General Comments:
I purchased this car 2 years ago. It was NOT well maintained by the previous owner, and when I purchased it I had to replace a motor mount and I had a vacuum leak in the controls of the air conditioner (80.00) to fix. The only thing that has broken in 2 years is the driver window motor and the high speed setting on the fan control switch.
This is my second van like this, my first was a 1992 GMC Safari which is identical except in name. I sold it after it had 200,000 miles on it and the transmission started to slip. Seems like all these vans have a common problem with the windows not working, air conditioning controls, and my first van had fragile door handles that broke.
I rarely ever buy the same car twice, as when I own it I get tired of them and get fed up by the problems, but my first one was a really good van for 5 years. The AWD works great in snow, and with mostly city and some light highway driving I average 17 mpg, which is really good for a van of this weight and size.
I use my van for work, and it is the only minivan that is built on a truck platform. All other minivans have a smoother ride because they have a car platform, but they cannot carry the weight that this model can, which is real important when you carry 2000 lbs in the back.
The front seats are like sitting in a recliner, and even though I have a BMW and a Discovery, I actually find this one the most comfortable to drive on a trip.
All I can say about this car is that it is what it is. It isn't a sports car, it isn't a luxury car, it isn't a fuel efficient sub compact car. It is a truck based van, and it drives and behaves like one. It does exactly what it is designed to do, just nothing more.
Overall I have no complaints. Every car has some common defect traits, and the windows and blower are minor common ones in this model.
30th May 2012, 11:19
Are you sure about that tow weight? They weren't rated to tow nearly as many pounds. Is yours AWD or RWD?