Dodge Caravan  1984 - 2015

"McMike" (mcmike) 04/29/2015 at 07:30 • Filed to: Caravan, Dodge, Town & Country, Minivan

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First they took away the Plymouth Voyager, and we said nothing. They came for the SWB Caravan, and we didn’t notice. They came for the Routan and we said, “Those are still in showrooms?”

Now they come for the Dodge Grand Caravan and we said... well.. nothing.

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos…

Chrysler isn’t killing off the minivan. It appears that a refresh is due in the next year or so, and it’s only going to wear one badge - the Town & Country.

For those that ever grew up, learned to drive, or have any memories that are made up of the Dodge Caravan, join me and pour out some juice box for the passing of the model name that lasted 31 years. Peace out, Caravan.

What Caravan memories do we have?

Do we dare take a guess at what the refreshed 2017 Town&Country will be? Minivan Crossover?

ttyymmnn > McMike 04/28/2015 at 22:08

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I drove my parent’s Caravan last weekend. Good riddance. The Caravan was a game changer, though, I’ll give it that.

Blake Noble > McMike 04/28/2015 at 22:10

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Eh. I’m not too upset. It’s just going on a Journey, that’s all.

CB > McMike 04/28/2015 at 22:11

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The first car I (legally) drove was a 2003 Town & Country, affectionately named the Deathwagon, since it was kind of crap. Still, it made it to 330k kilometres with the original engine and transmission, so I have to give it some credit.

MIATAAAA > Blake Noble 04/28/2015 at 22:12

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Oh. Ohhhhh. I see what you just did. Right there.

For Sweden > McMike 04/28/2015 at 22:15

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Pour one out for 87

boxrocket > McMike 04/28/2015 at 22:19

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They should keep the Dodge and scrap the T&C, or keep making them both. Seeing as the Durango is turning into a longer Jeep GC and the Journey is.... old, Dodge needs another many-passenger offering. I understand Chrysler needs something other than the 200 and 300, but Dodge Caravan rolls off the tongue easier than Town & Country.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > McMike 04/28/2015 at 22:32

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But, it’s all my wife really wants, another Grand Caravan with fold away seats. It’s so convenient to be able to take my kids some place, then just dump the seats into the floor and load an incredible amount of crap into it. We emptied out our garage last week of a huge amount of crap that was taken to the recycling center & dump, then just swept the van out, put the seats back up and it returned to its family hauling duties, no sweat. And, to top it all off, the new Caravans are so cheap, relative to the other vans on the market. A powerful V6, 6-speed auto, and a good deal of equipment, for less than $22,000 MSRP, which if $4,000 cheaper than the new Kia Sedona. If I was in the market for a new van, I’d be hitting up my local Dodge dealer for a Caravan.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > McMike 04/28/2015 at 22:37

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Darn. Maybe they’ll replace it with a new Hellcat Magnum.

Or another boring crossover.

Amoore100 > ttyymmnn 04/28/2015 at 22:59

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Technically the Espace was the true game changer though it didn’t have stow-n-go or sliding doors...

scoob > Blake Noble 04/28/2015 at 23:15

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When will a hero, of Magnum Caliber, Dart forward with Nitro and be the Avenger of this car’s passing? This hero will have to be the Challenger of all odds, and Charger for expanding the minivan segment.

(TIL Dodge’s cars are perfect for puns)

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > McMike 04/28/2015 at 23:15

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They could also bring back the ‘Chrysler Voyager’ or the ‘Chrysler Magic Wagon’.

HammerheadFistpunch > McMike 04/28/2015 at 23:15

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True story, The caravan is dying with really good sales numbers.

as in typically outsells the sienna and odyssey.

sebdel > McMike 04/28/2015 at 23:24

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Sorry to see the caravan die, I always remember my mom’s 84

fhrblig > McMike 04/28/2015 at 23:48

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I talked my company into buying some Ram Cargo vans, and they’ve been good vans. They have about the same capacity as the Nissan NV200 and get better mpg despite having double the horsepower. I’m sad to see them go.

punksmurph > McMike 04/29/2015 at 02:34

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They came for the Routan and VW said “Thank fucking god we don’t have to pollute our lots anymore with zis garbage.”

