Long-Term Road Tests
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
March 13, 2009
In the past couple of weeks we've had a lot of turnover in our long-term fleet. Some cars have gone bye-bye and we've gotten a couple of newbies. I thought you'd want an update.
Gone are the BMW X5, Audi R8 and Dodge Grand Caravan. There will be no more blogs on these cars, but look for an in depth wrap-up on each in the next few weeks, just like the one we published on our Mercedes C300 today. All three are already missed. The X5 and R8 were staff favorites, and the minivan proved to be great at moving people and things, even if we didn't always shower it with praise.
New to the fleet is a bitchin' black 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T we purchased about a week ago. Look for its full introduction to this blog next week and a flood of posts soon after. We also recently acquired a Hyundai Genesis sedan and a Nissan 370Z, both of which we introduced to you and this blog recently.
Soon to finish up their time in our fleet will be the Cadillac CTS, Pontiac G8, the 2002 BMW E46 M3, our Subaru WRX STI and our BMW 135i. Any suggestions on replacements?
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham March 13, 2009, 12:14 PM
- Categories: 2002 BMW M3, 2008 Audi R8, 2008 BMW 135i, 2008 BMW X5 4.8i, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6, 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring
March 3, 2009
The Caravan is near the end of it's tether. We've had it a while and we've put a good beating on it.
In a fitting tribute to it's workhorse role of support vehicle on long road trips, photography van, and all around gear/folk hauler, I drove the Caravan up to Napa and back on assignment. In total I drove about 1,300 miles in a weekend.
If you've been a regular to the Caravan blog, you know how many of these types of trips we've done together. There hasn't always been a love fest between us, nor has it always been the most pleasant experience, but it always got the job done.
Now that I've set the keys on the board and walked away, I don't want to say goodbye to this donkey. I have another multi-day assignment starting today that I could use it for but it won't be there for me this time.
I'll forget about all the squeaks, the road noise, the clunky doors that don't always work, the crappy stereo, the floating ride, the uncomfortable seats and the chunks of salt still dropping from beneath you. Just one more ride, buddy?
On second thought, maybe it is a good thing we put you out to pasture.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 27,538 miles
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- Posted by: March 3, 2009, 11:28 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
March 2, 2009
Here is a list of most of our long-term vehicles with their best, worst and average fuel economy numbers over the life of the vehicle.
This list is missing a few that were not available at the time I was compiling this list.
| Car |
Best
|
Worst
|
Average
|
| 2008 Audi R8 |
20.3
|
11.7
|
15.3
|
| 2009 Audi A4 Avant |
26.0
|
17.5
|
19.9
|
| 2008 BMW 135i |
27.7
|
13.9
|
20.5
|
| 2002 BMW M3 |
23.5
|
12.3
|
17.5
|
| 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan |
30.8
|
12.0
|
18.6
|
| 2009 Ford Flex |
26.7
|
13.7
|
19.8
|
| 2008 Ford Focus |
37.4
|
16.6
|
26.4
|
| 2007 Honda Civic GX |
47.3
|
16.6
|
31.4
|
| 2009 Honda Fit Sport |
37.1
|
28.0
|
32.1
|
| 2009 Hyundai Genesis |
24.8
|
15.7
|
20.9
|
| 2009 Infiniti FX50 |
21.8
|
10.7
|
17.4
|
| 2009 Mazda 6 |
29.1
|
19.5
|
23.6
|
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X GSR |
22.6
|
11.0
|
17.0
|
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X MR |
24.7
|
11.7
|
16.8
|
| 2009 Nissan GT-R |
21.8
|
11.5
|
16.6
|
| 2008 Pontiac G8 GT |
24.0
|
12.0
|
17.4
|
| 2008 Smart Fortwo |
43.2
|
29.7
|
33.7
|
| 2008 Subaru WRX STI |
24.4
|
12.3
|
18.9
|
| 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI |
40.4
|
30.0
|
35.7
|
| 2005 Volkswagen Jetta Biodiesel |
50.4
|
30.3
|
39.3
|
Follow the jump to see the list organized by average so you can see how they stack up against each other.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
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- Posted by: Donna DeRosa March 2, 2009, 4:30 PM
- Categories: 2002 BMW M3, 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI, 2008 Audi R8, 2008 BMW 135i, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 2009 Audi A4 Avant, 2009 Ford Flex Limited, 2009 Honda Fit Sport, 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6, 2009 Nissan GT-R, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
February 24, 2009
Can't let the guys be the only ones posting about taking a long-term car to the Tour of California, can I? But unfortunately, the only at-the-race pic I could have taken of the Dodge Grand Caravan would have been on the fourth floor of a parking garage in Pasadena. I figured I'd spare you that beauty shot and wow you with a beauty shot of the minivan's third row instead.
