Hey folks!

Here's a condensed backstory:
I was the happy owner of an '87 4x4 van for a few years.

It was a great vehicle for us, got us cross country from Portland to Philly, then to Maine.

While living in rural Maine the auto tranny had complete & total failure on a country road with really no symptoms to w warn me.

There were no resources or local knowledge for getting the van fixed, & I needed wheels for work, so I was forced to sell cheap. Our whole family cried when the new owner towed her away!

We ended up finding a Volvo 240 wagon which has been a great car & has gotten us relocated back to the NW.

But we've outgrown our car for traveling needs & are looking at buying another van or Previa.

I've read up on Previa's & think they seem great...but not as great as a vanwagon!

So here's my current head scratching situation:

I've found 2 semi local 89 2wd vans that are both running, registered, decent shape.

But they're both around 200k AND they have auto tranny s, & this of course scares me!

In both cases the owners sag the tranny shifts fine but haven't owned the vehicle long enough to know if the tranny has ever been replaced or overhauled.

So tell me, is buying a high mileage van with auto just a crapshoot?
I really love the idea of having another van, but facing another transmission failure worries me to death.

I know I can dig for a manual tranny van but I want to stay semi local to Olympia.

Thanks a bunch!
Mark E Kaylor