Topic: Thinking about buying a van ... Got one!

[Cougars750F0]

I recommend the Chevy Astro LS. Rear wheel drive, choice of two or four wheel drive, 4.3 V6 Vortec. Great handling for a van. Engine and drivetrain sits low frame. Doesn't lean in turns 

[Scott S]

 Looked at the Ford today. It actually only has 101K miles on it and the engine was rebuilt at 94K. I misunderstood him earlier.... not 67K on rebuild, but 6 OR 7K on rebuild!
 That was done in '04 and it's mostly sat since then. Runs pretty good, considering it's been sitting for a long time. It needs a good cleaning, fresh fluids, and some paint on the roof. And tires. He's pretty firm at $2,000. I could do everything it needs and still be in it for way under $3,000, which is pretty good, considering the miles and what vans bring in this area. I can find them for similar price or even cheaper, but most have stupid high miles on them.

[BeSeeingYou]

I recommend the Chevy Astro LS. Rear wheel drive, choice of two or four wheel drive, 4.3 V6 Vortec. Great handling for a van. Engine and drivetrain sits low frame. Doesn't lean in turns 

My first choice too...in fact I am looking for one now.  Up here in the North the AWD models are most popular but the gas milage really takes a hit (about 4-5mpg less) so I am focusing on a rear wheel drive...they also sell for less as the demand is not as great.  So if you don't really need it avoid the AWD.

[Scott S]

I recommend the Chevy Astro LS. Rear wheel drive, choice of two or four wheel drive, 4.3 V6 Vortec. Great handling for a van. Engine and drivetrain sits low frame. Doesn't lean in turns 

 I like the Astro vans, too. BUT...they bring stupid money for one with low miles, good condition, etc. I'm also looking to fit two bikes in the back and I'm concerned they may be a little small.

[Cougars750F0]

I had the Ford van mine was a 2000 sold it for next to nothing after I had water in the oil with only 97 thousand miles on it! 4.2 V6 that was underpowered and a gas hog. My Astro has 167 thousand miles on it and has 60 lbs of oil presser when hot, doesn't use leak a drop of anything and plenty of power to spare. They do fetch a higher price but are worth it in the long run. I'm looking for another one with low miles. The mid size can be an issue but I managed to fit two bikes in mine but I had to compress to shocks to clear the roof. I use mine for work and with the back seats removed you can fit 4'x8' sheets of plywood  and 10'  boards down the middle and shut the doors. The back doors a great  the top lifts up and the lower door swing open. You can load things into the back in the rain without getting the inside wet or leave the lower doors open to carry longer items if needed.

[Xnavylfr]

The LONGER wheel base models gives a better ride ,whether in Pickup or Van. I had a DODGE MAXI van converted to camper inside. When you dropped the table down it became a KING sized bed. Had a 318 with Hooker Headers/Duals exhaust and a 727 tranny , averaged close to 19 MPG. You could load one bike from the side BARN doors and leave the bed/table out and load another in the back BARN doors. The van was over 20 foot long.

Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[BeSeeingYou]

I had the Ford van mine was a 2000 sold it for next to nothing after I had water in the oil with only 97 thousand miles on it! 4.2 V6 that was underpowered and a gas hog. My Astro has 167 thousand miles on it and has 60 lbs of oil presser when hot, doesn't use leak a drop of anything and plenty of power to spare. They do fetch a higher price but are worth it in the long run. I'm looking for another one with low miles. The mid size can be an issue but I managed to fit two bikes in mine but I had to compress to shocks to clear the roof. I use mine for work and with the back seats removed you can fit a 4'x8' sheets of plywood  and 10'  boards down the middle and shut the doors. The back doors a great  the top lifts up and the lower door swing open. You can load things into the back in the rain without getting the inside wet or leave the lower doors open to carry longer items if needed.

The prices here don't seem to bad 2000-3000 for something in the 1998-2002 range. The problem is finding one with low miles.  People just seem to rack up miles on these.  I am beginning to think andything with less than 130k is low miles.
   Most seem to have the three way doors which is nice but two way "barn" doors are common too.

Any fuel gauge problems with yours.  that seems to be the most irksome problem I have seen.

[RAFster122s]

Do your vans have more rust issues, is that the problem driving the price down?

[BeSeeingYou]

Do your vans have more rust issues, is that the problem driving the price down?

Not really... that seems to be more of an issue in the past.  I think vehicles these days are much better protected.  You sometimes still see it but not gapeing holes and doors rusting through like in the good old days.  It's not hard to find nice rust free examples.  I just saw a mint 97 GMC Safari with 86k for 4K.....I am not going over 3K so I will wait.  It also had the two barn door rear and I need the 3 way door.  Tons for sale between 2-3K but 90% are AWD.  They are very popular here.  The Safari is the same vehicle so it can widen the search.  Sometimes they seem to command a slightly higer price....might just be the GMC name over Chevy?

[Cougars750F0]

The LONGER wheel base models gives a better ride ,whether in Pickup or Van. I had a DODGE MAXI van converted to camper inside. When you dropped the table down it became a KING sized bed. Had a 318 with Hooker Headers/Duals exhaust and a 727 tranny , averaged close to 19 MPG. You could load one bike from the side BARN doors and leave the bed/table out and load another in the back BARN doors. The van was over 20 foot long.

