The Astramax Van

[V8S]

When I were a lad, the Astramax was spoken of with reverence. Tales of obscene speeds were hinted at as though it were the Lotus Carlton of the commercial world.

So what's the story and truth about them?

[Munter]

Top gear did a spoof where an Astra Max van caught up with a Lotus. Flashed it's lights, and passed it.

[gti-ted]

Munter said:

Top gear did a spoof where an Astra Max van caught up with a Lotus. Flashed it's lights, and passed it.

Yeh a racing driver v white van man with a copy of the Sun if i recall

[HRG]

You can fit an entire dustbin full of pasty and sandwich wrappers in the door pockets

[Munter]

gti-ted said:

Munter said:

Top gear did a spoof where an Astra Max van caught up with a Lotus. Flashed it's lights, and passed it.

Yeh a racing driver v white van man with a copy of the Sun if i recall

I swear it was Tiff and Clarkson.... ...well thats close enough really isn't it.

[Garlick]

You're so right, nothing was faster than an Astramax back in the day. It was flat out or nothing- indicate out into the 'fast lane' and stay there with foot to the floor until you reach your destination.

My old friend Jason had an ex Post Office example, and we travelled many miles in that, never seeming to use any fuel- good times.

Seems the 100mph van mantle has been passed to the Merc Sprinter these days- they seem to fly along..

[andyquantum]

Neighbour has one, ex local authority. It's reset the land speed record at least twice on the M1

[V8S]

Any more?

[morgrp]

I knew a geezer who could roll a fag whilst driving his astramax @90mph steering with his knees

[OllieBirmingham]

Sprinters are the new Astramax - Fact.

[morgrp]

I knew a geezer who could roll a fag whilst driving his astramax @90mph steering with his knees

[nervous]

Whatever happened to Glorious Astravan? She hasnt had a single out in ages.

[LuS1fer]

Surely adding the GTE 16v engine would make it the ultimate car ever - here at least

[chris_w666]

When Chuck Norris drove his Astramax Diesel van, painted white by hand, it was so fast that 335d's used to break down and empty the contents of their radiators with fear.

In fact some say if you mapped an Astramax they would be so fast they arrived before they set off.

[2fster]

My mate had a Saturday job delivering for a local chain of shoe shops and he reckoned the Astramax he used was seriously quick with it's 1.6 diseasel.

Of course, his only yardstick at the time was his wheezy Mk1 1.1 Fester, or perhaps the 1.2 Mk2 Astra Merit that followed.

Then again, at the same time, I was working at our local Safari Park and their Sooty vans were pretty quick in my hands back then!

[OllieBirmingham]

The valeting company on our site have an astramax van with a tweaked redtop in it. Subtle.....

[minimatt1967]

Garlick said:

Y

Seems the 100mph van mantle has been passed to the Merc Sprinter these days- they seem to fly along..

Garlick you speak the truth no matter how fast you go their will be one right up your chuff!

[jamiebae]

minimatt1967 said:

Garlick said:

Y

Seems the 100mph van mantle has been passed to the Merc Sprinter these days- they seem to fly along..

Garlick you speak the truth no matter how fast you go their will be one right up your chuff!

Indeed, with an honourable mention going to the VW T5 Transporter.

As for the Astramax, their closest living relative is the Astra van but it seems most fleets prefer things like the Transit Connect, Berlingo, Combo and Kangoo, and I assume their inferior aerodynamics adversely affect their top speed to a point where they're stuck in the middle lane unable to overtake anything but lorries.

[mulletmark]

I remember seeing somewhere an doggy Astravan (white with black steelies, missing trim etc) with a 2.0 16v redtop in it. Quite like the idea of one of those myself.

[dcb]

jamiebae said:

As for the Astramax, their closest living relative is the Astra van but it seems most fleets prefer things like the Transit Connect, Berlingo, Combo and Kangoo, and I assume their inferior aerodynamics adversely affect their top speed to a point where they're stuck in the middle lane unable to overtake anything but lorries.

Oh I dunno.

Yes white van man in the UK is a bit of a pain, but black van man in Germany
is worse.

In the no limits sections of the autobahn, I've chased them up to 110 mph !

Presumably not fully loaded.