GMC Safari Minivans | Wagons
GMC Safari Minivans | Wagons
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[Mar 21, 2001]
Randall Bradberry
Model Reviewed:
GMC SAFARI
Strength:
Lots of space,good towing vehicle,drives well.This is my second one and I'm currently looking for another.
Weakness:
Eats front brakes,weak factory shocks,has fuel related problems more often than it should,door handles break to easy. Overall this van is nice for the family that travels or soccer moms.Does not drive as nice as some of the other mini vans but thats due to the frame that it sits on.Seems to go thru brakes very fast and front end parts need to be replaced sooner than most vehicles.Dollar for dollar it is the best mini van value out on the market. Similar Products Used: Can only be compared to a full size van. |
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[Dec 19, 2000]
hank beltramine
Model Reviewed:
stl
Strength:
There is very little I donot like about it.For the money it is the best buy.We like the height power on demand,18 mpg city 22mpg highway visibility A/C rear air, dutch doors and paint(clearcoat)road handling.
Weakness:
the heavy rear seats removing and putting them back. Lots of reasons for the young and old to enjoy very few reason for not to enjoy the safari. Similar Products Used: ford 150 ecocoline,the ford has more leg room(front)poor mpg to big to cool the interior.No reason not to recommend |
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[Nov 06, 2000]
Shawn
Strength:
Big , roomy, engine pulls strong even when fully loaded. With rear seats out will hold 4x8 plywood sheet with the doors closed. It's a short vehicle easy to park.
Weakness:
Seems to eat front brakes. Rear seats weigh a ton. Front leg room a little cramped (DUH! it's a van) My folks had a late eighties version of this vehicle that now has over 300k on it (still in use as a work truck). The Windstar was the most worthless piece of crap. I bought this vehicle for family trips and hauling stuff. The rear seats are very heavy but they are the recliner type I was willing to trade weight for comfort. My favorite things are the ride hight, you can see over almost anything, and I can slide a single full sheet of plywood, upright alongside the seats. I bought the thing setup for towing, trans cooler, high output alternator. Even the stereo sounds good. If you just need a soccer mom car look elsewhere. Other manufacturers scaled up sedans or station wagons, GM shrank a van. Great for work van. The dutch door option is a must. My only major complaint is the side door, they need to damp or balance the action, slams open/closed when on an incline. Similar Products Used: Ford Windstar (@#$#@%@%^&) No comparison |
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[Sep 19, 2000]
Mornay
Model Reviewed:
GMC SafariLX AWD
Strength:
Only Mini van on the market that is still built like a truck, flat raised floor pan, solid engine and gearbox, rear wheel drive(conventional) and generous interior space.
Weakness:
Poor door handle design, cheap and cheesy interior finish(Americans still can't finish the interior of a vehicle) and heavy fuel consumption. I paid $26,000.00 CDN for this vehicle after looking at all the comparitive mini vans. The Safari was the only van that suited my needs. I owned a 1988 Safari van and that vehicle had 345,000 km when I sold it. Similar Products Used: 1988 GMC Safari LS, Ford Aerostar |
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[Jul 30, 2000]
Tim
Model Reviewed:
SLT Safari
Strength:
The Safari is big on room and accessibility. The quad captian's seating is prefered. With three kids in car seats, it's great to have each one in their own seat. Also the seat back reclining on every seat (except the middle rear) is so accommodating for those long trips. Everyone can sit back and relax. The height of the floor compared to a conventional mini-van makes it easy to seat the kids without bending over. The height is also a benefit to view over most vehicles on the road. The winter traction, even with 2WD is great. I have accellerated better than many FWD vehicles in snowy conditions, to their surprise. I even pulled a FWD car out of a snow bank on a snow packed road. The A/C works well even without the rear air and the heaters are more than ample for Canadian winters. I'm surprised at the mileage 20/25 mpg city/hwy CDN (16/21 US).
Weakness:
Engine accessibility is poor. To change the air filter, the interior engine cowl must be removed. It's hard to check the engine and accessories during refueling since everything is packed under the windshield. Paint delamination is a common problem with some years, including my 1990 that has just started to get worse in the last year. Rear end howl from the differential has been going on for 5 years with no alternative but to replace it. I bought this Safari because it had the quad captain's chairs with the wide headrests giving ample comfort for adults and children on long hauls. This was a rare seat arrangement for 1990. We paid $12,000 CDN in 1995 with 80,000 km (50,000 mi). It now has about 230,000 km (143,000 mi). We've taken it as far as Alabama and it worked great. I've even reclined the two right passenger seats to flat positions and made a bed for an overnighter (only can do this with SLT seats). Similar Products Used: Chrysler mini-vans don't compare. Chevy Venture is almost as roomy but with all "mini-vans" you don't get the big van feel that you get with a Safari. Check it out, the seating height and mirrors on a Safari are usually higher than a 4X4 pick-up. At traffic lights turning left, you can see over the cars in front of you and beyond the cars in the opposing lanes. |
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[Jul 24, 2000]
Jason
Model Reviewed:
gmc safari slx
Strength:
Iam only 16 years old and i have a 93 gmc safari. i love it,cause its like a truck and not a car with a big body like all the other minivans.It has a really good engine that provides great power. The fact that it is a truck with a van body is the best part u dont have to worry about big loads. Mine came with the biggest towin kit and the sport suspension which makes it fun to drive and easy to tow boats etc.
