At the Safeway

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
10/18/2020 at 23:39 • Filed to: None

Sure has a lot of badges on it... And the rims are dreadful. And Duramax? Coach by Q-anon. You won’t see one every day...

DISCUSSION (46)

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/18/2020 at 23:43

Very cool van. Somebody spent big bucks on that.

wafflesnfalafel > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/18/2020 at 23:45

nice bug out van, looks good - might even be able to forgive the bro-wheels

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/18/2020 at 23:47

Probably similar to a Sports m obile, they cost more than you think!

Urambo Tauro > shop-teacher
10/18/2020 at 23:56

Quigley conversion. I dig it!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/18/2020 at 23:59

I like it! Never understood why the Express wasn't offered from the factory with 4x4.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 00:03

Ready for the apocalypse. Or Election Day, whichever comes first.

shop-teacher > Urambo Tauro
10/19/2020 at 00:08

Me too!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 00:14

My dad and I toured the Quigley factory back before I joined the Navy, so 2003ish. Very awesome operation and a great product.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > ttyymmnn
10/19/2020 at 00:15

Trick! They are the same!

atfsgeoff > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 00:18

The wheels are a bit bro-ish but all is forgiven because it’s a QUIGLEY

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 00:18

Yeah, GM’s always refused to build this combo... so “Q” did it up right.

I have a thing for these— for wagon f ans, this is the ultimate wagon “high”.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 00:23

The mid-size van (Astro) was for a long time— and that was a damn tough set-up. (Even the basis for the Syclone and Typhoon)

I’m guessing (having spent a lot of time under my Express 3500 and 4500 tow rigs) is that the front spindle, brakes, axles are tough to accommodate with the Van’s sub-frame up there. It’s fundamentally different than the SilveraSierrado set up with has mount points and frame support for the HD front diff and heavier drive. Even with the torque limiting in the Express D-Max releases—- I can see it being an engineering challenge given the tight quarters under there.

HOWEVER, this combo with the 6.6L D-max and 4WD is really compelling.

Maybe now with the Baby D-max GM will do it?

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > ttyymmnn
10/19/2020 at 00:24

We’re all betting that Nov 3 goes fine.

It’s Nov 4 I’m worried about—- and plan to be watching the tanks roll from the compound on Maui.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/19/2020 at 00:36

Sink the R&D on an ancient platform in need of replacing? Probably not. But if GM had made it 4x4 with even one engine combo it might have been worth it. If they could fit 4x4 in the Astro they could do it with this. Not sure if the market would have been there but then again was the market really there for the 4x4 Astro?

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 00:43

There used to be AWD Astros in the Hertz (IIRC) rental fleet— we’d rent them to haul the kiddos around on vacations.

I actually giggled at this—

Sink the R&D on an ancient platform in need of replacing?

—Only because, in the industry, the E-350, that old Ram Van and the SavanaExpress Twins we re famous for basically going multiple decades between platform updates. My 3500 is a 2003 model year( the first year after a modest sheetmetal facelift) and the 4500 dualie is a 2016— There’s a shocking amount of compatibility. I once looked under an early 1990s version and it looked damn familiar.

Those vans all sell in large quantities to fleet usage— and are absolute cash cows. Update the platform every 35 years and haul the money to the bank. I think Daimler finally figured that out and blessed us with their Sprinter series. Finally.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/19/2020 at 00:51

Well the Dodge Sprinter was introduced here in the 2000s and MB still holds a fairly minor market share with them. They're not really for the same kind of buyer. But the Transit really puts the old Express to shame in a number of ways. I think it's finally getting to be time when even the cheap running costs of the Express are struggling to keep it relevant.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 01:07

Dunno about all that. The Sprinter is making big inroads in cutaways, commercial/fleet and RV conversions. The premium Roadtrek, for instance, used to be Express based, but the high-end gotta-have product is now Sprinter based. They bring big money, due to the sophisticated chassis.

US Express Sales going back 10 years

Kinja'd!!!

Sprinter Sales

Kinja'd!!!

On track for 30K again this year— Not up to Chevy numbers, but still outselling the GMC premium brand—

Kinja'd!!!

just-a-scratch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 01:33

So you go to the same grocery as the Punisher?

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 01:49

I’d have removed the Quigley badging even before anyone had heard of QA non (but only after replacing those brotastic wheels).

Longtime Lurker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 03:00

The Express and Savanna 1500's were offered with AWD, it was paired with a 5.3L V8, and 4whl disc brakes.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 07:30

Yes plz

adamftw > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 07:53

They did come factory with AWD. We have a bunch at work.

adamftw > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 07:54

These are probably the coolest things on earth. And what every idiot in a Tacoma and RTT should actually be driving.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/19/2020 at 08:57

The GMC Savannah was discontinued I’m fairly sure and I also always wasn’t sure just where it was positioned compared to the Express.

I agree though. The Sprinter has really taken over the premium van conversion market for good reason. But their share of the actual commercial vehicle market isn’t great though their numbers have held pretty steady . The Transit is probably the Express’s nearest competitor as the Nissan NV2500 is also pretty dated but doesn’t have the decades of service to back it up.

66P1800inpieces > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 09:28

I love those. It would be neat if they came OEM from the factory. For now I am happy that Chevy still uses the double wishbone (or similar) suspension. I think the Ford E series is basically dead other than cutaway chassis spec and they use twin I-Beam which doesn’t drive down the road as nicely as the Chevy (in my own option ).

