RE: Shed Of The Week: Vauxhall Astra Coupe
Discussion
kambites said:
Lovely looking thing, although I'd prefer it without the body kit.
I haven't driven a coupe, but the hatch handles in a tidy if entirely unremarkable way so I guess this will be at least as good? It's probably not going to compete with a Corrado or Integra in the handling stakes but for £800 it seems a bit unfair to complain.
I love the colour and interior - seems like a good punt for the money - i'm not sure how badly they corrode though.I haven't driven a coupe, but the hatch handles in a tidy if entirely unremarkable way so I guess this will be at least as good? It's probably not going to compete with a Corrado or Integra in the handling stakes but for £800 it seems a bit unfair to complain.
Respectably fast and pretty light for a 4-seater coupe
Lots of nostalgic memories flooding back as a result of this one!
The company motors at my first proper job were this shape of Astra, albeit 5-door hatches in pov-spec 1.4 flavour, and the one I had regular access to proved the point that company motors are among the quickest out there!
I briefly had this 2.2 lump in a Vectra more recently. I don't recall it being particularly impressive!
Finally, I seem to recall my Nova fantasies back in the 90s included plastering Irmscher across the top of the front windscreen, along with the ubiquitous Pioneer or Kenwood across the back. Perhaps it was for the best that I decided I didn't have the means and stuck to driving Mum's Mk3 Astra estate and subsequent Corsa Bs.
The company motors at my first proper job were this shape of Astra, albeit 5-door hatches in pov-spec 1.4 flavour, and the one I had regular access to proved the point that company motors are among the quickest out there!
I briefly had this 2.2 lump in a Vectra more recently. I don't recall it being particularly impressive!
Finally, I seem to recall my Nova fantasies back in the 90s included plastering Irmscher across the top of the front windscreen, along with the ubiquitous Pioneer or Kenwood across the back. Perhaps it was for the best that I decided I didn't have the means and stuck to driving Mum's Mk3 Astra estate and subsequent Corsa Bs.
PistonBroker said:
Lots of nostalgic memories flooding back as a result of this one!
The company motors at my first proper job were this shape of Astra, albeit 5-door hatches in pov-spec 1.4 flavour, and the one I had regular access to proved the point that company motors are among the quickest out there!
I briefly had this 2.2 lump in a Vectra more recently. I don't recall it being particularly impressive!
Finally, I seem to recall my Nova fantasies back in the 90s included plastering Irmscher across the top of the front windscreen, along with the ubiquitous Pioneer or Kenwood across the back. Perhaps it was for the best that I decided I didn't have the means and stuck to driving Mum's Mk3 Astra estate and subsequent Corsa Bs.
I've been thinking of getting a Kenwood sunstrip as an ironic thing for my Astra. I think people would think it wasn't ironic though The company motors at my first proper job were this shape of Astra, albeit 5-door hatches in pov-spec 1.4 flavour, and the one I had regular access to proved the point that company motors are among the quickest out there!
I briefly had this 2.2 lump in a Vectra more recently. I don't recall it being particularly impressive!
Finally, I seem to recall my Nova fantasies back in the 90s included plastering Irmscher across the top of the front windscreen, along with the ubiquitous Pioneer or Kenwood across the back. Perhaps it was for the best that I decided I didn't have the means and stuck to driving Mum's Mk3 Astra estate and subsequent Corsa Bs.
Owned one of these for a couple of years after having a 1.6 sxi hatch for 5 years. It was a dream car ever since one passed me when I was in secondary school. I originally wanted a turbo but settled for the 2.2 as it was in my favourite colour - chianti red, had all the options ticked and was low mileage.
There was always something that needed fixing all the time. The biggest problem with these are the timing chains. I changed the oil and filter every 6 months to prevent chain failure but after a couple of years it stretched anyway and somehow the head had cracked in such a way it was letting water enter into the engine. After the amount of money I put into the car I gave up, broke it for parts and scrapped the remains - this was heartbreaking for me.
I had modified mine with polybsuhes, bilstien shocks, eibach springs, short shift, 308mm brakes, a whiteline rear anti roll bar, decent tyress and turbo alloys. It drove very well and I enjoyed it, when it was working. When the engine went I bought an old 6th gen accord to keep me on the road and still have it. But when the Accord handles just as well as an astra with all those modifications but with added comfort then I soon realised how crap the chassis was on that astra.
In some ways the best car I have owned, but in other ways wish I didn't bother.
There was always something that needed fixing all the time. The biggest problem with these are the timing chains. I changed the oil and filter every 6 months to prevent chain failure but after a couple of years it stretched anyway and somehow the head had cracked in such a way it was letting water enter into the engine. After the amount of money I put into the car I gave up, broke it for parts and scrapped the remains - this was heartbreaking for me.
I had modified mine with polybsuhes, bilstien shocks, eibach springs, short shift, 308mm brakes, a whiteline rear anti roll bar, decent tyress and turbo alloys. It drove very well and I enjoyed it, when it was working. When the engine went I bought an old 6th gen accord to keep me on the road and still have it. But when the Accord handles just as well as an astra with all those modifications but with added comfort then I soon realised how crap the chassis was on that astra.
In some ways the best car I have owned, but in other ways wish I didn't bother.
Edited by Chedders on Friday 31st March 12:20
Edited by Chedders on Friday 31st March 12:20
Driving down the A30 into Cornwall last night and some bogo standard astra of this generation passed me in the outside line, my immediate thought was 'you don't see many of those anymore' followed by 'they must be terrible, even in a high spec' still for £800, I've had worse.
Will the 2.0 turbo become 'collectible'?
Will the 2.0 turbo become 'collectible'?
TRADE - WILL NOT BE CHECKED / PREPARED TO RETAIL MOTOR VEHICLE STANDARDS. IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE MOTOR TRADE PLEASE HAVE THIS CAR CHECKED BY A COMPETENT PERSON BEFORE PURCHASE TO ENSURE ITS SUITABILITY.
Sounds legit, so in other words when the gearbox falls out 2 days later they will wash their hands of you.
Barge pole springs to mind.
Sounds legit, so in other words when the gearbox falls out 2 days later they will wash their hands of you.
Barge pole springs to mind.
marshall100 said:
Driving down the A30 into Cornwall last night and some bogo standard astra of this generation passed me in the outside line, my immediate thought was 'you don't see many of those anymore' followed by 'they must be terrible, even in a high spec' still for £800, I've had worse.
Will the 2.0 turbo become 'collectible'?
I reckon even this non turbo 2.2 will. Not necessarily 'big money' collectible but once it gets to about 25/30 years old and there's only a handful left there will be a resurgence in interest - there were never huge numbers of these on the road and in general, people into retro cars tend to like the 'frivolous' 2-door versions of everyday cars that were normally only seen in their most practical, everyday forms. Just like how now, if anyone turns up at a show or meet with a mint Calibra or Peugeot 406 coupe, it will always get attention from the 'oh, I haven't seen one of those in years, always liked that body style' brigade. For some reason, Ford are the kings of this, give it 30 years and people start fawning over beige Escorts in 'Popular' trim like they're the Second Coming. Will the 2.0 turbo become 'collectible'?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff