Damn Top Gear and their Astro AWD

This is the episode they speak of.

http://www.history.com/shows/top-gear/videos/playlists/season-2-full-episodes#top-gear-continental-divide

Dear TG US;

PLEASE stop using the adjective "epic."

It's season 2, that word is used by Tanner at least once a show. It bothers me.

Thanks.

griffin729 wrote: This is the episode they speak of. http://www.history.com/shows/top-gear/videos/playlists/season-2-full-episodes#top-gear-continental-divide

Uggg. Half of the "seat removal" race they're in their modified forms. That's just sloppy, shatters the illusion I'm actually watching compelling television.

As a recently minted Astro snob, I can tell you Rut is incorrect about the truck frame (it's not), and they're Dutch doors, not barn doors.

He didn't mention it, but Rut was probably smart enough to get an Astro with the G80 rear. Haven't finished the episode, but if so, I expect total Astro domination.

Yea I saw that too. If we're picking apart the episode.....completely different vans for when they floated them on the lake. Adams is an earlier model with a different interior color, I think the paint is a slightly different color too. Tanner's van, they tried to paint the stunt double the same with the unique stripes on it, but the stripes arent even close. Rut's van looks the same but I am guessing its a different one too. All 3 were probably 2wd.

Still interested in why they do this with all the challenges. Time constraints with filming I assume.

I hate AWD Astros with a passion. The driver's side plugs and wires are absurdly difficult to get to for where they're at (wouldn't be so bad if they didn't route the brake lines where they did) and they seem to have constant issues with transfer cases blowing out because the cheap owners go to Lube Stop and the fluid never gets checked.

daytonaer wrote: Dear TG US; PLEASE stop using the adjective "epic." It's season 2, that word is used by Tanner at least once a show. It bothers me. Thanks.

EPIC is the worst word...in the World!

failboat wrote: Still interested in why they do this with all the challenges. Time constraints with filming I assume.

That's probably my biggest beefs with USTG. While I know the UK version is equally staged, they do a much better job with continuity editing. It's annoying when poor post-production ruins what could have been a funny sketch on the writers and actors parts.

Damn this forum. 2 years ago I would have never looked at an Astro van, now the CL scouring has begun.

Appleseed wrote:

daytonaer wrote: Dear TG US; PLEASE stop using the adjective "epic." It's season 2, that word is used by Tanner at least once a show. It bothers me. Thanks.

EPIC is the worst word...in the World!

i was kind of thinking along the same lines.. the same people produce the US and UK versions of the shows, so they are going to try the same gimmicks- one of which is various catch phrases for the hosts and different running jokes..

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/2865955370.html

Lifted Astro in MA. sigh You guys suck.

There's a dude with a 2" lift, hitch rack for his gas-gas and a pop-top conversion up in WA state somewhere. Effing cool. astro

Teh E36 M3 wrote: There's a dude with a 2" lift, hitch rack for his gas-gas and a pop-top conversion up in WA state somewhere. Effing cool. astro

You need to redo your links, but it's probably T.Low's van. It's bitching (and an 03+ so it's got the better running gear). Low range transfer case, too.

I just finally watched this last night. It bugged me that half the drag race showed their vans in post-modified stage, and half showed them in pre-modified stage.

And of course a V8 will drop right in, since it was designed for one from the beginning. Friend and Challenge Pro Driver Alan McCrispin used to have one with a V8 conversion that that van was a blast. He autocrossed it once and it was far from the slowest "car" out there. Although it looked strange loaded with people wearing helmets flying through the cones!

The little garage in my neighborhood just put one up for sale. 200,000 miles, but an engine swap and a tranny swap have been completed, and these guys know how to keep a car running. Going to take a look.

I had a 97 Aerostar (XLT) which I could stuff an amazing amount of crap in.

Just seen one go for $3500 not long ago. According to seller, it had the truck LS engine 5.3L, and the 1500 trans and the awd case from a Tahoe or something like that. Looked stock, sounded clean as it wasn't made loud or had huge chrome tips.