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Sienna vs Grand Caravan/Town & Country

140 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2007 at 12:22 PM

You are in the Toyota Sienna Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country, Van

Messages Page 11 of 14

#101 of 140 Re: GC vs. Sienna... [rsmartin] by hansienna

Nov 11, 2006 (10:33 pm)

Replying to: rsmartin (Nov 11, 2006 3:54 pm)
DO NOT BUY A SIENNA. I bought a NEW 2006 Sienna LE and it is NOT as good as my used 2002 T&C LX that cost much less.
     It appears that you got your 2001 T&C as a USED vehicle. If so, you have no idea how the first owner drove or maintained it.
     NEVER buy a USED Grand Caravan or T&C that was first sold to a fleet or rental agency where it got abused.

#102 of 140 sienna is way better by caravan2

Nov 12, 2006 (8:23 am)

Sienna is better then the gc/t&c for quite a few reasons.
First of all, the gc/t&c does not have stabilty
control .Plus the gc/t&c has the most crapyyest interior have ever seen ( besides the mazda mpv).
Even though the gc/t&c is cheaper the sienna has all those features that the gc/t&c does not have and more. For example,standert mp3 players on all modles,stabilitycontrol,etc..... .The only good
part for the gc/t&c is the stow and go.And if you do not like the sienna go with the oddesy.And if you do not like the oddesy go with the kia sedona or the entorage.And if you do not like the those go with the gm twins.My werst recomendations are the mazda mpvand the gc/t&c .

#103 of 140 Re: sienna NOT better [caravan2] by hansienna

Nov 12, 2006 (9:29 am)

Replying to: caravan2 (Nov 12, 2006 8:23 am)
The Sienna has a VERY POORLY designed dash with curved shiny surface on the center part which causes glare from the sunshine...unless you live where it is cloudy all the time. Why didn't the jerks who write glowing reports about the Sienna notice this design blunder?
     I agree: The GC/T&C interior does NOT look as elegant as the Sienna and the GC /T&C does not have the over-hyped MP3 player connection BUT the GC/T&C do have cassette players in addition to the CD player. The GC/T&C have power liftgate optional in much lower priced vehicles and have both side power sliding doors in more vehicles than the Sienna. The GC / T&C have MORE comfortable seats in every place but the driver's seat and have separately controlled temperature for the driver and front passenger in most models.
     BTW, Stability control is NOT standard on most Siennas.
     I have owned a 2002 T&C LX and a NEW 2006 Sienna LE. The T&C was by far the most desireable minivan.

#104 of 140 Re: GC vs. Sienna... [hansienna] by rsmartin

Nov 12, 2006 (7:38 pm)

Replying to: hansienna (Nov 11, 2006 10:33 pm)
Yes it was used. I bought it from the dealer from whom the original owner bought it new. While I don't know how they drove it, I know it wasn't a rental. My point is, there are definite engineering flaws in the Chrysler, particularly with the transmission. Ours is the Limited model so it is very nice inside and rides smooth and quiet. But I can't put up with all the mechanical nonsense anymore.

#105 of 140 Re: GC vs. Sienna... [rsmartin] by hansienna

Nov 16, 2006 (4:03 pm)

Replying to: rsmartin (Nov 12, 2006 7:38 pm)
There are NO engineering flaws in the Chrysler or in the Chrysler transmission.
     Chrysler transmission problems have been caused by un-informed people putting the wrong transmission fluid into the Chrysler automatic transmissions. Many Chrysler minivans were ABUSED by the fleet or rental users before being purchased by a private individual although yours was not a rental.
     Did you ask the salesman why the first owner got rid of it?
     If you are having mechanical problems, trade it off just like I plan to trade off my 2006 Sienna LE since I do NOT like it as well as my 2002 T&C LX.

#106 of 140 Re: GC vs. Sienna... [hansienna] by avery1

Nov 16, 2006 (6:14 pm)

Replying to: hansienna (Nov 16, 2006 4:03 pm)
Nonsense! My brother has purchased two Chrysler minivans new. The transmission went out in the first one at 65,000. He believed the salesman's story about those problems being in the past and bought a second one. The tranny went out on this one at 72,000 miles. He replaced it with a rebuilt one and within a year and a half that one went out. I would never buy a Chrysler minivan without a warranty that would run as long as I planned on keeping the car.

#107 of 140 Re: GC vs. Sienna... [avery1] by hansienna

Nov 16, 2006 (10:56 pm)

Replying to: avery1 (Nov 16, 2006 6:14 pm)
Where did he have the transmission serviced? Is he sure the correct transmission fluid was used if serviced?

#108 of 140 Re: GC vs. Sienna... [hansienna] by avery1

Nov 17, 2006 (2:19 am)

Replying to: hansienna (Nov 16, 2006 10:56 pm)
It was always serviced at the dealer.

#109 of 140 Chrysler transmissions by fezo

Nov 21, 2006 (6:48 pm)

Usually when you see tranny problems in the Chrysler vans it is because they have the 3.8 engine rather than the 3.3. The engine simply overpowers the transmission. In my completely unscientific survey every person I've known who had a transmission issue had the bigger (well, bored out bigger) engine.
 
My next door neighbor was tipped off to this years ago by a Chrysler mechanic. His current GC has over 220K on it. The one before that nearly hit 300K. He reminds me that he's never had a tranny issue while I did have one on my Odyssey. At least my tranny was replaced at no cost - even with a loaner. Whew!

#110 of 140 Re: sienna NOT better [hansienna] by bobw3

Nov 22, 2006 (7:10 am)

Replying to: hansienna (Nov 12, 2006 9:29 am)
/T&C do have cassette players in addition to the CD player
 
what's a cassette player?

Messages Page 11 of 14

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