Minqua said:
But i also will probally have a new engine put in it before it does go.
Unless it has been abused or overheated, that motor should not have troubles @ that mileage.
Have you looked into what it costs for an engine swap?? Those are a pain in the ass to swap.
If the mileage scares you on the van, I strongly suggest passing on it and just buying one with lower miles on it.
Unless the thing has low compression, knocking or burning major oil, you need not worry. They run for a lot further than that.
The Achilles heel on that is actually the transmission. Not because it is terrible...but as you get past 175,000 the trans is much more likely to have issues than the engine.
On that one, because it is AWD, the trans is not as common, so a rebuild would cost more than a regular 2wd.
The price is good if the thing is in good shape without having had ten owners.
I would suggest having the trans flushed and filled again with synthetic. (Amsoil is the #1 fluid to get.)
The trans filter is not what I mean, BTW.
The flush...or "pump-through" means they remove one of the cooler lines and feed the trans with a barrel of new fluid.
Then they start your van. When the color of the fluid coming out changes to gloss pink, (the color of the new stuff) all your fluid has been replaced. This is a MUCH better service than the standard way.
When they do it the old fashioned way by dropping the pan and changing the filter, half your trans fluid never comes out, because it is stuck in the tq converter.
The filter does not need to be changed. That was factory filled with synthetic, which does NOT leave deposits behind.
(The filter is nothing but a screen anyway. Even when they come apart after 250K of very hard use, the filter (screens) are not plugged.)
That is a pretty decent setup for AWD. You don't even know it is there and depending on which options you have, it may be one that will divert power to the wheel with traction.
(GM had "Stabilitrac" back then. Not sure if the van you speak of has it or not. Mine did not.)
The one I had would give me 17 MPG HWY if I was paying close attention to my right foot and driving mellow...and had more power than you would ever need.
Mine had no hightop though, so the numbers being reported are right in the range.
Keep in mind, this is a highway AWD. Not the same thing exactly as an off-road vehicle. You won't want to "mud-bog" it. Not made for that.
For dirt road terrain and snow situations, it was one of the best 4WD/AWD I ever owned. Super smooth without anything to switch or worry about.
The new owner has 210,000+ on my old van now and it is still going strong.
A starter, a couple of minor front end steering parts and U-joints is all that has gone wrong.
Again, that motor should go another 100K if it was treated decently.