Worth Every Penny

Purchased a new 1997 E-150 conversion van. One of the best vehicles we've ever owned. The captains' chairs are very comfortable and can be adjusted to just about any position one could want. The rear bench folds down into a bed that's both comfortable and easy to operate. We had a Rear A/C installed -- not a separate compressor but a separate coil and blower. Works extremely well -- best $75 we've ever spent. Opted for the 6 cylinder -- like the mileage we get (up to 22 hwy miles) and it holds highway cruising speed quite well. On other than level roads though, the transmission shifts frequently when the cruise control is on and the speed is over 65. But on level roads, it works just fine. The separate reading lights allow the kids to read or play games at night without distracting the driver. The noise level is very low. We had the cold weather package added (even though we bought it in El Paso, TX). The extra insulation sprayed on the bottom insulates the sound too. Have never used the plug in block heater. The van now has about 50,000 miles on it. The only repairs have been a new starter ($160) and a front brake job ($400). Both were done by a Ford dealer so I'm sure better prices could be had elsewhere. Oh, and we just replaced the tires. Not bad for a vehicle that's driven across the US three times and made innumerable "road trips" with a family of 5 (all the boys have their own seat, no one touches anyone else). The van is extremely roomy and cost less than any of the minivans we looked at. All in all, a superior value for the money.