The last van rolled off the assembly line at General Motors' Broening Highway plant in Baltimore. It was one of 2.3 million vehicles built there over seven decades according to an Associated Press report.
Although previous labor agreements prohibited plant closings, a United Auto Workers-GM contract ratified in 2003 approved the Baltimore plant for closure because of sinking sales of the aging Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari vans.
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
i wont be crying.
-Borsty
Good old Astro's and Safari's.....
Rob
Sold 2/2/05
Mr.Goodwrench-G.T. wrote:Although previous labor agreements prohibited plant closings, a United Auto Workers-GM contract ratified in 2003 approved the Baltimore plant for closure because of sinking sales of the aging Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari vans.
I kind of figured that was coming when GM announced the end of Astro/Safari production a while back...
This seems like this will be way GM handles excess production capacity, at least in North America. Sucks for the folks who work there. Although, in Lansing, MI, GM is closing one plant and opening another in a nearby suburb (Delta Twp). I really didn't expect to see them open another plant in the US with all of the excess capacity, tho...
George (geozinger)
'95 Sunfire GT-my second Pontiac from Hell!
'97 Cavy Beater-still running like a champ!
'04 Sunfire - my kid's car, but I get the bills...
'09 Pontiac G6 - Sport Package 1
nothing like having a fwd mini van competeing with your rear wheel drive van
i like to kick gm in the nuts a few times
lol
if they keep thinking the way they are , pretty soon only ford and chrysler will be left
ahh, I loved those vans, oh well, I would never have bought one anyways, butI can't stand any of these front wheel drive things.
Those were the only minivans that could actually look cool if done up properly, got to love that RWD too. Like Jacob I did like them but would prolly never buy one.
AmazingJay
Jay, you are right when you said Astro's were the only vans that looked cool. How many Aerostars or Caravans has anyone seen customized? I had an '87 astro. Bought it in 96. Paid $1500 cash, owned it for 5 years and all I did to it was put on a radiator and an alternator. Sold it when the tranny burned up. I've never owned anything else that long that didn't need more stuff done to it. Did ya'll know you can drop a 350 in it with no mods to the frame or drivetrain? Try putting a V8 in a Caravan.
I would have wrote you a poem, but I couldn't find anything that rhymed with F@#K OFF!
My family has owned an Astro since 1988. My brother's 92 currently has 225,000 miles on the original motor and trans. Only work that's been done is a set of rear axle bearings, a water pump and alternator.
They are one of the most reliable and best family vehicles out there. I'm glad they had a good 20-year run. (choking up)
And just for fun...
-Daryl Scott
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/cav.html">*86 Cavalier RS convertible
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/scx.html">*92 Olds Achieva SCX- SOLD...sort of.
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/cobra.html">*98 Mustang SVT Cobra #503</A>
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/sarahcav.html">*01 Cavalier LS Sedan</A>
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/cav.html"><img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/monkeyspunk79/thumbnail_suncav.JPG"></A> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/scx.html"><img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/monkeyspunk79/thumbnail_SCX%20side.JPG"> </A> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/scx.html">
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt">Top Down, Tank Full, Pockets Empty
how many other minivans could you ever get in a 5-speed?
exactly
BTW, my family had an 89 safari for 10 years. that thing got us from PA to Florida and back 6 times, along with a few trips to Ohio, Ocean City, and New York. the only reason we sold it was because the head gasket blew, and it would've cost more to have it replaced than the van was worth (the only thing that sucks about them - the motor is mounted in the firewall). that thing was a badass machine. with a set of snow tires, it couldn't be stopped in the winter. i still see it at the local Wal-Mart every once and a while, neglected by its current owners
there were people who LOVED these vans, and bought about 6 over the course of prodcution of them, once the venture came out, seems they just didnt sell....but honestly it was the only van who could really tow anything, and could stack up well againsed new SUV's
then again, most people didnt consider them, and honestly the last few years has chevy even advertised for them at all??? ehh i dont think anyone really knew they were around anymore
the venture was a decent replacement a few years back, but now that GM just gave it a facelift and called in the uplander its way out of date, not to mention saturn pontiac and buick all have one too....wtf?
^^Very true. But the Venture replaced the Lumina APV
At work we used Astros as parts van. It is sturdy enough for heavy cargo like carrying engines. While still being more efficient then the Express van, not to mention carry all that extra length of Express van aswell.
Brown eye,
Did they really come with manual tranny? I think I vaguely remember that.
But another minivan you could get a 5-speed manual were the old 1994 and under Dodge Caravan with the 4cyl.
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
97cavy22 wrote:the venture was a decent replacement a few years back, but now that GM just gave it a facelift and called in the uplander its way out of date, not to mention saturn pontiac and buick all have one too....wtf?
And you think they would spread out atleast a decent Minivan amongst the whole GM line-up. They took a crappy, half-assed Minivan with little features, a slow underpowered engine, and spread it out over 4 different GM brands.....
