Long-Term Road Tests
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
August 28, 2008
Bryn blogged earlier this month that our Caravan was experiencing a few other problems. Well, the B-pillar creak hasn't gone away (over bumps and changes in the vehicle's momentum) and if the brakes aren't squeaking when coming to a stop, they're grinding as if the pads were made of corregated concrete. This was the first time I had experienced these problems and they're both aggravating given this minivan is only 13,000 miles old.
(UPDATE: Magrath just walked into the office and informed me that we actually did take the Caravan in to get it's brakes fixed. They allegedly ground down the rotors (they were pitted). That obviously didn't work. We're also waiting on a part of some sort to fix the rattle.)
If you were wondering about our brand new back bumper, well it appears to be on its way to warping just like the original piece and just like every other Caravan/T&C I've seen on the road. As the above photo shows, it is difficult to see on today's cool morning, but if left in some heat, it baloons up. Nothing that would prevent the failgate from opening, but if we were to take a Palm Springs vacation...
And now for a previously unreported problem: the seats are stained.
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- Posted by: JRiz August 28, 2008, 9:09 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
August 11, 2008
After a few days with the Dodge Grand Caravan, I have this to say.
There's a loud snappish creak coming intermittently from the driver-side B-pillar area. It seems to happen most over bumps, and during harder accelerations and harder braking. Quick stop: CREEAK. Hard acceleration to merge on the freeway: CREEEAK. -1
Something is definitely up with the brakes: Before I took the keys, Vehicle Testing Coordinator Mike Schmidt mentioned to me that the DGC's brake rotors might be warped and that I should look out for any sound or feeling that could indicate that, so I set my Spidey senses to "tingle." The first night, I heard and felt nothing. But the next day, a Friday, I did notice a disturbing groaning/grinding sound and feeling whenever I hit the brakes. Seemed to get worse the harder I depressed the pedal. On Saturday, the noise and sensation disappeared, only to reappear on all three trips we took in the minivan on Sunday. We'll be taking it back to the dealer. It did make me forget about the B-pillar creak, though. -2
On an impromptu trip to Ikea, I was able to lay a bundle of 5-foot-long bamboo garden stakes on the seat back of the third-row seat and fit them into the space between the second-row seats (blue arrow above points to one of the poles peeking over the seatback), while tucking a whole lot of other Ikea stuff (plus the various bags and toys and things we needed for a trip to grandma's for the day) into the deep storage well behind the third row. Very convenient. We never have impromptu Ikea adventures on the way to grandma's in our personal vehicles (both coupes). +1
Stay tuned on the brake rotor issue.
Bryn MacKinnon @ 12,589 miles
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- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon August 11, 2008, 11:43 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
August 6, 2008
Aside from some minor annoyances (an intermittent no-start, a reluctant shifter and a door that wouldn't close) the main reason our 2008 Dodge Caravan SXT went in for servicing was, as James Riswick so eloquently described it, the power failgate.
The warped bumper cover is gone and has been replaced by a new, not yet warped bumper cover. The new part fits well and looks as good as new.
Above is our Caravan, parked in one of the many exotic photo locales we frequent. While it doesn't look like a particularly environmentally conscious area, the denizens residents do recycle plastic bags. Unfortunately, they fill them with, well...I'm just not going to go there.
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 12,487 miles
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- Posted by: Kurt Niebuhr August 6, 2008, 10:55 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
July 30, 2008
It was time. At the close of a recent road trip (see worn-out child in above photo), our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan had racked up some new and reoccuring issues, making a service appointment necessary.
I made the call to Cerritos Dodge.
"I'm calling to schedule a service appointment for a 2008 Grand Caravan," I said.
Service Advisor Dave said, "Sure, what are you coming in for?"
"Well, I have a list," I said, starting to rattle off the first couple of items.
Dave interrupted me. "I thought you said this was a 2008."
"It is," I said, a touch of sadness creeping into my voice.
I've always felt that the positive packaging aspects of the new Dodge minivan outweighed some of its questionable ride characteristics, and have defended its honor numerous times to different members of our staff. But even I had to admit that the number of problems was a bit excessive for a new vehicle. Our list included:
--Passenger sliding door won't close all of the way. The power feature lets it get a couple inches away from complete close before it kicks it back open.
--Rear tailgate won't open due to warped bumper cover.
--Shifter is often difficult to move from "park" to "drive."
--Intermittant ignition crank without engine turning over. (An issue we've been experiencing since we received the minivan several months ago).
