Minivans are a lot more popular in Canada (especially the Chrysler models) and so is hockey, so it seemed like the perfect vehicle to take last night to see my Toronto Maple Leafs beat the L.A. Kings. For the last week, I've basically been driving the official vehicle of the Canadian hockey mom (joke, pit bull, lipstick) so it was probably about time I go to a hockey game. The hockey was excellent and the van, well, "It sounds like we're in a covered wagon," my girlfriend said after the continuous creaking and rattling that comes with every road bump, driveway entrance or simple change in momentum.
Now for some house keeping. We've had the DGC since February and 21,611 miles later, we've never updated the fuel economy (there have been other things to comment about). So here it is. It's important to note that the Caravan lived with Dan Pund for a while in the less-congested confines of Detroit and has made quite a few long-distance trips, including his adventure out west.
Overall Fuel Economy: 18.6 mpg
EPA Combined: 20 mpg
Best Tank: 30.8 mpg (137.8 miles on 4.471 gallons of fuel achieved by photog Kurt Niebuhr)
Worst Tank: 9.7 mpg
Furthest Traveled on One Tank: 385.7 miles
Most Fuel Poured into the 20-gallon tank: 18.428 gallons
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 21,611 miles
unforgiven says:
10:28 AM, 12/ 2/08
wings!
louiswei says:
10:44 AM, 12/ 2/08
Worst tank is 9.7 mpg?! What did you guys do? Took the DGC to track day?
dougtheeng says:
12:12 PM, 12/ 2/08
leafs suck. go oil.
estreka says:
02:39 PM, 12/ 2/08
The plural of leaf is leaves. Silly Canadians (Canadiens?).
CycloneRcr says:
03:19 PM, 12/ 2/08
Really, how did you manage to pull a 9.7mpg tank =)
firstwagon says:
03:49 PM, 12/ 2/08
Likely the same way I got 14 mpg on a rental Corolla. I picked it with a "full" tank (guage did show full) and drove for a couple days doing about 100 miles. I filled it up when I dropped it off, later did the math and realized it wasn't full to begin with.
It's easy to screw up mileage numbers if the distance is too short and you don't have control over how full it really is.
orangutan says:
04:26 PM, 12/ 2/08
Farthest, with an a.
firstwagon says:
04:34 PM, 12/ 2/08
I guess I sould say Go Canucks now but what's the point.
Go Leafs!!
(and when they're out)
Go Ottawa!
ekimfeenux says:
05:03 PM, 12/ 2/08
Does it go GT-R style and puke up fuel when the diff heats up too much because that would explain the 9.7 tank. Oh wait this is the DGC. Never mind...
sabastian says:
06:09 PM, 12/ 2/08
"Worst tank is 9.7 mpg?! What did you guys do? Took the DGC to track day?"
Yup. :)
http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2008/05/2008-dodge-grand-caravan-hot-lap-disappointment.html
banhugh says:
08:53 AM, 12/ 3/08
is that James the six-pack?
jriz says:
10:07 AM, 12/ 3/08
It could be, but he drinks Heineken Light.
g__ says:
11:45 PM, 12/ 3/08
Leafs fan? You deserve to be driving that minivan. I do believe they are of comparable quality. Hang your head in shame.