Chevy Astro Van: Will it Rally?
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Will It Rally? This new web series from The Team O'Neil Rally School asks the only car question that really matters: Will it Rally? Ride along as we test the limits of different vehicles on our snow and ice covered skidpad and slalom areas, before putting them against the stopwatch on a mountainous rally stage here at Team O'Neil.
In this episode we take out a 2000 Chevrolet Astro AWD on a nice sunny winter day here at the rally school. You probably remember seeing your friends dad drive one around for his plumbing business or perhaps your best friends mom used to bring you to soccer practice in one. But, can it hold on up sliding sideways and charging a tight and mountainous rally stage? You be the judge.
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Music: Virgin - Jet Trash, Monster - Tyronne Briggs, Up For Anything feat. FJØRA - Instrumental by ZI Music Commercially Licensed through Musicbed.com MB01ZONJJP9OEZK
Too much music where I would have preferred to hear the engine and tyres. Otherwise interesting.
maybe sans epileptic editing too
Agreed, and it's too friggin loud compared to the narration...
It's just a van engine, you can hear it everyday...
@@1172818 That is true, -however, that doesn't change the fact that the music is trash and is way too loud. ;-)
Agreed. Love the videos, but the singing/rapping louder than the narrating is not good. The glitchy editing was also detrimental.
For those keeping score at home:
*Last week's Mini did **2:39**.59*
*This Astro did a **2:45**.44*
Make this the top comment so we get a leaderboard
Thank you
@@JefeInquisidorGOW you're quite welcome.
This is what I wanted
Should do a control lap with a class fiesta so we can see how they all stack up
@@timtrask2179 Second on the control lap.
Keep an ongoing leader board as you progress through the series, will be interesting to see how stuff compares. Great video as always Wyatt!
This 100%! Surprised it wasn't in the video. A time itself isn't particularly valuable unless it's compared against that of other cars. Understandably conditions are never going to be the same but still. Otherwise, awesome video as always!
+
Understand the times were done on different days and different conditions but having a “ballpark” idea would be interesting-though the whole series isn’t out we don’t even know if they all took the same route...
I was disappointed to NOT see a leader board section on this video... 😕
Love that van! Hate that music though, would much prefer just listening to Wyatt and to the engine.
ditto. the music is a big negative
the engine doesn't sound very impressive. probably one of the reasons why. without music you'd end up hearing road noise, stuff hitting the wheel wells and his voice. The engine probably wouldn't even come through in the interior shots. But point taken. Music was very loud indeed.
@@djbis Yep. It's the smallest of all Chevy small blocks. Doesn't make much noise at all and purrs like a kitten until the exhaust falls off while doing 70mph down the highway... then you can't hear yourself think LOL. Had an Astro back in the day. IIRC it's only 180hp and 250-300lbft torque. Not meant for hauling ass, meant for hauling shit. lol
Even if the 4.3 is wheezy in the Astro, the trap music is annoying.
Rap sucks
Well, the music sucked and the editing was a little over the top at times, but still thoroughly enjoyable. Wyatt is a great on camera as usual.
I think it fits the van driving on snow action... I also have heard that different people like different music- could it be?
I agree, don't put that annoying music back in
@@olik136 yeah I liked it as a form of sarcasm
to me the music was just too loud compared to Wyatt speaking
Love the concepts of these videos - the content is also great. But please please get rid of the music, it's unnecessary. Let us hear the cars and the commentary!
Or at least turn it down a bit.
Nah that that intro is fire but later on when he talks there should definitely be no music
Bro the music is hilarious. That fat trap as he’s drifting an Astrovan made my day. Have a bit of a sense of humor man
Yeah the music was pretty bad, I think some classical would have been way funnier if that was their intention
Music is okay, just needs something a bit more subtle
Music did suck. Loved the video. Would love to see a grand Cherokee/Cherokee with double solid axles.
Love this series, i wish you guys cut the music through or at least turned it down
Cody C same I don’t like rap
The Chevy Astro is a great van! The AWD is solid and it's body on frame even. No joke, this was the car I took my driving test in.
they're unibody actually! still solid. axle in the back but there's a front subframe that drops with the engine
Yes and the front suspension of the Astro Van is from the 80's Chevy Caprice wagon.
@@hakeemsd70m How does that make any sense when the front is torsion bar? What could they possibly have carried over?
@@foch3 I heard that on the internet a while back, looks like it's incorrect. Thanks for correcting me. 💯
I took my driving test in one too (after growing up with it)! And later, did plenty of donuts in the snow. My parents sold it was 230k miles on it. What a van.
This is fun :D why don't you have a list of times of all the vehicles and show it in the end!
Yes! Just Top Gear did back in the day with their track times.
Pro's: Inteligent commentary, great videography, cool course and location.
