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This photo could only be better if there were a leprechaun pouring Skittles on the road, like a corn syrup carpet.
65 Comments on “At the End of Every Rainbow… Aerostar...”
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You did this just for JohnTaurus.
LMAO and its perfect, too.
Yes, I saved the image. If it wasn’t so wide, it’d be the new wallpaper/background for this device.
Microsoft Photo Editor to the rescue!
Excellent suggestion, though I don’t have Microsoft products on this thing.
I did use the crop feature, and I guess its good enough for the kinda chicks you date.
(I kid, I kid)
It should have been hooning under the rainbow.
I think if you hoon an Aerostar it automatically flips on its side, for self-preservation.
Aerostar tipping.
Nahh. My 1994 Sport loved to get crazy. I even embarrassed a Caprice at an impromptu burn out contest.
That one somehow lived up to its name (Sport) although there were no performance modifications included with the package. C’mon, Ford, at least a tachometer? Bigger than 14″ wheels? Okay, I corrected that in mine, but still, Ranger and Explorer 15″alloys were *right there* in the parts bin. Some lower profile tires and it’d have been awesome.
My 1994 Sport was certainly the most fun-to-drive and memorable Aerostar I’ve had or driven.
A “burn out contest” with a Ford? This involves the vehicle catching fire, right?
You’d be forgiven for thinking so if you saw all the smoke.
“My 1994 Sport was certainly the most fun-to-drive and memorable Aerostar I’ve had or driven.”
Uh huh. And my 2012 bout with MRSA was the most fun and memorable hospitalization I’ve ever had.
Thanks for trolling with us today.
Is that a rainbow, or the Almighty sending down a colorful magical beam to destroy the Aerostar?
True. We could be witnessing its last millisecond of existence.
And the Lord saith…begone, thou pestilence known as Aerostar! I smite thee!
The Vulcan V6 (which is most likely to be in a later, base-trim Aerostar such as this) is commonly worshipped but is not in fact the LORD. 28 will have to inform us laypeople how harshly the LORD deals with false idols.
I was thinking it was at least a mid-level trim (XLT?) because of the mirror tint. But it does appear to have wheel covers.
The only false god in 28’s church should be the Ford rip off version of the Prophet 3800. Took a good thing (stole it, actually) and made it evil. Pure herasey! But, they have since attoned for their sins.
The Vulcan is a loyal and honest servant, if not the sexiest one.
@Corey
The XLT had wheel covers standard. My parents 1990 XL had factory mirror tint. There’s really no way to tell from that picture.
Ford has thou paid for heresy. Nasser was sent by the LORD to smite the blasphemers.
I thought XLTs of this vintage continued the bumper color across the lower body. Could be wrong, though.
@dal, my 1996 XLT did not have two-tone. It was optional, as were alloys (only 14″).
Two tone was standard on the Sport, but only with silver as the lower tone. Two tone was also standard on Eddie Bauer, but we all know what color the bottom was on those…
No, they were good. I had one for 10 years, used it to tow my racer.
Why would it be destroying it? Much more likely that its showing it love for lasting this long and serving its owner well.
I dunno, it’s the same guy who decided to drown the world because folks were gettin’ down too much. His reasons are His own.
Nahh, this was CLEARLY a loving kiss from above.
If destruction were in order, it’d be more hurricados and bolts of lightning than a pretty rainbow after the storm had already passed. ;)
But was the almighty’s way of proclaiming the dawning of the age of the Aerostar!
I like all of these comments so far.
Photoshop an Olds 98 in there, and 28 might be on his way to cult leader status.
Touring Sedan!
With the basket handle shifter!
You know, the one I was thinking of in this instance was the later version through ’96. It did *not* have a basket handle shifter unfortunately.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H9mg8_x2QY
Had to watch this video to confirm, because I can’t find a final gen 98 TS interior photo.
So much goodness here…and those seats!
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/01/77/15771077_large.jpg?v=1
And I forgot how many damn buttons the last 98 had on the dash…crazy. Looks like you could launch an ICBM from that car.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/new/010211/1987%20Oldsmobile%20Touring%20Sedan%20Foldout/1987%20Oldsmobile%20Touring%20Sedan%20Foldout-06-07.jpg
Hnnnghh.
It’s a brochure picture, and they couldn’t even find a well-sewed set of seat covers.
This was pretty much the peak of modern FWD automobile engineering. Traction control is about the only thing missing.
@Freed
Only in the Apocalypse Edition.
@FreedMike: Now imagine it had the same Speak & Spell voice alert system as Chrysler.
“Yᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪssʟᴇ ʜᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʟᴀᴜɴᴄʜᴇᴅ.”
“YOUR MIRV IS AJAR”.
On my way, or well past it?
That all depends on how much Kool-Aid mix you have.
OH YEAH!
New and improved Frosted Lucky Charms, now with Pink Hearts, Yellow Moons, Orange Stars, Green Clovers, Blue Diamonds, Purple Horseshoes, and Red Aerostars!
Say what you will about the Aerostar… there’s no easier vehicle to open if you’ve locked your keys inside the car. So at least it’s got THAT going for it — grin!
Clearly Photoshopped, found at the end of every rainbow is a Hellcat.
I think you misspelled HELLCAT.
My dictionary says: HELLCAT!!!
I blame the spellcheck.
HELLCAT!!!!
Years ago, some friends of mine had a silver Aerostar XLT (a later model one), that ended up on its side, after coming down a freeway exit ramp when the throttle stuck. It was in the body shop for quite a while, and the insurance company paid to fix it.
