Tuesday 6th September 2016

Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v: Spotted

Another 80s hot hatch hero, another one climbing in value too...

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Back in 1987, just two years before this Astra GTE was made, the fastest Astra on planet Earth cost £9,879.48. Now, nearly 30 years later, this car is up for sale at very nearly the same money - £8,995. And who would have thought that not so long ago?

The legend lives!

We'll come back to the question of value in due course, but it's worth pointing out again why the Astra GTE is held in such high regard. It's a PH Hero, don't forget. It's that engine, essentially. The Vauxhall Red Top became a legend of motorsport and fast road cars during the 90s, from BTCC cars to mad Caterhams. With a surfeit of power and plentiful torque also, the 2.0-litre engine was the perfect fit for the GTE.

Because that engine made it fast, and fast is the first prerequisite for a hot hatch. Sure, some of its rivals may have been more finessed, but nothing could match the Astra for straight line performance. With such a low kerbweight - it's 450kg lighter than an Astra VXR - that sense of urgency and excitement we crave in modern hatches should be there in abundance. And it's got a digital dash!

Unsurprisingly given how many were pinched back in the day, finding a nice Mk2 Astra GTE is very hard to come by in 2016. This is the only one on PH, indeed the only one we've seen advertised for a while. Fortunately, it looks a very nice one too. It's entirely standard, for a start, which means 14-inch wheels, original red badges and some very fetching seats as well. Even the mudflaps look factory fresh. Plus, as is often the way with old hot hatches, something that probably looked quite wild once upon a time now appears fairly tame. It will be appreciated by the right crowd now, at least.

Probably not the car to do reverse doughnuts in now

To more important matters. Can an Astra GTE really be worth £9,000? In the context of its contemporary rivals, quite possibly. This 205 1.6 GTI is £15,990 with just a few less miles than the Vauxhall, while this MI16 converted car with more than 100,000 miles is £10,990. As far as Golfs go, you can spend as much money as the GTE on a Rivage cabrio. So against those it looks rather good value.

Of course there will be those who dismiss any fast Vauxhall, but this one is certainly more significant than most. It's probably more fondly remembered too. And if you want a taste of the classic hot hatch, they don't come much more old school than an Astra GTE. Of course they were cheaper a few years ago, but now here's your opportunity to buy an unmolested one before they all disappear. Go get it!

 

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VAUXHALL ASTRA GTE 16V
Engine: 1,998cc four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 158@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 145@4,800rpm
MPG: 33.4 (Autocar road test average)
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1989
Recorded mileage: 70,000
Price new: £9,879.48 (1987)
Yours for: £8,995

See the original advert here

[smashbro]

Fantastic! Fond memories of these in the 90's, a friend had one and used to let me drive it regularly. Cannot see the modern VXRs et al looking this good in 20 years.

[molineux1980]

I've always had a soft spot for these. As a lad, my Dad had a D plate Astra 1.3. But over the road, a chap owned a red GTE 16V, which came up for sale for around 3k. I begged my Dad to buy it and he came close, but ultimately didn't' go for it.

I also quite fancy the later Astra GSi....

[Jimmy Recard]

I think that 1987 is more than 20 years ago, not less

[astrsxi77]

I suspect that, of the dwindling numbers left, the GTE 16v is probably the best preserved. I cannot recall the last time I saw any of the following:

1.8 GTE
2.0 GTE (8v)
1.8 SRi
1.6 SX
1.8 SXi

And what about the 1.6 SR? Anyone know of a single example of this early short-run model left in existence?

[LeighW]

Jimmy Recard said:

I think that 1987 is more than 20 years ago, not less

Nearly 30 years - Christ that's depressing!

My second car was a black 2.0 8v, I loved that car. Sadly it lost a violent fight with the side of a Lada driven by some old duffer who pulled out in front of me. Then I bought a Cavalier GSi with that superb red top motor. Feeling old now...

Edit - piccy.

