[ksa8907]

How did I miss this thread. Not sure I can help, but I can offer my condolences. We sold off my Volt and got a 2012 town and country last year. I found out that people are pretty rough on vehicles. My Volt was pristine compared to every van I shopped.

We paid a little less than your 10k budget private party, but the van had 132k miles and needed some neglected maintenance. Coolant change, thermostat, plugs, a couple roller rockers, suspension all around, and trans fluid/filter change is in the immediate future.

I could have bought a '14 for 9k with similar miles and less maintenance issues but the interior and exterior were beat to ****.

As far as efficiency, I couldn't care less to be honest. The ac is cold and the movies keep the kids entertained. We get about 15 to 18 in our driving, highway is about 23 or 24 at 75.

The 3 big plagues of the chrysler minivan are a faulty TIPM (totally integrated power control module), lack of transmission maintenance every 60k miles, and lack of oil changes causing timing chain problems and especially roller rockers that wear out (ticking).