by Mama Turtle
A bigger vehicle, that we all fit in!
I'm too lazy to retrieve the batteries and throw pants on to go outside and take a picture, but we all know what minivans look like, right? Here's an example anyways:
'03 Dodge Grand Caravan "Sport" - wow I even got the color right.
I could see it from my living room window a couple of nights ago and had to keep rubbing my eyes that it was actually there. We had a hellacious thunderstorm blow through so with every lightening strike it would indeed be illuminated. (That's pretty dramatic but I thought it was funny). I'm so stoked out. I actually can't wait to be able to drive now!
That said, the car dealership we got it from wound up being terrible, IMO. I had some foreshadowings too, like the cruddy public bathroom I took the kids in that had removable seats from cars shoved in the corner with cleaning products in milk boxes and the soap available for handwashing was dollar store dish detergent. The outside of the building was spiffy and shiny of course, the insides needed a cleaning and remodel. There was a fishtank in the lobby that was nasty. I don't think they detailed (cleaned) the van as well as they could have, and I'm going to go through it with a wet rag later.
Things went ok until Papa Turtle went in to give them the down payment. The guy said "oh and $150 for doc fees?" Uh no, that was included in the financing, what the heck? Of course he didn't give him any extra. Then the guy said "If my father asks, you only put $500 down". What? Hell no, what is this guy, does he have a gambling problem? We put twice that amount down, and it says that on our paperwork, so I think we're ok. But Geesh!
Comments (14)
I know how you feel in the new car area. When I got my car, I got the extended warranty, which meant that they fixed ANY problem on the car. I live down a dirt road, so the car would get dusty and a "check engine" light (which they were dumb enough to put the sensor behind a wheel of the car) would appear. We took it in twice to get them to fix the sensor. They said "after this repair, we're not going to fix ANYTHING on your car anymore." Needless to say, we got the extended warranty removed from our charges, and I'll never buy a Dodge again.
I'se hates car dealerships, but I bet as long as your paperwork is straight you're quite fine. We had a 98 and then a 99 minivan, the first was a red Dodge, the second was a black Town and Chrysler. Great vehicles all around except for the stereo stuff which started dying after about two years each, watch out on that. They were great vehicles, hauled like they were supposed to and just generally kept us happy. Have fun!
I wish I could feel what a new car would be like. Hah. I drive me a 1992 Escort Wagon. Ugh. It's ancient and has no a/c! My husband wrecked his 1996 Formula Firebird (his baby!) last month and we're still waiting to get the money in from that. It isn't much, but I'm hoping we can get something with a/c in it so I can drive it. We're both not into typical "family" cars, haha. I used to drive the Firebird with a carseat in the back and did NOT mind it at all. I enjoy driving manuals. Hah. I am a kid at heart when it comes to cars. I love the fast ones. Hah. I don't think I, personally, could ever be caught in a minivan, but I do understand their uses. Yaay on new cars! Lol.
I have a 2005 Saturn but I'm saving my money for an electric car.
I personally loved Honda and Toyota's minivan. Good luck with the dodge, they need a lot of repairs.
We have a '99 Dodge Caravan Maroon in color. We bought it used... it's been very good to us.
hi??
btw big cars burn lotsa gas!!I have yet to own a 2000 or later vehicle - I drive a '95 Dodge Grand Caravan (named Silverware by my kids, after my habit of muttering "hi ho silver" when I start it.) 180,000 miles and rolling strong.
i used to own 1996 dodge caravan sport red... i hated it for a long time then i started loving it the more it breaks down. was like nooo dont leave me baby! then it finally died ... i watched it towed away for one last time and nearly cried.. got a new car instead. impala chevy 04. the newest i ever own... but its a car! i want my sport caravan back!!!! ahh well... we got it for a good deal, they double your down payment. if you put in 300 they will put in 600.
trade my van in for it. it is okay..... just misses my baby!! so i can totally understand the space!!
Oh goodness. You bring me memories of the dodge caravan I had in college. The thing was 10 years old and the biggest POS I've ever known. I guess I got a lemon. I remember how incredibly beyond happy I was the day I bought my civic after that. FINALLY a car that was not only cute, but also reliable!!
It's so fun buying "new" cars.
Yay for a new van!
@FemmeMrbd08@xanga - Saturns have been good to us, we're on our second one. If we ever reach the day though that we have to replace it I want to look at hybrids as well.
@MiSS__NARA@xanga - That's why we kept our economical sedan that is good on gas. If the entire family has to go somewhere then we'll hop in the van.
I hate it when dealers try to get more money out of you like you weren't paying attention when they were going through the pricing while walking you around the lot. That's why we always work with for sale by owner. With my husband being pretty knowledgeable with cars, we can figure out if they're asking too much for it. That might change when we have kids and need a warentee, but we'll see about that later. DUMB DEALERS!
My parents had a dodge minivan when I was kid. The starter died twice, if it even thought about getting cold outside the thing wouldn't start, then the wiring harness caught on fire, the last straw was when my mom went over a bump and the gas gauge stopped working.