Hi everybody! I just joined this forum, but I'm far from a new owner. I bought my 2002 Astro LT new, to replace my '94 Astro CL EXT. The '02 has faithfully served for over 135k so far, including a trip to the Rockies -- got snowed off Pikes Peak in July! -- ; Oklahoma; and more round trips to Greenville South Carolina than I care to remember, including one a few weeks ago where we drove from Louisville KY all the way home to Chicago on black ice. We lost count of all the cars and semi's spun out off the road, but Astro just kept plugging along and got us home. Can't ask for any better than that...
I do all my own service on all my cars. At the moment, I have an OBD code issue I'm trying to deal with on the Astro. I have a post on it over on the tech forum if any of you are experts on that sort of thing.
Beyond that, I just keep drivin' it and it keeps on running.......
Steve
New member, old van
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SteveTR6
Topic author - I am merely driving my van
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:42 am
- Location: West Chicago, IL
New member, old van
2003 Astro LT AWD, dark carmine red, newest family member
2002 Astro LT 2WD, pewter -- gone but not forgotten. head gasket at 209k did it in
1994 Astro CL EXT, traded at 150k for the 2002
2000 Jaguar XJ8L, wife's daily driver
1981 Goldwing, naked, my daily driver 8+ months out of the year
1980 Vespa P200, wife's toy
2002 Astro LT 2WD, pewter -- gone but not forgotten. head gasket at 209k did it in
1994 Astro CL EXT, traded at 150k for the 2002
2000 Jaguar XJ8L, wife's daily driver
1981 Goldwing, naked, my daily driver 8+ months out of the year
1980 Vespa P200, wife's toy
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LiftedAWDAstro
- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 4379
- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
- Location: New Haven, NY
Re: New member, old van
Welcome! 
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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Smiliesafari
- ASV Supporter
- Posts: 2667
- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: New member, old van
Welcome, Steve. We need some pictures of that van. Lots of pics and you'll be right in here with the rest of us goonies. 
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
Re: New member, old van
Welcome to the site.Hope ya enjoy your stay.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......
Rochester,NY
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......
Rochester,NY
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MountainManJoe
- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 3145
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
- Location: The Pacific North Wet
- Has thanked: 48 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: New member, old van
Howdy Steve. Glad to have ya.
I envy you, because I'll never experience the joy of having brand spanking new Astro van.
I envy you, because I'll never experience the joy of having brand spanking new Astro van.
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SteveTR6
Topic author - I am merely driving my van
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:42 am
- Location: West Chicago, IL
Re: New member, old van
Pics, huh? Well, I don't have very many on the computer, but here's a pair from Labor Day 2010. These are from a road trip we took to Nashville to retreive the Aprilia (loaded in the back of the Astro) and a 1990 Mazda B2200. Deadheaded the trailer down there with the 4 of us and camping gear, then hauled the load home. I figure we were around 12,000 pounds all-up for the ride home. I have a set of Air-Ride air bags in back which at 100psi leveled the rear very nicely, and the Astro cruised comfortably at 60-65 the whole way home, giving 15-16mpg. Can't complain...
Son on the right, Aprilia safely tucked in
Finish loading up our gear into the Mazda. Air bags are only at about 50psi here -- 100psi leveled it right up
Steve
Son on the right, Aprilia safely tucked in
Finish loading up our gear into the Mazda. Air bags are only at about 50psi here -- 100psi leveled it right up
Steve
2003 Astro LT AWD, dark carmine red, newest family member
2002 Astro LT 2WD, pewter -- gone but not forgotten. head gasket at 209k did it in
1994 Astro CL EXT, traded at 150k for the 2002
2000 Jaguar XJ8L, wife's daily driver
1981 Goldwing, naked, my daily driver 8+ months out of the year
1980 Vespa P200, wife's toy
2002 Astro LT 2WD, pewter -- gone but not forgotten. head gasket at 209k did it in
1994 Astro CL EXT, traded at 150k for the 2002
2000 Jaguar XJ8L, wife's daily driver
1981 Goldwing, naked, my daily driver 8+ months out of the year
1980 Vespa P200, wife's toy
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Smiliesafari
- ASV Supporter
- Posts: 2667
- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: New member, old van
YUP..........you'll fit right in. I'm assuming the old gray haired duffer on the left is you. 
It takes one to know one. Glad you're here. You can help me and Larry keep these youngsters in line. 
It takes one to know one. Glad you're here. You can help me and Larry keep these youngsters in line. 1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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MountainManJoe
- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 3145
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
- Location: The Pacific North Wet
- Has thanked: 48 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: New member, old van
If you can keep upSmiliesafari wrote:You can help me and Larry keep these youngsters in line.
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SteveTR6
Topic author - I am merely driving my van
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:42 am
- Location: West Chicago, IL
Re: New member, old van
Actually, that's our old friend who we got the Aprilia and Mazda from. I'm the old guy in the black t-shirt on the left in the second pic. I'm old, but not that old! 
2003 Astro LT AWD, dark carmine red, newest family member
2002 Astro LT 2WD, pewter -- gone but not forgotten. head gasket at 209k did it in
1994 Astro CL EXT, traded at 150k for the 2002
2000 Jaguar XJ8L, wife's daily driver
1981 Goldwing, naked, my daily driver 8+ months out of the year
1980 Vespa P200, wife's toy
2002 Astro LT 2WD, pewter -- gone but not forgotten. head gasket at 209k did it in
1994 Astro CL EXT, traded at 150k for the 2002
2000 Jaguar XJ8L, wife's daily driver
1981 Goldwing, naked, my daily driver 8+ months out of the year
1980 Vespa P200, wife's toy