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4.0 vs 3.8L engine- is 4.0 that much beter?

19 messages,  Last post on Aug 13, 2009 at 9:05 AM

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#10 of 19 Re: bum deals [wp746911] by hummer1940 Apr 09, 2009 (4:55 pm)
Replying to: wp746911 (Apr 09, 2009 3:53 pm) If you can wait just a little, the 25th anniversary editions only started rolling out to dealers a few weeks ago. I know the one we bought was delivered March 24th so it was on the lot for under 2 weeks. It looks like the Chicago area has a lot more of them than the Houston area. It must be because Houston is a lot farther from Windsor, Ontario than Chicago is. They really are a nice van. Like you, I really wanted the 4.0L engine but did not want to pay for all the stuff that comes in the Limited. The 4.0L engine really makes the van move out smartly, maybe not like my Cadillac CTS, but pretty good for a minivan. I also love the IPOD interface, the 30GB hard drive, and Sirius. No shortage of entertainment options.   Anyway, good luck to you. Maybe the truck for Houston is on its way.....
#11 of 19 unfortunately by wp746911 Apr 09, 2009 (5:53 pm)
unfortunately i think the 25th aniv. edition has already hit houston- that s the touring with the 5,000 msrp option package with leather, dvd, etc right? I've found many many dealers that have them -but to get the 4.0L either they are black (i'm sorry if you buy a BLACK vehicle in houston, tx you need some psychiatric help) or they are at that dealer that won't go below 30k... I wonder if I could special order it and get it dropped shipped and still save the big $$? Replies to this message: hummer1940 (Apr 09, 2009 6:20 pm) hummer1940 (Apr 09, 2009 6:30 pm) wp746911 (Apr 09, 2009 8:45 pm) and 1 more...
#12 of 19 Re: unfortunately [wp746911] by hummer1940 Apr 09, 2009 (6:20 pm)
Replying to: wp746911 (Apr 09, 2009 5:53 pm) Yes, that's the option package (28M). We got the color we wanted (light blue) and there is no way we would get the black either and we're up here in Chicago. So none of the other dealers were willing to work with you to try and get one for you that you like at a price that you like? I would have thought with all the issues at Chrysler, the dealers would be falling over each other trying to sell a minivan to anyone. The dealer that I worked with was doing just about anything to not let me walk out the door.   Is it Baytown that you are working with? The web site says that they have one in Clearwater Blue which is the color that we bought. List price $35,355? Employee Price $31,439? Then you would also get $1,500 customer cash? And also a discount of around $1,500 for the free DVD. Can a dealer decide to not give you those advertised discounts?   I am very confused. Replies to this message: hummer1940 (Apr 09, 2009 6:30 pm) wp746911 (Apr 09, 2009 8:45 pm) hummer1940 (Apr 10, 2009 4:02 am)
#13 of 19 Re: unfortunately [hummer1940] by hummer1940 Apr 09, 2009 (6:30 pm)
Replying to: hummer1940 (Apr 09, 2009 6:20 pm) Oh, it looks like the one they have is the 28L package, which does not seem to be exactly what I got (28M). On the 28M, it had a package discount listed on the sticker of $1525 and it was called "25th anniversary edition bonus savings". On mine, the dealer gave me another $1400 off for the dual dvd discount, and then the $1500 customer cash. On the 28L, there is also a package discount of $1525 but it is called "Dual DVD Ent Grp Discount".   I'm still confused. Maybe when the vans start piling up on their lots, they will be more willing to deal with you.   Good luck. Replies to this message: wp746911 (Apr 09, 2009 8:45 pm) hummer1940 (Apr 10, 2009 4:02 am)
#14 of 19 Re: unfortunately [hummer1940] by wp746911 Apr 09, 2009 (8:45 pm)
Replying to: hummer1940 (Apr 09, 2009 6:30 pm) Hmm I never saw the one over in baytown. I flipped through about 10-15 dealers stock and didn't see that... I visited one dealer that had some good vans (but no 4.0L)-they gave me a good quote. I called a second that had 4.0L but gave me bad offers over the phone. I haven't pressed the first one to see if they can special order one-maybe I should try looking around again? Its not super easy to look through all the stock since every dealer has things listed using slightly different formats. I think those packages have to be basically the same? Replies to this message: hummer1940 (Apr 10, 2009 4:02 am)