Xnavylfr(CHUCK)
[/quote Close to 19 MPG thats impressive for such a large van

[333]

Bringing this one back from the dead.

Okay, just so you knew it.  I hate it when someone bumps a thread and has no idea that it's years old.

[ekpent]

I have put many thousands of miles on vans over the years. Don't expect good mileage on any of them. Like Sean my Dodge Maxi with a 318 get low teens. The best van I ever drove was a white Ford no window 150 during the late 90's. at a job I had doing long miles. It had the straight 6 300,mileage wasn't too bad,and could pull a pretty heavy boat trailer well. It had 250,000 miles on it when I turned it in with very few problems. Was almost tempted to buy as most people said they can easily do 300,000 miles.

[azuredesign]

I have been lusting for a Dodge Sprinter for the last couple of years. Expensive to purchase, new and used, but very good gas mileage and I understand very reliable.

[seanbarney41]

+1 Azure, my '95 chevy's power steering system just self destructed...the pump's pulley bearings are so bad the belt won't stay on...and the gearbox is leaking like a sieve ...it's the short wheelbase with a v6, best mileage has been around 15mpg ...it's slow as a turtle too, handles alright for a van, good brakes...has swallowed up 1 gs750 and two dirt bikes in a single gulp.  Honestly, the thing is a hunk of junk at 138,000 miles.

[333]

I'm not sure what you expect out of an 18 year old van.  And it sounds like a hard 138k, carrying 2 and 3 bikes with only a V6.

So, I've been researching this as well.  I'm a Chevy man, and I'm on my second Astro.  I got my 2000 in '03, and gave my '93 to my son, who totaled it inside 6 months.  But when I gave it to him, it had 165k, and ran like a top.  My 2000 runs fine, with just over 120k.  It's just feeling a bit small for me these days.  Both were/are V6, AWD, and sucky mileage.  I have broken 20 mpg on a trip once.

So, I'm looking at an Express extended body, less than 3 years old. and the advice given to me said to get a V8 and invest in a programmer to write some economy into it.  The theory is that a V8 has some economy to spare, without putting too much strain on it.  A V6 is pretty much at it's limit.

[rb550four]

I used to like vans , then older ones always need work and you find yourself spending the weekend all folded up in the doghouse (engine compartment ) to make repairs... no fun. The cargo space even in an extended van is still limited.
  I'd opt for a $3000 U Haul one ton with a box body for bikes parts and tools  and slide under ramp.
Grandma's attic over the cab can be a comfortable spot for bedding if needed. You can fit more than 2 bikes in the smaller box. more in the longer box, tie downs on 3 walls, roll up door. U Haul sells them outright at the rental centers, pick a good one ask to see maintenance record to be sure it's been kept up.
 A nice 7.3 diesel engine in the Ford, very reliable,durable and strong under the hood of a full sized pick up truck,dual rear wheels,nicely balanced,  excellent traction and handling so much easier to work on, and they usually retain a higher resale price than a van. So if you keep it in decent shape , when you sell it, you can usually get most of your money back. These vehicles are good for all kinds of dry goods transport and can make a decent dump truck or tow truck with a different  body .

[pchchico]

The problem with a  van or any vehicle isn't the initial cost of the thing,  it's the ongoing costs.   like insurance,  license and registrations,  inspections and emissions (depending on where you live)  and the general upkeep of a vehicle you may not be using everyday. 

what you might want to consider is a small cargo trailer,  assuming you already have something to tow it with.  usually they are cheap to register and plate,  very little maintenance.  You can sleep in it ,  and you can get 2 bikes in them.   Probably for  $1000. 

[CycleRanger]

DO IT!!!

[Scott S]

 Well, I did it! 1986 Chevy Van G10. 5.0L V8/auto with 113K miles. Recent full service, fresh fluids from the radiator to the transmission. Good tires and brakes. A/C and heat work. New tie rod ends, bushings, sway bar bushings, ball joints, etc. Runs great! And only $1200!
 The paint is flat and has that black stuff on it from sitting under a tree, but it's straight and rust free. Southern van all it's life. The rust on the bumpers is very light surface rust. Overall, the pictures make it look WAY worse than it really is.

[seanbarney41]

Score!...very jealous.

[Scott S]

Made it home alive. I'm not used to driving a vehicle that large, especially with zero rear vision. Torrential rain, standing water, Charlotte traffic, wrecks, fog..... Damn, I could use a beer.

[Stev-o]

Great deal

[jamesb]

I have been lusting for a Dodge Sprinter for the last couple of years. Expensive to purchase, new and used, but very good gas mileage and I understand very reliable.

We have both at work the astro and the sprinter the astro has been real good on reliability and mileage. The sprinter that's another story the doors are the biggest fail on this vehicle the front doors do not have a stop so if it's windy and you open the door they peel back like a potatoe the back doors do not seal properly and squeak very bad going down the road the door locks suck you have to hit the button twice for it to unlock highway vibration going down the road any kind of wind and your all over the road. My first hand experience with the dodge sprinter is that it's junk. Not worth the money

[Duke McDukiedook]

You bought the wrong van, man.
THIS is what you should have purchased.

[JeffSTL]

Jealous! My son starts driving next year and I've been thinking I'll pass my old Mazda Protege 5 onto him and get myself an old cargo van. My commute is very short and considering riding the 750k and bicycling I put very few miles on the car. I've been looking, but most around these parts are rusted to hell.