First real job was an electrical engineer at Ford until I was laid off in 1980.

Engineer in remote sensing and environmental sciences since 1980, including some work for the DoD. This is about as much as I can say.

Long before Chrysler sold its first minivan, I was drawing a mutli-purpose vehicle that would haul people and cargo, and was not shaped like a brick nor as heavy as a full sized van. The Pontiac Transport actually was the closest thing that came to my early sketches, but I found that it was more of a people mover than a multi-purpose hauler. And it also had terrible visibility out front. I think the Aerostar has to be the best all-around utility vehicle, with the Chevy Astro a close second. I found the quality of the Aerostar to be far superior to the Astro, which is why I now I'm also a part time Aerostar mechanic now.

 

I'm electrical engineer at Mercedes Truck and Volvo Truck.

I used to drive many cars and trucks. First car - small Tavria Coupe (1.3 SOHC), later I used to drive Opel Astra, Opel Vectra, Mercedes Actors (semitractor), Volvo FH12, Mercedes 512, Freightliner Columbia, Century, DAF 95, E150, F150, Ranger and many others. Not easy to find a car I did not drive....

 

im the guy that bring's all that junkmail and bills to your town to be delivered to you home's..lol gotta luv the postal service.....

 

ever drive a Model T, Henry's first? a magneto/trembler coil ignition 4 cyl. 2.9L 20hp 2 speed planetary that would climb a hill better in reverse, gravity feed gas tank
designed by 2 of your neigbors in Hungary.

I have. reliable, runs fine on ethanol, gas or gas/stove oil/kerosene mix and still gets 20 mpg plus

 

I draw '41 GAZ-AA (Ford AA). GAZ differs a bit. GAZ engine was made of aluminium (original by ford was made of cast iron), 4 cyl 3.5L flathead engine ore 6-cyl engine, 4 st. tranny, hydravlic brakes for rear wheels, handbrake for front wheels, made of plywood doors, small heater inside, 1.5 ton in made of wood bed. Exotic shoks installed horisontally, connected to axes with rods.... Runs! 12-17 MPG. 40MPH max. speed.

 

I used to be a nuclear engineer, and then an Engineering professor until I got sick of whining students who treated college like an extension of highschool and administrators who only cared how much money in research grants you can bring into the school. Now I'm a simple aerospace engineer working for DoD. Less stress, more time for family. Lots of time for fishing, camping and teaching my own children.

I bought my first Aerostar on Halloween night, 1992 and have fallen in love with it ever since. It was brand new and we have put in about 200K miles since. My oldest kid is learning to drive, and he already reserved it as his personal vehicle once he gets his license. I like the idea of a minivan with lots of rooms (4 kids but only one wife, unfortunately ) Maintenance is quite a bit easier than those FWD vans and reliability is excellent. Parts are cheap and easy to find. What more can you ask for?

 

I don't know how easy some of the Ford specific parts are to find, but it's the best vehicle I ever had...

I started as a Musician, so the van was great for hauling all my equipment to gigs, etc... after college (berklee grad), I got more into doing live mobile recording work, and so, it was great to have it for that...

then, a few years later, I started a Video Production company, and that is still my full time gig - so I use it to cart my cameras/tripods, etc to on location shoots, etc...

I keep trying to find something to replace it with, but there still is really nothing that compares to it... I've owned it for 18 years, and it's really almost become a part of me... I would miss the old bird if she wasn't in my driveway...

It's nice to know that so many of you have these with 200K Plus on them, and still going strong - my 89 has 130 on it, and so, it's nice to know I can rely on it for a few more years at least...

it's the older car we own out of the 3, but if I had to be somewhere, and it wasn't a snow storm, it is what I would choose to drive....

I wish ford would make them again... the windstar and the freestar were so bad by comparison, but I think the Minivan market is leveling out a bit... with so many mini-SUV's out now.... seems like every maker has one now. - still, try moving a couch in one :-)

This has been a great place to ask and help people! just wish more of you guys lived up here in NE! seems like most are out west or in the midwest....

 

I work in a Orthopeadic and Neurosurgical Clinic as a X-ray/casting tech. Wife and I have 2 Areos, 1 a 90 we have had sence 92 when it had 25,000 miles. The other was my wifes Dads, it is a 4wd 91, not running at this time.

 

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Too cold

 

Ex-Rodeo Queen, former owner of a horse farm, horseback riding instructor on hiatius while being a "pregnant with #2 (baby girl) stay at home Mom (SAHM)" to older dearest daughter (ODD) who is going to be 2 years old soon!! Phew!! That was a mouthful!!

 

WOW! what different people drive old aeros......

 

Hey Pablo,
You are correct about "Different People" because we are different many ways, but we are the same in several ways also.

Everybody seems to appreciate and/or have a passion for our Aerostar Vans. Most of us are educated to a greater degree, as opposed to being ignorant, or arrogantly stupid, like on some forums we've all been to, I'm sure. All of us really try to help each other, whenever we are able to. The cooperation and sharing of information & qualified opinions here is a wonderful thing that seems harder and harder to find anymore. It would seem we all are smart enough to get along well here & that's great! Our type of Sharing & Agreement is a scarce commodity in this day and age it seems.
I thank All For the commeradery we enjoy here.

I've only run into 1 person here @ FTE Aerostar that wanted to argue or pick a fight over words & verbiage. But, our fearless moderator with his greater insight and wisdom shut the incident down before it escalated or degenerated into an issue.

I would suggest: We ALL, Truly Are On The Same Page Here and I for One Find That Refreshing. I Thank All of you for that. I'm proud & thankful to be a participant in such a great & diverse group of folks as habitate this forum.


PS:
Copper: I hear you on the "administration" Issue for certain. I do not teach anylonger because I refuse to put the "admni" ahead of my Student's needs & that's way overboard for Admin's bureaucratic minds, Huh?
I must have been fortunate because most of my clases were mature & were there to get a practical education. SLACKERs were encouraged by class mates to take advantage of the Drop/Add option early in the courses. . . .

Thanx Again Y'all & CIAO

FBp

 

hi! Cowgirlmechanic: I can say with my experience that the two "first" children are the more harder! the three following one are much more easier!!!!!!! to add to my pleasure my elder daughter has a baby now (since two month) and I am a little confusing to see I'm a grandpa now, it's too early: i'm only 51 this month!!!!! children have often this kind of surprise in their pocket. she is 21 and married last summer with a nice man who is 58!!!!! seven year more than me; funny, don't you think?

 

for Fordboypete: I am glad to say you are right, and am in full agreement with you: you are all nice peoples.

 

Technical writer and industrial trainer, formerly an English teacher (6 ~ 12), still a musician (can get all 6 horns in the aerostar and still pick up a frined on the way to play.) Love my Aeros!