Anything about a ford aerostar van that would make me not want to buy this?

[episodic]

Ford and style jokes aside, anything really expensive about owning a ford aerostar van? There is one near me for 800$. I'm looking for something cheap to just get to work and back in on days I don't feel like walking (100 degree heat or rain). . .literally, I'd put maybe 200 miles a month on this thing. . .

Just curious if they are outrageously expensive to maintain or something. Never owned a van before. It is high miles. . . but for 800$. Motor seems quiet. Transmission seems good.

 

[Capt Caveman]

It's a minivan.

What year?

For $800, I'm guessing you'll have to put quite a bit of money to maintain it.

Buy a bike.

 

[episodic]

I forgot to add it is dented up and paint is peeling. Inside is 'rough' - probably the reason for the low price. I could care less about that part. I know the mechanical soundness is a crap shoot. I actually don't know the year. I think it is a 1990 something. . .

 

[episodic]

the bike thing is tough at 300 pounds. I've lost 30 in the last 6 months - but most bikes are only rated to 220 lbs. . .that wouldn't solve the sweat like a pig thing on 105 degree humid days either.

 

[summit]

what year?

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: episodic
the bike thing is tough at 300 pounds. I've lost 30 in the last 6 months - but most bikes are only rated to 220 lbs. . .that wouldn't solve the sweat like a pig thing on 105 degree humid days either.

Text

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff

Originally posted by: episodic
the bike thing is tough at 300 pounds. I've lost 30 in the last 6 months - but most bikes are only rated to 220 lbs. . .that wouldn't solve the sweat like a pig thing on 105 degree humid days either.

Text

and this

 

[Kirby64]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff

Originally posted by: episodic
the bike thing is tough at 300 pounds. I've lost 30 in the last 6 months - but most bikes are only rated to 220 lbs. . .that wouldn't solve the sweat like a pig thing on 105 degree humid days either.

Text

Wow.... it'd cost $600 just for the bike .. that's retarded.

 

[OdiN]

It says Ford on it....I'd stay away.

 

[jme5343]

I think you could find something better and cheaper. My folks are still driving a 89 Park Avenue (see GM's 3800 motor - almost bulletproof) that I bought two years ago for $300. It's got over a quarter million miles on it and rides like a dream.

 

[episodic]

Well I test drove it. It seemed ok. Did not leak anything that I saw. Some lights are out. 207,000 miles. It was a van for a store that drove between 4 sites delivering stuff. I noticed the oil had not been changed since 194,000 miles. I also noticed it looked like a pain to work on. I have till tommorow to make up my mind. Are these things more expensive to get repaired? Just curious. It is a 1997 model Aerostar.

 

[waggy]

its a $800 van with 200k+ miles.

no matter what you are buying at that cost/milage its a crap shoot. it could last a while or it could last a week.

 

[Christobevii3]

I'd find a chevy astro van personally. They have the 4.3L and 4L60e engine/transmission setup. They are relatively cheap to repair since they are just an s10...

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: OdiN
It says Ford on it....I'd stay away.

EXCELLENT! I will now be asking Anand to rename this site Ford Tech.:thumbsup:

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: OdiN
It says Ford on it....I'd stay away.

EXCELLENT! I will now be asking Anand to rename this site Ford Tech.:thumbsup:

hahahahahhah :beer:

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Christobevii3
I'd find a chevy astro van personally. They have the 4.3L and 4L60e engine/transmission setup. They are relatively cheap to repair since they are just an s10...

I agree, Astro's are RWD, much easier to work on. With high miles, I'd be concerned about the transaxle (combo of transmission and differential -- shudder) crapping out on that Aerostar.

But, OP, spend ~ $50 upfront to save yourself from making an $800 mistake. Take it to a reputable mechanic and pay that much to have him check it out. If you're a "cheap transpo" newb, it'd be money very well spent.

 

[nonameo]

Why a minivan? Can you not find a deal on something more compact?

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Christobevii3
I'd find a chevy astro van personally. They have the 4.3L and 4L60e engine/transmission setup. They are relatively cheap to repair since they are just an s10...

I agree, Astro's are RWD, much easier to work on. With high miles, I'd be concerned about the transaxle (combo of transmission and differential -- shudder) crapping out on that Aerostar.

But, OP, spend ~ $50 upfront to save yourself from making an $800 mistake. Take it to a reputable mechanic and pay that much to have him check it out. If you're a "cheap transpo" newb, it'd be money very well spent.

QFT. A good mechanic (ask your friends if you don't know one) will be able help you out.

