Would you buy a Chrysler Town & Country?

[uk_wildcat]

I have had mine for a week now and have nothing bad to say about it still. We took it on a short trip out of state and it did great. The kids are totally in love with having 2 screens that they can watch 2 different things on. I also love having the Sirius TV free for a year and will probably end up subscribing to it after that is over. I never thought I would own a mini van and now I wonder what took me so long!

 

[JB2K]

Personally, if the pricing was attractive (and the vehicle had a good reliability history), I'd buy one for two reasons:

• The President has already assured Americans the U.S. Government will stand behind these vehicles.
• Spare parts will still be in the pipeline for at least another 10 years (and even after that, there are retailers such as J.C. Whitney who will continue to sell spare parts).

 

[corndog]

No way. No how.

 

[limdougl]

Will I buy/lease another T and C?

On the fence- 36,000 with 75% highway and need new brakes and tires.
Also, in all of the 4 that we have leased each one had issues with the floor only heat or air. My sister has an Odessey by Honda and her expenses for gas are atleast half if not more LESS than ours. None of the four have every lived up to their mileages.

HOWEVER, the Honda has had to have more repair work done. We have taken our four to the shop maybe twice. Secondly, I ABSOLUTELY love the stow n' go, the automatic doors and my life for the trips to the Grandparents are made so much easier with the DVD.

If I got a good deal that made up for the mileage and gas issues, I would go with another T and C.

 

[runwad]

Will I buy/lease another T and C?

On the fence- 36,000 with 75% highway and need new brakes and tires.
Also, in all of the 4 that we have leased each one had issues with the floor only heat or air. My sister has an Odessey by Honda and her expenses for gas are atleast half if not more LESS than ours. None of the four have every lived up to their mileages.

HOWEVER, the Honda has had to have more repair work done. We have taken our four to the shop maybe twice. Secondly, I ABSOLUTELY love the stow n' go, the automatic doors and my life for the trips to the Grandparents are made so much easier with the DVD.

If I got a good deal that made up for the mileage and gas issues, I would go with another T and C.

Is the gas mileage really that bad? I thought it got 23mpg highway? Most minivans only get 24 anyway...or maybe I'm wrong?

 

[kritter]

We bought one three weeks ago and love it... We got a GREAT price from a VERY Good friend who works at the dealership....LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dancemom03]

In a heartbeat!

My current vehicle is a 2002 T&C with around 110,000 miles on it now. DH is a mechanic and has yet to put any real work into it. It's comfortable, dependable, roomy and rides well. The dealer messed up and the speedometer cable wasn't hooked up when we first drove it home so it had to go back for it's one, and so far only (quick, knock on some wood) dealer repair issue (he does brakes/oil/tune-ups himself). They gave us the newer model with stow & go seats. I'd really wanted those until I drove that for a week. They were much heavier and more difficult to fold/unfold than they'd looked on the commercials so in the end I was happier without them after all.

The van we traded in before our T&C was a 1997 Chrysler Grand Voyager with well over 200,000 miles on it. We'd rebuilt the trans at 145,000 miles. It was still running but I coveted the newer automatic doors something fierce. I remember when DD was in preschool - instead of walking in to pick the kids up, you got in line and drove around the loop to the door where the teachers would put the kids in and out of the cars for start/end of the day. They do that at our elem school now too. Anyway, back then the teachers used to tease me b/c mine was the only minivan without automatic doors. Yup, it might have still run fine with 200,000 miles and the body style still looked almost the same but I NEEDED those auto doors. It was a matter of parental honor...

 

[Dancemom03]

Is the gas mileage really that bad? I thought it got 23mpg highway? Most minivans only get 24 anyway...or maybe I'm wrong?

I have an 18 gallon tank and get between 350-400 miles to a fillup - around 20 MPG give or take. I think we usually make 3 or 4 gas stops driving from Maryland to WDW...

