Get In The Van!
CHEVROLET
2008 Express Series Cargo Van
We spend alot of time talking about new music equipment in this column, yet in eight years writing “Gear,” we’ve never discussed how to haul it around. Though we’ve driven and set up PA gear (and delivered plenty of copies of IE) in Chevy and Dodge vans, we’ve always preferred Ford’s best-selling Econoline series for their ride, engines, and overall dependability, not to mention the vast availability of new and used parts on the market. Dodge began offering a Mercedes-Benz-made Sprinter van in 2003, but we haven’t yet had a chance to test drive the Euro-styled model.
While prepping for IE magazine deliveries last month, we were surprised to find a virgin 2008 Chevrolet 2500HD EXT model cargo van with less than 100 miles on the odometer waiting for us at Enterprise. After a long day of circulation stops from Rockford, with a “layover” in Joliet and an early morning trip to Chicago, we can say Chevy finally has come up with a worthy challenger to the Ford Econoline. Newly designed in 1993, the Chevrolet Express has the advantage of being more modern in suspension, engine choice, and body design than the Ford, though in the world of cargo vans, not much has changed in the last 25 years. These vehicles are basic, primitive, and noisy compared to their passenger-car brethren. And of course, their gasoline engine eats fuel (we averaged 14 miles per gallon). Our 3/4-ton 2500 series was a middle-tier model in Chevy’s engine and suspension roster with a base 4.8-liter, V8 engine that was clearly underpowered when carrying nearly 1,500 pounds of magazines on its 155-inch wheelbase. Chevy offers a more powerful 6.0-liter gas engine we highly recommend. Despite being somewhat weak in the engine department, we were impressed with Chevy’s medium-duty suspension and its ability to handle a heavy load in tandem with its responsive power steering and standard ABS braking. Even on a windy afternoon of stop-and-go traffic on I-90, we always felt our cargo was safe and secure. Like any General Motors vehicle, the Express comes with dozens of sometimes confusing option packages that include limited-slip differentials, all-wheel-drive, E85 and diesel engine options, and an extra driver-side panel-door feature. Our vehicle was a basic daily driver that showed how far Chevy has come since the days of the Beauville Van. The Express series lists at $23,130. Visit www.chevrolet.com for more info.
Marantz
PMD620 Recorder
Marantz Professional‘s new PMD620 digital, pocket-sized recorder is Marantz’s answer to Edirol and Tascam’s recent “mini-me” flash-drive recorder entries. In a new digital world where smaller is better, the PMD offers direct-to-MP3 recording in three quality levels as well as an uncompressed, CD-quality 44.1/48 KHz WAV recording/playback format in either 16 or 24-bit resolution. Users can record using two built-in condenser microphonesor utilize line and external mic inputs. Like its competitors, the PMD620 uses SD flash memory for data storage, with a recording capacity of two terabytes. The iPod-like one-touch record and thumb-operated scroll wheel make recording on the fly an easy experience, while Marantz’ new OLED display screen, one of the first in the industry, uses power, requiring only two AA batteries to operate the PMD. As you might expect, this recorder uses industry-standard features: non-destructive cut-and-paste editing, drag-and-drop transfer to PC or Mac, and a built-in USB port for importing or downloading. The list price is $599. For more information, visit www.marantz.com.
News & Notes
Readers of this column know we’re some of the biggest Macintosh snobs in the Midwest. We’ve been proudly using Macs since 1987. The word PC (“pee-see”) doesn’t exist in our vocabulary. That’s a story for another day. This month, however, we’ll throw you personal-computer types a bone with a little Dell computer news: You can now buy your Dell at Guitar Center.
They also sell Macs, ya know.
– David Gedge
David Gedge,
In regards to your article on Chevy cargo vans. I bought a 2003 Chevy 1500 Express Cargo Van with a 5300 Vortech engine in October of 2003(brand new – zero miles). It has a total cargo capacity of 1900 Lbs. which includes the driver and passenger. Mileage currently 50,500 miles. This van runs like a champ and is by no means a dog. I think it’s safe to say it moves like a bat out of hell carrying a cargo up to 1200Lbs. I’ve drove this van to its maximum capacity and I believe a couple of times beyond It’s capacity(100 – 200Lbs.) and it still had a reasonable amount of get up and go.
I have loaded some 900Lbs. monster speakers, 450Lbs. amp rack, mixer, processing rack, cable trunk, stage gear, and lights.
The only negative thing that I could say about it is that the hinges on the side cargo doors tend to seize up or rust once they loose their lubrication (approximately 2 years). According to Chevy’s maintenance plans just about everytime you take the van in to get it’s oil changed they’re supposed to lube the pins on the hinges (they don’t). By the way – you can’t lube it yourself like the door in your house. I know – I’ve tried. Squirting oil or grease at the hinge does not work very well.
One last thing David, for years I drove Fords and they don’t compare to GMC and Chevy as far as I’m concerned. I heard a phrase when I was a kid “If you put a Chevy engine, trans and posi rearend in a Ford body it will run forever” I’m a believer.
Curtis Migut