Chevrolet Venture Minivans | Wagons

Chevrolet Venture Minivans | Wagons 

DESCRIPTION

The Venture is Chevrolet’s minivan that was introduced in 1997 to replace the Lumina APV, and 2005 will be the final year for Venture before it is replaced by the Uplander.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 191-200 of 224  
[Dec 12, 2000]
Jeff

Strength:

Not much at all.

Weakness:

Well how much info can I fit on this site? I have had problems from the Start, the slidding door on the passenger side always breaks down, the engine stalled on us many times now the electric locks unlock and lock at will while driving...This should have been a Lemon, but the Main GM people I dealt with stated that it could be fixed...ha ha,,,I am still waiting for all the problems to be fixed. What do you know, the warranty expired and now they will not fix it until I pay....

Please don't waste your time buying the Chevy Venture, you will regret it like we have.............
If anybody else has had problems like I stated, please email me..and let me know what problems you have had with the Venture......

Similar Products Used:

Ford Windstar...better and cheaper......

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Nov 23, 2000]
Jodi
Model Reviewed: Venture

Strength:

Warner Bros. Package - stereo, flexible seating arrangements & easy/in out on seats... lots of room

Weakness:

Steering on this van has never been right - had problems getting this situation rectified at the dealership, and now, yesterday, took the van in for an oil change, and apparently a "vital bolt" has come loose sometime in the last 2 months, causing the entire undercarriage to shift and twist. The van is not safe to drive, and the dealership originally said that it was due to "negligence" on my part. They have since changed their tune, and claim that the warranty will cover it - - it should the van is only 6 months old! Now I wonder, will the van ever be "right"?? I am anxious to get my van back - - let's see how THIS plays out!

Make sure that you check the service records on any vehicle (new or used) prior to purchase - - get a complete saftey inspection by a 3rd party - - and hold the dealership responsible for necessary repairs... take notes (independently) of all communications you have regarding service issues... they take notes, and keep them - - cover yourself, and keep YOUR OWN notes (service dates, issues discussed and resolution) ask to see the underside of your vehilce EACH time the service is done - - ask that they check the "vital bolts" in your presence, and get them to sign off on this work! I LOVE the features of the Venture/Warner Brother's van, but without the extra entertainment package, it's just another minivan!

Similar Products Used:

Ford, Chrylser, Chev, Mercury - have driven 100s of thousands in various types of full-size and mini-vans.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Nov 18, 2000]
LANE

Strength:

GOOD POWER

Weakness:

CHEAP INTERIOR, FALLING APART,NOISY ENGINE,SEVERAL FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES.

HAS BEEN TOWED IN 5 TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTS DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES.(2 FUEL PUMPS,FUEL REGULATOR, AND FUEL SYSTEM RELATED WIRING)BACK OF FRONT SEATS KEEP COMING APART, ENGINE IS VERY NOISY, AND RUNS ROUGH AT TIMES. IT HAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS NOW BEEN TOWED IN 5 TIMES TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. G.M. IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING THIS VEHICLE BACK BECAUSE IT IS A LEMON. THE G.M. AREA SERVICE REP. TOLD US THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER VENTURES WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. SURE WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO KNOW BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. STAY CLEAR OF VENTURE VANS!!

Similar Products Used:

N/A

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Sep 26, 2000]
Boaz
Model Reviewed: Extended LS

Strength:

Room, Gas mileage, Powerful and quiet, fun to drive, Seats 8, separate rear A/C + radio, powered sliding door, built-in air pump, DLR, automatic headlights, Integrated Child Seat, radio antenna inside windshield, plenty of smart warnings, big fuel tank (25 G).

Weakness:

Controls in center (radio, A/C, etc.): Driver has to turn head and eyes off the road to find the right one; why didn't Chevy put the main controls on the steering wheel ? Ditto for the cruise control.
Cup holders: Most are in the backs of the seats, so are useless when the car is full.
Headlights: No way to turn them off at night.

Paid about 24,000 for the Extended 2000 LS. I have the car for over a year and am very pleased with the Venture!! The car has many advanced features, some not found in other similar minivans. The main thing that should be improved is putting radio/AC/CC controls on the steering wheel (any Chevy engineers reading this ??)

Similar Products Used:

Dodge Caravan 1996: Doesn't have most of the above features.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 02, 2000]
Gary Kajutis

Strength:

Fairly quiet at highway speeds, good power at all times, good visibility all around (except as noted), mileage is pretty good (23mpg(Imp) city, 34mpg(Imp) highway, like the easily removable rear seats (except where do I store 'em that won't take up my precious garage floorspace), like the AM/FM/CD stereo.

