['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by spike88

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- She told me that 3.9L is actually "too much" power for winter / ice roads. The FWD wheels would rather spin instead of lugging, then locking down with traction. Smiling, she looked at her van and said, "winter rubber would eliminate most of last winter's easy spinning situations. Those factory all-season rubber isn't really made for our winter roads".

Exactly the same situation I experienced this past winter. We've has 150" of snow so far and I live on top of a big hill. This was the first tome in a long time I couldn't get up the hill.The tires would spin and sometimes during the winter I would have to turn off the traction control to stop the wheel spin and get through the mess. When I had a similar issue with my Venture, I remedied the problem with snow tires. That is what I'm doing in preparation for next winter. With new snows on the Venture I had, I could go anywhere.

- I asked her about the SUV look in the front of her van. She smiled and said, "ya - some love it and some folks don't. Just like some folks like the SUV look of Ram Pickups and some folks don't". To me, very smart lady in her comparison.

That was one of the improvements GM made to these vans that I liked. Add that to the 17" wheels which makes the van higher, and it seems like you are in an SUV.

Sure was nice hearing some positive feedback about Montana / Uplander vans. Especially from somone who drives their locally - in my same driving conditions and same family hauling needs. Reading many of those online reviews (especially the older reviews with 3.4L engine) was getting depressing.

Just to clarify, the 3.4s were never in the '05 and up vans(exc. '05 Venture), only 3.5 and later the addition of the 3.9 as well. The 3.4s used in the pre '05 vans had a better track record after the issue of a redesigned LIM gasket in '02. ( '03 to '05 exclusive).