On Saturday, the DGC was our chariot to the penultimate stage of the 2009 ATOC, where the racers completed five exciting laps of the Rose Bowl. With four adults and 3-year-old in a child seat on board, I took the opportunity to get to know that third-row while my husband took a turn at the wheel.
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- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon February 24, 2009, 10:03 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
February 12, 2009
Last week I took our Caravan in for a routine oil change. The on board computer requested it.
I drove it to Buerge Chrysler Jeep in Los Angeles because they're close and because they have an express lane that promises a quick in-and-out experience while you wait. (You know, the way it used to be before they realized they can drag an oil change out to three hours of billable work.)
It took an hour to their 25-minute claim and when I was checking out, my service advisor told me there was a recall on the power-steering hoses. They didn't have the parts in stock but they're on order. I should be getting a call sometime this week about 'em.
Total cost: $27.84
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 23,500 miles
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- Posted by: Mike Magrath February 12, 2009, 2:28 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
February 9, 2009
Plenty has been blogged about our Grand Caravan's cargo versatility and capacity. This weekend during a moving expedition, I found what our beloved (or reviled) DGC can or cannot carry, as well as what does and does not work as we get ready to part ways with this long-termer.
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- Posted by: Mark Takahashi February 9, 2009, 1:15 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
February 3, 2009
With a large shelving unit in my weekend, I partnered with the cavernous Grand Caravan. The middle seats had been removed for a photo shoot, but the nifty center table was still installed. Removing the table is not hard, once you figure out the push-button release for the pole. The table top comes off its perch easily enough once you sort the under-edge release, and then the two pieces stay together with velcro straps and get stashed in the under-floor storage unit behind the driver's seat.
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- Posted by: Paul Seredynski February 3, 2009, 11:37 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
January 25, 2009
Nothing more here than a little behind the scenes action of our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. With its massive sliding doors, wide liftgate, manual shift control, powerful motor and sturdy roof, the mighty Dodge is the preferred workhorse for our photography staff.
Just after I took that picture, I took a good look at the Ram emblazoned on the "chrome" grille and chuckled. "It's a mini-van, this thing shouldn't have the same logo as those burly trucks from the same company.", I thought. But then it hit me. I've been blinded by the leather-like interior, and the fancy-pants (but impossible to use) navigation system, and the power remote doors. The Dodge Grand Caravan isn't the luxurious retreat from the daily grind that the Honda Odyssey is; the DGC is a workhorse. It's the kind of minivan you can load with firewood found in a ditch. Or fill with dogs. Lots of dogs. Muddy ones. I wouldn't do that with an Odyssey. I'd have to lay down a tarp first and then put a blanket over the tarp and then I'd have to take it to a detailer and then probably sell it.
The Dodge Caravan wears the Ram for a reason. It's not pretentious or pretending to be anything other than a Minivan. We've never abused the DGC but we have put it to work and that's what you should be able to do with a utility vehicle. Too many vans and crossovers forget what fueled their initial popularity.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 24,952 miles
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- Posted by: Mike Magrath January 25, 2009, 10:00 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
January 21, 2009
There's plenty of dancing room in the middle of the DGC ever since the Mikes removed the second-row Swivel 'n' Go captain's chairs for couch-hauling duty. I took this as an opportunity to see what it's like to have a child safety seat in the third row.
