Moonbeam

The Declasse Moonbeam is a four-door minivan featured in every game of the franchise after Grand Theft Auto III. It was later added to Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the GTA Online: Lowriders Update for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC version of the game.

3D Universe
Between GTA III and GTA Vice City Stories, the Moonbeam is straightforwardly modeled after a 1985—1994 Chevrolet Astro/1985—1994 GMC Safari, but it has tall taillights. The GTA Vice City version's taillights are similar to those found on 1992-1994 Ford Econoline vans. Some versions of the Moonbeam have rear fog lights attached to the rear bumper. Minor cosmetic changes have been made throughout its appearances, but the van has generally retained its bulky 1980s design, making it unattractive in all its appearances. Whilst the GTA Liberty City Stories rendition of the Moonbeam is based on that of GTA III, the GTA Vice City Stories rendition adopts the design of the GTA Liberty City Stories or GTA III rendition, instead of the usual GTA Vice City rendition.

During development of GTA III, the van was originally known as the "Aster", a clear reference to the Chevrolet Astro name. The van is depicted in the Capital Autos website.

GTA IV
In GTA IV, the Moonbeam (now with a Declasse manufacturer badge) is still based on a 1985—1994 Chevrolet Astro/1985—1994 GMC Safari but the front end has been greatly altered, incorporating more realistic detailing and design cues, as well as supporting one-tone or two-tone body colors. All Moonbeams are only found in conversion form, and are based off incomplete cargo versions without rear quarter windows or passenger versions with rear quarter windows. The tail lights resemble those of the KK Jeep Liberty.

The Moonbeam can be found in several different configurations, with optional rear-mounted continental tire and ladder, elevated aero roof, roof-mounted luggage bars, a custom billet grille that covers the headlamps, and either one of two types of side scuffs.

GTA Online
It appears in the original shape and design as the latter appearance, however it appears with multiple advanced modifications fitted, and sliding door panels are seen apparent on the side of the vehicle.

The Moonbeam is only available for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC renditions of Grand Theft Auto Online.

Moonbeam Custom
The Moonbeam Custom is a custom variant of the Moonbeam, which features highly-advanced modifications, and hydraulics enabled, not present on the standard Moonbeam.

To obtain, the player simply needs to purchase a standard Moonbeam, take it to Benny's Original Motor Works and upgrade the vehicle to "Moonbeam Custom" for $370,000. Once the upgrade is purchased, many additional modifications will become available, such as interior modifications, hydraulics, sound systems, vinyls, paint-jobs, plaques, and interior features.

3D Universe
Moonbeams between GTA III and GTA Vice City Stories all possess similar handling properties. Performance is poor, due to the under-powered engines, rear wheel drive layouts (Moonbeams in GTA III and Vice City are front-wheel drive), heavy bodies, soft suspension, and high center of gravity (leading to a tendency to flip on rough terrains); as a result, the Moonbeam is generally unsuitable for high-speed driving and has little practical use aside its fundamental function as a mode of transport. The Moonbeam only holds a maximum of four occupants.

GTA IV
The GTA IV rendition of the Moonbeam is powered by a diesel V6, unlike the GTA III era Moonbeams which have gas engines, and features a rear wheel drive layout, however its lack of power makes this characteristic negligible; with a top speed 155mph, the Moonbeam drives as slowly as its predecessors, and still suffers from understeer. Frustratingly, the Moonbeam fails to withstand a large amount of damage, as its large size would suggest.

GTA Online
The Moonbeam has average performance for its class. The van itself is pretty similar to other vans, such as the Youga and Rumpo, but is still beaten by the Speedo in terms of acceleration, traction and handling. The Moonbeam suffers from a large amount of oversteer, however, purchasing the Moonbeam Custom upgrade, along with some additional modifications, can tackle this. Acceleration is average, and because of its engine and drivetrain configuration, traction is very limited.

The Moonbeam appears to be powered by a modeled double overhead camshaft V8 engine.

GTA: San Andreas

 * The Moonbeam can only be modified in a TransFender garage.

Moonbeam

 * TBA

Moonbeam Custom
Once the "Moonbeam Custom" upgrade is purchased on the standard Moonbeam for $370,000, the following modifications will be available: ''Note: Hydraulics will automatically be fitted, albeit with low functionality. Other hydraulics will be available.''
 * TBA

GTA IV
A Moonbeam is requested as part of Stevie's Car Thefts, appearing with a uniquely black and red body. As a new Moonbeam will respawn at the same spot until the player delivers one to S&M Auto Sales, the player can save one at their safehouse before delivering another.

