Driving position is high and very nice. Great interior space. I loved the fact that the Astro was not trying to be like a car, as with all the other minivans. But due to the poor quality, I soon regretted my purchase.

Unbelievably poor quality. Almost makes you ashamed of being an American as we can certainly do better than this. At 61,000 miles I have replaced fuel injector, alternator, rear axle bearings, leaky heater valve, batteries, tires, shocks, air-conditioning system, broken motor mounts, broken steering column components, broken ignition key mechanism, blown fuses. And this car is simply used by my little wife to carry kids around. I maintain my vehicles very well. I called GM "Customer Service Hotline" and was told "we understand your concern, BUT due to age and mileage, GM simply cannot...blah blah blah". Rep got mad when I asked him what kind of car HE drives. I suggested if GM maintains that this is a quality product, how about offering me an extended warranty due to the problems I had? Take a chance on your own product? No deal. GM is too smart for that one. Save your money and your sanity. Buy something else. Do not be fooled by "Like A Rock" ad campaign. Avoid GM products like typhoid Mary!

A very poor and inferior product compared to the quality of other makes. Great interior room, and you sit up high, but the poor quality of it's design and construction overshadow any of the van's positive qualities. Rattles throughout. Poor handling. Cheap materials used. Very thin paint. Etc Etc Etc

Similar Products Used:

Like I said above, makes you ashamed of being an American

Room, AC, good range with large gas tank, fair 16/17 mpg, easy to repair if you know Chevys, good overhead console storage, towing ability.

Power, exterior paint, interior front passenger leg room, rough ride, did I say s l o w ??, hard on front tires, engine access is a pain.

I no longer have my Astro Wagon but after reading some of these reviews I wanted to share my experiences. Overall, I was very happy with my Astro. I had 150k miles on it at the time I sold it. We used the van as our family travel and tow vehicle. I know many times I exceeded the tow rating by having 8 people in the van, water ski gear and boat (20' Sea Ray). Climbing up the "grape vine" here in So Cal was a lesson in paitence. But the Astro did it with out protest, although slowly. I did have my share of repairs: oil pressure sending unit, rear AC switch, heater valve, fan clutch, pitman arm, brakes, shocks, oil cooler gasket, rear AC fan motor and AC compressor (the most expensive repair). But towing takes it toll on a car or truck so I just accepted it and tried to make the repairs myself. But after 9 years of service I think I was doing ok for an American car. The reason I sold the Astro is that I wanted something newer and more powerful. So I got an Expedition :) Maybe I was lucky, or got "one of the good ones" or whatever, but I didn't baby the Astro and in fact probably over-loaded it more times than I would admit to. But the Astro did what it was suppose to do and I never felt I had an unsafe, unrelilable vehicle.

Similar Products Used:

None

Roominess, great vision, good power "with air off", Dog with it on, comfortable seating. Great Air conditioning "So Far"!

Are you ready ? Listed by number.
1.) Factory battery replace at 17k. 2.)Starter replace at 20k.
3.) Alternator replace one week after starter. 4.)Spring compressor at 21k. 5.)water pump at 20k. 6.) Sliding door handle at 25k. 7.)Passenger seat recliner mechanism at 25k. 8.) Rearview mirrors stopped working at 29k. 9.)Rear air switch burned out at 50k. 10.)Front air switch quit working at 51k. 11.)Motor for drivers window went out at 51k. 12.)Windshield wiper switch went crazy at 65k. 13.)Dash would light up like a christmas tree and not start at 65k. 13.)Brakes wear out prematurely. 14.)Tires last an average of 15 to 20k miles "if you drive straight only" (Less if you just happen to have to turn a corner).
15.)Lucky if I get 14 miles a gallon(no matter where or how I drive). Again, I love the Van when I'm driving it between breakdowns. But during the repairs I "Hate" this Van. I notice that most of the other "Good" reviews above are for the newer Astros. Maybe they corrected the problems ??? But still , I would never recommeng this Van to my worst enemy.
When I was happy owning my Japanese cars, friends would say. Oh, parts for Japanese cars are too "Expensive". Hey, every part I've purchased for this stupid Astro have been Way more expensive than any Japanese part I've purchased. I can't even afford to replace the motor for the drivers window. They want over $300.00.
I guess the only positive experience I have obtained by owning this Astro is that I am becoming a Master Mechanic at working on Chevrolet. Otherwise my family and I would probably be in bankrupcy. So for there is only one thing I was'nt able to repair. "The Christmas tree experience." Chevy had it fixed in one hour. They said it was a "Shorted" wire. Wow, What a deal!
One hour of work for $300.00 ! And that included the 6 inches of wire replaced!!!!!!!!!!!! Funny, the more I remembered and typed, The more angry I have become. Have a nice Day you poor Astro owners !!! Chevy won't stand behind their product. You get the run around!!

