CD Article: Chrysler Minivans, 1991-95

[CD_Editor]

Used Vehicle Review:

Best-sellers in Canada, Chrysler's minivans are practical, roomy, 5 or 7 passenger vehicles with good crash test ratings, but reliability hasn't been stellar, mainly due to brittle automatic transmissions, reports Chris Chase.  However, used values are "dirt cheap", he says.      More...

[Craig]

The 3.3-litre V6 tends to leak oil, and the 3.0-litre prefers to burn it.

Well played.

[a4_tom]

The auto tranny really self-destructed more accurately than bomb when it reaches the "precise" mileage.

[Simple]

My dad used to have a 95 caravan.  It was a 3.0 and it burned and leaked oil.  I knew what the outside temperature was by certain interior trim pieces rattling.

[banfield]

I'm still driving my 1994 Voyageur (bought new).  3.0 litre six, 3-speed automatic.  Flawless reliability, but admittedly only 145,000 km. Change tranny fluid every 50,000 km using only Mopar fluid.  Think this may be a key to good tranny relliability. Also, the 3-speed unit is an older, more reliable design than the 4-speed, I believe.

[Panzer]

I personally know of 6 people who've owned various MYs of Caravans/Voyagers and 4 of them have had tranny problems (read: replacement).  Not a good record.

On the other hand, I look at all the features the vehicle has and even after factoring in, say, the price of 2 trannies, people are usually ahead of the game when looking at total cost of ownership between the Chrysler product or an equivalent Japanese (Odessey/Sienna).

[Shnak]

I personally know of 6 people who've owned various MYs of Caravans/Voyagers and 4 of them have had tranny problems (read: replacement).  Not a good record.

On the other hand, I look at all the features the vehicle has and even after factoring in, say, the price of 2 trannies, people are usually ahead of the game when looking at total cost of ownership between the Chrysler product or an equivalent Japanese (Odessey/Sienna).

That depends on how valuable your time is, and if you mind being stuck on the side of the road while on vacation. It happened to our family twice, and it's no fun being stuck in the middle of nowhere, and needing to go to a Canadian Tire because that's the only thing around. I'd rather buy something reliable that is more expensive, than something cheaper, but expecting it'll give me trouble.

That said, I probably would go with a Caravan at half the cost of an Odyssey, use it for 3-4 years, and replace it right after that. That would be cheap, and probably be pretty reliable for those 3-4 years.

[safristi]

ok MEET ME BEHIND THE sphinx at mid_nite ask fer AkBhar the FLY_BOY...........ONE HUMP or TWO....?

[Bullet Blue]

1991-1995 Chrysler Minivans? I wouldn't even buy a 2006 Chrysler minivan, let alone a used one. Too many horror stories, not to mention websites depicting massive problems, mostly with the tranny.

[safristi]

C'mon admit it ya lovetheir smelly breath,,bumpy ride and the way they spit at Ya...AND the Camels are CUTE TOO!!!!...can we at least have a DATE behind the Oasis...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Hell, stand beside one of these vans and it's either the tranny or the steering pump whining away.

But gotta hand it to DCX for staying on top of the minivan market.

[safristi]

"hand it to D*CK" where ...MUMMY he's pre positioning ME

[haris]

How about an '89 Chrysler minivan doing 12s in a quarter?

http://www.turbovan.net/van.html

[nefcanuck]

I knew someone who had bought a '90 Chrysler Minivan with the 3.0L Mitsu-sourced V6 and the 4sp autobox back in the day...

Talk about your deadly combinations.  Thing ate its tranny twice in less than 60K and started smoking at 50K

NefCanuck

[Seafoam]

Hell, stand beside one of these vans and it's either the tranny or the steering pump whining away.

But gotta hand it to DCX for staying on top of the minivan market.

After all they invented the market in 1984 when other manufacturers thought they were crazy.