1999 Astro Van

[musicmaj]

A friend of ours is selling a 1999 Astro. Can anyone tell me anything about their Astro? I realize that the crash test ratings are not wonderful - and we will take that into consideration. The van is in very good condition and for a very good price. I haven't seen it yet.

I do know that the seatbelts lock at the latch plate. I believe there is a lapbelt in the third row center. I don't know what the second row is like. Does anyone know if there are headrests in the back or tether anchors?

[Defrost]

I have a '97. I have no idea if there are major differences.

You're right that it doesn't have great crash ratings. We were in a 35+ mph crash in ours, though, and everyone (kids included) walked away with minor injuries. (We got kinda side-swiped/t-boned by a Volvo when the driver ran a red light - she initially hit the rear behind the sliding door at an angle, then drove right up the side.)

Ours has 8-passenger seating, so the second row is nearly identical to the third. Lap/shoulder belts outboard, lap-only belts center, locking latchplates all around. The driver and passenger seats have sewn-on latchplates with two retractors, a bit unusual but not really relevant to carseats or safety.

I've never had any problems installing carseats. Mine doesn't have TAs, but the cargo hooks can be used as TAs for the outboard positions in the 3rd row. I've also used the lap-only belt in the 3rd row to tether a carseat in the 2nd row.

Mine has headrests in the outboard seating positions of both rows (again, mine's an 8-seater), and they're slightly adjustable.

The main problems we've had with the van were probably due to the damage done in the wreck - three of the doors don't work properly, in spite of having been fixed several times. Both of the automatic windows in the front have had the motors replaced, and we had to replace the solenoid (sp?). The paint has chipped off the hood pretty severely. Other than that, it's been a good van. We drive it about once every month or two at this point, and she always starts right up.