Chevy & GMC Vans

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This evening, my wife & I traded in our "often needing repairs" 2001 AWD Safari van for a brand new '09 Montana EXT 3.9L van. With factory discounts, GM Visa points, etc. etc., our new '09 Montana van was less expensive then a used '07 Montana EXT van. One of those excellent deals where "only a fool would walk away from". Thus, we bought a replacement van this evening. Will obtain our new '09 Montana EXT "1SB Package with many options" van next week.

We're going to miss our current 2001 AWD Safari van. Especially during the winter months and when towing our canoe trailer across the soft sand beach heads. Something that our future Montana van will struggle with. Definately, no more pulling our canoe trailer across the sand beach head. We'll need to use our camp site's official boat launch ramp instead. But, 99% of the other driving times, our Montana van is expected to be much better then our "old slug" AWD Safari van.

Like they say.... "Every vehicle eventually gets replaced". Even my family's 2001 AWD Safari van.... Don't worry. I still hang around this forum. Just not as much as before...

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But but but..............

You can buy something else but 'replaced' ....

you'll see you'll never be able to REPLACE it just wait and see

Cobra wrote:you'll see you'll never be able to REPLACE it just wait and see :butthead:

Of all the vehicles we had, I do have to admit that our Safari vans (previous '95 and "traded in" 2001 AWD) have the largest internal space. For a family or small business cargo hauling, the Astro/Safari inner cabin designs with a V6 engine really is an awesome design. They are even great vans for small camper conversations, minor (under 4,000 lbs) towing needs and make great disability access upgrade vehicles. Definately, 10+ points in each of these areas. My 2001 AWD Safari has got great winter traction as well. Its better then the previous silver 2 door Blazer and previous blue 4 door Blazer we owned. Our 2001 AWD has never gotten stuck on my winter roads. During winter months, my wife & I often call our AWD "the turtle". "The turtle" - as it slowly drives throght the deep snow or across the hot summer soft sand beach heads. Definately 10+ points for these great design items as well...

But.... (as stated in above posts... There's always a but...).

I won't miss my AWD van's "very poor" technical reliability. The past completed repair items are longer then my arm. When added up, I bet we spent over $6K in mandatory repair costs - and it only has 146,000 KMs on it. Current "waiting to be done" repair items are: Steering is loose again (needs more expensive front end work), its oil cooling lines are leaking, its driver's power door lock doesn't work,its end of transmission is leaking oil, its rear end is leaking oil, its Power Steering pump needs to be replaced (due to massive high pitch whining noise) and its one ABS sensor is gone (needs to be replaced). All repair items are expensive. And just last night, we started to smell anti-freeze from its inner heater vents. Thus, telling me its in heater core or under dash hoses are starting to leak. (Another very sad repair). I definately will NOT miss the high number of repairs - on my 2001 AWD Safari. And, I won't miss its "slug" feeling during take off and "lack of brakes" feeling when applying the brakes either. Due to lack of take off and lack of braking feeling, my wife & I often call our AWD "the slug". Especially during the non-winter months - when AWD isn't needed. And, we won't miss its poor MPG either. Our previous '95 RWD van got much better MPGs then our current 2001 AWD. I figure gas savings alone each month will be for a nice slice of a new montly payment - for a new technology replacement vehicle. ROI (Return on Invenstment) from Cost Saving on saved MPG is 5 years. Thus, one can say that at the end of 5 years from today, we were driving a brand new replacement vehicle (`for free`). And, we don't have to soak anymore repairs into our current 2001 AWD Safari van either.

As you can tell, I do have mixed feelings for my Safari vans. At the stage of my life (and my family's needs), its time to "move on" and enjoy something different in life. Especially for my family and our long road trips - where being broken down at side of the hiways isn't fun. Especially when young kids (passengers) are involved. Time for a new vehicle - with factory warranty. If it even hickups the wrong way, I simply hand the keys to a different person and say, "fix it yourself".

Sorry to mumble on.... I had to write down a few BUTs - that came to mind...

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hmmm sounds like you got a lemon i hope the new one in my family doesn't turn up that way but i agree with the breaking and acceleration soooooooooooooo pathetic the 95 we had/have is way better. Factory warrenty is nice make repairs so much easier, i wonder what year they started to drop quality so much