Tuesday 31st March 2015

Vauxhall Astra CDTI 888: Spotted

A 200hp Astra diesel with motorsport influence? You better believe it!

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Yes, it's a Vauxhall Astra diesel. But don't be so hasty, because this is a Vauxhall Astra diesel modified by Triple Eight Engineering, the team that developed Vauxhall's very successful BTCC racers of the 2000s. From 2001-2005 a Vauxhall won the BTCC, again from 2007-2010. So it has some form.

Dead stealthy numberplate that

Moreover, Triple Eight developed Vauxhalls are not just a couple of badges and some fancy paint. There was the 888 Astra Coupe after the 2001 success, limited to 100 units and with Eibach dampers and 17-inch OZ wheels. There was a Triple Eight Astra VXR too, up to 300hp and a properly successful upgrade if the reviews are anything to go by.

Then there's this, the Astra CDTI 888. A St8alth specifically, but we'll come back to the daft name in a bit. There were just 100 Triple Eight diesels, actually priced at just £120 more than an SRI Sports Hatch when launched and £3K less than a petrol VXR. There was another 40hp (now 200hp), bespoke springs and dampers, the VXR bodykit, 335mm front discs with four-pot calipers and those gorgeous Team Dynamics wheels. There was 300lb ft too, enough for 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds and 145mph. How fast was it compared to a VXR? See here.

By all accounts it was a very successful raft of changes, a faster and much more engaging quick Astra diesel. And the St8alth thing? From forum and ad info, four of the 100 were built to this spec (which we'll call Stealth from now on) with Recaro seats and some glossy carbon bits inside and out. Not exactly major changes, but the seats at least look fantastic.

Recaros mark it out from other 888s

Appropriately enough the fastest diesel Astra actually faces a similar problem to the fastest petrol Astra: the Renaultsport Megane. Remember the DCI 175? Something of an unsung hero in the Renaultsport archive, it was very near the hallowed F1 230 dynamically with the promise of nearly 50mpg. And every single one for sale at the moment is less than the Triple Eight Astra. Hmm.

But the 888 remains an interesting car, an incredibly rare and genuinely talented fast Vauxhall. And it's not every day you can say that, is it? The Renault is more affordable and more numerous, the Vauxhall arguably better looking and should be faster. With diesel hardly being popular currently, there would probably be some room for negotiation too. Just get those St8alth badges off pronto.

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VAUXHALL ASTRA CDTI 888
Engine: 1,910cc four-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front wheel drive
Power (hp): 200@3,550rpm
Torque (lb ft): 300@2,750rpm
MPG: 45 (est.)
CO2: 149 (standard Astra CDTI)
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 73,000
Price new: £17,995
Yours for: £7,250

See the original advert here.

[Sources: Autocar, Vauxhall]

[soad]

Sport button in a diesel? Torque...

[Repent]

[Qussz]

No different to the Focus ST Diesel thread yesterday lol

[jagfan2]

Wanted one of these for a while, but needed 5 drs (thurlby did do a few special order 5drs astras with a similar spec), but neded up going for the DCi 175 and never regreted it, much better kit and handling than the astra, one of the few true diesel hot hatches

[lasvegas1966]

kill it with fire. just nasty and evil and smelly, and an Astra. my goodness, so many reasons not to like it, but you can bet your house some anorak wearing carrier bag fan will love it," oooh its got some torque and some doors", yeah i can hear your adenoids telling me all about it, its flammable too.

[lasvegas1966]

kill it with fire. just nasty and evil and smelly, and an Astra. my goodness, so many reasons not to like it, but you can bet your house some anorak wearing carrier bag fan will love it," oooh its got some torque and some doors", yeah i can hear your adenoids telling me all about it, its flammable too.

[y2blade]

Dog
S***

[JMF894]

Oh how I wish I could afford to drive what I liked and not worry about running costs like so many on here seem to be able to do. For someone who craves a little fun and performance but needs to keep one eye on running costs this would be great.
With an ex wife, three kids and the corresponding maintenance to boot that person is me!

It's why I currently drive a Leon mk2 FR PD170 and in the context of a daily I love it. One day I will return to petrol and satisfy my needs properly but until I can justify (am able to afford) the costs I will be forever grateful for the performance diseasel.