Con: The music being 100000x louder than the narrator.
Amazing stuff and series just change the music please
I love it, but seriously rethink your soundtrack.
95 Astro was my first vehicle, apparently I didn't drive it nearly as hard as I could've! 😅 Great vans and great driving!!
I went to school with a kid that had like 8 siblings. Their dad got a full spec grey on grey leather astro ext AWD brand new in 92. It was a rare option (AWD) in middle of Missouri & people thought they were rich.
As someone who has been in Astro Vans aka “Stros” my entire life (my father had 3 of them from the 80s to the final model in I believe 2001, which my mother still drives) - this truly makes my heart happy. Thanks so much for sharing. Brings back memories of my own Stro rallies at 16 years old on dirt silts. Fantastic video that hit home for me.
Oh, it will rally.
Back in 95, my parents went out car shopping only to return with a brown '94 chevy astro. My older brother and I were so disappointed in this big brown turd as my parents pulled up to the house with excitement and big smiles.
Then in 2004, my older brother inherited this van after rallying into the ground: an 88 Ford Escort GT, 88 Pontiac Grand Prix and an 87 Pontiac Fiero GT.
This van blew everything out of the water man. It was so supreme. Powering up in speed through opposite steering lock on gravel, wet roads and snow. Many jumps. Ultimate rally machine. Good times.
Man an AWD Astro with an LS4 in it is one of my dream whips.
Glad I'm not the only one. Thought long and hard about -dropping- shoehorning a 350 into the Astro I used to drive.
With an A Team wrap 😃
This channel is so underrated. We need more content like this.
How many started looking for Astro vans on CL after he said its awd handling is similar to Subaru lol vanlife
Why not keep at least some of the engine sound instead of that crappy music...
It's an ASTRO van and you're worried about hearing the engine?
Sry Ethan but in this video, I think we could all agree it wouldve been better without that music
The music was incredibly obnoxious, made it hard to enjoy this one.
There was a passenger one of these in Enthusia and it quickly became my favorite car in the game because it loved to be sideways and yet was so easy to drive.
Yep, I got the game just for the Astro. As far as I know it's the only game to ever feature it. My parents bought a 2000 Astro back in 2003, and in 2017 when they were ready to sell it I bought it and still drive it a few times a week. It's got 177,000 miles on it now.
I owned this exact vehicle. It is not full time AWD (from '99 onward). It uses wheel speed sensors and a computer to control an active transfer case with variable clutch shift motor. It does respond very fast though. (similar to ABS).
Grew up in one of these, learned to drive in one of these. Great for hauling 6 kids, a ton of stuff, pulling a trailer and stacking couches on the roof, but we never did this! Nice!
Drove astro vans for like 8 years a 97 for 3 years and an '04 for 5 years.
Both were rwd. I took them up on mountain roads all the time. They loved to slide. The '04 could drift in the rain quite easily with a little weight transfer. Hold it in second, and it was stable, easy to control. If they still made them, I would have one.
1990 to 1998 is full time awd. 1999 to 2005 is an on demand system.
you guys should include a running time board at the end of these, and set some benchmark times with your school fleet for comparison
80% or more of the comments are about the editing and music you should really pay attention and fix it.
Dude, I love seeing regular cars being pushed! I have an Astro that I haul motorcycles with, and whenever I'm on loose ground, I'm breaking that rear end loose and twerking that hoopty whenever I can!
The music nearly made me stop watching 😝
Had a rwd late 80s version that I used one winter during college. Many donuts occurred on campus...
As an Astro Awd owner in Canada i can def confirm these things are a blast in these types of conditions.
Im on my second one for work vans. They are great vehicles. Gave my 1st to my dad when I bought my 2nd. First one still running with 315k miles on the clock. Its a shame Chevy quit making them.
Go bonkers on the cars not the music please
Great video! Had a 97 Astro AWD (with the Borg Warner 4472 viscous t-case, not the later NV136 electronic on-demand t-case) in MI that was my racebike hauler, great vans! In winter, with (not so legal) studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta's I would exact revenge on so many vehicles, haha. It would not get stuck and obviously better on ice with the studs. Fun times and definitely under-rated vans in so many ways!
I'd like to see you rip a ecoboost ford escape with good tires and wheels. I bought my wife one in 2017 and man, my house is down 7 miles of dirt road with 66 corners and I go 10/10ths in the thing. I LOVE that little car. So much I put some Qa1 coilovers on it, built a 1/8 inch thick 6061 skid plate for it, got some Accelera RA 162s around some old school OZ racing white rallies, built my own catless downpipe and exhaust, all aluminum charge piping, mishimoto intercooler, haltech elite 750 stacked on top of the OE computer so I could get a tune on it. I also got a transmission tuner I can't remember the name of but it works excellent. Now its 340 HP, has fantastic suspension which makes it sit 2 inches higher, less unsprung weight and really, really good tires. When it was stock it took me 9 mins 33 seconds on the dirt. Now, 7 mins 48 seconds and my wife hardly screams at all. In my basically rally spec Audi b5 A4 with reiger coilovers, 450 whp forged internals 1.8, 62mm precision turbo, haltech elite 2500, hydro handbrake, same tires as the escape, under 3000 lbs I'm under 7 minutes. Average almost 65mph, ive only gone off 3 times.
