Topic: 2008 Grand Caravan SE?

[Shnak]

Hey everyone. No, I'm not looking into buying a minivan (not yet, at least), but my brother is. He found this 2008 SE model with 52k on it from a private seller for $13k. My only concern is the 3.3L with the 4 speed auto transmission. I've heard that it's a reliable combo, but underpowered a bit. I don't think they're concerned about the power too much as they won't haul anything. What's you opinion on it? He's going to have it checked out at a dealership before doing anything. If everything checks out fine, is it a good purchase? These came with a 5 years / 100k powertrain warranty, right?

[mrthompson]

My wife's van is an '04 GC with the 3.3L/4 spd combo.  Even with 6 people on board the van has adequate power.  Add a trailer to that equation and I'd want more power.  The powertrain gives pretty respectable fuel economy.  A round trip to Midland (and environs) yielded 9.9L/100 km last September.

$13k seems like a good price given the relatively low kms, IMO.

[Shnak]

Thanks for the feedback on the engine. I'm sure it'll be fine for their needs, they only have one kid, but have to carry their two big dogs on occasion, hence the need for a minivan. Has your wife's GC been reliable through 6-7 years of ownership?

I'm trying to figure out how much this vehicle cost back when it was purchased. All I know is that it's an SE model with 2nd row bucket seats with Stow n' Go, and that it's got A/C, power windows and remote/power locks. As far as I can tell, those are all standard features of the SE model, with no additional options, right? If so, the MSRP back in 2008 for this van was about $24k. It's probably safe to assume he paid around $22k for it, considering the amount of incentives going on for Grand Caravans over the years. If all that's true, $13k does sound like a decent price if everything checks out at the inspection, especially if it has new-ish tires, brakes, etc. Winter tires would be great too.

The one thing that sucks about it is the color, pumpkin orange! Oh well, it's not for me! 

[mrthompson]

Actually we've only had the van since last August. 

We had a '99 Caravan for 4 years before that.  In 4 years we replaced 2 wheel bearings, front end bushings/links, brakes (a given), power steering pump and PS lines.

[life in the slow lane]

 I have a 2001 GC and other then regular maintenance (fluid changes and brakes) haven't had any mechanical problems. This has been one of the most trouble free vehicles I've owned.

While mine has soft touch materials on the dash and doors, the newer GC's have so much hard plastic inside, I think it would be prone to rattles.

Besides having the dealer look at the vehicle, make sure they run a history check to see if the owner had the vehicle dealer maintained. If anything needed fixing during the warranty period, it should show up and may point to trouble areas.

As for the colour, Pumpkin orange is better then Lemon yellow.

[Shnak]

Good point about the history check, hadn't thought of that. Would it also be worth getting a carfax report, and how much are those?

[ktm525]

They are still advertising NEW 2010 caravans for $19 999. I would check out that option. I can't believe that Chrysler still has these 2010 (old model) sitting around. Aren't 2012's due to start coming out in the summer?

[Shnak]

They are still advertising NEW 2010 caravans for $19 999. I would check out that option. I can't believe that Chrysler still has these 2010 (old model) sitting around. Aren't 2012's due to start coming out in the summer?

I don't think he could do $20k+PDI+taxes, even if he gets 0% financing over 60 or 72 months. He told me his limit is $15k. That means about $13k before taxes and fees to register it. Besides, I don't think you get Stow n' Go with the Grand Caravans advertised for $19 999, and that's an absolute must for him, and the reason why he's looking primarily at Grand Caravans.

With that said, I'll still check into going with the new route... maybe 0% over 72 months, if available, would work for him.

EDIT: Best I can find is a cash purchase of $20,995 for a 2011 Grand Caravan SE. Where do you see 2010 being sold for $19,999?

[ktm525]

They are still advertising NEW 2010 caravans for $19 999. I would check out that option. I can't believe that Chrysler still has these 2010 (old model) sitting around. Aren't 2012's due to start coming out in the summer?