Weakness:

Difficult to know where front bumper is for parking, looks like a 'dealer only' thing to service (e.g. back spark plugs, etc) but will attempt self servicing down the road once the warranty expires, don't like the front cup holder at floor level on the passenger seat. Don't like that the base warranty is only for 60,000Km & the 1st recommended transmission service is @ 80,000, so I'll be doing yearly fluid analysis to confirm if any problems are arising before warranty expires. Don't like that a lot of interior panels are plastic & held only by metal clips; if the tab(s) break (like I've already experienced once) then you're stuck; you have to replace the piece, instead of tightening or replacing a screw. Tinted rear windows should be part of base package. Transmission feels a tad 'mushy' in that I can't really tell which of the 4 gears it's in (shifts so smoothly, unlike my Bronco's E4OD). Wish it had a tachometer & cruise control (but my wife didn't want the cruise & it's primarily hers).

Paid around $26,000Cdn for it & then used $2,700 GM VISA points towards it; looked at other products (Pontiac Montana, Chev Astro) & cars/SUV's (Kia, Suzuki, Hyundai, etc.) but decided on this vehicle basically 'cause we had the GM points & the financing was so attractive (went for 0.9% over 4 years). Didn't opt for extended warranty @ purchase time but may buy this down the road. Had 1 interior trim panel defective from day 1 (driver's side covering up sliding door track area) with a broken tab; dealer replaced but 'forgot' about me for 1.5 months 'till I called to ask when the part would be in.

Similar Products Used:

Rented Dodge Grand Caravan years ago & enjoyed it, but have never owned a Chrysler product (yet) & hear their transmission are the worst among the Big 3. Chev's supposedly aren't much better but I'm hoping ('cause I've owned 3 other GM products before & NEVER had transmission trouble).

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Aug 04, 2000]
Gary
Model Reviewed: /Venture

Strength:

It has excellent performance, handling and ride. The engine/transmission is very responsive. This is a very comfortable vehicle with a quiet ride. The price is very competitive. Good fuel economy. The modular seats are really cool and easy to move around or take out.

Weakness:

Wish it also had a power driver side sliding door. Stereo sound quality should be better.

A very good vehicle. Others I looked at all had some glaring problem, such as a buzzy engine, low power, poor handling, high price. The Venture doesn't have any glaring weaknesses. It is a very well rounded vehicle at a fair price. I haven't had any problems with mine yet, but have had it for less than 6 months. I've heard other say that GM doesn't have the quality of a Honda, but I've got a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty and Im already $4,000 better off than if I bought the Honda.

Similar Products Used:

Ford Windstar: Windstar has a buzzy, noisy engine. Handling is ponderous
Caravan: Underpowered
Honda: Louder inside and not as comfortable. Costs about $4,000 more for similar features. I paid $23,600 (with rebate) while Honda wanted $27,800.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 07, 2000]
JW Whitmarsh
Model Reviewed: Chevrolet Venture LS

Strength:

On-ramp-shredding acceleration, even fully loaded; mileage good enough to satisfy the tree huggers; keyless entry and power sliding door is great entertainment for the kids ("Push the button again, Dad!")

Weakness:

Braking performance is exciting, in all the wrong ways; excessive body roll induced car sickness in one unhappy passenger; where am I supposed to put my Super Big Gulp?

I had the opportunity to drive the Venture when I rented one for our vacation trek to Northern Idaho recently. My sole reason for renting a minivan (shudder!) was so I could carry the entire family and a couple of weeks worth of vacation paraphernelia, so I basically viewed it as a necessary evil.

Well, over the course of 3700 miles in two weeks, I found the Venture to be a downright pleasure to drive. Even with six people and a full load in back, the van managed to flatten every grade I put it over, from Mt Shasta and the Siskiyou Pass to the Cascades. Even at a constant 80 mph, the Venture still managed 24-26 MPG, allowing only 1 fuel stop between Southern California and Northern Idaho. 8-12 hour stints in the front seats were a breeze. Great stereo. Roomy interior allowed a few impromptu forays into the back seat to settle sibling disputes.

Braking distances have to be the low point. Pedal feel is far too soft and requires too much travel before any serious braking occurs. During a relatively low-speed drive down California's coast (south of Monterey), my four-year old abruptly tested the stain resistance of the upholstery. Child and seats came through relatively unscathed. I recommend getting the Touring suspension. Transmission made what I considered to be several unnecessary downshifts, particularly when re-engaging the cruise control on moderate grades. The engine has plenty of power, but the transmission doesn't give it much of a chance to work. Plenty of cupholders....very small cupholders. Counted four different shades of gray in the interior.

