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Chevy Venture
Thinking of buying a Venture. Aside from crash
test reports, any pro and con on this van would be
appreciated. Thank you.
test reports, any pro and con on this van would be
appreciated. Thank you.
0
Comments
Cons: try tilting the second row captain's chair forward - you have to hold it up (as compared to T&C, it hydraulically lifts and stays). All the talk about cheap, loose interior plastic is true. The crash tests - but remember the new side impact bags for 1998. Reliability - Consumer reports just named the GM trio the most unreliable cars out there.
Good luck.
98 venture soon ,could
use help with any info
on vehicle from owners
,drivers etc..why the
bad rap from consumer
report`s on that
model(what actually is
wrong with this model)
Click on the blue name to find email address to write people who were looking for a Venture a few months ago. You can see what they have found out thru experience.
CR just happens to love imports. I don't know of any complaints about '98 GM mini-vans, but go look at the Sienna board...loads of problems! I think we're dealing with mythology here.
Go to MSN.CARPOINT.COM and find the CarPointAutoPricer for the same info your dealer uses about options & prices. You can also buy through Carpoint at about Invoice + 3% if you like.
Feel free to email me at scottbusey@hotmail.com for further discussion if you like.
Enjoy!
Firestone couldn't align the wheels due to a problem. However, it is a very nice minivan that
drives well, handles nicely and is very roomy. I
would recommend it because the price was affordable. I purchased it at $100 over invoice
in Atlanta.
teseting, and the response to GMs response. These vans did OK in the government sanctioned full frontal test. For that matter are they the only minivan with side airbags? But I guess since there was no side impact test done on these vans, the side airbags don't make it any safer!
Buy one and don't crash it! You should only crash rental cars. Plan ahead.
Love my Trans Sport, and you guys goofing around with unofficial crash tests do not impress me.
Enjoy!
Loaded with all the bells and whistles except
for the power sliding doors. At 3800 miles we
can say we love it! No problems at all. An easy
vehicle to drive, great gas mileage, and very
comfortable on the long hauls. Will report back
when we're at 138,000 miles!
Same with my Trans Sport. Congratulations!
Enjoy!
all the options including the power sliding door -
which is great. Wish they had it on the other
door. Only a few miles on it. I recommend that
anyone considering a Sienna or Chrysler product
consider it 00 if you can find one
for the Association of International Automobile
Manufactures. Speaking on behalf of carmakers, he told Dateline the Insurance Institute a.k.a.(IIHS) test simulates an accident so fast, so severe, it almost never happens.“For a particular driver,” said Parker, “how many miles will they have to drive to have that type of crash, how many years of driving?
Sixty-five thousand years of driving. That’s how
rare this is.
for the Association of International Automobile
Manufactures. Speaking on behalf of carmakers, he told Dateline the Insurance Institute a.k.a.(IIHS) test simulates an accident so fast, so severe, it almost never happens.“For a particular driver,” said Parker, “how many miles will they have to drive to have that type of crash, how many years of driving?
Sixty-five thousand years of driving. That’s how
rare this is.
source: Dateline
Bottom Line: Gm minis not safe, quackery!
Inside dash plastics rattle a little on rock road, but I can tolerate it because it drives wonderfully. We have had no trouble with it. Praise God and thanks to GM. Paid $23,000 without a trade-in. I even got to sleep in it on the floor one night (moving the seats out of my way) while my husband was in hospital thus saving a motel bill.
Enjoy!
See my post on GM minivans to understand why Consumer Reports data may not be nearly as useful as they seem to think it is.
Also any negative experiences anyone made have had regarding reliability or repairs.
Enjoy!
I would not be in a hurry to swap tires. If you ordered the Touring/Leveling suspension you will be pleased with the ride. My Trans Sport came with General's that are self sealing for punctures. You might want to find out if that's the case for your General's as well.
It's a nice ride - Enjoy!
We have 7000 miles on our extended 98 Venture.
Took it to Minn., putting on about 2600 miles. We
pulled a 16' boat with 40hp motor--3 of us and
gear. And it did just fine. Love that front
traction. Average mpg 22.3-24.
Coming back, we heard air compressor running after
turning off motor. Had to pull out fuse so
compressor (pump) wouldn't burn up. Took it to
dealer, and they found a hole in one of the rear
shocks, so installed new one. Faulty factory
shock.
The "service engine soon" light went on on the way
to get shock installed. (I praised God that it
was on the way TO the service department!)
One cylinder misfiring--I could feel it, but they
cleaned the fuel injectors and everything is okay
again.
I still like the car--lots and lots of room and
good gas mileage.
We got our van last saturday and I must say it's Great. It doesn't have the Touring/leveling suspension. That along with the Theft alarm is the only options that it it doesn't have. Seems with the low intrest rates and incentives that their offering it's getting hard to find just what you want but were very happy with what we have. Sandrift w/netural int. just the color we wanted. I will check out if the tires are self sealing. I've still got the Goodrich T/A's. Kind of thought I would use them and save the General's for when I trade it off in a couple years. I'll keep you updated.
Later.....Van on !!!!
I agree with your choices, but add the Touring/Leveling suspension if at all possible. It really makes a difference with varying loads.