I don't think he could do $20k+PDI+taxes, even if he gets 0% financing over 60 or 72 months. He told me his limit is $15k. That means about $13k before taxes and fees to register it. Besides, I don't think you get Stow n' Go with the Grand Caravans advertised for $19 999, and that's an absolute must for him, and the reason why he's looking primarily at Grand Caravans.

With that said, I'll still check into going with the new route... maybe 0% over 72 months, if available, would work for him.

EDIT: Best I can find is a cash purchase of $20,995 for a 2011 Grand Caravan SE. Where do you see 2010 being sold for $19,999?

radio ad. May be a pink unicorn...


edit. Here. I don't know if it includes delivery etc. It does have stow and go.

http://www.dodge.ca/albertaoffers/en/index.php?acode=null

[mrthompson]

I don't think he could do $20k+PDI+taxes, even if he gets 0% financing over 60 or 72 months. He told me his limit is $15k. That means about $13k before taxes and fees to register it. Besides, I don't think you get Stow n' Go with the Grand Caravans advertised for $19 999, and that's an absolute must for him, and the reason why he's looking primarily at Grand Caravans.

Our '04 doesn't have S n' G and I wish I had ponied up the money for an '05 with it.  A colleague has an '05 SXT and he routinely carries bikes and other items inside.

[Shnak]

I don't think he could do $20k+PDI+taxes, even if he gets 0% financing over 60 or 72 months. He told me his limit is $15k. That means about $13k before taxes and fees to register it. Besides, I don't think you get Stow n' Go with the Grand Caravans advertised for $19 999, and that's an absolute must for him, and the reason why he's looking primarily at Grand Caravans.

Our '04 doesn't have S n' G and I wish I had ponied up the money for an '05 with it.  A colleague has an '05 SXT and he routinely carries bikes and other items inside.

Yeah, he's got two big dogs close to 100 pounds each, plus a baby. He needs to be able to quickly convert the seating arrangement depending on who or what he's carrying around.

[Shnak]

They are still advertising NEW 2010 caravans for $19 999. I would check out that option. I can't believe that Chrysler still has these 2010 (old model) sitting around. Aren't 2012's due to start coming out in the summer?

I don't think he could do $20k+PDI+taxes, even if he gets 0% financing over 60 or 72 months. He told me his limit is $15k. That means about $13k before taxes and fees to register it. Besides, I don't think you get Stow n' Go with the Grand Caravans advertised for $19 999, and that's an absolute must for him, and the reason why he's looking primarily at Grand Caravans.

With that said, I'll still check into going with the new route... maybe 0% over 72 months, if available, would work for him.

EDIT: Best I can find is a cash purchase of $20,995 for a 2011 Grand Caravan SE. Where do you see 2010 being sold for $19,999?

radio ad. May be a pink unicorn...


edit. Here. I don't know if it includes delivery etc. It does have stow and go.

http://www.dodge.ca/albertaoffers/en/index.php?acode=null

That's where I got the $20,995 price on the 2011 Canada Value Edition, which isn't as well equipped as the SE (missing...), doesn't include PDI, and is a cash only price. Definitely out of his price range. As I said, he'd need to get 0% for 60 if not 72 months to even consider buying new, and even then, we're talking about a $25k minivan when including PDI and taxes, as opposed to about $15k for a better equipped 2008 model barely broken in. Buying new in this case just doesn't make sense for him, I'm afraid.

[life in the slow lane]

The car fax report I believe is around $35 or $45. I found it very useful when looking for a used Subaru a few years ago.

A local car dealer had a used Subuaru on the lot, and when I went to look at it, I had my suspicions, so I had the salesman give me the VIN #. The car fax showed that the vehicle had been in an accident with damage in excess of $3000.00, but no record of the repair, so it looked like the previous owner got if fixed on the cheap so as not to have a claim on their insurance.

When I located another Subaru of the same year, I had to pay for the carfax again. The car fax came through showing that the vehicle had not been in any accidents.  I then took the VIN # to my local Subaru dealer and they had any major work done at a Subaru dealer.

Another thing to have the dealer check is if there are any outstanding recall notices for that particular vehicle. Many many years ago(late '80's) when I bought a used vehicle, I went to the car dealership and they found out that there was an outstanding recall notice.