Jimbo

[r11co]

soad said:

Sport button in a diesel? Torque...

Nope, just an offset on the accelerator pedal sensor to half the travel before 'full throttle' is reached. The engine in this is the FIAT 1.9 JTDm. This is ridiculously overpriced for a leggy Astra diesel with some bolt on trinkets and an aggressive remap.

All I'll say is I hope someone has fitted the restrictor plates on the EGR valve or deleted it completely in the ECU....

Edited by r11co on Tuesday 31st March 16:07

[cheekyron]

A mate had a white one and loved it, don't think I could spend that much on a diesel Astra that is nearly 10 years old when I could just buy a vxr for less.

[cheekyron]

cheekyron said:

A mate had a white one and loved it, don't think I could spend that much on a diesel Astra that is nearly 10 years old when I could just buy a vxr for less.

Actually, just had a look and I hadn't realised that vxrs were quite so pricey

[Baryonyx]

What a load of crap.

[matchmaker]

Imagine the torque steer...the Astra VXR is not IMHO a nice car to drive fast as it tries to pull you off the road if you boot it. The diesel will be as bad, if not worse.

[DanielSan]

matchmaker said:

Imagine the torque steer...the Astra VXR is not IMHO a nice car to drive fast as it tries to pull you off the road if you boot it. The diesel will be as bad, if not worse.

Having owned a VXR with a stage 2 map I can confirm that you're talking bullocks to be honest. At no point did the car ever suffer from torque steer and mine was running over 100lb/ft more than the standard car as well as nearly 60bhp more power. It suffered no more than the EP3 Civic Type R I had before it.

[unsprung]

Maybe there's little love for this particular car... But we've only just begun to discover how diesel, or to be more accurate, turbo-diesels can be outstanding in sports / performance applications. Advances and innovations even just very recently.

[the_hood]

DanielSan said:

matchmaker said:

Imagine the torque steer...the Astra VXR is not IMHO a nice car to drive fast as it tries to pull you off the road if you boot it. The diesel will be as bad, if not worse.

Having owned a VXR with a stage 2 map I can confirm that you're talking bullocks to be honest. At no point did the car ever suffer from torque steer and mine was running over 100lb/ft more than the standard car as well as nearly 60bhp more power. It suffered no more than the EP3 Civic Type R I had before it.

It's always good to hear from someone who's driven/owned the car.

[Crafty_]

DanielSan said:

Having owned a VXR with a stage 2 map I can confirm that you're talking bullocks to be honest. At no point did the car ever suffer from torque steer and mine was running over 100lb/ft more than the standard car as well as nearly 60bhp more power. It suffered no more than the EP3 Civic Type R I had before it.

+1, mine is in a similar state of tune, it isn't a problem. I do wonder exactly how these people drive to get "thrown off the road". I usually find having a proper hold on the steering wheel helps.

IMHO the astra is good fun, beats the dullness of a golf hands down.

As far as the 888 car goes, can't help but think if it was white and wore a four ring and s-line badge it'd be seen as a great car.

[r11co]

unsprung said:

Maybe there's little love for this particular car... But we've only just begun to discover how diesel, or to be more accurate, turbo-diesels can be outstanding in sports / performance applications. Advances and innovations even just very recently.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think it is a bad car! I just think £7.25k for a 70,000 miler is stoopid money when you could find a non 888 version with fewer miles and get it mapped and still have change running into 4 figures. Better still get an Alfa 147 with the same engine for half the price.....

[Drive Blind]

it doesnt make sense to me

you buy a diesel cos you are doing high mileage, say 15K per year. You do 15K miles a year in that and the premium you paid will be gone as the miles rack up.

So to hold its value you need to use it as a 2nd car and do 3K per year. If you are only doing 3K per year then buy the VXR.

so either buy a VXR or buy the standard 3dr diesel with the XP kit for half the money + remap it.

also replacement front discs and pads are an eyewatering amount.

[soad]

Those seats remind me of Mk1 Focus RS, I think?

To be honest, this car looks quite "sporty" (styling wise) - will appeal to someone.
But in general, diesels make me .

Doesn't offer good value either (imho), better choices can be had (yes, petrol engines).