Chrysler Town & Country

[TxMomma]

We're going to be in the market for a new (used) vehicle in the next few months and I found a T&C that I love. Can someone tell me how the crash test ratings are on this? It's a 01' Limited. Would this be a good choice?

[LuvBug03]

I dont know how reliable or helpful these are but here are a couple that I found on google:
http://www.automallusa.net/2001/chrysler/town-country/ratings.html
http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2001/chrysler/town_country/safety.html

What safety options is it equipped with?

[wondering1]

The rear seatbelts on this vehicle have Gen3 design latches. This makes them very easy to become unlatched, for instance if an elbow or debris hits the release.

Try a bouncy ball on the front seatbelt release and compare the reaction of the same ball on the rear seatbelts. It is shocking how easily the rear belts unlatch.

The front seabelts are called Gen4.

[LuvBug03]

:eek: if it has the gen3 anywhere in the car I would definitely stay away!! personally...

[TxMomma]

:eek: if it has the gen3 anywhere in the car I would definitely stay away!! personally...

Oh I will! I'm so glad I have this board :D

[LuvBug03]

yeah I knew nothing about them before this board either. What kind of budget are you looking at for a new vehicle? and how many do you plan on seating?

[scatterbunny]

Yes, I wouldn't consider a Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler van simply because of the Gen3 belts. :(

Crash-test-wise, I'd only consider a Windstar, Odyssey or Sienna if you're going for an older vehicle; new, the Quest gets good scores, I believe. The newest Sedona does, also.

[TxMomma]

yeah I knew nothing about them before this board either. What kind of budget are you looking at for a new vehicle? and how many do you plan on seating?

We need to seat 5 bare minimum, a 7 seater would allow us 6 usable spots unless the back row had shoulder lap belts across, or a tether anchor for the middle seat (does that make sense??). We are looking to stay under $14k. Four doors and captain chairs are a must, I really really want those.

[stevel]

aren't those van's the ones that didn't have brake lockouts for the shifter? any kid could just move the shifter out of park simply by pulling on it......

also wasn't there an issue with the tailgates flying open in rear end collisions? or was that a different van?

[TxMomma]

Yes, I wouldn't consider a Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler van simply because of the Gen3 belts. :(

Crash-test-wise, I'd only consider a Windstar, Odyssey or Sienna if you're going for an older vehicle; new, the Quest gets good scores, I believe. The newest Sedona does, also.

I looked at a Sedona when DH bought his Spectra in Dec and I loved it :love: but it's out of our price range :( If he hadn't needed a car I so would have got it!

I'm gonna look at the ones you suggested and see if I can find some in our price range, we still have a few months so it's really not a rush.

[LuvBug03]

and obviously you are in TX lol! I would probably look at the ones Jenny suggested. The 01 and newer windstar has tether anchors in most positions I think??

[scatterbunny]

Heck, even my 99 Windstar has 6 tether anchors! One in every rear seating position and one on the front passenger seat. :D No LATCH, but the 2000 and newer Windstars have LATCH. I love love love my Windstar. :D

I think I'd love an Odyssey or Sienna more, though. Only if they had tether anchors in all seating positions, though. I suppose I could compromise on a few tether anchors if it had a third row/center shoulderbelt. :p

[LuvBug03]

try searching at places like kbb.com and craigslist. here you can type in your criteria and zipcode and it will bring up some http://cars.kbb.com/go/buyIndex.jsp?zc=75006&co=TX113&&AFC=kbb_buy_header

[TxMomma]

try searching at places like kbb.com and craigslist. here you can type in your criteria and zipcode and it will bring up some http://cars.kbb.com/go/buyIndex.jsp?zc=75006&co=TX113&&AFC=kbb_buy_header

We are probably going to finance it, so craiglist wouldn't work. On the other hand the Windstars are pretty cheap , we might just save enough to buy one for cash. Who knows :confused: I know I would much rather save up the $$ than have another car payment.

[stevel]

We are probably going to finance it, so craiglist wouldn't work. On the other hand the Windstars are pretty cheap , we might just save enough to buy one for cash. Who knows :confused: I know I would much rather save up the $$ than have another car payment.

banks are happy to loan people money to buy used cars from private owners, you just have to find the loan, vs. dealer arranging it for you.

[LuvBug03]

banks are happy to loan people money to buy used cars from private owners, you just have to find the loan, vs. dealer arranging it for you.

yup yup!
So then if you have a personal bank you prefer to go with you can... or you can shop around for the best deal.

[R&J'sMom]

Yes, I wouldn't consider a Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler van simply because of the Gen3 belts. :(

Crash-test-wise, I'd only consider a Windstar, Odyssey or Sienna if you're going for an older vehicle; new, the Quest gets good scores, I believe. The newest Sedona does, also.

The newer models do not have the Gen3 seatbelts.

[LuvBug03]

The newer models do not have the Gen3 seatbelts.

right the newer ones do not, but the ones that are going to be in her pricerange will.

[Safety Freak]

Just so you know, you can get a newer one in your price range. These are regularly used by companies as fleet vehicles and I just got a 2006 T&C Touring model for $15,900. I could have gotten it for around 15K if my trade had not needed some major work. I was glad the dealer took it off my hands and he had actually found this van for me, so when he told me how much he could take for it, I wasn't haggling. I worked with him for a couple of months to get what I wanted. He had a 2005 Touring that he asked $13,200 for, but sold it a few days before I was ready to trade (I was trying to sell my SUV outright first). I lucked out though, the 2006 had side curtain airbags and the 2005 did not, so yay me! Both vehicles had about 65K miles on them, but have NO signs of wear at all, just a lot of highway miles mainly. The service was kept up well on it too. So, you can get something newer in that price range, you just have to be willing to overlook mileage. I figure I am going to run it in the ground for the next 3-4 years anyway carpooling kids:) I found a really nice and honest used dealer who I worked with. He was looking for what I wanted every week at the auctions and it worked out so much better than any new car deal I have ever done! Good luck!