some thoughts today

[wkastro]

Not at all offended. Just trying to get my head around explaining a $6k transmission to the Chief Domestic Officer.

[Meterpig]

Not at all offended. Just trying to get my head around explaining a $6k transmission to the Chief Domestic Officer.

Ok, fair enough then. I thought you were referring to something else.

[wkastro]

No problem - I should have used the quote feature to avoid confusion.

[Wiley]

I forgot to mention one of the best parts. They put it all in a package you can parallel park!

I can't wait to be able to park this thing. After a decade in a honda prelude I feel like a truck driver up in this think. I don't even get it straight when pulling into a parking spot in an empty lot lol...I won't even try to parallel yet!

But I agree, as you guys are constantly proving, these vans are solid!

[wkastro]

I forgot to mention one of the best parts. They put it all in a package you can parallel park!

The earlier versions of the Safari/Astro had a tighter turn diameter, because of the stops in the steering gear. Because of the poor Ackerman correction, there were tire wear problems, and the remedy was to steer the front wheels less. I can't recall what model year that hit. There are times with my 2003 that I would take a little more tire noise and wear just to squeeze into that parking spot.

One of our mates added a back-up camera - one is on my list, too.

[Meterpig]

I thought reading somewhere, the steering stops can be adjusted.

[Meterpig]

A 2003 with a claimed 451,000 miles. :^o

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-Gre ... 500wt_1182

[JTalley]

I have to agree that these things are about as dependable as you can get. I myself was surprised by how sharp they could turn. I was used to driving a 1991 Blazer, and I thought it was pretty nimble, but this seems to be able to turn sharper!

I dunno about parallel parking, though... Nobody ever taught me how to do that... And yes, I have a license, they just don't test that or teach it in driver's ed here. Last time I came across parallel parking I freaked out and parked about a block away on a street with diagonal parking.

[ihatemybike]

A 2003 with a claimed 451,000 miles. :^o

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-Gre ... 500wt_1182

I fail to see how that could be lying, with proper maintenance since new these vans can do it. It's only 56k miles a year.

[ihatemybike]

http://www.compperformancegroupstores.c ... _Code=6XGM

there is your six speed however it blew cheap outta the water

Do want, do want, do want, do want!

[Cobra]

the more i look at it the more i want it i've adding it to my "win" list


my win list is if i win money this is how i'l blow it

[alexalexanders]

I really hope they start making astro/safari vans again. Im at 96,000 miles on my 94, so i got a lot of life left in her, but what am i gonna buy after that? I doubt there will be many low miles vans by then.

[safari kev]

I gotta say, the safari was one of the best vehicles GM has made in the last decade. and thats saying something since its a mid 80's design through and through. It has the hauling capability of a box truck, the seating capacity of a full size van, the luxuries of a wagon, the drivetrain of an S10, and its 10% versatile. back in 2005, my dad had a tiara conversion safari. he used it as the work van for his plumbing company during the week, then a family hauler on the weekends. we took it camping and never once got stuck or stranded somewhere. my current van ('97) is awesome. I love it. it gets way better gas mileage (18 combined) than my cadillac, is fast and really nimble, looks cool (everyone likes the stripe graphics), and I don't have to worry about hurting it since its a van. I can throw tools, band equipment, etc. in the back and go.
I really don't get why GM stopped making them. I see early 90's ones on the roads still and tons of 2000+ ones. I probably see 10 of them a day at least (and they're different vans too.)

[MountainManJoe]

no posts today? some kind of 04/01 joke? :-k

[T.Low]

no posts today? some kind of 04/01 joke? :-k

Oh man! I was workin on an April Fools reply for this thread about how my buddy in GM Truck Engineering said they decided to bring back the Astro in an all new updated package...

Oh well, we can dream anyway, can't we...