Grand Caravan SXT-LOVE IT--8000miles--WE love it!

Author's Rating:

Pros: EVERYTHING--STOW & GO,quietness and all of the features added this year.

Cons: NOTHING but the tire brand which is Bridgestone. I prefer Michellin.

The Bottom Line: 
LOVE this Grand Caravan and feel safe recommending it to anyone. It has everything I like and nothing I didn't want.

Author's Review
We traded in our '98 Grand Caravan and leased a 2005 Stow & GO Caravan. It has a 3.8V6 engine --plenty strong for over mountains or hauling things. We live in an old house and haul lumber etc to fix up all the time. I wanted Traction Control (for low speed driving)since my old Caravan had All Wheel Drive.

A mechanic told me new cars are going through brake pads/rotors fast but I just READ my INSTRUCTION book and they tell you to down-shift to 3 when going down a steep long hill or mountain to save the brakes and it would NOT hurt the transmission. I am doing it. Number 3 on the gear shift goes through all three gears but does not have overdrive so in 3 you have "hold back" and not free wheeling of Overdrive.

STOW & GO is a MIRACLE of convenience. I have tendonitus and just had carpal tunnel operation but can flip the seats with NO trouble! HOW wonderful, need room? NO seats to lug-just flip them and you have flat cargo space!
Tried a Toyota and I KNOW that the trade in later is better and it was a little quieter but the TOYOTA'S steering wheel was NOT good for seeing the controls/odometer/gas etc. and I could not get the seat higher.

The Electric seat (8-way) in the driver's side is great for me(5'3") and hubby (6') I can sit and be comfortable (In the Toyota I could NOT get the NON-electric seat quite right)

I like the new white face instrument cluster with Tachometer. I discovered when pulling out from stops that if I keep it from going way up--I get MUCH better gas mileage so I do use it. I have learned to be gentle with the gas pedal in order to save many gallons of gas!

The console to show temp/compass and also shows MPG average plus time you've driven (for finding how long it takes to get somewhere--you can even pause it when eating or at a rest stop etc.)There are buttons for UNIVERSAL garage door opener. WE did not get it but you can GET the more deluxe console that also programs doors, service-due chime (oil changes) but it is available.

The key pad can open both-side sliding doors(great for sore wrists,full arms). The back hatch opener is available but we got a lower-priced model. I already love the auto-opening side doors. There is a button on the post so you can close the doors by button too and has a child-proof switch in door so no child can exit right into traffic without driver's knowledge. The key pad can open doors,turn lights on as it unlocks the doors for you. The horn blows when locked BUT NOT LOUDLY and NOT BLASTING YOU.

Front-advanced multistage air bags--you don't have to worry about small person being hurt by air bags! Driver side inflatable KNEE BLOCKER saves your knees in an accident.

The back of the driver's seat has those wonderful hooks for handle bags--NO SLIDING bags all over the back. But not to worry--they still have them on the back 3rd seat also.

The dropped cargo area in the back is wonderful for grocery bags or anything you buy--keeps it out of site and "together" on the trip home. AND you can flip those seats down and have more room if you buy more than you planned to do.They even include 1 front and two back cargo nets at no extra charge.

A wheelchair will sit upright on the floor with the seats down and there are hooks and with bungee cord-you can secure it either in place of one of second row seat OR in the back cargo area. (My mom uses one)

RADIO--sounds great with 6 speakers and has all kinds of great features. It plays Cds and tapes.

THIS MODEL my husband can change our own oil as it is now within reach. In the 1998 G.Caravan you'd need double-jointed elbow!

We do combination driving (town/country) and BRAND new are getting about 23mpg. Not bad, and it will get better as the car is broken in.

I sent a letter to Chrysler Corp., two years ago of all the things I would wish for in my CARAVAN and they answered with a list. It showed that ALL of my wishes came true in this 2005 model. Now I only wish I'd had one when our daughters were small! You shouldn't have children without a Grand Caravan!

This Grand Caravan IS quieter than the old one and in summation I must say it IS truly GRAND!

UPDATE: Now have driven on a short trip (100 miles each way) and used fog lights! I have to say the HEADLIGHTS are better this year too than my 1998 one. This car has NO dark spot in front of the car and the FOG LIGHTS are great in the warm, foggy nights! The controls on the dash are right where I can reach without LOOKING AWAY from the road.

ONE WARNING----BE SURE to fold up the arms on the seats BEFORE using STOW & GO!! NOW with 8000 miles on it, I have a question the dealer still hasn't answered--I asked for ABS brakes and my paper says--computer assisted brakes. IS THAT THE SAME thing ?
These brakes don't seem quite so easy to use as the older Grand Caravan (seems to take more effort) but I still love this car and wouldn't trade it for any other I've seen or driven! SO far nothing has needed fixed (GREAT!!!) NO FACTORY DEFECTS!

Car is wearing well--looks and feels like brand new even after two trips !! (wish could say the same for driver!!:) )

NOW in 2007 our 2005 Caravan carried us to GA from PA (our home) and we got 27.9MPG and 28.4mpg on this trip. That's loaded with luggage and cameras etc. We have 26000 miles on it now and it's "broken in". We just might keep this lease. The only reason I'd part with it is the new LIFETIME guarantee on the powertrain on the new ones!