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Conversion Vans

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#4 of 371 suzyq by suzyq Jan 22, 1998 (3:04 am)
We looked at some '97 Ford conversion vans recently in our search for a full sized van. One of the ones we liked was from Chariot conversions. It was a fairly modest conversion, but that is kind of what we were looking for. Does anybody know if this is a decent company or if their stuff holds up? I think the company is in Elkhart, IN. We live near Dallas and I was wondering how do you get things fixed (on the conversion) under warranty if the company is so far away. Does the dealer take care of any problems? I would appreciate any information.
#5 of 371 jboater by jboater Jan 22, 1998 (6:28 pm)
Suzyq: I don't have any info on Chariot Vans product quality. I live in suburban Detroit and Chariot is a rather frequently seen conversion package. The auto dealer that you buy your van from will be an authorized warranty service facility for the conversion company. I didn't have any warranty claims on the Tiara and only a pinstriping claim on the Starcraft. Starcraft was very good to work with on the claim. Auto dealers usually sub-contract stripping work. Starcraft provided the new stripping material and allowed me to pick a stripping facility to install it. Starcraft paid the facility direct for the labor charge on the installation.
#6 of 371 tootall by tootall Jan 26, 1998 (1:29 am)
I travel 5 states selling for a living, the past 15 years I have driven full size van (GMC or Chevrolet) conversions. Mileage at the time of trade in would average 125,000, 90% highway miles and no real major problems on any of my vehicles except routine things like alternators, batteries etc. Conversions have been by Starcraft, Carriage and Explorer, all Indiana conversion companies. Explorer seems to give more bang for the buck and stands behind its product very well.
#7 of 371 jmbl by jmbl Jan 29, 1998 (3:30 pm)
Hi: We're starting to look for a conversion van as well, but we're in the market for a used one, around the years 93-95. We want something that'll be great for camping and long hauls. We're in the military and love to travel. Any advise on what to get/stay clear of for those years, what dealerships/areas to avoid (i.e. avoid Staten Island--we're in Brooklyn), better deals for the money, etc. We'd prefer a high top, bed in back and TV/VCR for sure. If anyone's in the general area selling his/her van, we'd love to hear from you to with the details of what you have for sale. Thanks for any and all tips! JMBL
#8 of 371 sbas by sbas Feb 28, 1998 (12:57 am)
need info on conversion vans---safety, reliability, etc. model doesn't matter. any info appreciated. thanks sbas
#9 of 371 gtschmidt by gtschmidt Mar 19, 1998 (11:30 am)
My wife and I bought an 1996 E-350 low top Conversion Van by Explorer with 4.10 Axle and 7.5 liter V8.. We use it primarily for camping and towing. The E-350 is a little bit rough in the back seat unless you have trailer attached. This vehicle is a great tow vehicle. We had some minor problems in the first two months, all of which were handled quite satisfactorly by the dealer (ABS relay, cracked interior trim piece, wheel balance). When we took it in, the dealer found two other problems (which we would never have noticed probably) and fixed them. The Explorer conversion is very good in my opinion and they stand behind their product. We are very pleased with both Ford and Explorer . By the way, before this we had a full size Chevy Blazer. This was the worst vehicle we have ever owned!
#10 of 371 lateral by lateral Mar 30, 1998 (2:44 am)
We are searching for an Astro minivan in the 1993-1995 year range. We have found several we like. How do you determine the difference between a conversion van and a std. We can't really see any pricing difference. Also Edmunds Market value for every van we looked up, about 10 or so, is higher that the price at the dealer. In other words we can't use the guide book to justify the dealer lowering the price since they are already lower. Is Michigan just a cheap place to buy a car?
#11 of 371 jboater by jboater Mar 31, 1998 (3:26 am)
Lateral: It has been my experience that, in general, the NADA used vehicle pricing guide is rather liberal for the Detroit area market. For used vehicle pricing I would recommend looking at the Tradin Times or Auto Swapper for similar autos/vans offered for sale by private owners. A conversion van is one that was purchased new from the manufacturer by a conversion company. They usually are identified by the manufacturer name and conversion company name. Examples; GMC Safari/Starcraft, Chevy Astro/Debut, Ford/Coachmen, etc. Astro and Safari passenger vans are also produced by GM. These vehicles are not considered conversion vans. If you look at the regular passenger vans, you will find pricing differences are,in part, based on the trim package. The Astro CS is a less expensive package than the Astro LT. If you are a member of a credit union, you might look to them for help in researching pricing differences. Also, watch for the mileage on any given vehicle. High mileage will have an adverse impact on the value and the depth of the market for you to sell to at a later date. Good luck, Jerry
#12 of 371 grahare by grahare Apr 02, 1998 (11:27 pm)
Gary, I'm considering an Explorer, but have also looked at Geneva. Do you know anything about Geneva? Rob
#13 of 371 garyabc by garyabc Apr 03, 1998 (6:05 am)
Geneva is a small company in Wisc.....I don't think they have as nice appointments as the Explorer and I know they cost more. Explorer makes most of their components and I think Geneva buys components and assembles....replacement parts could be a future problem. Good luck

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