Buying a car like this is a bit of a gamble. It may be the deal of the century or you may end up with a pile of scrap metal inside a month. Don't do this if you aren't about to write off that $800. If you do get it and it lasts a year you've come out way ahead. Heck, if this thing lasts 4 months you've come out ahead.

On the the other hand, I bought a neglected minivan a year ago. It cost me $2k. For an 11 year old vehicle that thing has required the least work I've even seen. It's just needed a few tires and oil changes. The way things are going I think cost of ownership will be under $100 a month including purchase price by the time I get rid of it.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: nonameo
Why a minivan? Can you not find a deal on something more compact?

I never see anything in that price range around.

 

[TheVrolok]

I had a 94 Ford Aerostar, one of the hands down best vehicles I've ever had. Never had a single problem with it, transmission was/is great. I can't begin to tell you how fantastic it was. Handled great (for what it is.. essentially a Ford Ranger converted into a van), took anything (mine was AWD and the XLT). In fact, I sold/gave it to a friend who had a use for it and his daughter is still driving it. It's got somewhere around 260k miles on, still running without any problems.

 

[Mloot]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Christobevii3
I'd find a chevy astro van personally. They have the 4.3L and 4L60e engine/transmission setup. They are relatively cheap to repair since they are just an s10...

I agree, Astro's are RWD, much easier to work on. With high miles, I'd be concerned about the transaxle (combo of transmission and differential -- shudder) crapping out on that Aerostar.

But, OP, spend ~ $50 upfront to save yourself from making an $800 mistake. Take it to a reputable mechanic and pay that much to have him check it out. If you're a "cheap transpo" newb, it'd be money very well spent.

Yes, definitely get it checked out by a mechanic. But to correct a point, Aerostar's are also RWD. I drove a '96 Aerostar for nine years and 200K miles before getting a new Sienna a couple of years ago. For basic maintenance, such as changing the oil, air filter and fuel filter, it couldn't be easier. For something like a tuneup (sparkplugs and whatnot) I took it to a mechanic, since getting to all the sparkplugs could not be done just through the hood. You had to remove part of the front, interior floor panel underneath the central part of the dash. My Aerostar had the 3.0L V-6 with the 4-spd auto tranny. I live in Houston, so my driving was a mix of city and highway, and I averaged about 20 mpg. One thing I noticed was that my front brakes tended to give out long before my rear brakes, probably because there is a lot of weight in the front area. Also, compared to newer vans, the bench seats in my Aerostar were a PITA to remove, especially the rear bench. Those were some heavy seats.

OP, if you have any questions about driving one, feel free to drop me a PM.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I bought an 89 dodge caravan turbo for $800 7 years ago. Best beater I've ever owned. Only real problem with it is I get to help people move and pick up crap all the time because they don't want to get their fancy SUVs dirty . Think most if not all of the aerostars got the 4.0l engine which is a pretty good engine but it is old and has 200k miles on it. I'd do as suggested and get a mechanic to look it over and make sure nothing major is about to go. Just remember its $800. If it blows up in a year you can just leave it where it is and walk away. You have more then got your moneys worth.

I've had my beater for 7 years and have put probably $3k into it over that time. I'm still a head of the game and nearly everything under the hood is brand new or rebuilt now, engine/trans everything, so the drive train is going to outlast the body.

 

[jlee]

Mid-90s Geo Prism. Cheap and reliable.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Christobevii3
I'd find a chevy astro van personally. They have the 4.3L and 4L60e engine/transmission setup. They are relatively cheap to repair since they are just an s10...

I agree, Astro's are RWD, much easier to work on. With high miles, I'd be concerned about the transaxle (combo of transmission and differential -- shudder) crapping out on that Aerostar.

But, OP, spend ~ $50 upfront to save yourself from making an $800 mistake. Take it to a reputable mechanic and pay that much to have him check it out. If you're a "cheap transpo" newb, it'd be money very well spent.

The second part is good advice Perk, but you miss on the first part. The Aerostar is RWD just like the Astro; no transaxle.

The Aerostar used either Ford's 3.0 litre Vulcan V6 (less common) or the 4.0 litre Cologne V6 (the more popular engine). The 4.0 litre Cologne V6 is a stout engine and doesn't have many vices that I know of. These were paired with Ford's common RWD transmissions for light trucks, the most common being the A4LD. Overall, the Aerostar was a pretty solid vehicle, but by now most of them have been used and abused as delivery vehicles, so, as you mentioned, it pays to have them checked out by a mechanic.

ZV

 

[BassBomb]

My uncles aerostar was RWD too..

He had to rebuilt transmission once, his starter is going now along with the ignition (he had a 1994 aerostar, now has a 1996 with well over 300k km on the dial)