My expectations couldn't have been much lower when I fired up our long-term Caravan for the first time last night. We slam this thing mercilessly whenever we post about it -- and unlike certain other unloved cars in our fleet, the Caravan doesn't seem to have a single Mopar fanboy that's got its back. So imagine my surprise when the downtrodden Dodge ripped off a lighting-quick 1-2 full-throttle upshift the first time I matted the gas. "What the heck?" I exclaimed, channelling my inimitable high school basketball coach. "What the crap?!"
I floored it again at the next traffic light, and my initial impression was confirmed. This six-speed bangs off upshifts about as quickly as any slushbox I can remember, and it's smooth, too. If Hyundai's new Genesis V8 had this transmission, its 0-60 time would be a half-second quicker.
Must be a hand-me-down from Mercedes, eh? There's no way Dodge would spend their time and money coming up with a world-class transmission for the Caravan while seemingly cutting every other corner.
EDIT: Herr Magrath points out that Mercedes hasn't ever put a six-speed autobox in any of their cars. Hmmmm...
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 11,831 miles
firstwagon says:
12:05 PM, 07/30/08
Mercedes doesn't make a front drive car or truck either so I doubt it's from them.
Really the problems with the Caravan aren't with the way it drives. I was in a friends new Caravan last weekend and I thought it drive great. Quiet, comfortable, the 3.8 whipped it up to speed much better then the numbers suggest. It really is a nice family van from a chassis and drivetrain point of view.
However the interior needs to be gutted. Compared to the Honda van, it awful. If you can look past the cheapo interior, it's a good van but most people can't.
lazyhater says:
12:23 PM, 07/30/08
The A-class is FWD.
firstwagon says:
12:26 PM, 07/30/08
Oops, you are correct.
lazyhater says:
12:30 PM, 07/30/08
Forgot the B-class is FWD also.
brn says:
12:30 PM, 07/30/08
The biggest problem with Dodge is that no one gives them credit. I'm far from a fan, but I'm the first to admit that they've pulled off some pretty cool stuff. Their biggest problem is taking all that cool stuff and turning it into a complete and consistent package.
Like FW, I recently spent some time in a Caravan. I was impressed. It's not a bad ride for it's purpose. Even the interior grew on me.
robert4380 says:
01:04 PM, 07/30/08
So maybe VW's upcoming new minivan, the Crouton or whatever they're calling it (ha!) will actually be pretty descent then if it's got the Chrysler mechanicals and the VW interior trim.
karjunkie says:
01:16 PM, 07/30/08
I don't think the 62TE 6-speed FWD automatic transmission is a Daimler design. It appears on a bunch of Chrysler and Dodge products and is made at the Chrysler plant in Kokomo Indiana
esoterica says:
03:03 PM, 07/30/08
karjunkie, you're correct, the 62TE is a descendent of the (revolutionary at the time though nearly fatally flawed) Chrysler Ultradrive transmission. The Ultradrive descendants were/are actually excellent transmissions, however they've gotten a bad rep because to this day many 3rd-party mechanics think you can refill them with Dexron, which is sure death for all of them.
mercedesman1 says:
06:16 PM, 07/30/08
Robert4380, Crouton, thats brilliant lol from now on thats its new name for me , not sure why but it made me LOL!
z479 says:
08:32 AM, 07/31/08
I second that, hilarious robert4380
chavis10 says:
09:55 AM, 07/31/08
What is the real name of the V-dub minivan? I forgot. Is it another Afican tribe? Are the putting in an entirely new interior or just modifying the trim?
z479 says:
11:05 AM, 07/31/08
Chavis, I'm not sure about the interior but its called the VW Routan. I also think that it looks quite menacing, maybe because of the way the headlights flare up as they taper off, but its definitely not as boring as the DGC.
greenpony says:
12:14 PM, 07/31/08
Even the black sheep of the fleet garners a compliment every now and then.
the_big_al says:
10:39 PM, 07/31/08
I thought the 6-speed tranny was the same as the one shared by Ford and GM?? And the vehicles with those tranny's get lambasted for being too lazy and fuel economy tuned. So I guess it's not the same tranny?
bimmerjay says:
01:50 AM, 08/ 1/08
Does this tranny make the tappa-tappa-tappa-grind sound when coming to a stop? If so, it is without a doubt a Chrysler-designed transmission.
greenpony says:
12:23 PM, 08/ 1/08
"Does this tranny make the tappa-tappa-tappa-grind sound when coming to a stop? If so, it is without a doubt a Chrysler-designed transmission."
lol. Why DO they do that?
mopar424 says:
09:42 AM, 08/ 6/08
God forbid Chrysler makes a good tranny! They arent allowed to do anything good, I bet they stole it! Give me a break.