fuel millage, 98 windstar w/ 3.8L

[Shoeboy]

In my opinion, from what I see at work, and from talking to people who have owned many different type of vans, the Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town and Country is the only van to buy. Decent mileage, fairly simple to maintain and keep running, and they run for ever, I've seen them constantly run over 300 000km. We have one that we are constantly doing oil changes on, and doing the brakes, and so on, this thing has well over 700 000km on it and its still running strong. Ford, Honda, Toyota, Hyndai, Kia, and all the other major brands, are junk for the long run, and even in the short run. The only other minivan worth concidering is the Astro/Safari. The Astro/Safari, and Caravan/Town&Country are pretty compairable to each other. Both are pretty relaible, but they are in different leagues to each other, the Astro/Safari is a large minivan are are pretty powerful and are a very strong work van as well. They do have a solid frame and have the 4.3L Vortec. The Caravan is a smaller minivan but are highly reliable and since there are millions of them out there they are easy to find parts for. They are highly reliable with minimal maintence, and they easly get 300 000km with simple maintance, the controls are quite easly laid out, and they are easy to drive and easy to see out of. they are not built off of a frame but built off a unibody platform. I actually own a Voyager (Plymouth's version of the Caravan), and it has never given me any problems in the 11 or 12 years I've had it.

 

[ZMan]

Everyone is always talking about how aerostars are heavy, but I'll bet you'd be suprised to learn that an AWD aerostar only weighs 3600lbs.

I know, I have one now, it's my third.

And I consistantly get 19-20 with it.

I have never taken it on a long highway trip.
That's what my ranger is for.

What do I do with the aerostar? mostly
I hav my mother drive it during the winter
because the Escort my brother gave to her
is essentially useless in the snow.

AD

Yep, not close to 22-24 just like a said. Hell 3600 is heavy, thats 700lbs more than my ranger

In my opinion, from what I see at work, and from talking to people who have owned many different type of vans, the Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town and Country is the only van to buy. Decent mileage, fairly simple to maintain and keep running, and they run for ever, I've seen them constantly run over 300 000km. We have one that we are constantly doing oil changes on, and doing the brakes, and so on, this thing has well over 700 000km on it and its still running strong. Ford, Honda, Toyota, Hyndai, Kia, and all the other major brands, are junk for the long run, and even in the short run. The only other minivan worth concidering is the Astro/Safari. The Astro/Safari, and Caravan/Town&Country are pretty compairable to each other. Both are pretty relaible, but they are in different leagues to each other, the Astro/Safari is a large minivan are are pretty powerful and are a very strong work van as well. They do have a solid frame and have the 4.3L Vortec. The Caravan is a smaller minivan but are highly reliable and since there are millions of them out there they are easy to find parts for. They are highly reliable with minimal maintence, and they easly get 300 000km with simple maintance, the controls are quite easly laid out, and they are easy to drive and easy to see out of. they are not built off of a frame but built off a unibody platform. I actually own a Voyager (Plymouth's version of the Caravan), and it has never given me any problems in the 11 or 12 years I've had it.

I do agree that the caravan/t&c is a decently reliable. It may not matter to the OP but the last generation has a serious problem with the hoods, rockers, and quarter panels rotting out prematurely (I'm talking '05 models are bubbling in these areas already). Dodge really sucks when it comes to preventing rust on their vehicles.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

The 80s-mid 90s Caravans had pretty bad transmission issues. They would overheat and actually crack the case, I've seen it. However, they fixed the issue around 2000 or so, not sure what they did. Maybe they beefed it up or made a new one.

The issue with the Windstar was that, at least with the 3.0, they had that AXOD transmission that was failure prone (I believe IIRC that it was the same transmission used in the Taurus for a long time).

 

[Danger FX4 Ranger]

I don't think 22-24 mpg is going to happen in an Aerostar (except on a long highway trip) far too heavy and has the automatic to get that mileage daily driving.

I didn't think it got any better gas mileage, I was referring to the dependability of Aerostars when compared to Windstars.

 

[Chic N Stew]

My parents have a 2001 windstar with a 3.8 and it gets roughly 20mpg, provided i don't drive it(YES, its a minivan, but i can't help it) i have a lead foot