Well, we've had fleet experience with the Chrysler products in the USAF, none of it good. FYI, there is NO large fleet operator in the United States that exclusively uses Chrysler vehicles due to their excessively poor reliability. The only reason the DoD uses them is because we are forced to by standing legislation. We can't stand Chrysler products, shoddy Chrylser reliability, expensive and non-functional Mopar parts, poor Chrysler product support...you get the idea.
The Dodge Minivans have a horrible record in gov't service. They are some of the least reliable vehicles I've ever seen. The ones we used in the Persian Gulf region (improved road use only) didn't last a couple weeks before being pulled from service. The Chrysler 41TE transmission is probably the least reliable mechanical device ever built. BTW, we take loving care of our vehicles and document everything.
We used to wonder why we couldn't lease the reliable Honda Odysseys that the local Persian Gulf residents (Qatar) were using day in and day out, with no problems.
I think a used Toyota Sienna might be a better choice than the Odyssey, as I believe it has a more durable transmission. There are tradeoffs, I've got more than a few miles in older and newer versions of both of them, but I'm talking about 2000-2002 Odys and Siennas here:
Suspension and road handling: The Odyssey easily wins here. Well-tuned suspension. It is a little noiser, though, at freeway speed.
Softer ride, interior accessories: I think the Sienna edges the Ody in this one.
Interior room: Hands down, the Ody has more usable space. I have to do a bit more ducking to avoid things "sticking into the cabin space" in a Sienna, but it's just personal preference here.
Turn radius: The smaller Sienna is a much easier vehicle to park and maneuver in tight spaces, but the Ody also has a turning radius that is tighter than many smaller sedans. Your choice on this one.
MPG: About the same, even though Odys from these model years are a bit larger and heavier than similar-vintage Siennas. Honda has that VTEC engine, which can automatically select different cam profiles based on driver demand.
All this said, the Ford Windstar is not too shabby. I've never had one quit on me or had niggling, ridiculous component failures the way the Chryslers did. They're pretty pedestrian and do not have the get-up-and-go or road handling manners or superb MPG of their Japanese counterparts, but in my experience they just plain work well. My driving experiences with the newer Fords have all been pleasant. As a note, on the last Presidential airlift support mission I flew, we had to get rid of the shoddy Chrysler products and went with Ford Windstars. First time I've been on one of these missions where we had zero mechanical or electrical failures. Many of those Chryslers and Dodges that wouldn't start or had slipping transmissions didn't even have hard license plates on them yet!
Front-wheel-drive (FWD) can get you a lot of places as there is a lot of weight on the front wheels when we are talking about minivans. We had a half-foot of fresh snow in SW OK recently, and all of the 2WD SUV's were sliding into ditches or hitting fixed objects. Some couldn't make it up a moderate grade into their driveways. Our Honda Odysseys did just fine.
I agree with other posters...if the weather can get challenging, do not get a 2WD SUV. They simply cannot handle poor-traction conditions nearly as well as generic FWD vehicles. If you would rather have an SUV than a minivan, and the weather and roads can get nasty, get 4WD.
v/r, N-A
