98 T&C 3.8l Vs. Toyota Sienna 3.0 L

[89Firebird2.8]

I currently have both vans and they are both fairly nice to drive, about the same power. Chrysler seems to get it's power sooner, but the Toyota seems to be able to pass at highway speeds better. I like the room of the Chrysler(i have the long wheelbase version) more than the Toyota as well. Just wondering which to keep, as I really don't need two vans. The Toyota has 130K on it, but i've read all the horror stories about the 3.0l sludging and needing replacement. It has had more issues with the engine than the Chrysler, having taken it in twice for expensive repairs in the past couple weeks, though i partially blame the shop for not diagnosing it correctly the first time. The Chrysler now has 170K on it, bought it with 110K. It has never given me issues with the engine, but i have had electrical issues with fuses and such, and the driver side window doesn't currently work. I have also long feared the day that the transmission would go to hell on me, but it has always performed flawlessly. Which car do you think i should keep? If i do sell one, i will either buy an early 90's Lexus LS400, or a newer Ford truck, depending on need.

[webbch]

Not many folks on this forum have BOTH a T&C AND a Sienna, so you're results are going to be clearly biased toward the T&C. Perhaps you intrinsically knew this when you asked the question and are leaning toward keeping the T&C, and just wanted confirmation??

The drivers side power window - worst case is most likely a power window regulator. Cost for the replacement assembly is about $120. It's not too hard to do yourself, aside from C-A-R-E-F-U-L-L-Y removing the water shield (underneath the door panel). If you have it done, I would guess labor to about double the cost, but wouldn't really know, as I do that stuff myself.

[89Firebird2.8]

Does your window stay up by itself? We have a clamp on ours. Oh, and yeah, I've always been partial to the Chrysler, it's been in for less work, but family keeps saying Toyota.

[dcx96]

Keep the Chrysler Ditch the Foriegner, buy the Ford, forget the Lexus.

[wafrederick]

You pay more money for repairs on foriegn vehicles and the parts are more expensive.Do this,go to an auto parts store and price parts for a domestic and foriegn car.The price of the part for the foriegn car is going to be more expensive than the domestic car.I do have a tip for side glass and I have seen this happeno not use a pair of pliers to pull the side glass up,you will break it very easily.

[webbch]

I don't buy the domestic vs. foreign argument, in either direction. IMO, every manufacturer has good models and bad models, and the consumer has to educate themselves in the features they need, coupled with expected reliability, and I agree that replacement parts prices need to get factored in.

The down side, is that the more common (+), the cheaper the parts (+) and the more generally reliable (+) that a model gets, the higher it ranks on the stolen vehicle list (-). I checked about 2 years ago, and my '90 Chevy silverado and '92 Honda Accord ranked in the top 5 of vehicles most stolen. Don't recall if that was statewide (Arizona) or nation wide. One would think it would be overkill to install an alarm in these (old) vehicles, but I did for that very reason (plus it's kinda fun ).

Reviews are a wonderful thing, but I have to admit, when I started shopping for a minivan, there was not a single mini-van that appeared to stand head and shoulders above the crowd. Every make/model had an aweful lot of sore spots, and the Chrysler T&C is no exception, with it's common host of electrical gremlins and the transmission failures (this failure is often avoidable by using the right tranny fluid however). In the end, I effectively picked the lesser of all the evils (IMO), and went with the T&C, mainly because I didn't see it's reliability as any better than the competition, but it had the features I wanted and cost a heck of a lot less. Since I don't buy new, the depreciation on these minivans was a good thing for me - I hope to drive this thing into the ground.

[dcx96]

I agree with some opinions in here but as far as the T&C goes the tranny issues are a thing of the past, for the first time there's a 6 speed auto in it. Yes all makes have there differences but the T&C always leads the pack in good things and also the dodge. No other maker makes a van like those, For every 3 chrysler/dodge minivan thats sold theres 1 honda. Hail the Chrysler/ Dodge minivans.

[webbch]

I agree that the tranny failures do not appear to be a recurring problem as far as how often they break down - however, they ARE very sensitive to the type of tranny fluid used in them. When I was researching a minivan, I noticed lots of tranny failures noted in the reviews. Looking deeper, it appeared this was most often a result of:
a) wrong tranny fluid
b) mechanics who weren't familiar with servicing this transmission

The concern of tranny failure did not deter me from buying our T&C because it was my opinion that I could make sure that it had the right tranny fluid (after I bought it), and that I would be very careful in who I selected to service it, when the time comes. But the reviews at carsurvey.org do indicate a pattern of tranny failure, at least among the 3rd gen vehicles.

[dcx96]

Alot of the reviews people read are from VERY BIASED magizines like Consumers report and JD Power. All of which are in favor of forigen brands and IMO they are what has caused Good American Jobs because of their media reports.If I as a consumer keep hearing about tranny issues with a Chrysler and hear nothing but good things (even though there a bad things) about Toyota what do you think I will buy? Again IMO the reports are false. Yes Chrysler may have put the wrong fluid in the trans but that may have called a TSB ( ya dealers dont fix unless under warranty) but also may get a recall to replace or repair. Thanks for the chance to explain. good luck with the T&C.