[meetthespeakers]

I thought this was kind of funny, but a few month's ago my dad sent me some pictures he found of the "Original Big Blue" from the late 80's/early 90's. We had the van for 14 years before he gave me a choice of either to keep his van or sell my mustang, or vice versa. Well I kept the stang for 4 more years, then bought another mustang and held onto that for another 7 years. Well now I have come full circle and a year and half ago I bought the new "Big Blue." Life is funny, and damn him for modding the stro back then, cause growing up I blew so much money on customizing my rides. So my question is how did you guys get into it, why the ASTRO/ or safari?

1987 Astro, Stillen Bodykit, Konig Wheels, 3/4 drop, Custom Paint..

1991 Mustang, to much to list

Check my sig to where I am headed...

 

[chops]

Im a pick up man but having two kids I didnt feel a pickup was a good family vehicle so I wanted a van but a so called mini van wasnt for me but the fullsize was just to big so I seen the astro and said thats for me then I stumbled upon this site and its a whole new chapter there....

 

[kidhauler]

Easy answer. Dodge mini vans are a peice of junk and I wanted something that can tow a trailer. So that limited it to the Astro or a Ford Aerostar and one of my best friends had a Aerostar and after watching that thing blow up on a monthly basis the decision was made.

 

[gtkane]

Mine cost me a buck...need I say more?

 

[meetthespeakers]

There really is no other "Mans" van out there that is smaller than a full size. Aftermarket is good, of course not what it used to be. I wish companies were still cranking like they were in the early 90's with stuff, now it's starting to get hard to find aftermarket gear. We need to get a couple astro's some spreads in Truckin mag and bring back the trend. :afro:

 

[meetthespeakers]

Oh ps, i wouldn't mind letting the lady drive this dodge though:

 

[John]

Just try to squeeze a few Irish Wolfhounds in a Smart or a Mini Cooper :biglaugh:

Our Astro is our doggy Van :thumbup:

 

[Archiev]

I like the way they look, I wanted one, I got one.

 

[trybe13]

My parents purchased it in 1990. They only drove it occasionally. Once or twice to Vegas and a few days out of the week to their office about 2 miles from their home. After my mom got her Beemer she stopped driving the van and the van sat for a couple of years parked in the rear of the house. (When I got the van in '02 it only had about 60k on it!!) They live just a few blocks from the beach in Huntington Beach, CA, so the salt air was doing quite a number on the clear coat. My dad called me up one day and asked if we wanted the van. I had always admired the van so I immediately said YES!! We flew out to our family reunion and drove the van back home to PA. I had no idea what a real blessing this van would turn out to be!
I promised my dad I was going to paint it and make it like new. I started doing some internet research and ran across AS.com. The rest, as they say is history.
He drove it last year when I drove home to visit, and he's got the fever again!! :banana: :banana: He always had vans back in the 70's. I told him when I put the V8 in it :layrubber: he was going to want it back!!! :lol!:

 

[nitropyro]

i know some of you know who Coop is of coop graphix well he made the "chop" then his "daily" then the "6wheeler" and i was hooked at age 14. so i went threw 6 astros and now im left with ratstro as my toy.
Danny

 

[allwhite1100]

i have a big family and love the not so popular look of the astro

 

[Astrogurl]

Just try to squeeze a few Irish Wolfhounds in a Smart or a Mini Cooper :biglaugh:

Our Astro is our doggy Van :thumbup:

:biglaugh: All I see in my mind is doggie heads sticking out all the windows. Also can't help thinking about Onslow's dog on Keeping Up Appearances! :biglaugh:

We got ours because we needed room for a third carseat.

 

[Stuart]

Well, for me, it started with the 1975 GMC Rally Wagon (full size van) my Dad owned and eventually passed down to me. We used that van for everything from towing a big *** trailer, to long distance road trips, to bar hopping with a full van. I don't know how many times the odometer rolled over, but it was still running when it was sold in 1997. After that, I had a 96 S-10 with a 4cyl, 5-spd...after 2 years and 3 engines I knew I had to get rid of it quick. Since I knew I wasn't going to get more for it than I currently owed, I traded it in on a vehicle that would last long enough to make it worth-while... A vehicle that I wasn't going to "out-grow" any time soon... yep, a 97 Astro. Aside from 2 transmission jobs that weren't covered by warranty, and a fuel pump that was covered, I don't regret the decision at all.
It's a shame that GM decided to cease production on these vans. There is currently little-to-nothing on the market that can tow a heavy trailer, carry 7 or 8 people, and has a V6 engine for something resembling good fuel economy.

:canada: :layrubber: :sword: I like these new smilies...

 

[HansO]

Needed something smaller when going to town, drives normally a full size Chevy van filled with tools, so picked up this shopping bag two weeks ago, pics ill follow this weekend. :layrubber:

Hasse
Malax, Finland

 

[1low-stro]

Well I grew up with theses vans. My parents had an 87 and I drove it when I got my liscence. Then they bought the 99 and that's mine as soon as I get rid of my car. I just love the way it looks.

 

[babySTROler]

in 96 I had an S-10 fully tricked out with hydros. Then I saw a 88 conversion Astro van....it was love at first site. I've been driving and tricking them out ever since.

 

[violent b]

I was looking for a van to put a huge stereo into. my uncle had a 95 Astro that he gave me for free. it ran, what else could I ask for?

 

[thyubernoob]

After I dented my mustang I need an other car that was cheap, My buddys parents sold me their 1995 Safari awd for $500, can't beat that deal!
then I found this site, seen v8's in some of the vans and now I'm thinken how cool that would be!

 

[HeresPaco]

I've had 3 awd's. 97, 01, 02. (wrecked the 02.. :banana: )

1: need awd
2: need to tow 2ton trailer
3: need to carry 4x8 lumber out of the weather
4: want a low cargo bed for easy access
5: need to carry 1/2 dozen people and stuff to party with
6: need to fit into small garage easy
7: want fair mpg
8: do not need or want an open bed pickup anymore
9: Domestic built.. yep, I'm a patriot

SO: Astro/Safari is it. Nothing else exists that meets all my needs. :bravo:

 

[sideshow_downs]

I cant leave anything stock and i decided that my 02 S10 was too small (im 6'4") and i like to do projects that make people wonder why. So the astro seemed like the thing to do