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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Saturn Vs Astro. input?

Nov. 6, 2010 8:54 a.m. CarKid1989 Dork

I currently DD a 1999 Saturn SL2, however my dad is about to close a deal on a 2003 Chevy Astro van for dirt cheap. After talking to him for a while it seems that it may not be a bad idea to buy it off of him and sell the saturn as a DD.

Ok, to elaborate.

The Saturn has just shy of a quarter million miles (225,000 for the visual type) and has developed and idle issue which we believe to be the head/ seals wearing out. (original motor) It will need tires in the next 6 months. Also needs an exhaust, rear brakes gone over, some suspension issues addressed and some front end work (tie rod ends, maybe wheel bearings) So its gonna need some money invested. On the other hand i freaking love it for what it is. Average 35 MPG, cheap to insure, comfy enough and its a good beater/DD machine.

On the other hand the Astro is much newer (2003) and my Dads company just finished doing 3,XXX of work on it. Has right around 100K miles. New tires, new brakes, new suspension components, some steering work and a tranny service/ rear end service. Lots of work! Will need about $500 to get it to DD status. It gets lower MPG, but also will have the option to tow now and since its a panel van i can use it as a truck essentially. (that means i can haul/ scrap for side $$)

My daily drive is probably under 20 miles and if i take long trips i can borrow a better MPG car from home no problem. I need a DD that wont leave me stranded and im afraid the Saturn is on the way out (mostly cause of engine)

I guess my questions is what would you do? Keep the Saturn and fix it or buy the Astro.

This may not be totally complete thought process yet, but from what you read what would you do
Nov. 6, 2010 9:35 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

In the mid 90's I did not even own a car for 3 years and even after I bought a car (miata) I still drove this exact van for about a total of 5 years (with the same graphics.)
The Astros are great for utility but the driving position and tiny footwell is a real trade off. Winter:
I drove mine all around NW Ohio with many weekend trips to Boyne Ski resort in N. Mich. These vans had a HD suspension option but typically were mostly empty. For winter driving I used to place 750lbs of sandbags in the back just to get the rear suspension to "sit a little." Without these bags, the van could be downright scary on snow, especially with cross winds. Of course, we were only supplied with all season tires.
Owning a Miata and having the van caused some interesting contradictions in motoring. When parking them next to each other, the height of your head in the Miata was equal to the placement of your butt in the Astro. There is nothing like driving the Miata all weekend and then entering the Astro into its first off ramp on Monday morning, of course wayyyy too fast. Needless to say, the van really has zero handling characteristics.

I think you are in your 20's. For me at the same age, the van left me starved for sporty driving. The only outlet for that was to beat the living hell out of those vans (which we did.) It is interesting to drive a vehicle that you have no emotional attachment to and are not responsible to repair because you have an entire team of mechanics at your disposal, on-sight at the office. It was in those years that I learned the bad habit of speeding up for railroad crossing jumps.
The trade off for me was that these company provided vans gave me the financial means to buy a Miata that I did not have to drive year-round. 17 yrs later, I still have that Miata.

Is the Saturn really worth anything, considering the miles? If possible, get the van but keep the Saturn too.
Maybe the van will provide you some other way for a fun outlet like trailering dirt bikes?

My advise is to make sure you leave open some sort of fun activity because the Astro alone is boring. Highly functional but boring.
Nov. 6, 2010 10:27 a.m. CarKid1989 Dork

Im 21. All your points are well taken and noted. I am entertaining have two vehicles till one goes boom. Gotta check on insurance. Also i have motorcycles so i get my kicks from that when i need it. Not too terribly worried about the fun thing at them moment--its a practical vehicle situation for me now. I come from driving a Chevy Express 1500 so i know about the foot wells and all, drove that thing since i started driving so i know what you mean.
Nov. 6, 2010 10:35 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

MPG will suck, but that is only one aspect of vehicle operating costs. The Astros are stout, capable and reliable. Knowing the history of this one is also good. What still needs to be done to make it DD'able?
Nov. 6, 2010 10:37 a.m. pres589 HalfDork

Use Astro to tow home E30 project.
Nov. 6, 2010 11:57 a.m. procker New Reader

Having driven the Astro vans at work for 4.5 or so years I can tell you that the Express vans have drastically more footwell space than the Astros. I found a hard time driving comfortably in them with boots on, although I had no problem with the seating position. Forward visibility is pretty good, but with the panel vans having no windows on the sides really increases blind spots. The minimal towing we did with small trailers was no problem, but then again I really don't have that much towing experience and it may have just been luck that everything went smoothly. The steering on them, IMO, sucks but again these are fleet vehicles that get beat up all the time and may just have been "broken in". Maintenance on them is not too bad, but replacing plugs and getting to the engine requires removing the "dog house" and it can get a little tight. You may learn the meaning of "busted knuckles" pretty quick and on accident working on this car. Oil changes are no biggie, if I recall correctly, nothing funky with the drain placement or filter access if you can get under it. The fuel filter is a pain in the dupa, and I have yet to replace one without saturating my work sleeves, and about six trees worth of paper towels with fuel. But whatever, probably happened cuz I was timing myself and trying to beat old personal records.
I agree with driving it in winter can be scary, especially unweighted, but at the same time with a little bit of control they slide nicely around. I was always just worried that they would tip if I turned them too hard...they just feel very top heavy...more so than the Express. The panel vans are pretty decent at hauling stuff inside, and there are a plethora of options for using the panels for shelving, braces, and mounting points with minimal work in getting it set up. Also, the ingress/egress from the rear doors is not terribly bad. Oh, speaking of the rear doors, the handles on the doors all around are pretty crappy, and I have had to replace handles and handle mechanisms many a times from over-aggressive-door-opener-people-types. Also, the rear door stops tend to pop off with over use and may require a simple weld to keep the stop on, no biggie.
As for the saturn, I hear you there. Nothing too fancy about it, but great on gas and just a comfy ride. Personal experience is about on par with what it sounds like you have with your Plastic Wondermobile. Easy to maintain and simple to drive. I can almost drive mine with my eyes closed now!