The Odyssey is a real minivan. I don't like Honda that much but man did they get this van right. Same with the Nissan Quest. I like Nissan alot and if I was an old white guy lookin' for a minivan, the Quest would be my choice. The interior is so gorgeous and it's rather fast for a Minivan, and you also can't beat the exterior styling of it either. It doesn't feel all top-heavy like most vans, and actually can handle pretty well.
GM just uses the same build quality and saves their true talent for one car, the C6. Why can't they put atleast 75% of the craftsmanship they put into that car into their other cars? I just don't understand it at all. It's almost like they want to go Bankrupt and get all these Government subsidies....... free money, why not I guess.
Mr.Goodwrench-G.T. wrote:
Did they really come with manual tranny? I think I vaguely remember that.
But another minivan you could get a 5-speed manual were the old 1994 and under Dodge Caravan with the 4cyl.
Not only could you get them as a 5 speed, but you could get the same turbo engines that were going into Daytonas and whatnot. Can you imagine a better sleeper than a '91 Dodge Caravan that runs 12s in the 1/4?
Anyways, my family has an AWD, loaded '98 Safari we bought new. It's been a good van (able to tow our trailer and camper all around), only broke down once (due to the wrong size tires killing the tranny, I think). It's taken us across the country and back, and about everywhere else we could think to take it. Too bad they're going away.
05 Sunfire, Ecotec, 5 speed, Electric Blue
The Astro could be had in the early years 85-88 or 90 with a 5 speed. But most were ordered with the 2.5 4cyl and 5 speed
I remember going to look at them at the dealer in the winter of 84 as a new model with my dad. All of them had stick shift and dog dish hubcaps. Very cool.
-Daryl Scott
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/cav.html">*86 Cavalier RS convertible
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/scx.html">*92 Olds Achieva SCX- SOLD...sort of.
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/cobra.html">*98 Mustang SVT Cobra #503</A>
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/sarahcav.html">*01 Cavalier LS Sedan</A>
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/cav.html"><img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/monkeyspunk79/thumbnail_suncav.JPG"></A> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/scx.html"><img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/monkeyspunk79/thumbnail_SCX%20side.JPG"> </A> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/scx.html">
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt">Top Down, Tank Full, Pockets Empty
The Ford Aerostar was also available with a 5spd. I think they should still have a RWD minivan available since FWD isn't great for towing.
AmazingJay
AmazingJay wrote:The Ford Aerostar was also available with a 5spd. I think they should still have a RWD minivan available since FWD isn't great for towing.
yea i agree....but then again look at the american society....lets buy a v-8 fully loaded pickup truck and 4X4 that gets 12.0 MPG
when we have nothing to tow, nothing to move around, and the most off roading we have is 4 inches of snow....ehh some people, i dont get it
MiKeDiRnTRuLeZ wrote:97cavy22 wrote:the venture was a decent replacement a few years back, but now that GM just gave it a facelift and called in the uplander its way out of date, not to mention saturn pontiac and buick all have one too....wtf?
And you think they would spread out atleast a decent Minivan amongst the whole GM line-up. They took a crappy, half-assed Minivan with little features, a slow underpowered engine, and spread it out over 4 different GM brands.....
The Odyssey is a real minivan. I don't like Honda that much but man did they get this van right. Same with the Nissan Quest. I like Nissan alot and if I was an old white guy lookin' for a minivan, the Quest would be my choice. The interior is so gorgeous and it's rather fast for a Minivan, and you also can't beat the exterior styling of it either. It doesn't feel all top-heavy like most vans, and actually can handle pretty well.
I agree with you! The Uplander was a bad move.....IMO. We test drove the Nissan Quest., but didn't like the Speedo in the middle. That is why we bought this
....
<img src="http://members.cox.net/nonee29/ody1.jpg">
It seems likes it handles better than my Z did.
Unarguably the best minivan in the market as of now^^^
Nissan Quest is totally radical, which I love. No cookie cutter design there.
But what I really like is Chrysler's Stow 'n' Go. I think the best idea in minivan since the left side door.
Wow I was reading all the stuff on the 5-speed, turbos and I learned something new.
Thanks
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
We looked at the Chryslers also, but they wanted about $36,000 for the top of the line model?!
The stow-n-go seats were really cool, but they were not that comfortable.
I heard the Toyota Sienna is suppose to get the same engine that is in the current Toyota Avalon.....280HP.
we rented an 04 Toyota Sienna on our way back from New York (our Saturn's belt tensioner broke 4 hours from home) and that was a nice vehicle. i honestly wouldn't mind owning one. i got to drive it around a little, and it was great - powerful and it handled nicely. i also got to ride in the back, fully reclined with the AC blowing on me. the only problem with them is that they are pricey when you start adding stuff.
We were going to buy a 04 Sienna, but the dealership would not budge at all on the price. It was the mid model....loaded....and Pearl White. Very nice! We ended up paying about $5000 less for our Odyssey with most of the same options!
I would only buy the Odyssey, Sienna, or Quest....IMO!
