Dodge Journey vs Grand Caravan
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The Journey 'wagon' is a JC body and the Grand Caravan 'minivan' is an RT body. Both built on different platforms.
The Journey is deemed to be as close size-wise to what a shorter Caravan would be as to not make a shorter RT worth building.
The details and refinements continue, so yes a 2013 would be a better vehicle than a 2012.
Year-end inventory clearance on the 2012's would likely make for a better purchase price for as long as they last.
The Journey is deemed to be as close size-wise to what a shorter Caravan would be as to not make a shorter RT worth building.
The details and refinements continue, so yes a 2013 would be a better vehicle than a 2012.
Year-end inventory clearance on the 2012's would likely make for a better purchase price for as long as they last.
thanks for the prompt reply, I will stay with the Caravan, we now have a 03 SXT Caravan which is the standard length, my wife is after a Grand model, looking for a little more room to haul the dogs to some shows. we have the 3.3 engine and I see there is a 3.6 engine available for 2013, not sure if iit's available in the 2012 Grands, if it is, how does the 3.6 compare to the 3.3 power wise and economy.
Chet
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The 3.6 was the only available engine in the Caravan for North America in 2012 to my knowledge. It's power was rated at 283hp @ 6400 rpm / 260 lb ft @ 4400 rpm vs your 3.3's at 180hp @ 5200rpm / 210 lb ft @ 4000. The 3.6 also only comes with the 6 speed vs your 4 speed automatic. I can't say about the fuel economy (maybe someone else can chime in) but I believe the 3.6 has better numbers than your older 3.3 (probably partially due to the 6 speed auto and higher Torque output of the 3.6)
Comparing a 2012 Journey 3.6L vs 2012 Grand Caravan 3.6L, the fuel mileage ratings (EPA) are the same - 17 city / 20 combined / 25 mpg highway. This was with the 3.6L V6 and 6 speed auto.
It really comes down to your needs and budget. We went from a '00 T&C Ltd AWD to a '09 Journey SXT back in 2008 (have a '10 Journey SXT now - long story). The T&C had gotten long in the tooth (~161K miles) and needed some fairly expensive maintenance (struts and brakes) so we went with a Journey - at the time a moderately optioned SXT was about ~$23K sticker. I didn't really look at the GC's but I believe they were priced slightly higher with similar options. We really didn't need a minivan any more - out of 4 children, two were pretty much on their own - so a Journey was doable for us.
Just keep in mind a Journey with the 3rd row seating is more or less 5+2 seating - I wouldn't put anyone back there for a long trip. Cargo space is good so long as you keep the 3rd row folded down. It gets challenging if you need the seats for passengers - need a car top carrier then. If you need to haul "cargo" on a daily basis, I'd go with the Caravan. There are days I wish we had not traded the T&C in.
Our Journeys have definitely outshined the old T&C in regards to fuel mileage, but not by all that much. We average 19-20 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy with the Journey. Our old T&C with the 3.8L/41AE was 15-16 mpg city and 25-26 mpg hwy if I kept it at 65 mph.
IC makes a good point - with the '12 model year winding down, you might find some good deals here and there. Might have to wait until the '13's hit the lots to get a great deal, but then the pickings might be slim.
Good luck!
It really comes down to your needs and budget. We went from a '00 T&C Ltd AWD to a '09 Journey SXT back in 2008 (have a '10 Journey SXT now - long story). The T&C had gotten long in the tooth (~161K miles) and needed some fairly expensive maintenance (struts and brakes) so we went with a Journey - at the time a moderately optioned SXT was about ~$23K sticker. I didn't really look at the GC's but I believe they were priced slightly higher with similar options. We really didn't need a minivan any more - out of 4 children, two were pretty much on their own - so a Journey was doable for us.
Just keep in mind a Journey with the 3rd row seating is more or less 5+2 seating - I wouldn't put anyone back there for a long trip. Cargo space is good so long as you keep the 3rd row folded down. It gets challenging if you need the seats for passengers - need a car top carrier then. If you need to haul "cargo" on a daily basis, I'd go with the Caravan. There are days I wish we had not traded the T&C in.
Our Journeys have definitely outshined the old T&C in regards to fuel mileage, but not by all that much. We average 19-20 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy with the Journey. Our old T&C with the 3.8L/41AE was 15-16 mpg city and 25-26 mpg hwy if I kept it at 65 mph.
IC makes a good point - with the '12 model year winding down, you might find some good deals here and there. Might have to wait until the '13's hit the lots to get a great deal, but then the pickings might be slim.
Good luck!
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Well, it's not like you have much of a choice. Starting in 2008, there was only the Grand models - the short-wheelbase vans were dropped. Starting in 2011, the 3.6L is the ONLY engine available in the Grand Caravan.
Powerwise?
3.3L V6: 175HP[at]5000, 205TQ[at]4000, 17/24MPG
3.8L V6: 197HP[at]5200, 230TQ[at]4000, 16/23MPG
4.0L V6: 251HP[at]6000, 259TQ[at]4100, 17/25MPG
3.6L V6: 283HP[at]6400, 260TQ[at]4400, 17/25MPG
With your dogs, it's a no-brainer to me - Grand Caravan. Drop the seats into the floor and let them roam.
The base 2012 Grand Caravan SE/AVP lists for $20995 - I see them for $18995 all the time.
I'd seriously look at a 2011 or 2012 coming off lease with 20K-30K miles on it and score a deal. Locally there was a loaded 2011 loaded Crew model with 50K on it for $15K - needless to say it didn't last long.
As to fuel mileage on a Grand Caravan with the 3.6 and 6-speed, we have logged 9250 miles in ours and averaged 20.6 mpg.
High tank was 29.5 mpg and low was 14.6 mpg. Recently averaged about 24mpg on strictly highway trip of over 1400 miles.
After owning a 97 with a 3.8 and now the 11 with the 3.6 I'd never go back to anything else. The 3.6 and 6-speed combo sure gets up and goes!
High tank was 29.5 mpg and low was 14.6 mpg. Recently averaged about 24mpg on strictly highway trip of over 1400 miles.
After owning a 97 with a 3.8 and now the 11 with the 3.6 I'd never go back to anything else. The 3.6 and 6-speed combo sure gets up and goes!
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Hey guys,
This is a great review on the journey and pretty much sums up my feelings about -- so boring to drive, but I'd say that the real point is space and safety right?
How do you guys feel about this? It is a nice car but I may go for the Caravan...
Here's the review, hope all is well -- http://www.web2carz.com/dodge/journey/2012/46/review
BD
This is a great review on the journey and pretty much sums up my feelings about -- so boring to drive, but I'd say that the real point is space and safety right?
How do you guys feel about this? It is a nice car but I may go for the Caravan...
Here's the review, hope all is well
-- http://www.web2carz.com/dodge/journey/2012/46/reviewBD
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