AWD Ford Areostars... anyone have one, or know if they are worth it?

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RobGute - 15 Jan 2005 04:17 GMT

Anyone have any good or bad stories to share about the AWD Ford Aerostars?
I'm looking tor AWD for the New England winters that we have, and I have
had pretty good luck with my 2wd '89...

One thing that bothers me about Ford, is that your can't even get dealer
parts for some of their older cars, and by older I mean from about mid
80's and up... certianly, people get 10-15 years out of a car these days,
(if we are lucky) so, what gives ford?! I know they can't stock
everything, but at least to be able to special order something would be
nice... You can't get the power window motors for the early Aerostars
anymore! (just as one example)

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sleepdog@optonline.net - 15 Jan 2005 04:42 GMT

I don't know about other dealers, but I know Ford "obsoletes" parts
after a certain amount of time, is it ten years? Don't know. I asked
for a metal heater supply tube that goes from the cylinder head to the
rubber heater supply tube (into the heater core), it's obsolete. I had
to be extremely careful when I changed my ECT sensor recently.

Matt

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Full_Name - 15 Jan 2005 16:49 GMT

>Anyone have any good or bad stories to share about the AWD Ford Aerostars?
>I'm looking tor AWD for the New England winters that we have, and I have
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>nice... You can't get the power window motors for the early Aerostars
>anymore! (just as one example)

Don't know how accurate it is but I've heard that the AWD Aerostars
are vehicles that you want to take a pass on. I'd be more likely to
get a good 2wd Aerostar with good winter tires if you're worried about
on road traction..

Just my $0.02

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nospam.clare.nce@sny.der.on.ca - 15 Jan 2005 22:38 GMT

>>Anyone have any good or bad stories to share about the AWD Ford Aerostars?
>>I'm looking tor AWD for the New England winters that we have, and I have
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
>Just my $0.02

Stick with the extended van and leave all the seats in if you want
traction. The shorty is NOT nice to drive on slippery roads. Nor is an
empty long body.

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nospam.clare.nce@sny.der.on.ca - 15 Jan 2005 20:11 GMT

LOTS of used ones (power window motors)available, as the bodies of the
early ones rotted away around them, and the motors were not
particularly troublesome.

Get a '97 AWD if you can find one. They finally got the van right, and
then discontinued it. Body still tends to rust a bit more than
necessary, but much better than the earlier models.

My brother has a 97 - used to have a '91?
There are some issues with front drive joint reliability - both
driveshaft and half-shaft. They get noisy and clunky after a few
years. The 4.0 engine has had some oil leak and intake manifold
issues. Th 5 speed automatic is a dream.

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