How many miles on each and how many times were thew fluid/filter changed?

Why have it then?

That’s more a gearing issue than a lack of gears. Adding an extra gear means nothing when it’s spaced between 2 gears and you end up with a 6 speed with the same final drive as a 5 speed.

That’s likely more to do with the fact that NO ONE maintained them, ever.

I’ve driven about 10 of them now, most were 16s/17s, all of them were like that.

24mpg average. Your parents likely also wasn’t a swb with a 3.8L, seeings they never came like that from factory. 24mpg is about 5mpg better than any of the current vans can accomplish in the same drive, trust me, I’ve tested them.

They put 9 gears in, 90% of the time, they only use 5 of them anyway.

After 200+k miles of abuse, things tend to fail. Considering a complete engine swap including harnesses and computers can be done by a capable mechanic in under 8hrs, I would guess your guy and those like him were part of the reason so many transmissions failed.

Na, I did that this weekend.

Eh, I usually get my ATs online. Usually with the deals, I get them cheaper than OEM tires would be.

I had no love for that 6-speed in those vans either. Driven a few of them and the horrible trans combined with the horrible handling make me walk away everytime.

0-well over legal speeds and anywhere in between I always have plenty of power. It’s geared very well with 4th/lockup being the only “long” gear, 1st thru 3rd have a near perfect spread which makes it completely enjoyable to drive.

The Grand Caravan 6-speed is horrible!

6hrs on a hoist?

What’s not fun about a car that smokes modern performance cars while costing thousands less and getting better economy?

90s 3.8L 4-speed.

Huh, 1st runs up to 40mph, 2nd runs over 70. Enough power across the rpm range that more shifting would likely make it slower. Besides, who’s complaining about running 14s in a minivan?

Jokes, how do they work?

Did a lot of Auto-x in my old 4-speed. 2nd gear was all I ever needed except super tight turns. Always between 1st and 2nd, which happened to be good for 70+mph. That vehicle would also run high 14s in the quarter.

If you have to ask if you need new tires, you probably need new tires.