Hi, I have been lurking and learning for a couple weeks and will be going over to possibly trade for an 04 AWD Astro. I had a Safari AWD years back and miss it.
You all can blame "Ihatemybike" for me being here as I have been bugging him on another site about what to look for and mods requiredfor my purposes (traveling and some off roading/camper).
Hope to learn alot and hope I can provide at least some insght to some subjects from my experiences too.
Great site!
Later, Bill
Hello from Springfield, Mo.
Re: Hello from Springfield, Mo.
Thanks Jim, I noticed you have an 05, I guess the one I'm looking at is very similar as an 04. The 3:42 gear you mentioned, is that what the 04 is and is that a good thing? How's the MPG with that?
Re: Hello from Springfield, Mo.
Ozarker,
There are several rear end gear ratios for these vans. Search the Forum for RPO Codes. It will arm you with some purchase inspection info too.
A 2wd van will get about 2 mpg better than an AWD model, I Think. Although an AWD model is like the Energizer Bunny though... They just keep going and going and going.
Good Luck, Jim
There are several rear end gear ratios for these vans. Search the Forum for RPO Codes. It will arm you with some purchase inspection info too.
A 2wd van will get about 2 mpg better than an AWD model, I Think. Although an AWD model is like the Energizer Bunny though... They just keep going and going and going.
Good Luck, Jim
Re: Hello from Springfield, Mo.
Thanks for the tip! I'm hoping to get what was advertised,17/19, getting rid of an HHR.
In a way it seems that Astros/Safaris are a well kept secret. I have been looking at SUVs and had several, and most just are built for pot holes for soccer moms. The Astro offers so much more room @ mpg and are a much better value. The value comes from less demand in my area, don't know why and depreciation is faster than more popular vehicles.
While this is the intro section and don't want to get off topic, but I have asked many questions of T-Low and Ihatemybike on another site and they have been very helpful in giving information and it is much appreciated! And that's how I found this GREAT site! =D>
I was searching for a vehicle that would be a daily driver and could be used to bug out, go off road (nothing extreme) and tow a small trailer. Dependability and economy topped the list.
Almost everything was on the table from a Subaru Baja to a diesel box truck and in combination with a variety of trailers, from my 5x9 tilt utility to a 24' travel trailer.
So after months of research and comparisons the Astro/Safari AWD tops the list pulling my utility trailer (which I plan to modify as well). Pound for pound and dollar for dollar the van wins out for me. I owned a Ram van, several VW buses and a Safari in the late 90s. While I use to trade vehicles like some guys change their socks, I tried to remeber why I got rid of the Safari (I have made alot of poor choices, lol). I use to trade instead of having something fixed any time the repair was about the same as the sales tax. My dad told me "you can't buy them all" and I replied "I can try". Can't be doing that anymore. I have finally taken my ego out of my transportation needs but still have some pride, so new vehicles were out of the question. Three things I had (have) against any van, (Astro), driving position, lack of cornering at speed and the high profile in windy conditions. Gotta be honest.
The seats can be changed, but the 04 has a better seat than I had, so I'll probably live with that, but the restricted foot well and having to put my left foot on the tire well was not comfortable for me on long trips. Solution; On long trips I'll get out and stretch and walk it off! As for cornering, I have always been an aggressive driver in curves, I use to road race in Germany and some here (Formula V, Super Vs and 2 liter GT/sedans, some autocross), I just can't help accelerating at the apex of a good curve. Can't go there with a raised van. Soultion; Ride my 1600 cruiser more often and get it out of my system! As for the wind, I'll just need to go the way the wind blows! I'm retired!
No such thing as the perfect vehicle for every need or desire, but the Astro seems awfully close! I'm planning on this Astro being around a long time so I need to learn all I can.
All this and no mention of the family that I need to haul around, GF who has two teens and my white german shepard and his buddy my Hardlucksmut! SoI do need a van!
Sorry it's so long with my ramblings.....
In a way it seems that Astros/Safaris are a well kept secret. I have been looking at SUVs and had several, and most just are built for pot holes for soccer moms. The Astro offers so much more room @ mpg and are a much better value. The value comes from less demand in my area, don't know why and depreciation is faster than more popular vehicles.
While this is the intro section and don't want to get off topic, but I have asked many questions of T-Low and Ihatemybike on another site and they have been very helpful in giving information and it is much appreciated! And that's how I found this GREAT site! =D>
I was searching for a vehicle that would be a daily driver and could be used to bug out, go off road (nothing extreme) and tow a small trailer. Dependability and economy topped the list.
Almost everything was on the table from a Subaru Baja to a diesel box truck and in combination with a variety of trailers, from my 5x9 tilt utility to a 24' travel trailer.
So after months of research and comparisons the Astro/Safari AWD tops the list pulling my utility trailer (which I plan to modify as well). Pound for pound and dollar for dollar the van wins out for me. I owned a Ram van, several VW buses and a Safari in the late 90s. While I use to trade vehicles like some guys change their socks, I tried to remeber why I got rid of the Safari (I have made alot of poor choices, lol). I use to trade instead of having something fixed any time the repair was about the same as the sales tax. My dad told me "you can't buy them all" and I replied "I can try". Can't be doing that anymore. I have finally taken my ego out of my transportation needs but still have some pride, so new vehicles were out of the question. Three things I had (have) against any van, (Astro), driving position, lack of cornering at speed and the high profile in windy conditions. Gotta be honest.
The seats can be changed, but the 04 has a better seat than I had, so I'll probably live with that, but the restricted foot well and having to put my left foot on the tire well was not comfortable for me on long trips. Solution; On long trips I'll get out and stretch and walk it off! As for cornering, I have always been an aggressive driver in curves, I use to road race in Germany and some here (Formula V, Super Vs and 2 liter GT/sedans, some autocross), I just can't help accelerating at the apex of a good curve. Can't go there with a raised van. Soultion; Ride my 1600 cruiser more often and get it out of my system! As for the wind, I'll just need to go the way the wind blows! I'm retired!
No such thing as the perfect vehicle for every need or desire, but the Astro seems awfully close! I'm planning on this Astro being around a long time so I need to learn all I can.
All this and no mention of the family that I need to haul around, GF who has two teens and my white german shepard and his buddy my Hardlucksmut! SoI do need a van!
Sorry it's so long with my ramblings.....