Date:         Fri, 30 May 2014 07:17:04 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Poor Man's Syncro...Friday OT..Safari AWD (a bit long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

  I just got a  '97 GM Safari AWD van to supplement my 84 low roof westie
wanna-be .

 I've 'shopped' diligently around various NW US online  listings for the
past few weeks,  where there are always a dozen or so listed each day,
Running condition ones normally priced from around $1000 to $4-5K,  I paid
$2k for this, a one-owner van with full records, a van that looks to have
been intelligently maintained and driven well . A second set of good snow
tires and wheels, tow package, drilled rotor brake upgrade, etc..

 Amazingly, it's got all the luxury options and they all still work.. It's
awfully "tarted-up" for my tastes, what with power everything and front and
rear heat and AC and six captains chairs in real leather (un-cracked,  NW
vehicle)   I'm not very keen on all these electronic widgets and OBD II
stuff, but it's been trouble-free for 14yrs under the original owner, so
maybe GM got it pretty right..we shall see, I guess.

 I was actually looking for a more basic AWD van to be my work vehicle, but
this little lux-o-truck was so well kept I went for it. The price was quite
good, given it's condition.     It's almost 'too nice' Inside, it reminds
me of the Eurovan or any other minivan...though these GM vans do have more
height inside than most American-market minivans.   They are built on the
GM small truck chassis and it drives a bit like a  small truck.  Driving
this one I can now see how Scott came to his opinion that Vanagons are
'sports-car vans'...My 84 tin top feels much lighter..

 These GM vans(Astro is almost identical to Safari) have a fanatic cult
following, just like our syncros do...Being built with Chevy/GM truck and
car parts, the easy modification options are almost endless, a lot of 'plug
and play' possible and easy using parts from other GM vehicles.   The
standard engine is the V6 (190hp) that was derived from Chevy's iconic 350
v-8, minus two of the cylinders. It's been used 'forever' in most of GM's
mid-size trucks, as has the 4sp auto tranny... The towing capacity listed
is 5000lbs, one of the reasons that made this vehicle attractive to me as a
work vehicle...I have a 10' Wells Cargo tool/toy trailer that I often need
to haul, with heavy loads inside..

   The rear has 'dutch doors'  with a hatch on the top half and two
swing-outs below..  it will carry two full size motorcycles inside, thanks
to the motor's front location and low rear floor..It looks to be wide
enough to have a sleeping platform cross-wise inside.

   Now I'll no longer have to 'schlep' my gear in and out of the vanagon
all the time, switching from tools to toys and back, sometimes twice a
day.... and I'll be able to easily make my driveway in the snowy months.
 If and when my "ship comes in" or if I win the lottery I can see myself
spending 'syncro dollars'  here, but for now it's my Poor-Mans Syncro..
   Don Hanson