I have a 93 extended with 4.0 engine with 94k miles on it I picked up recently to convert to a handycapper for my wife. I initially planned on a full sized van but she was adamant that she would not ride in it so I compromised and got this one. It's and xlt with electric everything but seats and it doesn't have the fancy mileage computer gadget but otherwise it's pretty plush. We both really like the handling and power it has (understanding that it's not a 460 :-)) so I have to say I am very pleased with the purchase :-)

Last weekend we went to VA for one day (13 hr one way) and borrowed my wife's cousin's van which was already set up with a ramp and lowered floor. This Dodge has a 3.3L engine which spun it's guts out the whole trip to keep up with traffic. The cruise control was ditzy and very tempermental and the front wheel drive caused lots of steering input in the mountains which made driving more of a chore. It didn't wander exactly but in up or down hill turns it pulled so that you had to really be alert and make corrections. On level ground it acted like any other truck and handled well and tracked well. Seats were comfy though and for what it was it was pretty nice but I still prefer my Aerostar by quite a margin :-)

This experience demonstrated one thing which will help me in the future to make decisions about what vehicle to get.....NO FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VANS! so the Windstar is out :-)

My personal preferance is still leaning toward the full size van but the Aerostar is a pretty nice compromise when you consider the fuel mileage advantage :-) I really have a problem with the idea of towing with a 3.0 engine. I've towed with 302, 351 and 460 and have to say that I don't see any of these little 6 bangers doing a good job and holding up. If nothing else the auto tranny's they have now days simply don't have the beans to handle towing. I guess if that's all you have then you do what you can with it but I would not consider my van with 4.0 a tow vehicle. I wouldn't trust the AOD or A4LD to handle it for very long without problems unless I change the gearing in which case the 20 mpg I get now would go away :-( I would never, ever attempt to tow with a 4R70 equipped vehicle but these are just my opinions based on personal experience :-)

 

NEVER BUY A DODGE. (FORD RULES) MY FRIEND HAD A CARAVAN 97 AWD AND THE ENGINE BLEW AT 34,000 MILES HE WAS A MECHANIC AND ALWAYS WAS CAREFUL WITH HIS CARS, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT MY 89 HAS 180,000 MILES ON IT AND THE MOTOR IS RUNNING PERFECTLY. I'VE OWNED IT SINCE IT WAS NEW RIGHT OFF THE FACTORY AND ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANNY ONCE AND ALTERNATOR ONCE AND REPLACED THE COMPUTER CHIP ONCE ALSO. THIS THING WILL GO FOREVER. I'M PLANNING A ENGINE REBUILD WITH BRAND NEW TRANNY AND BELT, BRAKES, A/C REFRIDGERANT, POWER STEERING PUMP, RADIATOR, FUEL PUMP, OEM RADIO, ACCELERATOR LINES AND NEW GEARS AT 275,000 MILES. MY COUSINS CHEVY BLEW AT 85,000 MILES. WHATS UP WITH FORDS LASTING SO LONG

 

Yup :-) I knew it had 92k on it when I paid the original owner $4500 for it but the mileage was not a problem for me since I knew he took good care of it :-) Engines are relitively inexpensive but body work can get ugly fast so a good body is worth a lot more to me than the mechanicals :-)

I figure if I take good care of it the engine should get me another 92k before any serious work needs to be done. Since I'm retiring in September I will have the rest of my life to maintain it :-)

BTW, my kids bought me a sign to put up on my barn which is the same logo you see over the parts counter at a ford dealer. It's proudly displayed over the pedestrian door in the center of my barn between the two garage doors :-) It is a circle with the ford logo in the center and around the periphery it says "Genuine Ford Parts" :-)