It would be a tough call, but if you load up the back the Astro should be fine for winter. Get a set of nice tires just to play it safe in bad weather. Its nice having other car options for longer trips, cuz the Astro for longer drives is not the funnest one in the bunch.

Doesn't your uncle have one you could ask about? See how he likes it, at least from a driving aspect? Best of luck!
Nov. 6, 2010 2:24 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

100K miles is nothing for an Astro Van. I put 600K on one with no major issues. Brakes and door handles were about it.
Nov. 6, 2010 3:23 p.m. Twin_Cam SuperDork

Stay with the Saturn! MPG is worth it's weight in gold.

I'm a little biased, though.
Nov. 6, 2010 3:25 p.m. patgizz SuperDork

astros = win

i rather enjoy the driving position and do not mind the footwell. gas mpg does not suck. and the 96+ 4.3 has enough balls to be fun once in a while when the van is empty.

the 03-05 got 6 lug wheels and some other upgrades like rear discs.
Nov. 6, 2010 4:46 p.m. CarKid1989 Dork

patgizz wrote:

astros = win

i rather enjoy the driving position and do not mind the footwell. gas mpg does not suck. and the 96+ 4.3 has enough balls to be fun once in a while when the van is empty.

the 03-05 got 6 lug wheels and some other upgrades like rear discs.

what are talking about MPG wise? 4.3 2WD
Nov. 6, 2010 6:24 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

CarKid1989 wrote:

patgizz wrote:

astros = win

i rather enjoy the driving position and do not mind the footwell. gas mpg does not suck. and the 96+ 4.3 has enough balls to be fun once in a while when the van is empty.

the 03-05 got 6 lug wheels and some other upgrades like rear discs.

what are talking about MPG wise? 4.3 2WD

15/17/21
Nov. 6, 2010 9:38 p.m. patgizz SuperDork

i took a trip on mostly 55mph roads almost to indiana and back a couple weeks ago in the 98 astro. unloaded there, 700# of wood burning furnace on the way back. 290 miles, 12 gallons. i wouldnt believe it either if the van didnt seem to get exceptional mileage compared to my 95, which would get 17/21ish.
Nov. 7, 2010 8:04 a.m. Datsun1500 Dork

Twin_Cam wrote:

Stay with the Saturn! MPG is worth it's weight in gold.

I'm a little biased, though.

In the original post he states his commute is under 20 miles. Lets figure 100 miles a week. Saturn gets 35 MPG so that is 2.85 gallons. Astro gets 20, so that is 5 gallons. At 2.75 a gallon the Saturn = $7.80 a week and the Astro = $13.75, so we are talking about $6 a week.

For $6 a week you now have a vehicle that can haul stuff, tow stuff, and is known to last a long time.

Seems worth it to me, but I don't really get the MPG argument most times, I don't base my decisions on it.
Nov. 8, 2010 10:11 p.m. CarKid1989 Dork
Well the Astro now is sitting in the garage.

2003 with a bit over 100K miles. Manual everything and non tilt wheel.

Odd thing: it has 6 lug wheels. explain?

Also got the history of work done before its small accident. All work was done by my dads company so im happy i know its done well. I think i got an amazing deal!

3000$ dollars of work was done included was
- tune up (new pcv, fuel filter, spark plugs, air filter, ignition wires and coil, dizzy cap and rotor, distributer assembly)
- tranny service (filter and fluids)
- HVAC blower fan fixed
- new windshield
- rear brakes (completely redone)
- all 4 shocks were replaced
- new engine oil cooler lines
- new power steering pump and fluid
- new passenger side view mirror
- new battery
- new serpentine belt, idler, and tensioner
- had an alignment
- BRAND NEW set of tires!
- and finally was steam cleaned
its very clean and i love it already
Nov. 8, 2010 10:27 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

I had one of these in the back window. It really was good at improving rear visibility. A good deal for $15. http://www.diggerspolarisandmarine.com/eshopprod_cat_5665-47915-48115_product_9926...
That no side window version really make those round convex stick on spot mirrors important. Mount them low and out.
Nov. 9, 2010 7:21 a.m. patgizz SuperDork

you already quoted me saying the 03+ got 6 lug wheels.

i figured it was probably because the trailblazer, fullsize, and most all the other trucks that matter were 6 lug by then so they could use parts between the different lines.
Nov. 9, 2010 8:06 a.m. failboat New Reader

nice. I have been strongly considering an awd version of one of these instead of a truck.

I had a fullsize short wheelbase van with the 4.3L for many years, ran it up to 178k miles before I got rid of it, motor wise all I ever needed to do was change the oil and it never burned a drop.
Nov. 9, 2010 1:34 p.m. nicksta43 Reader

I perfected my j-turn technique in a gmc safari, 198k and never left me stranded. Well untill I tried to drive it under an oncoming semi trailer but that wasn't the vans fault. You keeping the saturn?
Nov. 9, 2010 4:56 p.m. Vigo Dork

Some of the plugs arent so bad if you do them from the wheelwell.

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