2007 Astra 1.9 Sri - any good?
2007 Astra 1.9 Sri - any good?
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billyliar

Original Poster:

223 posts

202 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Hi

I've taken the advice on selling the MINI, and my employer has offered me the use of a 57 plate Astra 1.9 CDTi SRi until I get a replacement, or decide to opt in to the company car scheme. Funnily enough I could opt for this car, the emissions are quite high, so probably won't bother.

Has anyone had one of these? I hear they go like stink, even in standard 150 BHP form.

Cheers.

billyliar

Original Poster:

223 posts

202 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Oh, forgot to say, had an offer on the Cooper S for £1300 from the dealer I purchased it from.

I reckon I could get around £13650 selling it privately based on this.

Back to the top

189 posts

199 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
They go very well for what they are . The engine is a bit raucous though . As a company car I'd be happy with it . As a private buyer I'd be wary - they're known to have swirl flap problems which means changing the inlet and the EGR valve can be dicky . The DMF can let go giving a violent judder through the clutch.
For about £250 you can add a tuning box if you fancy an easy 40 or 50 bhp . This is removable and could be sold separately at a later date . Boxes from diesel tuning uk seem to be well regarded .
Expect poor fuel economy if you are heavy footed and spend time in urban traffic , 35 mpg isn't unheard of

billyliar

Original Poster:

223 posts

202 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Back to the top said:
They go very well for what they are . The engine is a bit raucous though . As a company car I'd be happy with it . As a private buyer I'd be wary - they're known to have swirl flap problems which means changing the inlet and the EGR valve can be dicky . The DMF can let go giving a violent judder through the clutch.
For about £250 you can add a tuning box if you fancy an easy 40 or 50 bhp . This is removable and could be sold separately at a later date . Boxes from diesel tuning uk seem to be well regarded .
Expect poor fuel economy if you are heavy footed and spend time in urban traffic , 35 mpg isn't unheard of
Cheers for that.

I can keep the car for the next 2 years at a total of around £130 a month, which is co. car tax plus my contribution for choosing this car. I've heard revs a lot higher than your average diesel unit. I suppose as it's not my car I don't have to care about maintenance as it's all taken care of. That said, I spose I don't want to be stranded at the side of a motorway.

I'd like to modify it, but I don't think it'd be allowed with it being a leased car.

russy01

4,823 posts

211 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Not bad as standard, won't set the road alight, but has plenty of mid range pull once it's moving.

Chuck a dtuk box on and you're off. Looking at 200bhp plus >300lbs torque. A good match for most petrol hot hatches in a straight line (ctr, vxr, gti etc). Plus bags of torque, so lazy driving if you want, great pull in 5th n 6th on the motorway coupled with a good 45mpg.

I've done 56000miles in mine without any engine probs (it gets some stick), but some there is a lot of talk about egr problems etc (as said above).

Any questions just ask.

johnnyBv8

2,482 posts

221 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
billyliar said:
Cheers for that.

I can keep the car for the next 2 years at a total of around £130 a month, which is co. car tax plus my contribution for choosing this car.
I thought you would also lose out on a £350 car allowance too? If so, this mediocre car would cost you about £400 a month (after income tax on your allowance)...

billyliar

Original Poster:

223 posts

202 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
russy01 said:
Not bad as standard, won't set the road alight, but has plenty of mid range pull once it's moving.

Chuck a dtuk box on and you're off. Looking at 200bhp plus >300lbs torque. A good match for most petrol hot hatches in a straight line (ctr, vxr, gti etc). Plus bags of torque, so lazy driving if you want, great pull in 5th n 6th on the motorway coupled with a good 45mpg.

I've done 56000miles in mine without any engine probs (it gets some stick), but some there is a lot of talk about egr problems etc (as said above).

Any questions just ask.
Thank you.

As said, I can't fit a tuning box. I think it would be game over career wise should I crash the car found to have any modifications, as they're not allowed.

Looking forward to getting it now.

billyliar

Original Poster:

223 posts

202 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
johnnyBv8 said:
billyliar said:
Cheers for that.

I can keep the car for the next 2 years at a total of around £130 a month, which is co. car tax plus my contribution for choosing this car.
I thought you would also lose out on a £350 car allowance too? If so, this mediocre car would cost you about £400 a month (after income tax on your allowance)...
£340 before tax, so realistically £220.