The dealer was able to address just two of our concerns. The sliding doors were reprogrammed and seem to be fixed. A new bumper cover was ordered and the minivan went to the paint shop to finish the job.
"Operating same as like equipped vehicle" says the service report regarding the shifter and crank issues.
I sure hope not.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 11,805 miles
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke July 30, 2008, 1:52 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
My expectations couldn't have been much lower when I fired up our long-term Caravan for the first time last night. We slam this thing mercilessly whenever we post about it -- and unlike certain other unloved cars in our fleet, the Caravan doesn't seem to have a single Mopar fanboy that's got its back. So imagine my surprise when the downtrodden Dodge ripped off a lighting-quick 1-2 full-throttle upshift the first time I matted the gas. "What the heck?" I exclaimed, channelling my inimitable high school basketball coach. "What the crap?!"
I floored it again at the next traffic light, and my initial impression was confirmed. This six-speed bangs off upshifts about as quickly as any slushbox I can remember, and it's smooth, too. If Hyundai's new Genesis V8 had this transmission, its 0-60 time would be a half-second quicker.
Must be a hand-me-down from Mercedes, eh? There's no way Dodge would spend their time and money coming up with a world-class transmission for the Caravan while seemingly cutting every other corner.
EDIT: Herr Magrath points out that Mercedes hasn't ever put a six-speed autobox in any of their cars. Hmmmm...
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 11,831 miles
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- Posted by: SadButTrue July 30, 2008, 11:20 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
July 23, 2008
Click photo above for larger view
As Jacquot first reported and Dan Edmunds confirmed, the Dodge Grand Caravan (and almost certainly Chrysler Town & Country) is prone to having a warped bumper. It's a phenomenon I've seen on other DGC's as well. We originally thought it happened only when leaving the van in the heat -- which is probably what initially causes the problem -- but now it permanently looks like it does above.
This sort of body panel warping is not only horrible looking and a sign of terrible quality, it makes opening the tailgate rather difficult as the below videos show.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 11,400 miles
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- Posted by: JRiz July 23, 2008, 9:14 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
July 14, 2008
Three days. 1,561 miles.
We like a good quiche as much as anyone, so when Editor in Chief, Scott Oldham told us that the Coco Palms restaurant in Wendover, Nevada makes a mean quiche, we had to go; the we being Video Production Specialist, John Adolph and myself.< /p>
We loaded our Long Term Dodge Caravan to the hilt with camera equipment, clothes, tools, spare wheels and tires for some other car (you can never be too cautious) and hit the road. Here are some of our impressions of the Caravan.
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- Posted by: Kurt Niebuhr July 14, 2008, 2:04 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
July 7, 2008
I was heading to the airport two weeks ago and instead of leaving a LT car at the airport for six days, I carpooled home with Magrath. Upon discovering he had the Caravan, I slid open the rear door, Swiveled 'N Goed one of the Captain's chairs and yelled out "To Masselin Ave Jeeves!"
I shot the below video to showcase what it's like to ride backwards in the Caravan, but generally it's like riding in a train. I suddenly felt so Continental -- I actually took up smoking and ate a baguette later. Also, the Swivel 'N Go provides ridiculous leg room as the video shows, while raising the third row creates an ottoman (the footstool, not a Turkish guy). Throw in reversable dual video screens and this is quite the nifty vehicle to be a passenger in. To drive it and/or own it? Not so much.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 11,211 miles
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- Posted by: JRiz July 7, 2008, 9:13 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
July 3, 2008
On the eve of Independence Day, I thought I'd peruse our garage for the most American metal. Amongst the many long-termers presently in the long-term fleet, we have quite the selection of cars built by domestic makers. Some are excellent representives of this great land, others ... not so much. And that's not counting the pretty cool American cars that reside in our editors' own garages: Trans Ams, Challengers, Corvettes and Schmidt's big ol' F-150.
Of course, what constitutes an American car these days is up for debate given the Focus is hecho en Mexico and our Hyundai Veracruz is hecho en Alabama. But I'll leave those determinations up to you. And the nominees for our Most American Car are...
Buick Enclave
Cadillac CTS
Chevy Silverado
Dodge Caravan (oh dear god, I hope not)
Ford Edge
Ford Focus
Ford GT
Pontiac G8 GT
Saturn Aura
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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- Posted by: JRiz July 3, 2008, 9:12 AM
- Categories: 2005 Ford GT, 2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT, 2007 Ford Edge SEL, 2007 Saturn Aura XR, 2008 Buick Enclave CX, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
June 27, 2008
Last time our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT was at a track, James posted a video of me 'hot' lapping it, full of equipment, around a shortened version of the Streets of Willow. This time, though, we've done things the right way. We ditched the cones and the water bottles, attached test equipment, and fitted the driver's seat with one of our professional test drivers.