Installation was easy enough. My placement choice was limited to the center seating position because that's the only one with a top tether anchor in the cargo area (see photo below). Seating an adult in the remaining seating position on the passenger side of the bench seat was possible, but I don't recommend it. It's pretty squishy back there (though there's TONS of legroom), but maybe if your car seat is a slim one, it wouldn't be as tight a squeeze. Cinching the kid in was a breeze; being able to kneel right in front of her and tighten the harness strap (rather than leaning in from the outside and tugging at back-wrenching angle) was fantastic.
Once the captain's chairs are back in there, I'll try this again and report back on how much harder it is to accomplish.
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 24,781 miles
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- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon January 21, 2009, 1:14 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
January 14, 2009
I started up the Dodge Grand Caravan this morning to the unwelcome sight of its tire pressure warning light. A broke out my tire gauge and a quick check of the pressures confirmed my fate. Three tires were at spec and one was down 10 psi.
I live within 2 miles of a tire shop and the leaker had plenty of air to survive the trip without my having to mount the spare. So I drove over, had the tire patched and was ready to leave after 30 minutes and $17.18.
As I walked back to the Caravan this guy in his Infiniti i35 pulled into the driveway. His mangled tire clung lifeless to the rim, which was visibly damaged itself. "The tire looked low" he told the approaching mechanic "so I drove straight over." This brings me to my gripe.
A lot of people check their tire pressures by the bulge of the sidewall. By the time a tire "looks low" it is already too late. To drive on it at this point is risking safety, tire replacement costs and in the case of this guy, wheel replacement costs. Why don't drivers understand this? Spend the $20 for a tire pressure gauge. And check your tires regularly. Spread the word.
So how many out there carry a tire pressure gauge in your car - - and use it?
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 24,374 miles
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- Posted by: Mike Schmidt January 14, 2009, 7:01 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
January 9, 2009
No problem for the Grand Caravan SXT. Well, not a problem so long as you don't mind leaving the gate open a hair
Oh, and not really a problem unless you have about 20-minutes and the freakish gorilla strength required to get the second-row seats out. At one point during the removal I had to use my foot as both a lever and as a stopper to block the tracks from locking themselves again. Swivel 'N Go is a neat parlor trick, but Stow 'N Go is far more useful.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 24,008 miles
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- Posted by: Mike Magrath January 9, 2009, 1:21 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
January 8, 2009
There's so much to like about the Dodge Caravan - sadly, seems like for every positive, there's a negative.
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- Posted by: Brian Moody January 8, 2009, 1:57 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
January 5, 2009
Sometimes we get accused of abusing the vehicles in our long-term test fleet. Well, guilty as charged. This weekend I threw a 10-foot tall, bone-dry Chrismas tree on the roof of our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. Nothing to protect the roof but the paint Dodge supplied. Then I strapped it down to the roof rack with the world's largest ratchet strap and headed for the local recycle center.
The next morning, in a moment of charity, I decided to hose all the pine needles off the van. Imagine my surprise when I noticed some of the trim bleeding salt from the Bonneville Salt Flats. I'm surprised because we drove the van to Bonneville way back in July.
You see, we figure it's our job to be extra hard on these cars and trucks. If they survive 12 months with us, then they just might be worth your hard earned bucks.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 23,700 miles
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 5, 2009, 11:30 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
January 2, 2009
That's a load of 8 ft. long 2x4s and three sheets of 4x8 drywall in the back of our long-term Dodge Grand Caravan. Lets see our BMW X5 or our Infiniti FX50 do that.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
December 29, 2008
Does the left rear tire on our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan look flat to you? Well, not flat exactly, but maybe just low?
Actually, it does look kinda low in this photo, but in person, it looks pretty much like the rest of the tires, all of which were pumped to spec a mere 10 days ago.
For the second time in two weeks, the Caravan's tire pressure warning light illuminated.The first time, all of the tires were slightly off, but nothing major. Unfortunately, the warning light doesn't show which tire is low or offer the current PSI, so when the light came on this weekend, I had to check them all again to find the possible culprit.
