Why did they stop making the Astro/Safari?

[GeoRandy]

4.3L, V-6, 5,000 lbs. towing, 300,000 miles each on two of mine, damn near bullet proof. Sure they smoke a little after 125,000 miles, and they get the shakes about the same time, but why didnn't they just make them better instead of messing them up in 2005, duh, then they'd sell. They are the one and only minivan that doesn't look sissy.
What's up?

[Blue Bowtie]

Baltimore was the oldest active assembly plant in the domestic GM system, and apparently was not very efficient. However, I'm not sure why the model was dropped rather than moved to another location. The marketing "geniuses" in Flint must have sharpened their pencils and figured it out. These are the same "geniuses" who dropped the F-Body only to hype it to death as a 2009 re-release, come to market four years too late with the SSR and HHR minibox variant, and introduce the Equinox as "truck" type vehicle (on a Wrong-Wheel-Drive unibody?).

[brcidd]

I heard they were not going to redesign it for the federally mandated side curtain airbags- they were going to drop it in 2003- then the law was pushed back which allowed for them to make '04s. Yeah, I agree it is a TRUCK which makes it nearly bullet-proof.......

[GeoRandy]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Anybody else know anymore?

[captinhowdy]

Baltimore needed another vacant lot for the hoppers to sell drugs on. that is all there is there now that the ball has stopped swinging.

[blkmonday]

the camaro is coming back after they realized the mistake they made killing that model off. i think the astro will resurface within a few years. there is no other "mini" van with full size van qualitys as the astro. i hope im right, i would definately buy another astro...mines only got 120,000 so i still got like at least another 10 years left on heropcorn:

[GeoRandy]

Thanks for the comment blkmonday. Finally somebody else that likes them.
They were designed for inner-city deliveries. They had a tight turning radius for parallel parking and u-turns, with sliding side cargo door (instead of swing style) for curbside deliveries. Small but held a lot.
I think the Astro/Safarri platform is perfect for all-electric or hybrid power.
Hybrids get better mileage in the city and all-electrics don't go very far on a charge but would be fine for city between recharges. Hey, Detroit...

[ericn1300]

I loved my 86 Safari and my wife is still driving her 96 Astro. Great vehicles and I think your idea of bringing them back as a hybrid is good, too bad the tools and plant have been scrapped already. The features GeoRandy mentioned would make for a great fleet hybrid.

But I do have a big problem with the term "hybrid". if you can't plug it in and recharge it, it ain't a hybrid. It's a gasoline powered vehicle. No gas, no go.

Since this Earth Day is coming up here's a link to an old column of mine with more commentary on the "hybrids"

http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/...oid=oid%3A2154

[GeoRandy]

Thanks ericn1300 for the response.
I read a lot of the links included after reading your link above.
It's all about the wealthy, I mean really-in-control wealthy, in their bid to stay that way. As far as someone producing their own EV, the start up expense, prototype, marketing, and mass production is not all that expensive.
The real expense is meeting all the government regulations, multiple crash test data (wrecking many prototypes) and legalities that never seem to end because those in control never want it to succeed and keep you tied up in litigation, not to mention insurability research. One, small business, smallcorporations, etc. run out of money and have to give up, but not because of production costs nor technology.

[Stonedsurfer]

My family and I really like our 92 AWD ext LT Astro. Bought it used with 126000 miles and the previous owners kept it up wonderfully. Interior was super clean too. We live in Wisconsin so I needed a four wheel drive for the wife to get herself and the kid around. I checked out p/u trucks,blazers,and others. Was walking off one lot after salesman said, "That's it in your price range for a four wheel drive"... I spotted the Astro and said, "Isn't that a four wheeler?" He said "No, its all wheel drive" Doh! I did one look over and said "get the keys" The wife hates mini-vans but I knew she'd like the Astro,nothing mini about it unless your working under the hood or dog house We put 65000 miles on it before having some recent and still standing problems but I'm working on it. Sometimes you fix one thing and a whole series of little problems follow it. Very sound Van/truck, gets around in the winter with no problems. Nothing mini when your filling up the tank though, lotsa $$. I rest easier knowing she has all wheel drive and dosen't have to decide when to use it or not. I looked up the GM/Chevy crash tests results for Astros online and they are not too friendly in an off-set 40mph head on crash,body bowed like a rainbow and they said front passenger compartment size was reduced severly and operators area so compressed, there was little chance of driver survival. Side crash tests were much better. I can't see this van being a whole lot safer/worse than most mini vans ours age,your almost sitting on the motor,not much left between you and what ever you hit. I like the truck frame though. I bought a 94 GMC Safari limited edition Cobra that needs a lot of work,but most all the parts are the same as our 92, so I'm being forced to scrap it out and tear it down for the parts. Sure must have been nice in its days with leather and wood interior,electric everything,even a built in tv/vcr unit. Shame previous owner didn't care for it like the 92. Over all the Astro/Safari can be a pain to work on,but thats why I come here,to make it easier when needed,and ask for help. Great sight...Great van... Why they stopped making it. $$ and no "Cents" if you ask me. Thats my opinion,thanks for asking.

[GeoRandy]

Stonedsurfer,
Hey, thanks for the feedback. If it will put your mind at ease, I had a wreck in my Astro. It crunched the front end, right in front of the driver (me). It crumpled it up a lot, bumper and one bracket, grill, crack in windshield, quarter panel. All ruined. Barely moved the radiator back, about 1/2", but not enough to stop me from driving it after I pulled the quarter panel away from rubbing the tire and bent the bottom of the door a little so it would open and close again. No engine damage at all though. It still runs like a top. I welded a homemade bumper (like a train cattle-pusher) on it and now I use it as a farm truck. it looks like something from a Mad Max movie.
Getting to the point. Both my son and I had our seatbelts on and neither of us had even a scratch. Of course speed, momentum and what you hit matters, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm pleased with the way we were protected. Good luck with your parts swap. I've done that before too. I just made sure that they hadn't changed much between the years so that stuff would fit.

[at1212b]

Typical GM mentality. Too lazy and short-sighted to see, invest and innovate the vans, as well as seeing the intangible value Astro/Safari name that had been built up over the decades.

Typical short-cut way of 'let's introduce a billion new models' while the Toyotas, Hondas, and Hyundais stick to the tried and true.