Edited by LeighW on Tuesday 6th September 13:16

[MDMA .]

friend had 2 of these. grey and bordeaux red one. crashed them both. weren't the best handling cars but quick in a straight line ( at the time ).

remember Wigan Police ran a white one for quite a number of years.

[littlebasher]

My mum had one as a company car.

She always used take the keys if the folks went anywhere without it

[Limpet]

These were proper rocket ships in their day. A couple of mates had them and they were so much quicker than any equivalent alternative at the time, delivering a real punch in the guts under hard acceleration.

Both my mates ones (and a good number of others) ended their days as the Saturday night entertainment on the local sink estate, entertaining a baying mob outside the local pub doing burnouts and handbrake turns, before being looted of anything valuable, and torched.

[Adz The Rat]

I really wanted one of these but couldn't afford to insure one.

Had a MK3 GSI a few years later, that was a great car too.

[MrC986]

I had a 16v in my mid-20s on a J plate (courtesy of dad's fleet insurance if you're wondering) in a Bordeaux red colour - the digital dash was at the time so cool but the handling on reflection was less than acceptable. Fond memories of the 16v but 150bhp seems so insignificant now

[Mike1990]

So much want for any 80's Hot Hatch tbh.

[Ag51bye]

littlebasher said:

My mum had one as a company car.

She always used take the keys if the folks went anywhere without it

Most people didn't use keys to drive them

[superstartaxi]

astrsxi77 said:

I suspect that, of the dwindling numbers left, the GTE 16v is probably the best preserved. I cannot recall the last time I saw any of the following:

1.8 GTE
2.0 GTE (8v)
1.8 SRi
1.6 SX
1.8 SXi

And what about the 1.6 SR? Anyone know of a single example of this early short-run model left in existence?

I know of one 1.6 SR owned by a member of the mk2 astra forum. Also pretty sure there was another for sale a few months back but it might have been an SRi

I used to own a GTE years ago. Got rid at the wrong time as the prices have gone up quite a bit from what I sold mine for I just didn't have the room to keep it.

[MDMA .]

Adz The Rat said:

I really wanted one of these but couldn't afford to insure one.

Had a MK3 GSI a few years later, that was a great car too.

friend had same as a replacement. first car I went in that would do 100mph in 3rd gear. he had a fast road tune / set-up done at camco 88. ah, the good old days

[R8Steve]

9k?

I scrapped two of these back in the late 90's to get the engines out them to put in nova's

[dufunk]

These were 150bhp weren't bad in a straight line but vague steering boaty ride and poor gearbox didn't make them that great on a back road same goes for the calibra which was nearly 300kg heavier and the redtop had a tendency to boil. Remember my bro getting a 94 MR2 175bhp after the astra and they felt like a proper sports car in everyway compared to the astra.

[markcoznottz]

Amazing engine, lovely attention to build ie gaskets and castings etc, the engine was a true showpiece for Vauxhall. Rear discs on the valver as opposed to the 8v, although hard to see behind the horrid tiny standard wheels. Very practical car genuine 3 seater big boot, loads bigger than say a 205.

[nicfaz]

My dad had a leggy one of these, but the engine still felt strong. 150bhp doesn't sound like much nowadays, but they were made of tin and spit, weighing nothing - they felt very fast!

[Gandahar]

Velour seats from the 80's always last well, look at Audi as well for an example on 80's 90 and 100 cars. Better than baggy leather.

The engine in these is top notch, the handling was interesting, certainly could put you into more oversteer than you thought on even a slightly wet road, for no reason whatsoever.

[generationx]

Back in the day, when these were new, a friend and I had an idle afternoon at college and went off to test some hot hatches for fun.

Various dealers gave us a free run in a Renault 5 Turbo (mental), Honda CRX 16v (sophisticated) and an Escort RS Turbo S2 (a little dull after the first two).

We got to Vauxhall and asked about the red demonstrator GTE 16v they had sitting outside. The salesman basically wanted me to sign on the dotted line before he´d even consider letting us have a go, so we bottled it and left. I´ve never had a chance since and always wished I had percevered (sp?) that day...