When I bought this van it only had 17000 miles. I've always enjoyed driving it as well as my wife, "But" I have a piece of junk 86 Accord that has 170k miles and is more reliable than the astro. If I was'nt a "Do it yourself" kind of a guy I would be bankrupt! No kidding ! Do not even attempt looking to buy this model of van. Just when you think you love it something else goes wrong!!!!!!! My brother in law has the same year and model and His van has had almost every same problem that I have.

Similar Products Used:

1986 Accord. People look at this car and Laugh. It looks so bad (Paint). As they drive away in there shiny new Astro. Ironic, Is'nt it !!

Interior space and it looks good. Seats remove easily for family trips

Transmission really problematic. Really a problem on long trips and service people can't find the problem after it cools off. Had to replace the air conditioning connections at $900

Not a bad vehicle. Drives pretty well. Certainly has plenty of interior room. The paint finish from the factory was poor. My main problem has been with the transmission, which shifts very hard from 1st to 2nd gear, when I have driven it on a long trip. Seems to be heat generated because it stops doing it once it has cooled off.

Similar Products Used:

No comparison

ROOMY RODE SMOOTH LOW MAINTENANCE GOOD ON GAS

NONE I LOVED THIS VAN

MY FIANCEE AND I DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED A VAN WHEN I WAS EXPECTING OUR THIRD CHILD. OUT OF ALL THE VAN THAT WE LOOKED AT WE LUCKED UP AND FOUND A GUY WHO WAS SELLING IT AROUND THE CORNER FOR $900. THIS WAS THE BEST IN VESTMENT THAT WE HAVE MADE YET. NOT ONLY IS THE CAR RELIABLE IT IS CHEAP TO FIX. IT HAD 180000 MILES WHEN I GOT IT SO I WAS EXPECTING A FEW PROBLEMS OUT OF IT. I ONLY HAD TO REPLACE A WATER PUMP IT WAS UNDER $100, I DID HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BUT ONLY AFTER I HAD 199000 MILES ON IT. IT COST 1200 INSTALLED. THE VAN WAS ROOMY AND I WAS ABLE TO HAUL AS MANY AS 12 PEOPLE IN IT AND IT NEVER RAN WEIGHED DOWN. THE BODY CONDITION WAS EXCELLENT IT WAS CUSTOMIZED AND IT HAD TINTED WINDOWS AND RUNNING BOARDS THE WHOLE NINE. IT WAS EVEN DECENT ON GAS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS VAN TO ANYONE EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAD TWO KIDS. THIS CAR EVEN HELD 8 PEOPLE COMFORTABLY AFTER A SHOPPING TRIP . THIS CAR WAS GREAT ON THE HIGHWAY FOR I EVEN TOOK IT OUT OF TIME A LOT. UNFORTUNATELY SOME ONE HIT MY POOR VAN WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THEY HIT IT FROM THE BACK AND THE VAN HIT MY OTHER CAR AND A POLE SO IT WAS NOT MOVABLE BUT IT STILL STARTED. NOW I HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER ONE BUT I AM GOING TO BUY ANOTHER CHEVY ASTRO

Similar Products Used:

NONE BUT I RENTED A DODGE CARAVAN 2000 AND MY 85 CHEVY RAN BETTER

Towing capacity at 5500lbs. 4.3L V6, seats 8, total interior volume.

Front passenger leg room (width of), persistent alignment problems, brake pedal placement.

