RE: PH Heroes: Vauxhall Astra GTE 16V

RE: PH Heroes: Vauxhall Astra GTE 16V

Author
Discussion

Shropshiremike

23,226 posts

203 months

Friday 3rd October 2008
quotequote all
filski666 said:
traffman said:
filski666 said:
Shropshiremike said:
traffman said:
This is mine from last year .
Great colour and a load of fun . Good return on the motorway aswell.

On the Mk3 Astra GSi alloys - good choice as you get the proper offset with them. I had a set of Cavalier GSi alloys on mine - easy to clean
aaah yes, the dreaded 49mm offset! - I managed to get a pair of Compomotive MOs in that offset, but that was the only aftermarket wheel I could find apart from the speedlines Courtenay's sold.

Must try and dig out a piccie of my GTEs....watch this space!

nice car by the way......is it in good nick? you planning on selling it anytime soon? wink

Edited by filski666 on Wednesday 1st October 08:01
Well funny you should mention that i actually sold the car last march to a guy in queensferry . I spent over 2500 grand on the welding ,prep and having it painted. It was in very very good condition when i sold it for 2200.
a bargain!....have you got his number....? wink
Not that many years ago you could get a pretty decent Mk2 16valver for a grand. Anything decent is nearly double that now



That's mine on 15" Gsi alloys and F1 GSD2s

Ricky_M

6,618 posts

219 months

Friday 3rd October 2008
quotequote all
This has bought back some early childhood memories. My Dad used to have 5 Door 8 valve poverty spec GTE, which he left rotting in his garden! Used to have hours of fun playing in that. Wasn't there a few warning lights in the middle of the dash? Anyone remember what they were for?

Shropshiremike

23,226 posts

203 months

Friday 3rd October 2008
quotequote all
Ricky_M said:
This has bought back some early childhood memories. My Dad used to have 5 Door 8 valve poverty spec GTE, which he left rotting in his garden! Used to have hours of fun playing in that. Wasn't there a few warning lights in the middle of the dash? Anyone remember what they were for?
That's right Ricky - warning lights were for side/headlight bulb failure, brake light bulb failure, brake pad wear and washer fluid level IIRC

A 5 door Astra GTE is very rare I should imagine now

Saied

1,575 posts

219 months

Friday 3rd October 2008
quotequote all
Shropshiremike said:


That's mine on 15" Gsi alloys and F1 GSD2s
That looks fantastic. Great colour for the GTE, nice and discreet.

'Only' 150bhp, but must be a rather rapid car with its power delivery and low weight.

Shropshiremike

23,226 posts

203 months

Friday 3rd October 2008
quotequote all
Shropshiremike said:
Ricky_M said:
This has bought back some early childhood memories. My Dad used to have 5 Door 8 valve poverty spec GTE, which he left rotting in his garden! Used to have hours of fun playing in that. Wasn't there a few warning lights in the middle of the dash? Anyone remember what they were for?
That's right Ricky - warning lights were for side/headlight bulb failure, brake light bulb failure, brake pad wear and washer fluid level IIRC

A 5 door Astra GTE is very rare I should imagine now
Thinking a bit more and looking at some old pics of my car there were also lights for engine oil level, coolant level and brake fluid

vrooom

3,763 posts

267 months

Friday 3rd October 2008
quotequote all
I nearly bought a red Vauxhall astra GTE convertible, for my next runabout.
It costed £400 with very short tax and mot, in local paper. I went look at it. look very nice. Until I made a search on confused.com. The cheapest qoute is £470. they want me to drop my pant and hand over £470 for 3rd party & theft!!. I was stunned.
I am 29 year old male, living with my partner, with 6 years NCB living in nice area, I have driveway.

I was stunned on how expenisve to insure those car.

It looked sweet. oh well.


Edited by vrooom on Friday 3rd October 20:08

Shropshiremike

23,226 posts

203 months

Saturday 4th October 2008
quotequote all
Saied said:
That looks fantastic. Great colour for the GTE, nice and discreet.

'Only' 150bhp, but must be a rather rapid car with its power delivery and low weight.
Cheers Saied - it was in reasonable nick compared to many I've seen - perhaps that's why my impression of the car was different to many others.

