1985 GMC Safari review from North America

The transmission needed work after about 85,000 miles.

Someone cut in front of me at 105,000 miles; both cars were demolished.

The cargo and seating capacity was wonderful; you could haul a pool table in this thing. Owning one will make you popular, as everyone will ask you to give them rides (particularly to bars) and to haul their things.

Travel was smooth and comfortable thanks to the captain's chairs and the high seating position. I made several long drives between the Midwest and the East Coast and never grew uncomfortable.

Working underneath the car was also a blast thanks to the high clearance. The engine compartment, by contrast, was tight and hard to work in.

High winds would shove the van all over the road.

Pickup and speed were about average for such a pedestrian, suburban vehicle. Fuel economy was horrible. I dreaded the fuel stops even back when gas was a dollar a gallon.

I walked away from a 30MPH front collision with only whiplash. The damage to the van might have been repairable if the insurance company had chosen to do so.