(1998 Model) - My serious concern with my 98 Astro is the position of the brake pedal. The brake pedal is located too close to the accelerator pedal and is too high relative to a depressed accelerator pedal. When I first started driving the Astro,an emergency transition from depressed accelerator pedal to brake pedal landed the tip of my right shoe under the brake pedal. It took a conscious effort to change my method of emergency braking from the ""shortest distance of right foot travel"" to lifting my right leg up when performing this previously automatic reaction. The dealer told me that they were unable, for liability reasons, to modify the brake pedal. I would be very suprised if this design is not a serious problem for others. About leg width area available for the front passengers, it may affect the larger adult who has a bad back. About the alignment, the static alignment is OK, but yet the tires still wear on the outside (no accident damage, I figured out the brake pedal).

Very reliable
Lots of room, more than most mini vans

Rough ride

Lots of room in this van.
Good power, This van gave us very good service, never let us down.
Drove to 176000 miles, before selling it. at that time transmision was slipping. Engine still did not burn any oil and ran very smooth

Similar Products Used:

None

HIGH SEATING...STRONG FEELING...TOUGH TRUCK...GOOD VISIBILITY...GOOD POWER ON FLAT...SUFFICENT ON HILLS...(TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONING)

BRAKES WEAR OUT EASILY AND NEED REPLACED EVERY COUPLE YEARS...REAR END NOISE...SMELLY EXHAUST(ROTTEN EGGS)

GREAT VAN...ALL WHEEL DRIVE, WOULDN'T WANT THE VAN WITHOUT IT... IT WILL GO ANYWHERE...HEAVY DUTY...TOWS TRAILER WELL...COMFORTABLE ON TRIPS...CAN WALK THROUGH IT FROM FRONT SEATS TO REAR TO HELP KIDS...WORKS WELL...SITS HIGH SO YOU CAN SEE ROAD...HANDLES GREAT...FAIRLY GOOD POWER...GOOD REAR HEAT AND AIR...LOVE DUTCH DOORS...LT PACKAGE WORTH THE MONEY...WE HAD A 92 EQUALLY AS NICE...REALLY LIKED THE DRIVING LIGHTS ON THE 92 AND MISS THEM ON THE 95, WE HAVE TWO 95'S ONE WITH 65000 AND ONE WITH 55000. BOUGHT THEM NEW.
HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE ONE...TORSION BAR REPLACEMENT.(300.00) EGR VALVE(500.00) FUEL INJECTION LINES AND TEAR DOWN.(700.00) MUFFLER TAIL PIPES.(2)
OTHER ONE...MUFFLERS, TAIL PIPES. TIRES REPLACED ON BOTH...NEED THEM AGAIN.SOON. TAKE OUT BACK SEAT.(VERY HEAVY) AND CAN PUT THREE MOUNTAIN BIKES IN AND HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR SUITCASES, LAWN CHAIRS, ETC. FOR TRAVEL.

Similar Products Used:

CARAVAN...JUNK COMPARED TO ASTRO...

It always started! Dependable in the worst weather. Power everything never gave me any problems. Excellent room for children to furniture to appliances to sheetrock. I felt I had a quality product for years.

She liked to eat alternators and ate four in 8 years.

I drove this van from May 1993 to July 2001 and I loved her. Four children traveled in her and she made numerous trips to St. Louis from Virginia and a trip to Disneyworld. Two teens learned to drive in her and she was part of the family. I can not imagine being without an ASTRO VAN as my daughter starts her second year of college. My '93 was a fully loaded LT and I put i38,000 miles on her. She passed inspection in July without incident, but three days later, the thrust bearing went out and she was not drivable. After an expensive tow and the diagnosis, I decided to donate her and look for a "new" used Astro Van. My 93 was a two tone deal with a great paint job, that had held up well, but I fell in love with a '97 Emerald green and gold with 64,000 miles on it. I hope to love it as much as I did my other van.

Similar Products Used:

Superior room and quality to vans that I rented and drove made by chrysler.

its engineering

its paint

My chevy astro is 13 yrs. old has 166000 miles on it and is still going strong. I have replaced standerd wear items, tires ,brakes, belts, a battery or two and a starter, and most recently a freeze plug. BUT it has never left me stranded on the road,and has always passed its emissions check. The only pampering it has received it regular oil and filter changes every 3 thousand miles and i have always used Castrol GTX 20/50.
I have been really pleased to own this vehicle. My friends with Fords and Chrysler products HAVEN'T been so fortunate.

Thanks CHEVROLET !

Similar Products Used:

none