# Pre-purchase inspection & assessing transmission **URL:** \ **Category:** Buying/Selling\ **Tags:** used-cars\ **Created:** [August 27, 2024, 7:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-purchase-inspection-assessing-transmission/195963 "2024-08-27T07:19:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-purchase-inspection-assessing-transmission/195963/21 "2024-08-29T15:40:44Z")
> [@WesternRoadtripper1](#): > > Experience with three Dodge Caravans has taught me to stick with Toyota. wise choice. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-purchase-inspection-assessing-transmission/195963/22 "2024-08-29T18:20:27Z")
@eddo > [@eddo](#): > > wise choice. šŸ™‚ LOL. My first Caravan solved a problem when my small '86 Nissan truck lost 5th gear in Yellowstone NP ā€“ enroute to northern Minnesota from California. I bought the Caravan off a car lot near the park, found a safe place In town to stash the truck, and adjusted my plan, ambling home in the Dodge. Along the way, a transmission seal failed. I limped into a small town for the repair. Back home, my trusted mechanic judged that my Nissan would be fine running in fourth gear for the 850 miles. So I hitched back for the truck and drove it home, averaging 24mpg in fourth gear. I pulled the transmission and had it repaired. It ran fine for almost 8 more years. With the Nissan back on the road, I sold the Caravan asap. Unfortunately, I had cheaped out on replacing the nylon gear for the odometer (damaged when 5th gear failed). It stopped at 309030 ā€“ always liked that number. I estimate that the Nissan reached 400,000 miles. The second Caravan - a Grand - served well until it reached senility just shy of 300k. The last Grand Caravan survived a couple years before it showed signs of a failing head gasket. My mechanic suggested a Sienna, which Iā€™d never considered. Two weeks later, I bought my first Toyota and promptly junked the GC. That was 8 years ago. The 1999 Sienna is running well with 330k on the clock, but scheduled for semi-retirement now, mostly staying close to home. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-purchase-inspection-assessing-transmission/195963/23 "2024-08-29T21:40:56Z")
> [@WesternRoadtripper1](#): > > 309030 ā€“ always liked that number. = 2 X 3 X 5 X 10301 10301 is the zip code for parts of Staten Island. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-purchase-inspection-assessing-transmission/195963.md?page=1)