 

[pixiewings71]

I have an 18 gallon tank and get between 350-400 miles to a fillup - around 20 MPG give or take. I think we usually make 3 or 4 gas stops driving from Maryland to WDW...

That's exactly what I get, it varies based on the type of driving I'm doing. City vs Highway.

 

[MinnieMe2]

We traded our '03 T&C for an '08 a couple of months ago. I love this van. It has Stow & Go, which is a great perk. I show my bassets, so now I can pack all the dog stuff in the van, and when I unpack at the show site, I pop up the seats and can take people wherever. Also, it's nice to not have the seats we're not using stored in the garage.

Gas mileage is okay. I could probably do better, but I'm happy with what we get. The car is very comfy, and we're planning to drive from MA to Orlando in June.....

 

[DisneyFunTrips]

No Problems -not one Ever! Routine maintenance such as oil changes, new tires, belt. That's all. My mini van has been very, very good to me and my family. We also own a 2006 Hummer H2 - but nothing is more practical and fuel efficient than my T&C! My kids love having 3 rows of seats. Each child gets to stretch out on long drives. My husband likes the flash of the H2, but I am a mini type of gal! I am very pleased with it's performance - I'd buy a new one in a heartbeat - they have come down in price and a lot of the upgrades that I paid for are included. I just love all the new features of the new mini van's such as the stow and go seats. When on holiday, I always try to rent one of the newer models and they drive so smooth...love it!

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Our Town and Country is just a year old. Right now it has the low tire pressure symbol up, the Ac does not work and the right auto sliding door does not work.
Our last T&C had the same problem with the tires they would lose pressure in the cold and no cause ever found. Dh had the tires checked now and they are fune. Other than that I do like the car.

 

[emmababy]

Well guess what the T&C is out. My DH drives me nuts, he's out looking at a Buick Rendezvous or Ranier(sp?)....we've only ever had Buicks and Chevey's and thats all he will ever consider. He doesn't want new because he can get used cheaper. I was just really impressed with the T&C, but he doesn't like Chrysler. Geez I thought it was cool because it was an American company. Oh well hopefully this thread helped some others.

We have a Rainier and LOVVEEE it! It has had zero problems! We are also looking at a minivan, funny!

 

[emmababy]

Just my two cents: I recently bought a Honda Odyssey '09. I can honestly say that I am truly impressed with it, and I am NOT a van person. In fact, I vigorously fought getting a van for years but succumbed due to having two young girls who are high maintenance in the car. We've owned a cool Chevy tahoe, Blazer before that, then bought a CR-V and really fell in love with Honda. The Odyssey rides amazingly well...I liken it to a heavier CR-V which is a huge compliment to the van. Very tight, and not at all mushy and bouncy. It's also the very safest van out there, and there are deals to be had on it. My EX listed for about $34,500 and I bought it for $25,000...or very close to it. And I got 3.9% financing to boot.

Instead of paying $2500 for a drop-down DVD and remote starter I went after-market and got both for under $1000. I find that if you have a good DVD player with wireless headphones you don't need the Sirius tv. Kids fight over the remote and channels.

Yes, Chrysler has some great deals and you will never be able to buy a T&C cheaper, but make no mistake: there is a reason why they are the cheapest. And you get so screwed on the resale that it's not worth it. I also think you can get an Odyssey for as cheap as ever. I never expected to get mine for the price I paid. Great van...great price. And I never in my life expected to like a minivan.

Hope that helps!

Are you sure you have an EX and not an EX-L? I am currently looking and I saw that EX starts at 26k and EXL start at 30??

 

[ears2u]

I have owned a Chrysler Minivan. Never again.

The real cost of ownership includes not just the purchase price, but also maintenance, service and the money you get back at trade-in time. When all is considered, the only vans that make sense are Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. They are a tossup. Buy whichever one appeals more to you and/or is less to purchase at the time. You will not be sorry you opted for superior quality.

Also, Toyota and Honda will still be in business throughout your ownership period. I am sure you are aware of Chrysler's woes.

Good luck.