I know you have, love, AND rally the XJs but please do a "will it rally" on them
I drove an awd Astro one winter in college. Can confirm is does in fact rally. It also gets 14mpg on the highway.
I repeatedly heard similar stories from several people in Pittsburgh, PA where I grew up. Absolutely GREAT on snowy hills. (Even the City of Pittsburgh police and Coroner's office had them!) Terrible gas mileage, and the Astro/Safari wasn't that good on gas to begin with as a 2WD. My observation was that about 95% of Astros sold in Pittsburgh were AWD because an empty RWD Astro won't climb snowy Pittsburgh hills.
Brought back memories of my 94 Olds Bravada. One of my favorite winter beaters back in college just pull the ABS relay ;-) Only thing I wish it had was a hand brake.
I have a white 99' AWD Astro van. It does fantastic on loose dirt roads, super fun to drive... plus two heaters and two air conditioners!
This brings me back to my early days of driving and yes...Its was as awesome as you think it was.
Hate all the music, love the content, keep it up!
The OLD Astros were full time awd, the newer ones had some sensors to kick in the front when the rear slips
You guys should try doing the 1988-91 Honda Civic Wagovan RT4WD as a rally car!
I want one of the AWD ones so bad, I've already been off road in my (92) 2wd version.
Good video!
I loved my Astro in the snow. The transfer case got a little blowy-uppy though
Idk if my wife will appreciate me driving her van like this...BUT....THE SOCCER KIDS ARE GONNA LOVE IT!!!
Man that Great Value Rap Hit just keeps insisting on itself huh
My first vehicle was an Astro. Damn I miss that thing. lasted 16 years before I couldn't afford to maintain it anymore (developed electrical problems, transmission was starting to go, needed suspension, brakes... just too much all at the same time. :( ) I would kill to have another. I'll substitute with a Tahoe or Suburban i suppose.
i love van's and the chevy astro van is one of my favorits. love the video
This is SUPER COOL! love the idea of "will it rally" videos.
When driven, like it was stolen lol you'd be amazed at how well these vans do.
I love the videos a lot, but that music is the absolute worst 😂 where’s the jazz?
I really dig Wyatt letting us know what's going on in the van while driving. Would have liked to hear even more but it's a great start for this series!
Music and editing magic is okay, but cut it off once the racing starts.
This man asking the REAL questions
I love this series!!! I think the music is really fun and makes watching the video more interesting. Wyatt does a super job as usual. Excited to see next weeks "will it Rally"
My dad used to buy these from the Kentucky Lottery when they auctioned off their fleet vehicles and would flip them. Had 14 of them total. I got one on two wheels once in a parking lot that only had a light dusting of snow. Those things were fun, except they were all 95’s so no OBDII.
as someone pointed-out the music was over the top compared to your regular videos but is nice to see you're putting more effort into editing, personally I appreciate it. Plus it would be funny if you keep that format for the intro: the weirder the car the more you abuse with the B-roll cuts and bass-boosted music ala energy drink sponsored videos. For the rest of the video I know Wyatt's commentary is what everyone here is looking after
Single handedly just made these thing little more valuable
I have an idea.
A rally where the parts truck/van has to drive the stages too (maybe classic, match the clock style) and you compete as a team. As awesome as WRC is, that drifting Astro was one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
That's why the Dakar Rally has the "moving van" big truck class. In the old days, to get parts to the rally cars and bikes to keep them competitive and in the rally, the teams made the support trucks faster. In some cases they were better than the competitors. So, they created a class FOR big industrial trucks. The all-conquering winner most years: the Russian Kamaz trucks. Makes a stock F150 4WD look like a wimpy Tonka truck by comparison!
Hey just wanted to say I like the music lmao. I thought it was hilarious considering the vehicle.
For what it is, it can deliver....loads of fun in the snow...
This takes me back to high school
Loved it! That looked like a blast. I thought the music was for comedy and appropriate for mobbing an Astro 👍
Do a shifter kart on studded snow tires. In New Zealand they race shifters on grass with the only difference being taller tires, so ground clearance shouldn't be too big of an issue.
AWD Astro/Safari FTW!!! DAMN RIGHT THEY RALLY!
