Astra GTE

[A4069]

a friend is thinking of returning to his youth with an astra gte. any tips? i guess you can never truly recapture those days, so even a mint one could be a disappointment.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2045824.htm

[LuS1fer]

I had a GTE 16V. Honestly, I despair anyone ever thought they were any good - all brawn and scrabble. They were utter crap. Tell him to buy the R5GT turbo that was shed of the week last week.

[Morba]

Loved my brothers old one, it had the digital dash!

[Deluded]

I can't believe anyone would seriously consider spending that sort of money on a 140000 mile 20 year old Vauxhall.

Regardless what engine it has in it, it's a pile of st.

You could get some seriously nice cars for that sort of money.

[carl carlson]

1 of only 3 left? Seriously? I know they where a favourite of the TWOCers at the time but only 3 left!

[Bebee]

I used to deliver new VH in the mid 80's the GTE was my fav but that's a big want in ££££ for a 140k miler I wouldn't pay more than £250

[NotNormal]

carl carlson said:

1 of only 3 left? Seriously? I know they where a favourite of the TWOCers at the time but only 3 left!

Its one of the Champion Special Editions. Only 500 made and sold in SE dealerships. Only real change from the normal 16v was the colour, the leather interior (which was fitted to cars in europe) and the connolly stickers.

Great engine but let down by the car it was fitted to...

[rallycross]

carl carlson said:

1 of only 3 left? Seriously? I know they where a favourite of the TWOCers at the time but only 3 left!

just 3 of that special edition which was only a limited model after they won the btcc.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

That rear bumper looks saggy! Rear End Impact or Rusty Mounting Brackets???

[B.J.W]

That's a big ask for a very leggy 'not quite' classic.

[Chris_w666]

As much as I like old hot hatches for £4k you would find a better example of an 80's or 90's boy racer mobile than a 140k mile Astra.

[soxboy]

Get a 16v Golf Mk2 for half that, at least that can handle the power.

Or an E30 325i Sport, or a 900 Turbo 16s.....

[Vidal Baboon]

Anti roll bar bushes, wishbone bushes, rusty sills, rusty arches, rusty fuel lines, rusty sherrif badge.

I'm a big fan of the GTE and most sporty Vauxhalls of the 70s/80s/90s. I would prefer a MkI GTE, Nova SR or Kadett with a Redtop fitted over the Astra.

[CO2000]

Would have to be White (I remember the 5 doors were rare, so one of them)

[soad]

Wouldn't mind one, but not at that price.

Spent a fair wage on upgrades/restoration or just dreaming?

[ManOpener]

soxboy said:

Get a 16v Golf Mk2 for half that, at least that can handle the power.

Or an E30 325i Sport, or a 900 Turbo 16s.....

Or a Corrado VR6 with a grand to spend on suspension.

[Torquey]

As much as I'd also love an old Astra/nova GTE I couldnt bring myself to spend that much.


It just look so fragile.

For the price of an E36 M3 or something...

[Nicholas Blair]

One of my old fvourites too - must dig out some photos....

[rallycross]

I think their time as a classic is coming, a nice white 16v GTE is a very much an 80's thing (ok its not quite iconic!)

Dynamically they were fairly average but what a great engine they had, at the time they felt outrageously fast for a hot hatch.

And there cant be many left that are clean and tidy the rust really affected them quite ealry so not many left.

[aka_kerrly]

LuS1fer said:

I had a GTE 16V. Honestly, I despair anyone ever thought they were any good - all brawn and scrabble. They were utter crap. Tell him to buy the R5GT turbo that was shed of the week last week.

You are joking right? I know a few people who have owned 16v GTEs and they have been far more reliable and handle better than the R5GTTs.

I only know of one person who successfully killed a 2.0 Red Top engine, i don't know anyone who has owned a R5GTT and NOT blown the engine or turbo during their ownership.