1993 Chevrolet Astro AWD from North America - Comments

I believe it is easier to say what didn't go wrong with it yet...

Things that have gone wrong with it so far:

- Transmission replaced

- Coolant hoses replaced

- Oil lines replaced

- Brakes and rotors replaced

- Both torsion bars replaced ($700 each)

- Power windows stopped working

- Engine smokes oil on startup.

This that still need to be replaced:

- CV Boots

- Front-end suspension (ball joints, etc.)

- Fuse for power mirrors keeps blowing. Probably a short.

- Short in passenger side headlight.

I'm probably missing a bunch of other small things...

First off let me start by saying that I don't own this car. This is my company vehicle and it is used as a delivery van.

I've driven this van for about 1 year and it seems that it is in the shop at least once a month, which is very frustrating because I need the vehicle every day for my job.

This is the most unreliable vehicle I've ever driven and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Now to positive side of the vehicle...

It is actually a very good delivery vehicle. Once you take out all the back seats there is tons of room and it also has good weight carrying capacity. The V6 engine, even though very bad on gas, has a lot of power and even makes passing on the highway a piece of cake.

To sum it up: If you are looking for a cheap van to drive your family around, keep looking. If you buy an older Astro, it WILL cost you a lot of money due to repairs and fuel consumption. Rather spend a little bit more money and buy a Toyota Previa. It will save you a lot of money and frustration.

If you are looking for an Astro as a delivery vehicle and need the space and weight carrying capacity, make sure you get a newer one with lower mileage.

Your employer must be mad.

Don't they realise how much money they are blowing on keeping this heap on the road?

Not to mention the health and safety / legal implications if you have an accident in company time due to the state it's in.

What do you expect for 300,000+ k on it? Things do wear out eventually. The previous driver of the van probably was not as bothered by the problems you have had fixed, therefore making a bunch of things that needed fixed at one time.

In any case, the Astro is still a rock solid van compared to most of its competition, especially ones with a truck chassis.

My 93 Astro is awesome. I don't drive it much anymore since my new boss supplies work trucks. I had just under 200k miles on it and my fiance and I drove to Minnesota and back from Southern CA. I drove it in the snow for six months, its was just fine. I feel so confident in this van. Awesome reliable vehicle. Even to this day It starts no problem, even after a couple weeks at a time not driving it.

I love chevy. I'm going to buy a 2004-05 Avalanche soon. I'll be sad to give up my van...