1994 Dodge Caravan Base review from North America
"Reliable as an anvil, and decent gas mileage too"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Gears grind when shifting into reverse (always done this).
Starter wore out.
Motor mounts wore out.
General comments?
I bought this vehicle on eBay for $1700 in 2003 to use as a second run-around car - trips to Home Depot and the dump, transporting the dog, etc. It's been proved to be very dependable - so much so that it was my only vehicle for a while - and cheap to maintain. I've done nothing other than maintenance items over the years, there is no body rust, and the paint still shines like new. In 2006 I drove it from DC to Seattle, and in 2008 I drove it back to DC. Heck, even the air conditioner still works great!
The 5-speed manual transmission is a little clunky to shift sometimes (not slick like a Honda/Toyota manual), but the van is surprisingly peppy, rides comfortably, and gets about 18 MPG around town and 24-25 on a long trip. I wouldn't hesitate to get another one, though I suspect this 4-cylinder engine might be overburdened with an automatic transmission or by frequent heavy loads.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1994 |
| Year of manufacture | 1994 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.5L Fuel-Injected 4 cylinder Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 72000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 99500 miles |
| Date of Entry | 1st September, 2009 |