Overall, the Venture is a very impressive package. As much seating and cargo capacity as most SUV's, without the mileage penalty (and dirty looks from Sierra Club members). Definitely the minivan for people who hate minivans.

Similar Products Used:

Have driven numerous minivans over the years

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jul 26, 2000]
Colleen
Model Reviewed: Chev Venture

Strength:

Powerful. It wants to go, even with a load. Responsive - always a joy to drive. Good car-like ride which many passengers have commented on. Fairly quiet.

Weakness:

Had to replace the fuel gauage but it was covered by warranty. Other than that, no mechanical problems whatsoever in three years.

For the base model Venture (short version) with minimal options we paid around $24,000 Can. This van has serviced us well and we'll be buying another one in a month or two.

Similar Products Used:

Dodge Caravan. Had to replace complete radiator and air conditioning parts in the fourth year. It was just out of warranty and cost us a bundle. Also, the smaller Dodge engine was not big enough to do a good, efficient job.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 18, 2000]
SB Spence
Model Reviewed: Chevrolet Venture LS EXT

Strength:

Engine is smooth,responsive, and powerful. The sound system is superb. The ride is supple, but handling is responsive. Interior room in the extended version has to be seen to be believed. Very distinctive look in the "also rans" minivan genre. Modular seating is exceptionally flexible, and comfortable. HVAC is excellent! We opted for the rear air/heat option and weren't disappointed! It keeps EVERYONE comfortable even on the hottest/coldest days.

Weakness:

Driver seat could be a little higher for my liking. Interior fit and finish leaves a little to be desired, I chalked it up to first year run. Steering at highway speeds seems to take more correction than most vehicles I've driven. I was a little disappointed in the fuel mileage 17city/20+hwy.

We ended up giving mid-teens for this unit over a year ago with 30k miles on it, and loaded to the gills, and coated with beautiful Teal paint. We love it! My wife has let the tires cool on it since we bought it! We have three kids and this thing has been a God send! There's plenty of room for everyone(even Grandma & Grandpa!), and the rear radio and HVAC controls are also a big plus! We opted for the optional warranty that is good through 100k miles so most reapirs are of no concen to me, but even at that we have had very little to complain about. I'll admit that after my wife and I read some of the safety ratings we were a little concerned, but I also take them with a grain of salt. I recall several vehicles over the years being lambasted in the media, and by consumer agencies only to be cleared later after they had taken it on the chin in the marketplace. I'lll wait and reserve critical judgement until MORE THAN ONE "independant" source rates the crash tests of the GM mini-vans. Until then I cannot recommend the Venture highly enough! It makes living with a mini-van more than bearable!

Similar Products Used:

Windstar-comparible quality, but considerably more expensive. Caravan-again more expensive for comparable equiptment. Sienna-more money, love it or hate it looks. Honda Odyssey-I understand it's a great vehicle, but couldn't even find one to test drive, and dealers were selling for over MSRP! Villager- Good vehicle(this would've been our second choice), but considerably smaller that the Venture. Silhouette/Montana- Venture clones

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jun 26, 2000]
Peter Flynn

Strength:

Good fuel economy; average of 20mpg over more than 400 miles of mixed freeway/city driving.
It was very quiet and smooth on city streets.

Weakness:

Poor quality, and ergomonics
We received a brand-new rental (3 miles) from Avis at LAX and spent the next two weeks driving it north to San Francisco. The first impression was that it was a cheapo knock-off of the Dodge minivan. I'm an average-sized person and the seats are too short and narrow for any extended trips. At day 6 one corner of the support frame on the drivers seat collapsed, leaving the driver essentially sitting on a three-legged chair. We tried to get a sedan as a replacement, but Avis gave us another Venture.
In high (30mph) crosswinds at 70mph it was buffeted and became a chore to drive.

Unless you're a GMC-diehard, the Caravan will provide a more satisfying
experience. It is clear that GMC designed to a price-point, and expected
that the apparent value of comparable features at a somewhat lower price
would build market-share.

I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone who intends to drive it. On the other hand, if used for a business that required such a vehicle, it might make sense.

Similar Products Used:

There is no comparison to the Dodge Caravan in quality, which is not exactly perfect either. The Dodge also reflects a higher level of design sophistication.
The Caravan is better at high speed, and clearly superior for any long-distance travel. There are many additional small convenience details
that result in making the Dodge a better choice.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
2
Showing 191-200 of 224  

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