Insurance anomalies - ideas?

[vit4]

There's me prattling on about hard luck finding an Astra, especially in Merit form, so I pop on ebay and what's less than 5 miles from me?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-ASTRA-1-6-MERIT...

Same price to insure, despite being a bigger engine than mine. Automatic though Actually registered on the same date as mine if only it was a manual economy would probably be hopeless, 3 speed jobbie I think.

[twazzock]

Have you looked at 205s? Pretty much all of them will do 35mpg+, cheap enough to buy, very simple, a lot more loadspace than you'd think.

I'm off to buy my second on Friday.

Btw, where are you looking for insurance? It does seem silly high but it's understandable with a poo postcode, minimal NCB and experience.

[vit4]

twazzock said:

Have you looked at 205s? Pretty much all of them will do 35mpg+, cheap enough to buy, very simple, a lot more loadspace than you'd think.

I'm off to buy my second on Friday.

Btw, where are you looking for insurance? It does seem silly high but it's understandable with a poo postcode, minimal NCB and experience.

Astra is literally loaded with about 4 inches to spare lenth-wise, to get everything in the Escort requires contortion on my part A 205 probably wouldn't be long enough with the seat in my position (6'1-2ish). I will say something though, saw the 309 on your profile and just ran the through and it was actually a few hundred quid cheaper What's the situation regarding parts availability & reliability like on them if you don't mind me asking?

[twazzock]

vit4 said:

Astra is literally loaded with about 4 inches to spare lenth-wise, to get everything in the Escort requires contortion on my part A 205 probably wouldn't be long enough with the seat in my position (6'1-2ish). I will say something though, saw the 309 on your profile and just ran the through and it was actually a few hundred quid cheaper What's the situation regarding parts availability & reliability like on them if you don't mind me asking?

Parts availability is good - lots is shared with the 205. Diesel engined ones are indestructable. The 1.1 and 1.3 engines are supposedly equally so (incredibly simple, chain driven OHV, 60s design). There's a 1360cc engine (rarer) which is a bit more fragile - I've had one pop a HG in a 205 - and a 1.6 of which I know nothing.

Everything else on them is mega-simple too. Mine is incredibly basic spec; there is quite literally nothing to go wrong. Fair bit longer than the 205 too, rear bench just lifts straight out (no bolts) so it's easy to get more space out of it.

Mine (a 1.3) has certainly been faultless over the last 4k. Happen to be selling it at the moment too if you're interested. Loads more info in my Readers' Cars thread.