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04-26-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: grand bay
Posts: 294
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Topic: All Van Owners
All Van Owners
Hello everyone, we are thinking about buying a used van . we have never owned a van and would like some thoughts on what make,model ect. any help and info would be great thanks in advance to all. Good and bad experiences
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04-26-2007
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Long-Time Member (500+ posts)
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 579
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Topic: All Van Owners
1996 Ford Windstar - never had any issues except the transmission, I have had the van 4yrs and I am on the 3rd transmission since buying it. (had one put in a couple days before buying it, almost 1yr exactly to the day had to have it replaced, and still have this one going...but its starting to slip.
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04-26-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: grand bay
Posts: 294
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Topic: All Van Owners
thanks christine chittick
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04-26-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 494
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Topic: All Van Owners
I bought a 98 pontiac trans sport (montana after 98) 2 years and love it, I haven't had to put ANY money into it (with the exeption of a few dollars for blinker light bulbs)
The only thing that makes me uneasy about it is that the engine light always comes on but there is really nothing wrong, I've talked to a few other people who said the engine lights come on in theirs too fot no apparent reason.
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04-26-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 157
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Topic: All Van Owners
I know alot of people with those Ford Windstars and they all had to replace the transmisssion or the motor. I would suggest a different kind of van.
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04-26-2007
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**Bronze-Level** Paid Account
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Home
Posts: 1,895
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Topic: All Van Owners
If you want a good reliable van I would consider staying with a foreign model. People say that they are more expensive in parts but I don't find that it's really a factor because you don't have to replace them as often.
I have driven a Mazda MPV for years, I had a 1997 and know I am driving a 2003. Great van, I never had a problem with any of them. On the 1997 the only thing I had to replace was a battery and tires.
Best advice look at a Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, or a Mazda MPV. A good place to check out is Auto Village. Great service, complimentary gifts, and great warranties.
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04-26-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: rothesay
Posts: 439
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Topic: All Van Owners
montana
i have one as well 2002?
very nice bliker and rear lights..
been to hali and back many times
awsome on gas
well not to awsome lol but better than my friends van
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04-26-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: grand bay
Posts: 294
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Topic: All Van Owners
What about a Dodge Grand Caravan ?
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04-26-2007
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**Bronze-Level** Paid Account
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Home
Posts: 1,895
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Topic: All Van Owners
Grand Caravan is a nice looking vehicle, most people say they are pretty reliable. The only thing I heard about them is that you have to replace the head gasket every 70,000 kms or so.
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04-26-2007
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Long-Time Member (500+ posts)
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,384
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Topic: All Van Owners
van
i two have a mazda mpv 4x4 great vehycle to own.very reliable.
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04-26-2007
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Member
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 114
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Topic: All Van Owners
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeep97
I know alot of people with those Ford Windstars and they all had to replace the transmisssion or the motor. I would suggest a different kind of van.
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I have had a 1996, 2000,2002 windstars and have never had any problems. I also drove 2000+ caravans and had no issues there either.
dave
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04-26-2007
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Member
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 302
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Topic: All Van Owners
We had a 1990 Dodge Caravan that we finally just gave up on in Dec. of last year.Never had a major thing done to it..light changes,brakes,tires,that sort of thing only.It was a very reliable van and I can still go start it lol. We haven't got rid of it yet and have it parked behind house.
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04-26-2007
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Long-Time Member (500+ posts)
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 540
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Topic: All Van Owners
well hey guys i had just bought a windstar about a month ago please don't tell me about transmission i am paying enough for monthly payment don't need to replace front ends i hope i don't have problems my van is a 2003 and it works great so far
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04-26-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 489
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Topic: All Van Owners
I have a 1999 Pontiac Transport (Montana) that works awesome! Never had to do anything major to it at all and I've owned for about 5 years or so. I have the same problem with my engine light coming on after so many kms, but someone told me it might have a sensor that automatically makes it come on to remind you to go in for service after so many kms. Who knows.
My mother has the Caravan, and she's never had any major issues except for the head gasket...she's owned the van for a few years now and it's almost like once a year she has to replace it.
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04-26-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 262
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Topic: All Van Owners
my wife had a transport van.....she really REALLY misses it.
only problem we had was a started went on it......actualy a wire on the starter went on it
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04-26-2007
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Long-Time Member (500+ posts)
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: South Bay,West
Posts: 1,412
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Topic: All Van Owners
Dodge Vans and Ford Vans are very numerous for parts or 'for sale' so one has to ask why ?? Especially Ford escorts !! not many but quite often you see the Dodge caravans for sale also(usually transmissions going or gone).- Rick.
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04-27-2007
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Member (100 to 500 posts)
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 387
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Topic: All Van Owners
We had a 89 Dodge Caravan that didn't kick the bucket until it was in an accident in 2002 and was wrote off. Only big thing we fixed was the transmission but that didn't go until maybe 2001.
We have a 1997 Caravan now that has worked great up until a few weeks ago, after 10 years the transmission did go.
Nice thing about these vans is that they are popular which makes parts easy to find and for them to be pretty easy fixes for mose mechanics.
They drive really well and are comfy. Not too bad on gas either.
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04-27-2007
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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 903
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Topic: All Van Owners
we own a 95 Lumina van for 4 years nothing major happen yet.. other than replacing alternator & water pump. the brake light stays on when it warms up.. but during the winter it shutts of..lol
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04-27-2007
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Member
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 604
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Topic: All Van Owners
We're on our second caravan. First one was in an accident. the transmission did go on it without any warning. On a hot, hot day in July, very pregnant, two kids and a load of groceries. Fire fighters came to my rescue though and the ride in the tow truck did not put me in labour.
I love the Caravan. Friends have an MPV and a Venture and I like the feel of the Caravan best.
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04-27-2007
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Long-Time Member (500+ posts)
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,240
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Topic: All Van Owners
I have a 2000 Ford Windstar as well...we take good care of it, but never had any issues.
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