As to the performance, I think they were a genuine 130mph hatch and could get to 100 in under 20 seconds. The main difference I noticed between it and the Saxo VTS we had at the same time was that the GTE had an extra set of lungs above 60/70 where a lot of the older hoty hatches were running out of steam. Very torquey for a 16valve engine of that time as well

Oat$y

1,537 posts

216 months

Wednesday 8th October 2008
quotequote all
I had and 8V and a 16V, the 16V was stolen 4 times and broken into twice in the first 6 months of owning it. I had a hidden imobiliser fitted and still someone tried to steel it by towing it away! (tow rope still attached when found)probably trying to bump start it after flattening the battery. each time I got it back with broken. It was broken into while at a garage getting the power steering fixed. Had to get rid of it after that.

Great car but couldn't leave it anywhere unattend and probably still couldn't in today society.

205gtinut

952 posts

197 months

Wednesday 8th October 2008
quotequote all
Le Mans Visitor said:
Here are some pictures of mine at Le Mans last week, I have just got back from a wonderful 750 mile trip in France.





She is a 58,000 mile GTE 16v, and is totally standard (apart from the decat pipe)
Want to sell it? Cos I want to buy it?????

Le Mans Visitor

1,119 posts

202 months

Wednesday 8th October 2008
quotequote all
205gtinut said:
Le Mans Visitor said:
Here are some pictures of mine at Le Mans last week, I have just got back from a wonderful 750 mile trip in France.





She is a 58,000 mile GTE 16v, and is totally standard (apart from the decat pipe)
Want to sell it? Cos I want to buy it?????
Not for sale, sorry

Shropshiremike

23,226 posts

203 months

Wednesday 8th October 2008
quotequote all
Le Mans Visitor said:
Not for sale, sorry
Can't say I blame you - hard to find now in that lovely, standard nick

205gtinut

952 posts

197 months

Friday 10th October 2008
quotequote all
Shropshiremike said:
Le Mans Visitor said:
Not for sale, sorry
Can't say I blame you - hard to find now in that lovely, standard nick
I don't blame you either, worth a try though!!

430 Spider

214 posts

222 months

Friday 10th October 2008
quotequote all
My first car - bought a four year old silver/grey one for GBP 5,000 and sold it three years later for the same. Only had fond memories - so quick back in the day.

noumenon

1,281 posts

204 months

Saturday 11th October 2008
quotequote all

ACZ 1697 where are you now? (And how does a chap find out?!)

Gompo

4,411 posts

258 months

Saturday 11th October 2008
quotequote all
noumenon said:
ACZ 1697 where are you now? (And how does a chap find out?!)
Was it red? Car with that plate has been off the road since December 2004..

pbirkett

18,091 posts

272 months

Saturday 11th October 2008
quotequote all
Shropshiremike said:
Not that many years ago you could get a pretty decent Mk2 16valver for a grand. Anything decent is nearly double that now



That's mine on 15" Gsi alloys and F1 GSD2s
NICE!

Actually the back end kind of reminds me of the old Lotus Carlton somehow. Liking it. smile

Le Mans Visitor

1,119 posts

202 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
pbirkett said:
Actually the back end kind of reminds me of the old Lotus Carlton somehow. Liking it. smile
Agreed!

Here are some more pics of my toy....

Me and a Mate at his stag do (Castle Coombe this year.)



A few pics I took last week....




Gompo

4,411 posts

258 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
Forgot about this - you cant really see it very well but it is seemingly abandoned at some lockups near where I used to live - Pic is from January.



Waugh-terfall

18,488 posts

200 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
Gompo said:
noumenon said:
ACZ 1697 where are you now? (And how does a chap find out?!)
Was it red? Car with that plate has been off the road since December 2004..
#

Apparently registered to a Vauxhall Cavalier SRI says RAC

noumenon

1,281 posts

204 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
Waugh-terfall said:
Gompo said:
noumenon said:
ACZ 1697 where are you now? (And how does a chap find out?!)
Was it red? Car with that plate has been off the road since December 2004..
#

Apparently registered to a Vauxhall Cavalier SRI says RAC
Oops, you're right, that was the trusty chavalier! I meant to say OAZ 4342.