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Date:         Fri, 30 May 2014 09:32:04 -0700
Reply-To:     Zeitgeist <gruengeist@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Zeitgeist <gruengeist@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Poor Man's Syncro...Friday OT..Safari AWD (a bit long)
In-Reply-To:  <048901cf7c1e$8fe709a0$afb51ce0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I'm holding out until they begin importing surplus versions of the UAZ-452

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/UAZ-Bus.jpg/800px-UAZ-Bus.jpg

On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 8:48 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

> Plenty of these were converted commercially into "Westie like" pop top > campers. I looked at one 10 years ago but ended up with an EVC. I'd have > been better off with a Safari. Check out www.astrosafarivans.com. > > Stuart > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf > Of Don Hanson > Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 7:17 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Poor Man's Syncro...Friday OT..Safari AWD (a bit long) > > 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 >

-- Casey


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