Midwest hello

till · Post by **till** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:52 am

My name it Tedd and I have been looking at a couple of Astro vans. Found this board and it has been very helpful. Thank you.

I should know this evening if I will be an owner of one of the vans as my mechanic has it at his shop now and is giving it a once over.

okie1 · Post by **okie1** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:54 am

Welcome to ASV, good luck on your purchase

Pictures when you get it home!!!!

doyoulikeithere · Post by **doyoulikeithere** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:26 pm

Welcome Aboard, Almost....

Post some pix up when you get it...

till · Post by **till** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 3:18 pm

Well here is the scoop on the van I am looking at...
2000 Astro LS (looks like not other options other than those that come with the LS package.)
152000 miles, 3 owners, whole life it has been in and around the town it was purchased in.
Paint is just starting to bubble just forward of the rear wheel well.
Needs drivers door handle replaced along with the rear cargo door handle.
Also needs;
Shocks (all 4)
Brakes (all the way around, including master cylinder)
Battery
Forward muffler flange
Stabilizer links
Idler arms (possible center link)
Possible radio (not really sure if I care about this one, kids would rather have a cassette deck anyway)

Dealer is asking $3500
I am trading in my 1993 Caprice that needs way more work than the above list and is rusting out. I have been offered $400 in trade for it.

I am thinking about offering $3000 plus trade taking the sale price to $2600

infinite.chris · Post by **infinite.chris** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 5:35 pm

HI THERE! WELCOME TO ASV!

Whereabouts in the Midwest?!?

till · Post by **till** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:07 am

I am in the suburban sprawl around Chicago.

Going to bargain with the dealer this afternoon

LiftedAWDAstro · Post by **LiftedAWDAstro** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:26 am

Welcome! Here is my advice, don't trade the caprice in. It is worth more than $400 in scrap alone! The dealer is probably just going to do that unless the body is very clean. Also $3000 is too much for a worn out 2WD Astro with those miles and needing those parts. At best it's a $1500 van! If you look around and are willing to travel a little bit you can find better deals. I bought my 2005 AWD with 122k miles, rebuilt transmission and 2 new tires inAugust 2011 for $4250. Personally, keep looking. While those worn parts are not super expensive to replace, they will add up to over $1000 if you have a shop do it. If the dealer is doing all of that before you buy then maybe it would be worth looking at.

till · Post by **till** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:45 am

I have been in discussion with a few other people and I have dropped my offer to the dealer to $2200. Astro's around here sell quick and 4-5K.

I am sure I can get more for the Caprice, but I am not sure I want to go through the hassle of scraping it or selling it. I have a lot going on in my life with 4 kids and two jobs.....

till · Post by **till** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 3:16 pm

Well, the dealer would not budge on the price of $3500. So I walked away.....
The search goes on.

infinite.chris · Post by **infinite.chris** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 6:41 pm

Don't get discouraged, the right van is out there, it just has to find you ;)

Midwest meetup anyone? ;)

till wrote:Well, the dealer would not budge on the price of $3500. So I walked away.....
The search goes on.

LiftedAWDAstro · Post by **LiftedAWDAstro** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:56 am

Too bad the dealer wouldn't deal but I know with patience you will find the right van.

till · Post by **till** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:40 pm

Well, well.... I guess I am one of the gang now. Called the dealer back and inquired about the van and if he would consider an offer I had. He took it and I picked up the van on Saturday.

I will post some pictures tomorrow evening. I will look up the picture posting thread and get the low down.

With two jobs I will be eratic in posting. But I need to do a lot of reading around here first.

Any insights on issues with these cool mid-sized vans that I should watch out for??

infinite.chris · Post by **infinite.chris** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 4:19 am

Aside from Dexcool (red stuff) which is the devil's nectar, fuel pump issues are pretty common.

I always fill when I'm at 1/4, and I've never had issues

till wrote:Well, well.... I guess I am one of the gang now. Called the dealer back and inquired about the van and if he would consider an offer I had. He took it and I picked up the van on Saturday. I will post some pictures tomorrow evening. I will look up the picture posting thread and get the low down.

With two jobs I will be eratic in posting. But I need to do a lot of reading around here first.

Any insights on issues with these cool mid-sized vans that I should watch out for??

till · Post by **till** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:37 am

My antifreeze is green. Pretty sure it is not Dexcool. Will remember to keep it over a 1/4.

On to reading.... Thank you!

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:03 pm

What's the intended use??. Off roading,camping,just a daily driver,?. The folks on here can help you out with that if known.

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