GTA III

 * Garage 30 north of Momma's Restaurante, Saint Mark's, Portland.
 * In the departments of Hepburn Heights, Portland.
 * In Callahan Point, Portland.
 * In the Carson General Hospital in Rockford, Staunton Island.
 * In the Liberty Tree offices in Bedford Point, Staunton Island.

GTA: Vice City

 * Commonly driving around Vice Point.

GTA: San Andreas

 * Commonly seen driving around Los Santos especially Idlewood.
 * Parked outside The Pig Pen in East Los Santos, Los Santos.

GTA: Liberty City Stories

 * Found driving around in Saint Mark's.
 * In the parking lot of the Ferry Terminal in Harwood, Portland.
 * In the underground parking lot of AMCo. Headquarters in Torrington, Staunton Island.

GTA: Vice City Stories

 * Seen driving around at the Escobar International Airport.
 * Commonly driving around in Little Haiti.

GTA IV

 * Commonly found in Broker, Bohan, and the west end of Alderney.
 * Commonly seen in Middle Park East.
 * Very common on Charge Island, Bohan Industrial, and Colony Island.

GTA Online

 * Can be purchased from Benny's Original Motor Works Website for $32,500 (enhanced version only).

Trivia

 * The Moonbeam was originally planned to have sliding rear doors, although technical limitations in GTA III made it impossible.
 * The Moonbeam plays the following radio stations by default when entered:
 * West Coast Talk Radio in GTA San Andreas.
 * Integrity 2.0, WKTT Radio or PLR in GTA IV.
 * The Moonbeam may get its name due to the real-life variant Chevrolet Astro, as they both share names with astronomical themes. This is also further proven by the beta name, the Aster.
 * The Moonbeam in GTA Vice City, along with the game's Bobcat, is one of the earliest vehicles in the series to physically depict its name; sporting a "MOONBEAM" badge on its trunk lid.
 * Driving a Moonbeam into the TransFender in Las Venturas will cause the vehicle to spawn on top of the garage but underneath the roof, trapping the player and the vehicle. At this point the player can only escape by blowing themselves up, re-loading the game's save file, or re-loading the game itself.
 * After collecting all thirty cars for Stevie in GTA IV, he agrees to purchase cars from Niko Bellic, with the Moonbeam fetching $2,200.
 * In the beta for GTA Vice City, the Moonbeam was originally implied, just as planned originally for GTA III, to have sliding rear doors. However, the limitations still existed. Sliding doors were not added until GTA V.
 * In GTA IV the Moonbeam is equipped with the "door ajar" bong when the driver's door is opened.
 * In GTA IV it is impossible to do a burnout with the Moonbeam, possibly due to the excessively heavy weight, or the highly-underpowered engine.
 * The Moonbeam is strangely not classified as a "people carrier" in GTA IV's Race Mode, but instead paired with the Speedo, Burrito and Pony in the "vans" class. The reason for this may be due to the fact that all Moonbeams have a camper conversion installed, making it a different category of vehicle than a standard minivan.
 * The poor handling and performance of the Moonbeam comes from the fact that the real life Astro and Safari vans are similarly poor in performance and handling.
 * Unlike other vans, the Moonbeam in GTA Online is the only vehicle to feature working sliding doors. While sliding doors are present in the Youga, they do not open as there is no passenger seating in the back.
 * Despite being a van, the Moonbeam in GTA V is classified as a muscle car, most likely due to having visual upgrades available on other cars in the update.
 * In GTA V, The Moonbeam shares a similar sound with sports sedans like the Tailgater and Schafter.
 * The reason why the GTA V Moonbeam is powered by a V8 instead of the V6 found in the real life Astro may be a reference to the ease and popularity of swapping various General Motors V8 engines into the Astro/Safari minivan.
 * The customizations that can be done to the Moonbeam, as well as why it's part of the Lowriders update, are inspired by American van culture in Japan, much like the Youga. Much like the Dodge Ram Van which the Youga is based on, the GM M-body (RWD/AWD) minivan has a cult following in Japan's lowrider and custom car culture, and not racing like the Dodge Ram Van has a following in. The popularity of the M-body in Japan started when GM exported limited amounts of European-spec Astro and Safari vans to Japan from the mid-1990's to their discontinuation in 2005. Modifications commonly done on M-body vans in Japan are not unlike those found in-game; hydraulics, sound systems, TVs, graphics, decorative lighting, and custom interiors and exteriors. Most members of the Japanese GM owner organization "Chevy Stream" own M-body vans with such modifications, making it almost an M-body-only organization; however some members own GM full-size vans, truck-based SUVs, and pickup trucks.

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