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Longtime Lurker
10/19/2020 at 10:02

I actually never knew that. I guess I need to pay more attention to van badging.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 10:25

Not according to GM... Google might be fucking with you on this one.

Kinja'd!!!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/19/2020 at 10:28

I swear I read that across multiple sources like a year ago. Oh well, the GM van seems to move more slowly through time than us mere mortals.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > just-a-scratch
10/19/2020 at 10:30

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Dead_Elvis, Inc.
10/19/2020 at 10:31

Brotastic. Wheels. Ug City.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > 66P1800inpieces
10/19/2020 at 10:32

I heartily concur with you about driving down the road.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 10:42

The half-ton flavor I “think”... there was talk of a Nissan-Chevy tie-up. . mainly due to success Ford was having with light duties.

But the 2500-3500-4500 series are wildly profitable, sales are stable and the tooling was paid off sometime during the Reagan administration. I guarantee you can go down to your local GMC-Buick-Caddy dealer right now and buy a new Savana.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/19/2020 at 10:49

It’s one of those legacy platforms that has long since earned its keep. It’s really all gravy at this point and it does appear that sales have been stable even with the new Transit coming here. The 2019 sales figures for the platform are mighty impressive. Every aspect of the vans is well understood by this point that they’re a very safe choice.

Though Nissan has now discontinued the NV2 500 and NV200 and I think most buyers of those vans would be more likely to switch to an Express than a Transit after being burned by a short lived platform and parts/repair networks drying up on what should have been a long lived platform.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 10:54

I’m kinda “into” them so track the platforms a bit. The weird thing is how resilient they are by now— even relative to Sierra/Silverado— and you’ll often see perfectly serviceable examples roll across the auction block with 300-400-500K miles or more.

The Express-Savana twins might actually be the most reliable cars GM ever built. Likely because they are so refined.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/19/2020 at 11:42

When you’ve had basically 40 years to refine the exact same vehicle under the skin with only one major sheet metal change it’s possible to make really solid bulletproof van. And all the engine options are old tech as well. Part of their appeal is that even if they do go wrong there is an abundance of parts available.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 11:47

This is an excellent point, too.... The Corvette always gets the leading edge new drivetrain stuff. The pickups get the mature, high-volume, proven stuff.....

And the Express still uses the old highly-reliable previous gen stuff until the tooling eventually wears out. The Express was still using the time-proven LQ4 engine YEARS after the Silverado had moved onto the next generation. Ditto mechanical throttle. Ditto the bullet-proof 4L80

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/19/2020 at 11:55

You have to wonder if they refreshed the sheet metal because the old tooling had worn out haha. Eventually the same will happen with the Express but until then it seems set to keep soldiering on. I think a few small interior changes and better headlights might help it but there’s nothing wrong with the exterior at all. At this point the Express is several generations removed from the current pickups and that’s honestly a good thing given what I’ve heard about them.

I like old tech. Proven low risk drivetrains are often a very good thing. My Cruze’s NA F amily II Opel four pot gets the job done with half decent fuel economy and adequate power and torque; it’s much preferable to the nearly identically performing complicated turbo four that came in most Cruzes that proved to be a maintenance nightmare in return for the stellar fuel economy. Snuze has that engine and he says it is the least reliable car he’s ever owned while I’ve not had a single mechanical malady . Well the transmission in mine isn’t known for its longevity but that’s the only real known failure point.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/19/2020 at 12:03

Full disclosure— I desperately want a 2014 GenI diesel Cruze. One glorious year only. I need it.

yeah, despite owning literally dozens of cars.... my theory is that I need to swap an LQ4 and 4L80 into something with legendary chassis reliability like an old Benz W123 or 126-- just to have something that you know will start, and run, and get you places when the real crapstorm comes.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/19/2020 at 12:12

Kinja'd!!!

I love mine. It’s a fantastic small car with a usable second row even for 6 footers and massive trunk. It handles quite well and has pretty good steering feel for an early electrically assisted steering rack thanks in large part to its quite heavy and firm steering (very precise) and a rigid chassis. And the interior is a genuinely nice place to be for a 2010s compact and they come in tons of great color schemes. I think mine is second or third best spec to come out of the factory since it has the meh automatic. Autumn metallic with two tone black and tan cloth seats/dash and 1.8 NA engine. A manual diesel would indeed be quite good. It’s just such a good combination of composed, comfortable, and nimble.

Kinja'd!!!

Though I would love to own a manual deisel gen II hatch. I think the gen two sedan is pretty ugly from the rear but that hatch is so well proportioned! Gen I sedan is quite sharp looking I think as well.

The plan you have outlined is indeed a good one.

just-a-scratch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 14:38

It looks like The Punisher's Battle Van.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 16:31

https://thebulwark.com/a-crusade-for-something-noble

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/19/2020 at 19:14

I’ll have to read this later. Perhaps you already knew that I am an avid Bulwark fan. I traded a few emails today with Jonathan V. Last, Bulwark’s chief editor. I’d share the thread with you if you like, but you’d have to ping me: oliphant.chuckerbutty@gmail.com

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > just-a-scratch
10/19/2020 at 19:16

I’m still ? Should I know Punisher ?

just-a-scratch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 19:40

Comic books, feature films, Netflix series etc.

https://www.cbr.com/punisher-battle-van-history/

Apparently, the joke failed, as has any joke that needs to be explained. :(

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > just-a-scratch
10/19/2020 at 21:14

You and I could also be like 30 years different in age and live in distinct popular cultures.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/19/2020 at 22:58

Yes, I know you’re a fan.