2008 Dodge Grand Caravan: Uneventful Return, So-So Ride

After my Thanksgiving misadventure, my driver's license and gas card safely arrived via Fed Ex on Friday, meaning I was good to return home from Phoenix yesterday. Unfortunately, I forgot my cell phone and work computer this time.

No, I'm just kidding (although I did leave the computer at my apartment this morning). So me being an idiot aside, the Grand Caravan proved to be a so-so driving partner. The abundance of space was certainly overkill, but it allowed my mother to give me five boxes of special edition Gingerbread biscotti, six bottles of wine (which I stored boot legger style in the Stow 'n Go hold) and a whole heap of other stuff. Everything was spread about the cabin with no particular effort made for packaging efficiency.

I didn't find the seats particularly comfortable, however, as the backrest is hard and pushes up against my back. It's not as bad as the Dodge Journey, though. The Sirius satellite radio proved to be useful as I could listen to the first quarter of the Colts-Browns game, plus I like its other XM-bolstered channel selections. Unfortunately, I can't stand the touchscreen interface -- most of the same complaints I described in this Wrangler MyGig video apply to the Grand Caravan as well. The button-press issue is also present in the Caravan despite the smoother ride.

The whale of a gas tank also came in handy -- not only saving my hide on Wednesday, but also allowing me to go from Phoenix to L.A. without filling up. I averaged 21.76 mpg on my needlessly too-far journey. I'll post lifetime fuel economy tomorrow.

James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 21,573 miles