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Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country?

18 messages,  Last post on Aug 30, 2012 at 9:47 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chrysler Town and Country, Car Buying, Van

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#1 of 18 Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country? by arasheed2010

Jan 23, 2012 (10:48 am)

Test drove the 2012 Town and Country and it seems really nice. With incentive/rebates, the dealer is offering the Touring for $21000!
 
Seems like a great deal. A bit nervous based on some brakes & transmission shudder troubles I've read (see post in Edmunds) on the 2011 version.
 
Would really like to hear from those who have purchased one on their experiences - specially with regards to maintenance issues. Anything in particular I should be on the watch for? Thanks!

#2 of 18 Summary of 2011 T&C maintenance issues by arasheed2010

Jan 23, 2012 (11:43 am)

Forgot to mention... based on the other posts, here's what I've gathered as common issues on the 2011 version (please correct me if you find out otherwise):
 
1- Transmission shudder at idle (1200-1400 RPM) and stopped:
   Responses/fixes:
      a- this is normal behavior for the PentaStar engine. Suck it up. (really? wow)
      b- could need a "reflash" of the transmission
      c- converter needs to be shimmed?
 
2- Transmission clunking/banging when shifting into 2nd gear:
  Responses/fixes: reprogram the computer ... but problem not fixed
 
3- Transmission clunking at ~4 mph:
  Chrysler response: this is normal and there is no repair
 
4- Car jerking when in ECON
 
4- Excessive brake wear + brake dust:
  Response/fixes: keep changing the rotors/pads.... apparently someone complained enough and got upgraded rotors/pads that solved the issue
 
5- Check engine light with chugging sound:
  Chrysler response: replace the "cam sensor phasers"

#3 of 18 Re: Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country? [arasheed2010] by shugaray89

Jan 30, 2012 (9:00 am)

Replying to: arasheed2010 (Jan 23, 2012 10:48 am)
The deal that you were offered was with what dealership because I'm in contact with a dealer in SC and he's only offering the Touring for $27,000 your dealer info and incentive/rebate info would be helpful.
 
Thanks

#4 of 18 Re: Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country? [shugaray89] by drivejapcar

Feb 01, 2012 (3:01 pm)

Replying to: shugaray89 (Jan 30, 2012 9:00 am)
$21K for the 2012 T&C Touring is a steal. I'm looking to get one and would jump on the deal for any they have, even with the color I hate. Care to share the info? Thanks.

#5 of 18 Re: Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country? [drivejapcar] by arasheed2010

Feb 01, 2012 (7:48 pm)

Replying to: drivejapcar (Feb 01, 2012 3:01 pm)
Sorry for the delay... wierd internet issues. The deal was offered in January in the Albany (NY) area at a local dealer. It included a huge number rebates ($3100 from the dealer, $1000 rebate from Chrysler, $3000 for balloon financing, $500 for being a realtor, $500 for military service, $1000 for some kind of Chrylser direct marketing, $750 for previously owning a minivan, $1000 for previously having a leased car). Pretty much everyone qualified for the $3100+$3000+$1000 ($7100 off MSRP).
 
If you qualified for everything (unlikely) - you could get the T&C for $19k! Overall a pretty amazing deal. Salesperson said it was unlikely to be that low again (no surprise).

#6 of 18 Re: Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country? [arasheed2010] by shugaray89

Feb 02, 2012 (10:31 am)

Replying to: arasheed2010 (Feb 01, 2012 7:48 pm)
Thanks arasheed I don't know if I will get the $7100 off but it's worth a try.
 
Thanks again

#7 of 18 Re: Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country? [arasheed2010] by drivejapcar

Feb 08, 2012 (6:08 pm)

Replying to: arasheed2010 (Feb 01, 2012 7:48 pm)
$7100 off for ~$30K is a lot of discount that is great you that you be able to get. Any catch with this?
 
I came to a local dealer to test drive the Touring and was offered $24K. I considered it a good price, but the fishy part is I have to do the balloon finance through Ally to get that price. Otherwise, $3000 more ($27K), even with cash.
 
They said I can do finance to get discount and payoff the next day. This is too good to be true if there no catch.
 
Anyone did this balloon finance and paid off? Is there a mark up, extra fee for them to get you back on the $3K discount they gave. They told me no early pay off fee. But I'm still keptical. Unless I see the whole contract and and fine prints, I smell something not right with the deal.
 
Anyone care to share experience with the discount/balloon finance?

#8 of 18 Re: Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country? [drivejapcar] by arasheed2010

Feb 08, 2012 (8:15 pm)

Replying to: drivejapcar (Feb 08, 2012 6:08 pm)
I am very curious too about the balloon finance. I've heard different answers from different dealers. One said I could pay it off the next month (I didn't ask about next day). The other said I would have to wait 11 months and could pay it off in the 12th month (still a great deal.. one year of interest is still pretty low). Another said, if I pay it off too early - I could jeopardize the rebate. Definitely read the fine print.
 
Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with the balloon rebate and paying off the loan early.

#9 of 18 Re: Any experience with 2012 Chrysler Town & Country? [arasheed2010] by dave415

Feb 18, 2012 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: arasheed2010 (Feb 08, 2012 8:15 pm)
hi
 
first post in the forum!
 
i just bought today a T&C touring L with Sunroof, nav,... MSRP $36k i was able to get 3000 cash back with Ally which was not a balloon financing, just regular loan with a very low rates!
Final price 28k + tax

#10 of 18 Bought one by drivejapcar

Feb 19, 2012 (4:16 am)

Thanks Dave for the info. I asked and concerned above about the finance. But just cleared it up and bought the Touring few days ago and want to share some info with other members here.
 
Like Dave, we got $3K off the price for financing with Ally. It was just regular finance, not balloon as thought/mentioned before. The $3K off was written as rebate on the sale. And the finance terms & conditions clearly stated no early penalty for early payoff. No other fee or fine print lines that I can catch that concerns me. Interest rate was one of the lowest I ever seen too, as for up to 84months for 2.9%. I was very skeptical about this whole finance/discount deal.
 
Dealer also mentioned about other discounts as mentioned here like military, current dodge/jeep/chrysler owner discounts etc... I dont qualify for any of those (I shoulda say yes to all of those , not sure what proof required.)
 
We bought the Touring for $23,995. I tried to bargain down a little more, but couldn't get them go down a dime. They even refused give all-weather floor mats ( I always got this in any previous purchase/negotiation deals). Other than $25 for a temp. plate registration on top of the price we pay nothing else. $23,995 + $25. That's it. No BS documentation fee. And no sale tax in NH.
 
The only thing we have to sacrify was we didn't get to pick the exact ext. and int. color we wanted. They wanted extra $900 for that and would take few weeks to locate and deliver. They had the Touring-L in color we wanted but its $4K more. Not only it's over our budget but I also think its not worthed that much more $$$ for the extra features.
 
Hope these info will help someone looking into getting T&C. If you have question or want to know other info, post it here. I'll try to answer. And I'm hoping to have some time to post few first impressions after 1 week of driving and compare to our previous Toyota Sienna.

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