The throttle also got hung on my 1996 XLT. The cable ran inside a sleeve and it just got stuck one day. I had my dad spray WD-40 down the sleeve as I worked the pedal inside the van, fixed it in like a minute lol.
It was partially my fault as the throttle pedal was stiff long before this happened, and I ignored it.
It did not stick far enough to overwhelm the brakes, but it sure made for a fun (lol) ride as I tried to slow for my exit and it felt like I was still being pushed faster. Very unnerving, but, like I said, it was still controllable so I continued the 10 or so miles on to my house after I first noticed it.
When I was doing my typical fluids/plugs/wires etc on my newly purchased Taurus that I have now, I lubricated the throttle cable while I was in there. I suppose it’s become my S.O.P. on any car I get with an actual throttle cable now. Especially if the pedal feels stiff at all (and the Taurus’ did a little before, but not at all after).
Live and learn. Glad it didn’t need to crash/tip over to teach me that lesson.
Damn it Corey, now you got me wanting an Aerostar again. LOL
My next vehicle purchase was supposed to be an actual truck (not a truck-like minivan) and/or an Oldsmobile car/Bravada.
Truth is, I’d like another Aerostar for camping and secure cargo transport, but not as my only vehicle again. It got to where it seemed like a chore to drive it on a little errand to town compared to something like my Taurus. Its a “one day” kinda thing, though, I’m in no hurry to find another. If I did, I would go out to Washington state to buy it. I swear, they have 1994 examples that look better than most 2004 cars I see.
I’ve been on the look out for an extended wheelbase Eddie Bauer 4×4 for years, I feel your pain
Mike, not sure where you are, but this one is nice:
https://wichita.craigslist.org/cto/6037317048.html
If its gone: 1993 Ford Aerostar Eddie Bauer E4WD extended length, 71.5k miles, Wichita KS $3250
I bought one of theses thinking I hadn’t owned an american car since high school (1965) and thought I should give one a try again. I traded in the 1987 POS after only 8 months and haven’t had a American vehicle since!
But… one good thing, the wife loved to have sex in it???
“But… one good thing, the wife loved to have sex in it???”
you’re not sure?
Well, the last one built was 20 years ago this year, and obviously that one is still going, and I regularly see running/driving examples on the road or for sale. So, they all couldn’t be that bad.
And, its not like things could possibly have changed in the 30 years since 1987.
I’ve said it before, the first two years of the model (1986 and 1987) were the worst, 1988 was a little better, 1989 was much better, and by 1990 they were solid and reliable.
My parents bought a 1990 brand new and had it until it was well past 100k, the only repair was a power steering pump under warranty.
All of the Aerostars I have owned had well over 200k. They were reliable and durable for me.
Did you put all those question marks because you weren’t there personally to know for sure that she enjoyed sex in it? I agree with Jim, seems odd to not be sure of that statement.
My parents bought one of these new when I was a kid… It is the reason my family switched to Toyotas and my dad will never even consider a Ford to this day…
Similar to your experience, my parents bought a 1986 Aerostar brand new. Neither they nor I will ever buy another FoMoCo product*. However, I’ve concluded that there are enthusiasts for pretty much every vehicle ever made.
*Some classic/hotrod exceptions apply.
Saw the title and thought the author was initially referring to the aircraft of same name. http://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/pistons/aerostar-702p
I remember back in the day driving one of these for a pharmaceutical delivery company. Tough as nails and dead reliable with the Vulcan V6. Pretty comfortable too on long hauls.
I know shockingly little about aircraft.
The Aerostar was a heavy piston twin that developed a bad rap for low speed loss of control accidents on final approach. Pilots would fly it like a Baron when it needed to be flown like a King Air.
Back to the subject matter… the fleet also had several Astro’s on hand. The Astro was ok, but the overall package was crude compared to the Ford. Whereas the Ford would consistently get 21mpg on the highway the GM’s would return tops 17mpg. Maybe it was the gearing. On long evening hauls to no man’s land to deliver controlled substances to nursing facilities I felt safer in the Aerostar.
Some rainbows have a Chrysler at the end. :) I was driving one of my big old Chryslers down to Chryslers at Carlisle. We drove into a rainstorm on the highway. Both my brother and I witnessed a rainbow terminating on the front of my car! This confirmed what I already knew: there’s a pot of gold under the hood of that one.
I’ve seen plenty of Chryslers with rainbows under them on rainy days, mostly due to oil leaks.
They weren’t leaking oil, they were marking their territory.
This was a real rainbow which ended on top of the hood, while I was driving.
Had myself a Vulcan in my 1993 Taurus GL, and my sis had one in her 2001 SE. I did an alternator at 130k, a water pump on hers at 142k, and kept the trans fluid changed on the reg.
Used to state “Vulcans are hewn, from the granite in Grant’s tomb.”
It rolls off the tongue.
I have owned dozens of them, I have much respect and love for it.
I put my Vulcans through hell and back. Yes, after like 240k and a severe overheating incident, it finally blew a head gasket in my 1996 Aerostar. Like 8,000 miles later.
Try overheating a 22re like that. I promise a ruined engine (cracked block, and/or warped or cracked head guaranteed), and it damn sure won’t take 8,000 miles to let you know about it.
The Vulcan in that van still ran decently, just the temp gauge went higher than it was supposed to for a bit before it went back down, and you could smell coolant in the exhaust.
My hippie van!!!
Should I ever decide to become a hippie.