As some of you may know, I've been shopping to replace my beloved but bumbling Land Cruiser with something more...practical. Well, after a no-go on an Isuzu Trooper, I stumbled on a picture of a lifted AWD Astro...well now, we're on to something here... oh look, they're everywhere on Craigslist. So I looked at a few locally: rusted and busted, and overpriced. But then, the like star over baby jesus, a light shown forth! In BFE, Nebraska a guy was selling a 91,000 mile example for cheap! Quickly, I called.
"Nobody wants to come out and look at it," the gentleman said, "and I don't know how to use a computer very well so I can't send people more pictures." Well hell, it's not THAT far away, and I've got a good feeling. "I'll call you back," I say.
Quick as a flash, I text a friend who I accompanied on a similar mission.
"Want to drive with me to BFE, Nebraska to look at an AWD Chevy Astro?" says I.
"berkeley driving" says he, "if there's an airport nearby, let's fly out there."
And so it was that I embarked on the most bad-ass adventure to buy a minivan ever.
Our chariot:
Our home base:
Corn, corn, corn, airport.
And safe at home back in my driveway, my prize:
And so concludes my adventure. This may literally change the way I buy vehicles...
all you need is a train ride somewhere.. and we have a movie
Only a GRM'r would fly out to Cornland, to look at a used car, a van of all things, and then drive the thing back.
I need a friend with a plane.
How'd you fit it in that tiny plane? 
That is an awesome way to go buy anything though.
I thought of doing something similar when I picked up my saab
Well played! Excellent story!
Lol-Do you own anything 2wd?
way to go! Clean looking Astro too.
You have raised the bar on car buying!
Glad to see our tax dollars are hard at work.
jrw1621
SuperDork
10/23/11 8:46 p.m.
Well done with the plane!
A little lift makes for a good look in my book.
Or a lot of lift:
Duke
SuperDork
10/23/11 8:55 p.m.
Damn, that looks clean! Very nice score, and an epic journey to claim it. Well played indeed.
MrJoshua wrote:
Lol-Do you own anything 2wd?
Uuuuhh... I guess you could duct tape the two motorcycles together?
dyintorace wrote:
Glad to see our tax dollars are hard at work.
Hey now, they didn't let us take one of the big planes!
jrw1621 wrote:
Well done with the plane!
A little lift makes for a good look in my book.
The first truck is using a 4" lift kit ($600), and 31" tires, the second, a 2" lift ($200) and 235/75R15s. Current plan is to get some used 235/75R15 tires (if the guy would email me back) and the 2" lift, then later buy the rest for the 4" lift and move to 31" tires if I find myself needed more oomph.
nice looking van man... I miss mine... well I miss the utility I had with it... the wagon just doesn't quite do it... although I do get slightly better MPG now (and i do mean slight lol)
i'm sure i'll own another... so useful...
You sir . . .rock!!
