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I'd like to purchase a used Chevy Astro for my business that involves round trips of 300 miles once a week for about six months of the year. So that's just 8000 miles a year - not a lot. I wanted to buy a used Astro with 150K+ miles on it that I can get for 3000 bucks around here or even less. How likely is it that I will break down somewhere on the freeway? I'm not much of a DIY person, btw. I need the cargo capacity of an Astro.
Astros were the best minivan of the bunch! My buddy has an old one with about 180K miles on it. Worst thing, the radiator got gummed up and needed to be replaced. It rattles as all cargo vans do but it runs strong and everyone wants to buy it from him!
I'd like to purchase a used Chevy Astro for my business that involves round trips of 300 miles once a week for about six months of the year. So that's just 8000 miles a year - not a lot. I wanted to buy a used Astro with 150K+ miles on it that I can get for 3000 bucks around here or even less. How likely is it that I will break down somewhere on the freeway? I'm not much of a DIY person, btw. I need the cargo capacity of an Astro.
They were among the best. Front engine, rear drive - by far the most solid, durable, and reliable platform. Multiple model years listed here among the best vehicles....
They have a great engine, and if you get a rust-free example that's great.
I thoroughly disagree with the eager affirmer of that "It will likely break down on the highway." Anything is possible, but.. No. Let's not go that route on this thread...
It was always a decent platform. At the very least parts will be cheap, GM only made a bazillion 4.3's and 4L60's. It might be hard on front end parts and brakes (especially if you buy cheap stuff) but with the kind of miles you are thinking about, I doubt you'd have to fix more than once.
Anything can break down. If you buy used, it's a roll of the dice. That said, Astro's aren't known for being problem vehicles. Do your due diligence in shopping, get it inspected by a shop, and motor on.
Neither lasted longer than a few months. One kept blowing transmissions - the computer was causing the tranny to shift into low at freeway speeds. The door latch and window hardware sucks on them too.
The other had a the valvetrain come apart. After replacing the heads/machine work the computer caused a "no start". I gave up after that and got an Express van tat has been nothing short of great.
Most heavier vehicles I have owned, that have a 6cyl/3.0L engine or similar, have a lot to be desire as far as acceleration goes, when you are in the lower rpm-range.
My 3.0L Aerostar was a great vehicle, but quite doggish at lower rpms.
From what little I have read, the Astro has a pretty reliable and responsive powertrain.
I own 22 post 2000 astrovans.They all have more than 300,000 miles on them. The only real problem I had with them was the distributor wears out and needs to be replaced and the Aftermarket distributor caps are junk. The transmissions have a small problem. A valve that gets stuck and causes it to shift hard into 2nd when its hot. But its only a $250 fix from a non crook transmission shop.
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