The left rear was only down two pounds cold. Could that really be enough to set off the warning?
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 23,542 miles
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke December 29, 2008, 4:20 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
December 15, 2008
We took the Caravan on another short but intense road trip out to the Southwest and back.
After 1,100 miles in less than 24 hours, my eyes were blurry and I was getting cabin fever. My co-worker and I had run out of things to say to each other.
Then we saw this:
We weren't dreaming. I love America.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 22,452 miles
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- Posted by: December 15, 2008, 12:56 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
December 9, 2008
Had the opportunity to carpool with another one-kid family to a parking-starved section of town this weekend. Perfect opportunity to put the DGC through its family-hauling paces. After cinching two child safety seats into the captain's chairs and a quick Rochambeau tourney to see who would sit in the third row (moms won!), the gang (four parents, two almost-3-year-olds) headed out. The kids were quite happy in their car seats (they could actually reach across the aisle and grab each other's fingers), but the dads complained about the tight squeeze between the captain's chairs on the way to their final destination of the third row seat. (For reference, the space between those captain's chairs is about the length of my hand.)
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- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon December 9, 2008, 1:44 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
December 2, 2008
Minivans are a lot more popular in Canada (especially the Chrysler models) and so is hockey, so it seemed like the perfect vehicle to take last night to see my Toronto Maple Leafs beat the L.A. Kings. For the last week, I've basically been driving the official vehicle of the Canadian hockey mom (joke, pit bull, lipstick) so it was probably about time I go to a hockey game. The hockey was excellent and the van, well, "It sounds like we're in a covered wagon," my girlfriend said after the continuous creaking and rattling that comes with every road bump, driveway entrance or simple change in momentum.
Now for some house keeping. We've had the DGC since February and 21,611 miles later, we've never updated the fuel economy (there have been other things to comment about). So here it is. It's important to note that the Caravan lived with Dan Pund for a while in the less-congested confines of Detroit and has made quite a few long-distance trips, including his adventure out west.
Overall Fuel Economy: 18.6 mpg
EPA Combined: 20 mpg
Best Tank: 30.8 mpg (137.8 miles on 4.471 gallons of fuel achieved by photog Kurt Niebuhr)
Worst Tank: 9.7 mpg
Furthest Traveled on One Tank: 385.7 miles
Most Fuel Poured into the 20-gallon tank: 18.428 gallons
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 21,611 miles
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- Posted by: JRiz December 2, 2008, 10:21 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
December 1, 2008
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
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- Posted by: JRiz December 1, 2008, 11:00 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
November 27, 2008
Dear James 364 days from now,
Excellent job listening to your advice from last year regarding driving to Phoenix for Thanksgiving. This time you didn't leave at 1:30, and therefore didn't get stuck in gridlock for four hours with the G35's the hack-your-leg-off clutch (although part of that's easy given the lack of said G35).
Unfortunately, leaving at 7 a.m. and successfully beating traffic doesn't matter a damn bit when you forget your wallet at home! Recall how you pulled into your normal Palm Springs gas station to discover you brought everything but the one thing you actually, truly, really need! The Caravan's DTE display said 144 miles to empty and there was 140 miles back home. It was 231 to you destination of Goodyear, Ariz. This was going to add at least 4 hours to your journey, but you knew it would be longer since traffic was getting worse with every passing minute. As you turned the van around and headed back toward Los Angeles, it was like being handed down a jail sentence. If it wasn't for the Coldplay tickets you had that night in Phoenix, you would have said "screw it" and tried again Thanksgiving morning.
But remember to be as thankful for your father on this Thanksgiving and everyone thereafter as you were last Thanksgiving when he came through as he always has. Remember how he called his company's office branch located in Ontario, Calif., and asked a colleague there to lend his idiot son $50 for gas? That still added three hours to your journey, but it was better than the five to six hours it was certainly going to take with the traffic that had indeed gotten worse.
