Astro AWD 1996 Dream or nightmare??

[mattiasl]

Hi people!

Swedish longtime Jeep driver that's in a need of more space but still want's 4x4.

I have fallen in love with an Astro AWD 1996, it has everything i need, luxuary, spacious, AWD. But is this something for me, i don't know anything of it's qualities, can u all help me to deside.

How does it handle on snowy roads/dry roads?
What type of 4x4 system is used, is it same as a jeep with a visco transfercase?
How much gas/km should it use.?
Are there any spec problem areas that i should keep my yes on?

Please help me, this is not a Volvo so no one in sweden nows for sure!

BR//Mattias

[Benbuilt4u]

i have 2 of them and i love them. they do it all .

i get 24mpg/hwy 17mpg/city

[chevyvictim]

Originally Posted by mattiasl

Hi people!

I have fallen in love with an Astro AWD 1996, it has everything i need, luxuary, spacious, AWD. But is this something for me, i don't know anything of it's qualities, can u all help me to deside.

How does it handle on snowy roads/dry roads?
What type of 4x4 system is used, is it same as a jeep with a visco transfercase?
How much gas/km should it use.?
Are there any spec problem areas that i should keep my yes on?

Please help me, this is not a Volvo so no one in sweden nows for sure!

BR//Mattias

Mattias,

Don't do it! Astro AWD starts falling apart early. Buying an older one is just looking for trouble.
Take your pick- poor front brake rotors - you'll need new one about every 30K miles. Transmission has problems at around 70K miles and up.
And lets talk about drive train. How about bent front axle shafts, loose shaft retaining rings (yielding a 2WD version of the AWD Astro).
Rear door (3 door hatch) fell on my head when 1 of shock mechanisms failed. The weather stripping around the doors is probably all done on that 1996. Many rattles and squeaks. Side window latches broken.
Front end is a nightmare. The suspension system is fairly springy on my 1997 Astro which translates into premature wear of the front end components. That's around $1200 to repair if your lucky.
All in all - a bad design.

In my opinion, if you get the van for free, it runs, and you plan to sink about $4-5K in repairs over a few years, then thats not too bad.

[lakerfan1784]

AWD Safaris and Astros are good if they are 95 or earlier, 96 and up have poorer transfer cases. GM mistakenly decided to quit using Borg-Warner transfer cases for the 96 model year, and thats a cause for most of the problems associated with the t. case. My brother owns a 94 AWD with 180 k and it has had no drivetrain issues, but it does have suspension problems. The main question here is whether you want to spend a few bucks on maintenance. Because of the AWD, front end parts are more sensitive, so they fail more. The AWD Astro is really in its own class though, so you may be hard pressed to find another vehicle similar to it.

[lakerfan1784]

I forgot to mention this. AWD Astros are not true 4x4's with a driver selectable transfer case. They have an automatically controlled transfer case that is of an inferior quality. My parents have a 2001 that would jerk, grind and vibrate when doing tight parking lot manuevers. GM knows that the transfer case is poor, and they do nothing about it.

The transmissions are known for a harsh 1-2 shift, and that is due to the valve body. You can have that changed with an aftermarket part that should solve that problem, which will save money in the long run.

The vans are extremely good in snow, I drove my parent's van through 3 feet without any problem

[BWild97]

lakerfan1784; your statement about the astros and safaris not being equiped with the Borg Warner transfer case is not true!! I have a 1997 Astro AWD LT (105,786mi), with the the Borg Warner transfer case. I purchased the van from friends and I know its history, oil changes at every 3000 mi. like clock work! Any vehicle will fall apart early if it is neglected and abused!!

I love the van!! It handles better that many of the cars I test drove. I live in the mountains of south central Oregon and frequent the nearby slopes (I snowboard) and the Oregon coast, were I take my kids to ride four wheelers on the dunes! This thing will go ANYWERE!! The Astro is in many ways, way better than our previous '88 Jeep cherokee. To start off, it has 250 ft-lbs of torque, a towing capacity 5500 lbs, will seat 6 adults very comfortably!! It is a true S.U.V. "Sport Utility Van"

[kkeiser]

We have had our 96 Astro for 4-5 years now (136,000miles) and have no real complaints.

Yes with it at this age you will need to fix things, however this is true about all vehicles, Expecially ones that drive all four wheels. (Just think the van is 9 years old)

As mentioned above this vehicle does it all, we tow a pop-up all over the Midwest and carry canoes & kayaks on the roof.
Plus you can haul a small army inside, we have made several trips with friends and have never been short on space.

Would buy another one in the blink of an eye.

[ChaunceyShives]

Both.....my wife loves the van. I'm tired of working on it. Her dream, my nightmare. Anything you have to do on the van is a pain...sucks to work on it. Very functional though and we love it for trips. Bottom line, if you can afford to have someone else work on your vehicle, you'll like it. If not, plan on spending your weekends wrenching on it.......it's now become my Saturday morning ritual.

[boatbuster]

I feel bad for chevyvictim, probably got a van that was neglected before he bought it, but I am on my 3rd Astro, brought all of them up to 500,000 km before changing them without any major problems. We use them at work as escort vehicles for oversized loads and no problems there either. This time I got the AWD model (2002) and love it. The parts are cheaper than most other minivans and the Astro has a much higher towing capacity and more inside room. A buddy of mine bought a Montana thinking he would save on gas - well he did save on gas but paid it many times over when he got his van fixed. He paid $1100 to do the front brakes where I paid under $500 for the same job on my Astro. He now owns a beautiful Astro and dumped his Montana.