Weakness:
They could of came with a little more areodynamic design,and lots of them come stock with these small little car tires that do not look right on this van. More rugged tires would make it look alot better. I got my safari from my parents and dont know exaclty how much its worth but reccomend it to anyone in the market for buyin basically a Sport Utility Van. Similar Products Used: I dont think it really does compare.It is a truck with a van body.If you want a van to bring people around all the time and thats it then get a regular minivan but if u want to have fun and have no problem fittin things in the van to do it then get a safari.A safari does everything a minivan does and more. |
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[Jun 23, 2000]
Brian
Model Reviewed:
GMC Safari SLE
Strength:
The GMC Safari is the only van platform we could find that had plenty of room, a mildly powerful engine, towing capacity, and all wheel drive. The interior is roomy, with comfortable seating for 8 including driver. The dash is well designed, and the controls for AC, heat, and others are well placed. The all wheel drive system is fabulous, and the vehicle does very well in heavy snow conditions. The gas mileage isnt bad, and the Safari also does very well on road trips.
Weakness:
There is one major flaw with this vehicle: The Engine. It provides ample power, but the design is poor and cramped. This engine is NOT one for the weekend mechanic to try and do any serious work on. One of the injectors has already failed and been replaced under warrenty, and there have been other problems with the fuel system that should certainly not be happening. One other flaw our vehicle has is a hard pull to the right that the dealership mechanics explain is due to "the Safari being tied down too tightly to the delivery truck"...this pull cannot be fixed without major trouble that the dealership is unwilling to go through, and it causes both uneven tire wear and a struggle driving on the highway in windy conditions. Our Safari new cost a little over 24,000 and that price required MAJOR dealing with the dealership. Unfortunately, the Safari is the ONLY vehicle of it's type, so for a family needing an all wheel drive vehicle for snowy conditions and the romminess of a large van, it is the only option. I am displeased at the quality of the engine and it's components, and with the location of the engine. The Safari is, however, highly competent in bad weather conditions, which was our main reason for buying one. Similar Products Used: None. |
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[Jun 19, 2000]
Michael Choi
Model Reviewed:
/LE
Strength:
Excellent low end torque/grunt, passenger/cargo room and ride quality. Years of refinement really shows.
Weakness:
Fuel economy.... wtf i'm paying $46 per fill up OUCH. Overall excellent an excellent van. We bought it for home/business use. I didn't like most of the gay vans...uhh i mean mini-vans around. They were nothing more than boxes built on a small truck frame with virtually no room. THey are yuppy urban people movers essentially. For serious business usage and some serious people carriege you can't beat this Van. Engine PULLS very strongly below 50MPH. Between 50 to 60mph it's a bit sluggish but i didn't buy this van to race people on the free way. Similar Products Used: none |
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[May 03, 2001]
Jim
Model Reviewed:
safari GT
Strength:
4.3 HO (code 'b') is a dream. Never lacks the power in a towing or freeway on-ramp situation. Great rust/perforation restance of body/floor pan materials. has never failed to start or get us where we wanted to go.
Weakness:
Electrical switches!!! Vent fan switch has been replaced 3X, MFS 2X, back up lite switch 2X, Drivers elect door lock switch 2X. Paint starting to peel from poor surface prep at factory. Heavy front rotor wear. We've been from Alaska to the Gulf Coast in our Safari GT, and all points in between. It's been a super vehicle that I feel I've really gotten my $$'s worth. If you've ever driven around Indianapolis, you'd understand why I praise the 4.3 HO motor. Due to extreem angles in the front suspension in this 4500 lb vehicle, only MSO2 (black moly) grease has been used in the upper & lower ball joints, idler arms & rod ends. In 150,000+ miles no mx has had to be performed other than allignments every 50K miles. Other Astro/Safari owners may want to note this. GM should recommend this grease as the standard lube & save owners some mx dollars. A/C has been recharged only once. Interior was scotchgarded when purchased, and has survived two boys with out staining, tearing, seams splitting or seats sagging. When, (and if) this thing ever dies, I will purchase another. Similar Products Used: No comparison to the soccer-mom mini vans... this thing's a truck. No comparison to full sized vans.. the safari is much more nimble to scoot around town in. |
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[Jul 24, 2001]
CHRISTINA
Model Reviewed:
gmc safari
Strength:
the seats removing, space available. Has good highway riding for trips and comfortable for passengers as well. also rear air conditioning is great for passengers.
Weakness:
I have steady wear on the brakes. I have a problem with the cadiletic converter that will need to be replaced. I have had this problem long before I have even paid it off. I also have a transmission that slams into gear. though I have had the trans. checked, they see no apparent problem. It continues to get worse. I am begining to question the manufacturing on this. i am happy with the capacity to carry five teenagers and cargo around. the style is fine and removal of the seats is a wonderful luxury. Similar Products Used: driving compares well with previous van we have owned and is actually roomier. although the mechanics are not all that great at 100,000 miles. we should'nt be having over haul repairs for the money. |


