Vehicle Sighting - 1993 Ford Aerostar

[Number_35]

Saw this guy at a local used-car dealership which brings in minty older vehicles from the west coast.

I had not seen an Aerostar in a few years - they are pretty rare here now.

 

[Ronsant]

My understanding from some of the younger motorcycle enthusiasts I know is that these old vans are super popular, especially in the 4 wheel drive versions.

 

[97prizm]

Wow clean and the swb model. My parents had the lwb 4wd Ford Blue with gray cloth interior. Loved that thing.

 

[skyactiv]

Can't remember the last time I've seen one on the road.

 

[IndyFan]

Wow, that's in good shape!

A neighbor of mine has a Pontiac Aztec that appears to be in decent shape. Lol. I'll try and snap a pic.

 

[levi]

Owned one once in a medium blue color, many moons ago, not nearly as good of condition. It felt rock solid to drive. Started to nickel and dime me to death as I recall. But sure liked how it drove.

 

[Zee09]

What a
My buddy had one.

 

[jkasch]

My '94 extended was great until I sold it in '03. Took the family from Michigan to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Mesa Verde and other vacations. Never had any problems.

 

[fantastic]

Ouch my eye!! Coming from an ex owner of one of these for $800 you can imagine it wasn't this clean but those ground effects. $10k is a little steep. Neet to see some of these examples still around though.

 

[Owen Lucas]

That's got to be a rare aero / running board package unless it's after market.

 

[Number_35]

Can't remember the last time I've seen one on the road.

I saw one, apparently a daily driver, in a shopping centre parking lot perhaps five years ago. The the previous time might have been a decade earlier.

 

[Number_35]

Ouch my eye!! Coming from an ex owner of one of these for $800 you can imagine it wasn't this clean but those ground effects. $10k is a little steep. Neet to see some of these examples still around though.

Agreed, that plastic cladding is worthy of a '90s Pontiac.

 

[Number_35]

That's got to be a rare aero / running board package unless it's after market.

Good point. It is a bit over the top.

 

[Number_35]

My '94 extended was great until I sold it in '03. Took the family from Michigan to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Mesa Verde and other vacations. Never had any problems.

Did you have the 3.0 or the 4.0?

I vaguely recall a PS or PM story from around 1985, something like "Ford and GM play catch-up with Chrysler and jump into the small-van market".
IIRC, the original SWB model was available with a 4-banger. Could it have been the venerable 2.3 Lima?

They were available with a slick Mazda 5-speed MT in the early years. That would have helped.

 

[Number_35]

What a
My buddy had one.

Oh, but did you ever have the pleasure of changing plugs? It's great fun in the winter in a no-start situation.

 

[Number_35]

Owned one once in a medium blue color, many moons ago, not nearly as good of condition. It felt rock solid to drive. Started to nickel and dime me to death as I recall. But sure liked how it drove.

I think the Aerostar was based on the Ranger truck, so actually pretty solid mechanically, but hard to work on with the anteater nose.

Pretty terrible crash ratings as I recall.

 

[Number_35]

My understanding from some of the younger motorcycle enthusiasts I know is that these old vans are super popular, especially in the 4 wheel drive versions.

They were good for accommodating bicycles upright with no disassembly required.

 

[97prizm]

Can't remember the last time I've seen one on the road.

I wonder if the 4wd versions ended up in Eastern Bloc countries like alot of our 4wd suvs do, or ended up in central America. It would be cool to have access to a "How many of these are left" list.

 

[hemitom]

Guy I worked with bought one new in 86 or 87 I think it was a 2.8 v6 I thought it was a nicer van than my uncles caravan at the time .

 

[walterjay]

A family member had one just like that. It had issues that cropped up often.