McMike > sebdel 04/29/2015 at 05:46

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We had an ‘84. It was Caravan, and I believe it was the middle trim package. Red with a gray velour.

McMike > For Sweden 04/29/2015 at 05:47

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I added a image to the post that may reflect this comment.

505Turbeaux > McMike 04/29/2015 at 07:36

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i beat the everloving piss out of my dads Voyager gigging around the northeast. Fucking awesome van after it was on it’s 4th tranny - till the valve guides on that V6 went south at close to 300K

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > McMike 04/29/2015 at 07:39

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More importantly, what’s going to happen to the Lancia Voyager?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Amoore100 04/29/2015 at 07:41

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They came out in the same year.

LongbowMkII > McMike 04/29/2015 at 07:50

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It does mark the death of the cheap American van though. Sure the base model caravan is plasticky and ‘modestly’ equipped, but its huge and you can essentially buy one with a signature.

McMike > McMike 04/29/2015 at 07:56

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In early 1984, my parents were thinking about getting a new car. It was a tossup between the Colt Vista Wagon, and one of these new Caravans. Dad died in June of that year, and the Caravan was Mom’s first vehicle purchase without him. I have no doubt that she went that direction because of the 5/50 warranty Chrysler was offering.

She used the shit out of that warranty. The thing wasn’t really that BAD, there were just a few things that they couldn’t seem to fix. I remember the AC being one of them. They would fix it, it would break, she would take it back, they would fix it, repeat. At one point, they even flew someone in to take a look at the mysterious failing AC.

She never bought another Chrysler or an American product after that.

We kept the van for 10 years I think. It moved my sister to and from college. It moved me into my first townhouse, and it served as an embarrassing daily driver for my sister towards the end.

It was a red ‘84 Caravan SE with a grey velour interior. The SE was the middle trim level.

Notable memories:

It was the first automatic transmission car I had ever driven.

The 3-4000 mile road trip we took the first summer we had it.

Changing a tire for her and putting the lugs on backwards. Wheel almost fell off.

Trying to change a headlight for her, and learning that TORX was a thing, and that we didn’t have one.

(later) Borrowing the van for short road trips when she was out of town, and forgetting to get all the beer can pull-tabs out of the back of it.

CalzoneGolem > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:00

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My buddy had a Lumina APV when I was in college. Spent a lot of time in that van.

That’s really only my only van experience. None of my family has ever owned a van. I was one of three and Mom drove Camaros and Dad drove trucks.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:04

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My grandmother’s ‘94 - the Clean Car. One did not track things into it, even when being used to transport boisterous kids. In that respect it was probably the least Grand Caravan Grand Caravan to ever exist. At the time she got it it was less than 4 years old, and since I was used to being in a ‘74 Benz or a ‘67 Rover or ‘85 Suburban... or at a stretch, a ‘79 Eldorado, it was magical. “What is all this... greyness? ‘Ergonomic switches - WTF?’”

McMike > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:07

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No Chrysler Minivan post is complete without this.

Seems to be a good sendoff. Burning out into the sunset.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:10

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I miss my 80’s velour seats. Most comfortable car seat I’ve ever sat in was my ‘84 Oldsmobile. They may have been the most comfortable La-z-boy that I’ve ever sat in.

