The achilles heel of these vans to me is the 3-4 WOT upshift and the 4th gear ratio. If you never floor your minivans WELL past 70 mph, you won't care. 
I'm excited to drive a new Pacifica...
The achilles heel of these vans to me is the 3-4 WOT upshift and the 4th gear ratio. If you never floor your minivans WELL past 70 mph, you won't care.
I'm excited to drive a new Pacifica...
Vigo said:The achilles heel of these vans to me is the 3-4 WOT upshift and the 4th gear ratio. If you never floor your minivans WELL past 70 mph, you won't care.
I'm excited to drive a new Pacifica...
We've had this discussion before, and I am absolutely not arguing against your experiences, but you are literally the only person I've ever met that had a problem with this.
That being said, the shift patterns on the 6-speed are not great... but they are not deal killers to me.
poopshovel again said:Is the interior of the T&C's noticeably better than the GC's?
If you get the upgraded interior on the G/C, they are nearly identical. I think the T/C comes standard with the "super console" and other options, but honestly, the regular console is more versitile than the "super", although it isnt' as pretty.
but you are literally the only person I've ever met that had a problem with this.
Have you met anyone else with two turbocharged Caravans that he drag races? You could say i'm 'unusually picky' about the acceleration of Dodge Caravans.
Vigo said:but you are literally the only person I've ever met that had a problem with this.
Have you met anyone else with two turbocharged Caravans that he drag races? You could say i'm 'unusually picky' about the acceleration of Dodge Caravans.
You could add a turbo...
poopshovel again said:Is the interior of the T&C's noticeably better than the GC's?
Not as a rule, but I get the impression bare-bones vans (like mine) are more common among the GC. Every TC I've seen has higher spec interior trim as well as more power windows. The rear door windows on mine are fixed and the rear windows flip out manually. Nicer vans have power rear door windows and the rear windows can be controlled from the driver's door. My van has two options: Stow-n-Go and rear A/C controls.
Part of me would like my van to have the nicer interior... and then I remember the dirty crap I've hauled around in mine and it bothers me less. My priorities are definitely cargo first, people-hauler a distant second.
poopshovel again said:Is the interior of the T&C's noticeably better than the GC's?
I don't know about the rest of the interior, but the "nappa leather" in the T&C Limited trim should be noticeably nicer feeling than in the GC and lower trim T&C...Probably has a few other niceties as well, but also probably no deal breakers if 'forced' to live without.
I wish Chrysler still offered rich Corinthian leather. Now that stuff was plush.
Close to pulling the trigger on one I initially posted. It’s been sitting on the lot for 4+ months, and they’re ready to wheel & deal on price.
It DOES have a little bit of clicky ticky valve-sounding noise. Is this common? Is 41k miles time for an adjustment?
EDIT: Maybe this is the issue?
In reply to poopshovel again :
They better be ready to seriously wheel and deal, since they were basically asking new price for a used car. Especially if it has valve tick. Sure it's valve tick, and not just loud injectors?
Their offer is $19.5k. $9k trade-in on the Mazda5, which is on the “high side” on kbb. Noise is only noticeable at idle. Took a video but no clue how to post it.
Definitely not as pronounced as the noise in that video, so could just be injectors.
The 3.6L in my 2012 Wrangler with 39k miles is clickity-clacky like that. It has done it since new (bought with 4 miles on the clock). The Pentastar makes a lot of noise from the injectors.
My local Carmax has stuff in that same price range. They have a lot to choose from - have you looked?
I think $19.5 with a generous $9000 trade-in seems like a good deal. You might have a hard time moving the Mazda5 - my manual Mazda5 sold for very little and had little interest locally when I sold it.
Hmmmmm..... My 3.6 Pentastar hums, no clicky-clacky. (32K miles) It does emit a moaning noise when it's cold and I first start it up........but I guess I do the same thing!
Joe Gearin said:Hmmmmm..... My 3.6 Pentastar hums, no clicky-clacky. (32K miles) It does emit a moaning noise when it's cold and I first start it up........but I guess I do the same thing!
Mine moans too. I assume the PS fluid takes a minute to get pumping. It has audible injector noise as well, but that’s at the same rpm as the engine, not slower.
Duke said:Joe Gearin said:Hmmmmm..... My 3.6 Pentastar hums, no clicky-clacky. (32K miles) It does emit a moaning noise when it's cold and I first start it up........but I guess I do the same thing!
Mine moans too. I assume the PS fluid takes a minute to get pumping. It has audible injector noise as well, but that’s at the rpm as the engine, not slower.
x3
It has been a while since I was with the pentastar crew.. but I recall that there were different suspension options (damper spring combo) between fleet, standard GC, Sport GC, standard TC and Lux TC.
I remember a mule with a potential European market tune. Man that was NICE! I think they didn't even launch that one due to budget issues. Just used the lux TC dampers.... IDK long ago now.
So a choppy ride in my dad's GC GT is very noticeably different from the smoother highway crusher feel in my brother's TC top model (Limited?)
They do go fast as they are solid products with the 3.6L. The Uconnect has been pretty much the only consistently highly rated dash multi purpose system. One of the few Chrysler cars with enough volume to make parts easy to find. So one of the few Chrysler products that hold value. Still you are buying a vehicle designed in 2006-7. Minivan market has gotten smaller and, like the sedan market, is getting better products released rather than worse. So a modern Oddessy, Sedona, or Pacifica will be a significant step above any GC or TC.
It will reward patience to find the well maintained grandparent owned unit. Swapping suspension shouldn't be too tough to get whichever ride you want.
drainoil said:Duke said:Joe Gearin said:Hmmmmm..... My 3.6 Pentastar hums, no clicky-clacky. (32K miles) It does emit a moaning noise when it's cold and I first start it up........but I guess I do the same thing!
Mine moans too. I assume the PS fluid takes a minute to get pumping. It has audible injector noise as well, but that’s at the rpm as the engine, not slower.
x3
Hmm sounds like some emissions trickery to get the cats hot faster.
In reply to Advan046 :
you're not wrong. The new sienna's are pretty dang impressive. Of course you aren't going to get one for 19.5, but still. We have a loaded up T&C on our lot right now & it rides noticeably better than my parent's GC
I've got an 09 GC SE, with 160k on it. It rides and drives very well for being a big underpowered van (it has the old school 3.3 4spd combo) , Even with majorly worn, probably original, struts and shocks it out handled and was more comfortable a drive than the 99 CV I recently sold.
We bought ours as on off-lease former fleet purchase for 10k back in 2012 it had 105k on it then. It came with the stow n go, power windows in the doors, and basic uconnect bluetooth. It has proven itself to be a good deal and well worth it. I figure in another 4 years at 200k we'll probably replace it as we don't have a need for something this big anymore.
FWIW, get the lower level model without the toys, that way there are fewer things to go wrong. The more tech, the more problems.
Buy Petegossetts. I won't be able to by the time he's selling it.
DANGIT! You guys have me “waffling” a little. Dodge Dealer about 20 miles away has several new SE’s listed at $23k....
poopshovel again said:DANGIT! You guys have me “waffling” a little. Dodge Dealer about 20 miles away has several new SE’s listed at $23k....
That's absolutely what I would do, if you can get the package deal within $4k of the used one. Unless you're only planning to keep the van for a couple years.
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