#15 of 19 Re: unfortunately [wp746911] by hummer1940 Apr 10, 2009 (4:02 am)
Replying to: wp746911 (Apr 09, 2009 8:45 pm) It looks to me like the 28L package is very similar to the 28M packaging. The 28M is the newer 25th anniversary packaging so it has some nicer leather seats, 17" wheels with mineral gray painted accents, and a few other things. Also, a big difference that I can see is that the 25th anniversary (28M) would still be eligible for an additional $1400 DVD credit, whereas the 28L package would not since the 28L package already has a discount provided for the DVD.   http://blogs.internetautoguide.com/6487934/auto-news/chrysler-debuts-25th-annive- rsary-town-country-and-dodge-grand-caravan-editions/index.html
#16 of 19 Re: unfortunately by tom_in_az Apr 10, 2009 (7:30 am)
The DVD vs the DVD ENT package I think might be the difference of getting a setup with just DVD usage, as opposed to DVD + SiriusTV. You might want to ask about that. Tom
#17 of 19 diffference btwn 25l and 25m by wp746911 Apr 10, 2009 (7:47 am)
Customer Preferred Package 28M $ 5,240 17" x 6.5" Aluminum Wheels 25th Anniversary Edition Group Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats 8-Way Power Driver and Front-Passenger Seats Heated Front Seats Heated 2nd-Row Seats 2nd- and 3rd-Row Manual Window Shades Premium Sliding Front Console with Cupholders Dual Screen DVD Entertainment System 2nd-Row Overhead 9" Video Screen 3rd-Row Overhead 9" Video Screen Additional Single Disc DVD Player Wireless Headphones (IR) Video Remote Control uconnect tunes Hard Disc Drive ParkView(R) Rear Back-up Camera Electronic Vehicle Information Center Tire Pressure Monitoring Display Remote Start System P225/65R17 BSW A/S Touring Tires 25th Anniv. Edition Bonus Savings $ -1,525     Customer Preferred Package 28L $ 5,045 Leather Interior Group Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats 8-Way Power Driver and Front-Passenger Seats Heated Front Seats Heated 2nd-Row Seats 2nd- and 3rd-Row Manual Window Shades Premium Sliding Front Console with Cupholders Dual Screen DVD Entertainment System 2nd-Row Overhead 9" Video Screen Additional Single Disc DVD Player Wireless Headphones (IR) Video Remote Control uconnect tunes Hard Disc Drive ParkView(R) Rear Back-up Camera Electronic Vehicle Information Center Tire Pressure Monitoring Display Remote Start System Medium Slate Seats Dual DVD Entertainment Grp Discount $ -1,525   17" x 6.5" Aluminum Wheels and touring tires seem to be the biggest difference. It appears the 25M is acutally about $200 more expenive though...
#18 of 19 Re: 4.0 vs 3.8L engine- is 4.0 that much beter? [wp746911] by dustdevil1 Jun 30, 2009 (5:18 pm)
Replying to: wp746911 (Apr 02, 2009 6:42 am) Recently picked up an 09 Touring with the 4.0 engine...replacing a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan with the 3.8 5spd AOD. Power seems near identical, with the exception of the 6 spd auto in the 4.0 shifts earlier and seems more buzzy than the 3.8 5spd version. Although the sticker says the 4.0 will return better MPG...that hasn't happened yet. The 3.8 delivered near 26 MPG on the road...the 4.0 struggles to get to 23 MPG. Maybe it will pick up with more mileage on the vehicle...but I don't see it happening.
#19 of 19 Wannabe racer! by intrepidacious Aug 13, 2009 (9:05 am)
We have a 2009 4.0L 25th Anniversary Touring. I definitely have to throw in my vote that the 4.0L is great!   We didn't see higher MPG from our van until we had a couple thousand miles behind it. Cruising on the highway in Florida we can easily get high-20's at 70mph.   Remember that the new vans are larger and heavier than the old vans. You need extra power to make up the difference.   As I've pointed out elsewhere, they're quick vans with the 4.0L, doing 0-60 in about 7.8 seconds, which is typically better than Siennas and Odysseys can do.

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