Best van for under $3k?

What is it these days? Am I on the right track looking for the cleanest lowest-mileage 4th gen Chrysler? At what mileage do they pretty much die? What other models to seek or avoid?

SWMBO needs a vehicle for her ceramic art business. No kids (but probably in 1 to 2 years) so it will mostly be used for long-distance cargo hauling about 10 times per year (art booth, tent, shelving, merchandise, etc) and very light-use daily driving (works from home). She was using her mom's Saturn Vue for shows last year, which was not quite long enough. Open to full-size vans but they all seem very high mileage in our price range. She has an '02 V6 Mustang we will try to sell for $2500, so that will help offset the new van. We also semi-open to financing a newer, nicer van, but no debt is ideal. Located in southern Indiana, so rust is present but not usually an issue around here.

Here are some initial finds:

1. https://muncie.craigslist.org/cto/6041614215.html

2. https://bloomington.craigslist.org/cto/6031088949.html

3. https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/6042102416.html

Find a mint first gen caravan down south and fly and drive! In a normal world i think your on the right track. Even with some mileage they seem to live a long time with proper maintnence.

My 2002 Caravan is evidently good for at least 209K. So far.

It is so handy, we end up driving it more miles per year than all our other cars combined.

Caravan Dan the Minivan Man

I've noticed with full size vans, you can usually get a better deal on a used conversion van than on a cargo van.

eastsidemav wrote: I've noticed with full size vans, you can usually get a better deal on a used conversion van than on a cargo van.

Full size conversion vans offer a lot but mpg has always been lacking. However mpgs don't seem to phase a lot of people being we still have fairly cheap gas. Unless you need front wheel drive for a particular reason, I don't see why a big rear driver wouldn't work and possibly be more fun to drive (v8 power).

Says the guy who just bought an early 90's Dodge Caravan

"Looking to replace a Vue with a minivan for wife's ceramic business, no kids" I swear I have seen this exact thread in the past.

Just look for the best example in your budget. No brands to avoid. Korean brands are often overlooked.

It might be worth considering a Ford Freestar. They didn't hold their value well, but IMO their mechanical condition held up better than the comparable Chrysler.

E-series based Conversion vans within your price range would have relatively low mileage. I'd recommend one of those with the 4.6 2v, as they just last and last and last.

How heavy is this cargo? I think you can get air shocks for them but I wouldn't expect the Caravan to like (or be rated for) much more than 1000lbs in the back.

dropstep wrote: Find a mint first gen caravan down south and fly and drive! In a normal world i think your on the right track. Even with some mileage they seem to live a long time with proper maintnence.

I dunno...the last year of the 1st gen was what, '89? That would make it 28 years old at the newest, or 33 years old at the oldest. For $3k, I think OP can find a much newer van that's more reliable, safer, better equipped, etc... Check older Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, Honda Oddity, Toyota Sienna.

Oh yeah, the 3rd gen Quest. Those things are way tougher than you'd expect, and all the back seats fold to create a nice flat floor.

In reply to Klayfish:

Square, '95 Caravan in Indy with 61k miles.

Klayfish wrote:

dropstep wrote: Find a mint first gen caravan down south and fly and drive! In a normal world i think your on the right track. Even with some mileage they seem to live a long time with proper maintnence.

I dunno...the last year of the 1st gen was what, '89? That would make it 28 years old at the newest, or 33 years old at the oldest. For $3k, I think OP can find a much newer van that's more reliable, safer, better equipped, etc... Check older Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, Honda Oddity, Toyota Sienna.

Yeah but im weird and a buddy of mine has a pair of the turbo caravans. I like them better then the 99 or 06 we have owned.

For that price, first gen Kia Sedona. It was ridiculously overbuilt and is an absolute tank. Hyundai/Kia wanted to get into the minivan game against some heavy-hitters from Chrysler, Toyota and Honda, so they went with reliability and value as their sales pitch. For $3K you can get a clean, if high mileage, example that still has plenty of life left. 200,000 miles is pretty easy.

R63 with bad head bolts?

I mean, it was gonna get said eventually...

G_Body_Man wrote: Oh yeah, the 3rd gen Quest. Those things are way tougher than you'd expect, and all the back seats fold to create a nice flat floor.

The center seats really do fold well on these. Not perfectly flat like Caravan but pretty good.

I have a paint scheme recommendation if you need one.

Astro or Safari. 2005 last year made. Get the Dutch doors. Ours is a beast. We haul three dogs in crates and still have room for stuff.

Oh yeah, it also can't be older than her current car ('02). Thanks hive for the recommendations. Don't know why I thought the Freestars had more issues, but I'll start seriously considering them.

Brian remembers my last thread! Yeah we never got around to it last Fall, but she just got into a show next month that's 8 hours away...so we need something soon.

turbo caravan is the obvious choice.

I dunno...the last year of the 1st gen was what, '89? That would make it 28 years old at the newest, or 33 years old at the oldest. For $3k, I think OP can find a much newer van that's more reliable, safer, better equipped, etc...

Not to mention that it wouldn't even be easy to get a truly nice 1st gen for 3k anymore. If you find something really nice, it's either going to be more than 3k, or more than 3k by the time you ship it, or if you did get that lucky, I will trade you that link for 20 links of things a normal person would like more.

If you are not in a huge hurry my 01 GMC Savana SLT will be on the blocks shortly after I sell the trailer that it pulls. It's a pretty rare model and very useful.

I own an early 4th gen Dodge. 2008 3.3L with a 4 spd auto. I bought it in Nov-2013 with 78K and it's now closing in on 183K. It has proven to be surprisingly reliable and cheap to own.

While I agree used 90's conversion vans can be had for cheap, one downside is they are not meant to be easy to convert back and forth from cargo to passenger use. The seats are bolted in and at least with the '90 E150 I had, the center seats had to be cut out since access to the bolts underneath was very difficult (blocked by the gas tank). I occasionally reinstalled the rear bench since it was a bit easier to get to the underside bolts (although a PITA to do solo).

But if stealth is one of the desired attributes, a cargo-converted conversion van is hard to beat. It was amazing how something so big could be so invisible. And while most newer minivans have pretty heavy tint on the rear windows, it doesn't beat drawing the blinds and blocking everything inside from prying eyes.

I've only owned 1 and it was for a business but, I've never owned a vehicle that was in the shop so much and even rented one that lost its transmission at 4k miles. I have 0 faith in them.

I should clarify that my post was regarding caravans. Wh6 not a eurovan. The 5 cyl is cheap and very stout.

In reply to akylekoz:

Interested. Any pics?