Of course, had you filled the car up before leaving (as you usually do), you would've realized earlier you didn't have your wallet, or the Caravan's 400-plus-mile range would've easily got you there on one tank.
So you got there in about 7.5 hours, or the exact time it took the previous year when you left at 1:30. At least you weren't in the G35 (although the Caravan is hardly princely transportation). I could say, "Make sure to bring your effing wallet this year, moron!" but instead I'll just repeat the advice I should've followed this year: "Please James, avoid a similar predicament and just celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving."
I'll now go back to waiting for my licence and gas card to arrive via Fed Ex. See you next year.
Sincerely,
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 21,185 miles
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- Posted by: JRiz November 27, 2008, 2:24 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
November 25, 2008
As expected, our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan's engine bay is nothing special to look at. Actually, it's rather dirty from the van's trip to the salt flats. Yet it's what's underneath this bland piece of plastic (which I lazily cleaned up for this photo) that's actually one of this van's best attributes.
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- Posted by: Brent Romans November 25, 2008, 6:12 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
November 19, 2008
After two weeks of living with our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, I must say I have renewed appreciation for the minivan as a vehicle type. No, you can't do big smoky burnouts, but for daily life (with kids) you can't beat it. Following are my top five reasons why minivans kinda rock.
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- Posted by: Brent Romans November 19, 2008, 2:12 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
November 14, 2008
Well, our long-term Caravan was at the dealer again yesterday, but this time it was just for an 18,000-mile service. I had it serviced in Fresno, Calif., at Lithia Dodge. An oil change and tire rotation set us back a very reasonable $52.
The service advisor was friendly and didn't try to stick us with anything out of the ordinary. Remember that Edmunds.com has dealership ratings where you can read and write reviews on dealers for sales and service.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
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- Posted by: Brent Romans November 14, 2008, 8:50 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
November 11, 2008
Here's one nice touch on our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT: interior LED lighting. It might be a little hard to tell in the above photo, but the interior white LEDs do give off a brighter and much classier-looking light temperature than incandescent bulbs. (Think of a regular flashlight versus an LED flashlight.) LEDs are used for general illumination plus the reading lights in all of the Dodge's three rows of seating.
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- Posted by: Brent Romans November 11, 2008, 12:36 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
October 31, 2008
It's better, and here's why...
Let's say it's that time of life when you find all those missing socks and jewel cases under the couch. You know, moving day. It's never fun and always takes longer than you ever imagined it would--hence the night photo with flash, sorry. After the moving van leaves, you've got to pick up the fragile and extraneous pieces of your life and cart them to your new abode. Oh, and let's add some rain to the equation. What to drive?
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- Posted by: Cee-Dubya October 31, 2008, 9:15 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
October 28, 2008
I've got to admit, I've gotten old. When I drive around I listen to talk radio almost exclusively. When I was younger, I thought talk radio was a waste of time. Back then I just wanted to blast AC/DC, now I want to hear a debate over the pros and cons of a high speed rail line.
Well it so happens on my way out to Fontana this afternoon they were talking about the Big Three and a proposed bail-out loan for them. Deep into this discussion they bring on a guy talking about reliability ratings and how Ford has gone up, GM has gone both up and down, while Dodge has taken a nose dive, citing the Sebring and their "line of minivans" as the worst of the worst from the maker.
Really? I can't imagine. Nearly all of the posts on our site regarding this vehicle are negative in some way.
I do, however love this minivan in one respect: it's got plenty of power. Nearly every stop-light on the way out to Fontana I was stuck at, I chirped the tires big time at the green lights, especially when the tires were on a painted surface. It was great to see the reactions of people not used to a minivan blowing their doors off the line.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
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- Posted by: October 28, 2008, 3:16 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
October 24, 2008
I once wrote a scathing post about our long-term 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. Haven't driven it since. Didn't want to. Avoided it like reality shows staring Scott Baio.
But Tuesday the inevitable happened. I was handed the keys to the DGC and instructed to drive it 225 miles east to Blythe, California and back in the same day. In other words, drive it the entire width of Califonia twice, as Blythe essentially sits on the Arizona border.