Enjoy!
seating (as TransSport does). I'm afraid that the
TransSport body cladding will start to rattle after a few years and don't want to take the chance. I read "Gator's" response and would like to know more, and what his resources are. I have not been able to find anything on the 1999.
How about the second generation door? Gator, are
you out there?
I am beginning the search for a new mini-van and will take a close look at a fully loaded, 4dr Chevy Venture. My concern is the 3.4L/180 HP/V-6 engine that is standard in the Venture. I live in the Denver area and spend time up in the Rocky Mountains so I am concerned about engine power for this van. Will the '99 model have a 3.8L as an option? Any comments and real life experiences would be appreciated! Thanks and I look forward to reading your comments!
I have the Trans Sport with the same engine, and it's plenty powerful @ 180 hp and good transmission gearing. Personally if I lived in the Rockies, I'd add the towing package to get extra cooling (superstition, no problems noted), and I would ALWAYS get the Touring/Leveling suspension option.
In any event, the Venture is a great choice!
Enjoy!
Does anyone have information to changes or improvements to the 1999 Venture? I am hoping they will have new color choices and 8 passenger
seating (as Montana does). I'm afraid that the
Montana body cladding will start to rattle after a few years and don't want to take the chance. I read "Gator's" response and would like
to know more, and what his resources are. I have
not been able to find anything on the 1999.
How about the second generation door?
Gator, are you out there?
Thanks a lot.
VentureMan
VentureMan
1999 Chevrolet Venture Base 3-Door
1999 Chevrolet Venture Base 4-Door
1999 Chevrolet Venture Base Extended 4-Door
KarenS/roving host
I've calculated the dealer invoice for the vehicle to be 25,220 (Base + Dest. Charge + 1SD Package). The holdback amounts to 840 which is 3% of the MSRP of 28,025.
Question 1: Those of you out there that paid x dollars over invoice, is that including the holdback or not?
Question 2: Is 1000 over true invoice (inv. - holdback) reasonable?
Question 3: Has anyone had experience in the DC area with buying a vehicle in DC or VA and registering in MD? Will I have to pay any extra taxes or registration because I'm buying in a different state than I'm registering?
Question 4: Anyone have any dealer recommendations?
Your help is greatly appreciated!!
I don't live around DC any more, but 15 years ago I moved from WV to MD, and had to pay tax on the car when I got the MD title - any title in MD was treated as a sale & required taxes.
Enjoy!
Thanks for any help
Melissa
www.autosite.com currently has all the 99 pricing. Check it out.
I'm still looking for an LT in the DC area, anyone seen one in white or carmine red metallic??
href="http://www.carprices.com/scripts/foxweb.exe/list_classes@auto\cars?YEAR=All&MAKE=ALL&MODEL=ALL&CARID=ALL&CLASS=:Minivan&"
href="http://motortrend.carwizard.com/new/1999"
Best of Luck.
VentureMan
We're still working out the final details, but I think I'm getting a pretty good deal. Now if I could just settle with the Insurance company of the idiot that totalled our Grand Caravan I'll complete the deal.
I'll post again when the deal is final.
Hope to hear from you,
VentureMan
GM is now offering a $1,000 CASH REBATE for ALL
their 1999 minivans (Silhouette, Montana & Venture) good up to 12/31/98. I got this info
from my dealer since I am trying to buy a 1999
Olds Silhouette. I then sent an e-mail to the
Olds website and received confirmation regarding
this. Hope this helps!!!
I ended up with a 99 LS in Dark Teal Metallic. It had every option that comes standard with the LT, the 8-passenger seating, and the self-sealing tires (wife's request). Why they just didn't call it an LT I couldn't tell you. We paid $100 over invoice, not including the dealer holdback. With the 1k cash back, I thought it was a great deal.
I've had to return to replace a defective battery already, and I hope that is the last problem I will encounter. Wish me luck!!
Enjoy your new Venture! Take time to understand the reduced maintenance schedule. Many things we once did to keep a car nice aren't required with the GM Minivans (sealed tranny, permanent coolant, super-duty drive belt, etc.).
But lets keep it in perspective. The chances of a minivan driver getting into a real bad accident is next to zero; for injury rates, see href="http://www.carsafety.org/ictl7.htm"
For death rates, see href="http://www.carsafety.org/ddr7.htm".
There are so many features and considerations that each of us must consider before making a significant purchase ( close to $30k after taxes).
To eliminate a choice simply on the basis of one
crash test --that is least likely to happen to a
minivan driver-- is paranoid. And the injuries
from a frontal crash will only pertain to adults
(children should not ride in the front seat).
All Volvo owners I have met are safty paranoid.
They are willing to settle for a smaller and more
expensive (and in my opinion, ugly) vehicle with
great safty engineered into them. But death rates
for Volvos are not any better the the GM minivans
href="http://www.carsafety.org/ddr2.htm".
So Volvo is one of the most safe cars on the road
and yet its injury and deaths are no better than
minivans.
Buy a minvan because it meets your needs and
likes, and not because of false hysteria.
Best of luck,
VentureMan
Thanks alot for your help.
Look at this and see if it helps:
http://www.gmbuypower.com/buypower/home.html