2004 Dodge Caravan, 177k miles, v6 auto, $1561.
I don’t know anything about these. Saw this one on the website of the local used car dealer when I wanted to know the price of the FJ cruiser on the lot.
https://www.leesburgautoimport.com/vehicle-details/2004-dodge-grand-caravan-se-van-0bdb5aa609d24b388cba64d03684d7b8
I’m thinking of taking out all the seats to use as a panel van for home depot trips. Also it should have no problem towing my, soon to be completed, race exocet and trailer (2500lbs). Especially with the both rear rows of seats removed. And of course it’s challenged priced! It would be sooo slow, but I can’t think of vehicle where I could make a higher percentage performance improvement:)
I don’t want a vehicle that has critical flaws and could blow up on me if I look at it wrong. Not particularily worried about wasting money. More worried about wasting time.
Never bought a car with this many miles. How do I know if it’s a good one?
Anyone have experience?
Thanks, Justin
Other than my parents swearing by Caravans for about 20 years, no real insight to add other than I don't recall them having any significant issues with them. Also look around FB marketplace. There seem to be quite a few in the region with similar year/miles/price (some even lower price). At very least may get you some price-reduction leverage with that dealer.
That said, it's interesting the page says it has a 3L 12v V6. That would be presumably referring to the 6G72 (a Mitsubishi engine made all the way back in the late 80s through the late 90s and used in the Caravan among other Chrysler/Mitsu vehicles). But to my knowledge they stopped putting that engine in the Caravan in 2000 and put the EGA/EGH engines (3.3L and 3.8L) into it going forward. So that seems a bit odd to me, unless my memory is wrong.
If it has a 6G72 it's gonna be pretty slow. I have that engine in my Raider, and while it has decent power for the 80s (160ish) I certainly wouldn't think of it as a performance-oriented engine.
You're right, the 3.0 mitsu motor stopped in 2000. The 3.3/3.8 are better in general anyway. I bought one of these barely drivable for almost nothing and dropped about $1500 making it really nice, and it's now my dad's. I took a road trip that including driving up a 14k foot mountain in it last year @ ~220k miles, and I'd do it again right now. You don't sound like you're trying to make it really nice (for what it is) as a transportation appliance so should be even easier for you to get your value out of it. The only thing that really breaks and actually costs money is the trans. It isn't common in these later years like it was in the earlier vans, but it's really the only thing that's even semi-likely to come up that will cost as much as the vehicle is worth (unless you install a junkyard unit yourself).
If it drives ok and doesn't give any of the regular used car warning signs (ugly fluid conditions/smells, actual drivability symptoms etc) then it's probably as fine as you can expect it to be for the money and should have an ok time towing your race stuff. I haven't actually towed with this gen of caravan but i've towed with the previous THREE gens (and heavier loads than you) and it was fine.