And it would cost me around £130 pm IIRC to run it.

At least the MINI is going, and I'll have a serious wedge in the bank and no debt, which was my ultimate aim.

Even if I ran a company car, as per my previous thread, I reckon I'd still have around £900 spare after living costs per month. If I bank £500 or so per month on top of the £6k in the bank then I'm laughing.

I know it would probably make more financial sense to buy and run a car for £5k and have no debt, but that way I'd also have nothing in the bank. And after some calculations, I reckon I'd be worse off running a company car by what amounts to £200 or so a month, factoring in depreciation of owing and running a car etc.

I like cars, and really do fancy the GTD, so I'm prepared to be worse off every month. It's not like I still won't be able to put a decent chunk away each month into my savings.

HellDiver

5,708 posts

212 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
billyliar said:
Has anyone had one of these? I hear they go like stink, even in standard 150 BHP form.
I had a 1.9-150 Design Sporthatch. Did indeed go well. Went better with an EDS remap (200hp/310lb-ft), VXR brakes, H&R springs, Bilstein dampers, Whiteline rear ARB. biggrin

Only problems you're likely to encounter is EGR, inlet manifold swirl flaps jamming or wearing, and DMF. DMF isn't too common on non-modded cars.

Fuel economy isn't great, I got 44mpg from mine over 10k, about the same when tuned. I did about 30k in mine and had no problems at all, despite the mods and being driven like I stole it. 5k out of a set of Eagle F1-Asymmetrics on the front for example. smile

Fun Bus

17,911 posts

248 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
billyliar said:
I'll have a serious wedge in the bank and no debt
billyliar said:
If I bank £500 or so per month on top of the £6k in the bank then I'm laughing.
billyliar said:
decent chunk away each month into my savings.
And in the other thread:

billyliar said:
debt free and have a wedge in the bank.
billyliar said:
I'll be earning the best part of £40k, and that doesn't include a bonus.
billyliar said:
It'd also leave me £6k in the bank and no debts.
billyliar said:
However, it'd leave me with a lot of cash in the bank
billyliar said:
I'd still easily be able to bank £500 or so per month
Please stop. Stop all this. I've read enough of your constant bragging. I don't give a flying fk.

billyliar

Original Poster:

223 posts

202 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Fun Bus said:
billyliar said:
I'll have a serious wedge in the bank and no debt
billyliar said:
If I bank £500 or so per month on top of the £6k in the bank then I'm laughing.
billyliar said:
decent chunk away each month into my savings.
And in the other thread:

billyliar said:
debt free and have a wedge in the bank.
billyliar said:
I'll be earning the best part of £40k, and that doesn't include a bonus.
billyliar said:
It'd also leave me £6k in the bank and no debts.
billyliar said:
However, it'd leave me with a lot of cash in the bank
billyliar said:
I'd still easily be able to bank £500 or so per month
Please stop. Stop all this. I've read enough of your constant bragging. I don't give a flying fk.
Nicely cherry picked. Notice you didn't cherry pick the parts whereby I say I'm in £7000's worth of debt. I suppose that would make your post less sensational.

In most cases I'm reiterating or putting figures to the advice I've been given, i.e. sell the car and put it in the bank.

I also notice that you don't quote me on saying that I work very long hours for what I have - which in any case isn't a lot. Again, that'd make your attack less credible.

Sorry I've hit a raw nerve or whatever, but bragging about losing money on a car and credit card debt is exactly what I'm not doing.



Fun Bus

17,911 posts

248 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
billyliar said:
Nicely cherry picked. Notice you didn't cherry pick the parts whereby I say I'm in £7000's worth of debt. I suppose that would make your post less sensational.
You are at the moment but it would appear you won't be soon.

billyliar said:
In most cases I'm reiterating or putting figures to the advice I've been given, i.e. sell the car and put it in the bank.
We've read earlier threads and posts to already know this.

billyliar said:
I also notice that you don't quote me on saying that I work very long hours for what I have - which in any case isn't a lot. Again, that'd make your attack less credible.
We all do. I do. I work in the distribution industry too although not in warehousing like you so I know only too well what being on call and long hours are like.

billyliar said:
Sorry I've hit a raw nerve or whatever, but bragging about losing money on a car and credit card debt is exactly what I'm not doing.
No raw nerve. I'm comfortable with my financial situation and career position at the moment. Cars are a depreciating asset so it's no biggy.