And drive they did! Full results of our track testing after the jump.
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- Posted by: Mike Magrath June 27, 2008, 4:18 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
June 25, 2008
Rear-view cameras are becoming more common in cars in general, but particularly in family vehicles. Not too surprisingly, some of them suck. Sometimes they distort the rear view so that you can't really determine your proximity to an object. Defeats the whole point, don't you think?..
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- Posted by: Joanne Helperin June 25, 2008, 11:10 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
June 23, 2008
Act 1
Scene 1
(Inside of a 2009 Honda Pilot. Mike Magrath and James Riswick are avoiding the triple-digit temperatures under the thin veil of evaluating interior features. Magrath clicks open the sunglass holder / child view mirror.)
Magrath:
I like this feature. There was some car, I can't remember which one, that had this feature and every time I'd hit a bump the darn thing would flip down...Sometimes it would close itself on the next bump.
Riswick:
(laughing)
Was it the Long Term Dodge Caravan?
Magrath:
Yes, it was! Did the same thing happen to you?
Riswick:
(Now occupying himself with the audio controls. Nothing but Ranchero music on the FM dial.)
No, I just asked myself what would be likely to do that and instantly I thought of our LT Caravan.
Magrath:
That's sort of sad.
Riswick:
Indeed.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 8,774 miles
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- Posted by: Mike Magrath June 23, 2008, 11:15 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
June 18, 2008
Problem: How can I move six people and their luggage from Los Angeles to San Francisco?
Solution: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT.
Yes, this was one of those rare instances when a bunch of people (my parents and my two sons) were all going to the same place at the same time. A poor option would have been to take two vehicles. Instead, we all piled into Big Red and hit the road...
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- Posted by: Philip Reed June 18, 2008, 1:19 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
June 11, 2008
People who say they're morning people are liars. It takes two things to get me from my garage to the office: Coffee and some sort of talk radio (usually Adam Carolla). Take away either of the two and I'll give up, turn around and go back to bed. With those parameters in mind, guess why I was dreading my ride to work this morning.
A) Was my coffee maker (a French press) broken?
B) Was the radio in the Grand Caravan broken?
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- Posted by: Mike Magrath June 11, 2008, 11:25 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
June 6, 2008
After my last post, which focused solely on the shortcomings of our long-term 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, I thought I would find something nice to say about it. So here goes.
It's fast.
Although we haven't taken our long term van to the track yet (maybe next week), the nearly identical van we tested months ago was and still is the quickest minivan we've ever tested...
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- Posted by: June 6, 2008, 11:28 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
June 3, 2008
The interior quality of our long term 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is so disappointing, it's difficult for me to put it into words. But I'm going to give it a shot.
This van feels like it was designed and assembled by apes. Apes that were pounded mercilesly by bean counters to get more cost out of the poor resulting van's interior...
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May 22, 2008
I've been eyeing the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan from afar for quite some time. The styling hasn't really grabbed me, but a lot of the features I've heard about sound pretty good.
I finally had my first turn at the wheel. My impressions haven't fully gelled, but here is where my head is at so far:
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- Posted by: Dan Edmunds May 22, 2008, 3:16 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
May 19, 2008
Yesterday the Jacquot family took the long-term Dodge Grand Caravan to the XTerra West Championship in Temecula, California. A far cry from the adventure vehicle the marketing folks had in mind when they originally named the series, the Caravan is better than any SUV when it comes to transporting all the goods of an active family.<
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- Posted by: Dark Helmet May 19, 2008, 9:38 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
May 15, 2008
After using the Grand Caravan to pick up some cones at the Streets of Willow race track, Magrath and I decided to see what the big girl could do. As the below video shows, the Grand Caravan was a grand disappointment. Through a short-course configuration, the Grand Caravan managed a lap time of 1:14 without the main straightaway -- simply pathetic. Compared to the last few Dodges we've taken to the track, such as the Dodge Viper and Dodge Challenger SRT-8, the Caravan wollowed about with heavy body roll and understeer...
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- Posted by: JRiz May 15, 2008, 12:55 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
May 12, 2008
We haven't had a minivan in our Santa Monica-based test fleet since the 2006 Kia Sedona left nearly a year ago, and I had almost forgetten just how handy they can be.