Music is unnecessary and distracting during most of the video. We watch this channel to hear Wyatt and the vehicles engine!!
I don't think you want to hear the engine in an Astro.
eh. The music levels could be lower. But the music is fine.
I've heard that song just enough in this video to never want to hear it again
Soundtrack would have been more suited to a Cadillac video. Will a Deville or Escalade rally?
I have 4 of these, they can do everything
That was sick! The van has more potential than I thought, too bad it's winter. That song though, that was cancer.
I would recommend using a '98 or earlier van for the viscous clutch transfer case. Not only it more durable (the electronics on the new cases aren't as dependable), but I'd guess it engages a bit quicker, (although you didn't seem to think there was any lag with this one). I have a '96 and it is by far the best snow vehicle I've ever owned; it just flat out has traction on snow/ice covered roads.
Great video. Now, have you done a Suzuki SX-4?... (Have subscribed and will have to look through your archives.)
Chronic AWD problems and uses as much gas as a 5.3 V8.
@@randykroells8049 My '96 ran 180,000 miles with zero t-case issus. Did rebuild the weak rearend around 90k. Highway mileage was 18-20. Great van; currently stashed in my shop with a 5.3 sitting next to it to go in it. One of these days...
This is what I think I look like driving my 05 astro in the winter lol.
Nice episode!! appreciate all the hard work putting into making this series!
i am so looking forward for next episode already
(p.s. also welcoming back the outro! so good to have the rally car launch sound back )
Music was fantastic. You should do a video where you don't talk at all, and you turn up the music as loud as possible.
You guys should do a 90's chevy truck. I had one and it was fantastic in the snow.
Music and editing had me in stitches, 10/10
Damn, that did better than I would e thought 😂
Where is this that there is perpetual snow on the ground? I think every video of yours I've watched there is snow
that was unreal. though next time dump the music synced editing after the intro, before the stage start. I groaned when you said "go" and the same music started up again, even drowning your audio out before you could finish explaining the drive! it's mint otherwise, great stuff guys
Love the ASTRO i have had i few kustom vans and my lil chevy van was my favorite I live in San Francisco and my bigger vans were hard to find parking. But with the astro, you can park go fast After LS swap it and still have a Van.
With so little traction, it's almost like, (1) light weight, (2) driving ability, and (3) tires (!) Are the only things that matter! I'm reminded of the old adage: "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast."
IIRC, the Astro used the older full-time system with a planetary. The part-time automatic shift 4WD units came along later and weren't ever used in the Astro because it was a doomed platform that wasn't worth updating with that kind of equipment.
The 4L60 transmission is much-maligned. They're decent enough transmissions with a lot of aftermarket support, and the 4.3 V6, while it's not my favorite engine, is actually a fairly solid engine with weaknesses typically being stuff that's bolted to the outside of it - intake manifold gaskets, distributor cap and rotor, fuel injection lines inside the manifold and the fuel pressure regulator itself. Its biggest weak spot was the fuel pump.
Other than that, the front suspension and steering on these vans is very weak and wear-prone, like all Chevrolet truck IFS systems.
My two cents is that the music was fun and exciting! Awesome video, I hope to see you guys this fall!
Love from Canada
"which for our purposes is Outstanding !!!!" 🥰
Fun series. I really think you guys should put a rolling Time board of every vehicle you test. Similar to Topcare or motor trend
Dude now I really want a rally van
its a "viscous coupler" awd system. Basically, its RWD until there is a difference in driveshaft speeds, and that difference is just 2mph, and then the fluid is thrown out of the coupler and they lock together until its not under stress again.
U're completely wrong about viscos . they transfer all torque until they start spinning. And 4472 has planetary diff and visco near it only load spinning axle to transfer some torque to another one. basically in this conditions 4472 behave like part time 4x4 and it quite hard to turn without stepping on throttle . nvg 136 (98+ awd astros) acting like u sad but it hasnt viscous at all- only clutch disks like in AT transmissions
The way I always wanted to drive an Astro van, looking at contractors everyday in rush hour traffic!!
Great video, could you talk more technical about the car engine, suspension type and geometry setup?
This is heavily underated
Need to try this with a supercharged Mid Engine Toyota Previa van :)
Only 6 seconds slower than the mini, thats pretty damn good.
You should try a Toyota Sienna awd. I think it would be better balanced and if you go 04-07 not as intrusive electronics as current day.
Hah :D that AWD Astro van is made to slide around snowy roads in! Try the same in a AWD Chevy Van!
The music is kinda...eh....
But still a fun video to watch
You should find a Suzuki Sx4 Awd Hatchback Very Curious to see how it would do being tiny tall and AWD
They are a fun van to drive mines rear wheel drive but I see how the awd would be more fun in the snow
Maybe show where the time stands vs previous vehicles?