McMike > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:10

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I also remember the “cupholders.” It was the first car I had ever seen with them, and they were really nothing but a flat surface to place them.

thebigbossyboss > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:14

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Say what you will, but I am in charge of vehicles for our guys camping trip every year and I rent us one of these!! They hold the most cargo volume of anything. Last year we didn’t get one my friends at the rental agency gave us a ford explorer. Yeah the explorer was pretty cool, but the van is actually a way better vehicle for guys and camping equipment.

thebigbossyboss > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 04/29/2015 at 08:19

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You know what man? Same. More or less. They are incredible value for money. I currently DD a Cavalier which isn’t really appropriate for our annual guys camping trip where 5 of us all pile into a car and go camping. I always try to rent a Caravan because big, but last year we got a Ford Explorer. The Explorer is a nice enough car, and the free tank of gas was awesome, but the Caravan holds way more men and way more stuff.

thebigbossyboss > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/29/2015 at 08:20

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Made in Canada!

thebigbossyboss > LongbowMkII 04/29/2015 at 08:21

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Incredible value for money for sure. If I wanted a van, I would buy a Caravan. When I need to rent a big vehicle, I try to rent the Caravan. More cargo space than any suv.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > punksmurph 04/29/2015 at 08:22

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They should have loved it at VW. It fit very well into their existing model line with all of the electrical problems it came with from the factory.

holytaco904 > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:23

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I still remember that my friends parents had a Turbo 5-speed Caravan. Wasn’t fast, but still gets huge bonus points for a TURBO and a MANUAL in a mini van.

thebigbossyboss > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:24

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IN Canada torx is not a thing, we use a thing called Robertsons.

thebigbossyboss > ttyymmnn 04/29/2015 at 08:30

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In terms of “cargo volumes per dollar” it is a real winner.

McMike > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 04/29/2015 at 08:35

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Fuck yeah!

Tohru > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:43

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My grandparents had three of them. An ‘85 Caravan, a ‘92 Caravan, and the gray ‘99 Town and Country we all called The Elephant.

My grandparents wanted to go to Branson to see The Lawrence Welk Show or some crap like that, so the whole family loaded into the ‘92 to drive a thousand miles each way for a weekend vacation. My parents, my grandparents, our Labrador, and me, with all the luggage, in a ‘92 Caravan. It was like all of the bad parts of National Lampoon’s Vacation stitched together. The van smelled for weeks.

thebigbossyboss > McMike 04/29/2015 at 08:46

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Im just gonna post some Caravans.

McMike > Tohru 04/29/2015 at 08:47

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National Lampoon’s Vacation

That movie came out the year before we got our ‘84, so naturally my aunt called our Caravan the “Family Truckster” the second she saw it, and continued until we got rid of it.

It was funny the first time.

As Du Volant > McMike 04/29/2015 at 09:32

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I’ve heard a rumor that they’re going to make two vans- the Town & Country at its current size, and a smaller MPV under the Dodge brand, similar to a Mazda5. Though there’s always the chance that the new model Journey could fill that role.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > thebigbossyboss 04/29/2015 at 09:46

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Add a bit of blue and a lot of rust, and that top one would be nearly identical to the one my parents had for about a decade.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > thebigbossyboss 04/29/2015 at 10:03

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Not true the blinker stalk on your cavalier uses a torx. Robertson is a square tip Torx is a asterix like tip.

robertson:

Torx:

thebigbossyboss > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 04/29/2015 at 10:07

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I know what torx is, but I had never removed my blinker stalk. I sit corrected.

Amoore100 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/29/2015 at 21:15

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Wow, I did not realize that until I Googled it.. Thanks for the heads up! (Though arguably Renault was the Dodge of France in the ‘80s...)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Amoore100 04/30/2015 at 07:32

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I didn’t realize that Renault were that bad in the 80s.

Amoore100 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/30/2015 at 09:28

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Ehh, well there was that whole AMC thing...

Michael > McMike 07/03/2015 at 14:58

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My 1991 Dodge Caravan has over 800k on the clock, and I’m working really hard to restore it to it’s full glory. That van is my life.

McMike > Michael 07/03/2015 at 18:14

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PICTURES! PLEASE POST PICTURES!

Damon > McMike 08/12/2015 at 10:52

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Have owned 30. I still have my 1985 Caravan LE woody! My 2014 Town and Country is awesome as well. Anyone here ever joing the Chrysler made minivan 1984 to present minivan club? https://www.facebook.com/groups/Chrysle…