Last week Detroit Editor Dan Pund drove our new long-term 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan from Michigan to California, and this weekend I used it to drive my daughter and four of her friends to a birthday party, then stopped on the way home to pick up nine 12-foot pieces of crown molding from the lumber yard.
The Caravan moved both the kids and the trim with the same amount of ease.
I love minivans...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke May 12, 2008, 9:01 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
May 7, 2008
If this 2,400-mile slog from Detroit to LA has taught me anything, it is the power of willful ignorance and blind faith. When the Dodge Carvavan balked at starting the end of yesterday's drive, I chose to put my fate into the spectral hands of the Dodge Brothers in hopes that the problem would be corrected before today's sunrise. And that's exactly what happened. The Dodge started each and every time I asked it to...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund May 7, 2008, 9:42 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
May 6, 2008
I have met the high-plains drifter. And its name is 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT.
Turns out there's not a whole lot of, um, vertical things in Nebraska or eastern Colorado. This means that wicked crosswinds just come barrel-assing over the dirt and ram the side of the Caravan full force...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund May 6, 2008, 8:52 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
May 5, 2008
Here's what I learned in my 825.8 miles of driving today: People in Iowa still wave at perfect strangers.
I was cranking along I-80 somewhere near Des Moines, the Caravan's 4.0-liter V6 mooing lightly. I'd locked in behind a hard-driving lady driving a ruby-red GMC Envoy. We'd swing left around slow-moving Buicks together and tuck back into the right lane together. We both used three blinks of the turn signal each time we made a move...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund May 5, 2008, 7:28 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
April 30, 2008
You've got to know where the line is before you know if you want to cross it, right?
Thanks to the clever folk at Chrysler LLC, I know exactly where the line is. You see, the company has thoughtfully molded into gray hatchback sill cover a raised line to show you exactly how far your junk can protrude from the cargo area and still manage to close the hatch. And helpfully, the company also molded the words "LOAD TO THIS LINE" into the piece...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund April 30, 2008, 7:20 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
April 28, 2008
Predictably, fuel economy in the big, old family truckster is improving as we accumulate some miles. So far, the van has really only seen city driving -- a regimen in which the EPA reckons our van with the optional 4.0-liter V6 should be getting around 16 mpg. Our early fill ups returned just above 14 mpg. Our most recent tank yielded 15.6 mpg...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund April 28, 2008, 10:49 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
April 25, 2008
To a certain segment of the reading population there are more important elapsed time figures than those accompanying a 1/4-mile acceleration test. One such figure is the elapsed time it takes to transfer music from a CD to the Caravan's MyGIG 20-gig hard drive. When it comes to living with a minivan, I think they might be right.
The first time we transferred music from disc to HDD, it seemed to take forever...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund April 25, 2008, 12:49 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
April 22, 2008
Our long-term Grand Caravan has a whopping $12,665 in optional equipment. So when I couldn't find the buttons for the memory mirrors and seat, I assumed that, like virtually everything that's come into my possession, I had just misplaced them.
So for a week, I'd go to hop into the van crank my knees on the lower dash, compress my thighs on the lower portion of the steering wheel and curse the size differential of my wife who, it can be revealed, is petite, and your author, a descendent of overgrown Black Forest-dwelling oafs. Reluctantly, I checked the owner's manual...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund April 22, 2008, 11:59 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
April 14, 2008
How ugly is the new Dodge Grand Caravan? Turns out, it's not really that ugly at all. We have photographic proof!
We might prefer the slightly more biomorphic curves of the Honda Odyssey. But a Toyota Sienna ain't exactly a beauty...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund April 14, 2008, 1:01 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
April 7, 2008
Of the adult pleasures disallowed to young children, such as coffee-drinking and unrestricted use of the more colorful words of Anglo-Saxon origin, you can now add Swivel 'n Go.
Maybe it should go without saying, but if your children are young enough to need a child seat or infant carrier, you may not use Chrysler Corp's newest gee-whiz seats. Oh, you can Swivel them 'n not Go. Or you could Go 'n not Swivel...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund April 7, 2008, 8:22 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
April 4, 2008
For the time being, I possess infinite powers--powers to delight and confound. You see, with our new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan (referred to as "the big, red truck" in our household), I have the seemingly telekinetic power to command doors to open and close without ever touching them! This blows my two-year-old daughter's mind. "Magic door!" she squeals each time I surreptitiously give a double-press to the door buttons on the Caravan's key fob. Those power-sliding doors are high on the list of cool things in her world--right up there with multicolored popsicles and video-on-demand cartoons...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund April 4, 2008, 8:01 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
