out.
shelbydodgeimp
03-01-2006, 03:33 PM
Not to mention that they don't even test alot of the stuff they grade- look at how they've always given Apple perfect grades, even on total disaster models like the tibook, icebook and PB5300..
Just because one model is good or bad doesnt mean everything from that company is the same way.
Ram3500Dually
03-01-2006, 08:30 PM
Chrysler invented the minivan ;)
Depending how long you can wait, it might be tempting to see if you can wait until the next generation of minivans comes out (should be fairly soon) 6speed automatic, updated version of the 3.x engines- should be worth the wait.
The new van won't be out for atleast another year. It was supposed to come out this fall but has been pushed back till the first quarter of 07 or later.
flash gordon
03-01-2006, 08:34 PM
sprinter
Ram3500Dually
03-01-2006, 08:40 PM
sprinter
LOL, hardly anywhere near a mini van
Chet42
03-02-2006, 12:17 AM
Don't blame Chrysler, blame Daimler, the've been trying the kill Chrysler since the buy out and it seems their doing a fine job.
Last year the wife and I went out van shopping, we looked at all the names, here is our choice.
1.Dodge: liked the new 05 model. Good warranty, but make sure you read the fine print. Had no use the for stow N Go because our kids are all grown. Unlike the earlier model vans i felt like my 6' 4" 260lb body was a bit cramped in the drivers seat and the seat didn't go back far enough for me.
2. Ford: No thanks The new freestar handled more like my F-250 pick-up. Cramped drivers seat and not enough leg room.
3. GM: Price was OK, but it felt like i was driving my grandfathers buick and a bit to cramped.
4. Toyota: $$$$$$$$$ Pricey, good quality, . If your willing to pay the extra money. Lots of space. Still a bit cramped in drivers seat for me.
5. Honda: $$$$$$$ Pricey The 02 to 05 Odyssey has a history of having a weak transmissions. Still felt cramped in drivers seat not enough leg room.
6. Kia: We settled on the Kia Sedona, Good price, liked how it handled, Seats were spacious to accomadate my large frame, plenty of leg room due to the extra seat settings and it has a great 10 year bumper to bumper warranty. We even got free oil changes as long as we own the van and free transmission servicing for the first 5 years. We've owned it now for a year and so far the van has been flawless. Last summer we drove it out to Alberta Canada and back from Ontario towing our trailer and it never flinched.