I hemmed and hawed and hit the road. Turns out the DGC isn't that bad. Oh, it's built like a high school science project gone wrong, packs more squeeks and rattles than a bundle of snake mice and still feels like the rear suspension is missing its dampers, but I also found a lot to like.
Turns out our van has very comfortable seats. My ass, back and legs still felt great after all 450 miles. The DGC also has a respectable range, nearly 400 miles on a tank. And I learned to like its loosy goosy suspension as long as the road was perfectly smooth, which it turns out to be way out in the California desert. The van's strong air-conditioning, navigation system and Sirius radio also made the trip more enjoyable, as did its sizable cupholders and powerful 4.0-liter V6. Passing power is not one of this van's shortcomings.
So there you have it, although I hope I never have to return to the upscale enclave that is Desert Center, California (pictured), I've learned to kinda like our Dodge Grand Caravan. Maybe I'll drive it again soon before we send her back to Chrysler HQ. Maybe?
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 18,567 miles
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham October 24, 2008, 4:43 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
October 8, 2008
October 7th, 8:46pm
"That was a pretty good dinner. I wonder if (eeeeeeeeeeek!)."
"What was that?" my girlfriend asked.
"I don't know. Maybe (squeeeeeeeak!). Wait, is that coming from the (gr-eeeeeek!)."
"That doesn't (screech!) good. (creak!)"
No, it doesn't. The amount of groans and creeks coming from the B-pillar is bad. When putting my ear to the area where the sound was coming from, I couldn't tell if it was screeching from the front drivers side door or from the sliding door. Either way, it isn't good.
Is it the dirt from a recent road trip? Bonneville? Or is it just poor assembly? I think it's time for a power wash to eliminate dirt and see if that helps.
I hope that isn't salt from the Flats rotting out the subframe.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
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- Posted by: October 8, 2008, 10:46 AM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
October 6, 2008
Back in May (the last time I drove this van) the Jacquot family used it to haul all our crap out to a triathlon in the Valley of the Dirt People where it was very dusty, very sunny and miserably hot. Here we discovered the effectiveness of the DGC's cooling system and the poor heat durability of its rear bumper cover. That was a pivotal day for me and for the van.
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- Posted by: Josh Jacquot October 6, 2008, 4:03 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
October 2, 2008
Massive cooler? Check. Three tents? Check. Sleeping bags? Check. Stove, utensils, clothes and firewood for three days? Check. 125cc mini-bike? Check. Something capable of hauling all of the above, plus three people, to Laguna Seca for a three day camping weekend? Check.
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- Posted by: Kurt Niebuhr October 2, 2008, 12:31 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
September 25, 2008
There it is. Our long-term Dodge Caravan parked in the shadows of the service drive at Cerritos Dodge. It's our 4th visit to this dealership since June. After the 5th visit we get our choice of an Avenger keychain or Caliber beer cozy.
This isn't the first time we've been here for abnormally noisy brakes. Last round the dealer machined our pitted rotors and the brake squeal vanished. For awhile. This time the front pads and rotors will be replaced altogether.
New rotors shipped here from back east, which took four days. So the Caravan sat waiting patiently on the dealer lot from Wednesday to Monday. We picked up a freshly washed Caravan Monday afternoon, and to our surprise were not charged for the service.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 15,349 miles
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- Posted by: Mike Schmidt September 25, 2008, 2:30 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
September 23, 2008
On the third floor of our office building is a super secret room that houses the Inside Line editorial department's test car sign-out board.
This morning, after I fed the guard dogs and passed the retinal scan, I noticed a hint of sarcasm had crept into the room.
We'll report on the Grand Caravan's recent dealer service later this week.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 15,354 miles
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke September 23, 2008, 9:51 AM
- Categories: 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.
Continue reading...
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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: S.B. True 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
Continue reading...
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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.
Continue reading...
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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.
Continue reading...
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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...
Continue reading...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham 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...
Continue reading...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham June 3, 2008, 2:23 PM
- Categories: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
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: Josh Jacquot 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
