Discussion
Following my 'Modern Diesels & Reliability' topic a few weeks ago, and the helpful suggestions by ZX10R NIN, I looked at several Astra GTCs, although manual rather than auto.
Unfortunately, all of them were one of the following: trashed, neglected, stinky, poor service history, poor MoT history, or unresolved faults which showed themselves when I went to test-drive them.
None of them were in nice enough condition, despite either being relatively low mileage or only a few years old.
However, the GTC struck a very good balance between comfort, handling, speed and bouncy tyres (mostly 235/50R18).
Is there anything else from other manufacturers that's similar to a GTC, less than about five years old, manual gearbox, particular emphasis on bouncy tyres of at least 50-profile?
As a rough benchmark of acceleration, 60mph in about 8-9s is fine.
Also needs to be relatively low cost for parts and repairs because it will occasionally be damaged by potholes, overhanging branches, pheasants and all the other unexpected stuff found on country lanes.
It will need to cover many miles on a diverse mix of roads in awful driving conditions so wear and corrosion will soon take their toll. For my use it will need all-season tyres so the wheel size must be one where quality all-season tyres are readily available at sensible prices.
Previously I suggested about £10k maximum because the car needed to be expendable. Not too keen on high-milers because they might soon need big expenditure on suspension, brakes, clutch/DMF etc.
As I said: a GTC would have been perfect but all the ones near me (Cambridgeshire) that I've looked at are junk or have questionable histories. None seem to be nice, well-mainatained, straight, honest cars.
Thanks,
Ron
Unfortunately, all of them were one of the following: trashed, neglected, stinky, poor service history, poor MoT history, or unresolved faults which showed themselves when I went to test-drive them.
None of them were in nice enough condition, despite either being relatively low mileage or only a few years old.
However, the GTC struck a very good balance between comfort, handling, speed and bouncy tyres (mostly 235/50R18).
Is there anything else from other manufacturers that's similar to a GTC, less than about five years old, manual gearbox, particular emphasis on bouncy tyres of at least 50-profile?
As a rough benchmark of acceleration, 60mph in about 8-9s is fine.
Also needs to be relatively low cost for parts and repairs because it will occasionally be damaged by potholes, overhanging branches, pheasants and all the other unexpected stuff found on country lanes.
It will need to cover many miles on a diverse mix of roads in awful driving conditions so wear and corrosion will soon take their toll. For my use it will need all-season tyres so the wheel size must be one where quality all-season tyres are readily available at sensible prices.
Previously I suggested about £10k maximum because the car needed to be expendable. Not too keen on high-milers because they might soon need big expenditure on suspension, brakes, clutch/DMF etc.
As I said: a GTC would have been perfect but all the ones near me (Cambridgeshire) that I've looked at are junk or have questionable histories. None seem to be nice, well-mainatained, straight, honest cars.
Thanks,
Ron
Would this work? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
I have a 1.6 version, with the same wheels as that, and that has a pretty good ride. A lot smoother than the GTD I drove before.
It is a three door, which is rare, but if you were looking at GTC's I would guess that wouldn't bother you.
I have a 1.6 version, with the same wheels as that, and that has a pretty good ride. A lot smoother than the GTD I drove before.
It is a three door, which is rare, but if you were looking at GTC's I would guess that wouldn't bother you.
I see you say Diesel... but. I've known this GTC from new - it's in cracking condition: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
rfn said:
I see you say Diesel... but. I've known this GTC from new - it's in cracking condition: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Thanks! 
I would consider petrol if it wasn't too thirsty (the 1.4T mpg seems reasonable) and as you recommended that car I would have followed up the ad.
But unfortunately the GTC is a LtdEd so has wheels that are too large (245/40R20) and which don't have any all-season tyre options.
If I change car, whatever I buy must be able to travel almost everywhere in the UK in almost every weather condition.
emperorburger said:
Thanks, but didn't the Dieselgate emissions fix ruin the reliability of their diesel engines?For your budget it's very hard to beat one of these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
It is easy enough to find a decent GTC though like anything that sold relatively well and was fairly cheap to start, there will be plenty of shonkas out there.
I picked up an SRi 2.0 CDTi '63 plate model with 35,000 miles on it from a Vauxhall main dealer last October for £6175. All service history in order and with a good MOT history that suggested that any work that needed doing was done promptly and not left to lie. It even had four new tyres on it too, and not some Chinese ditchfinders.
With the SRi pack and ambient interior lighting it's a nice step up over the usual Astras I drive at work (bog standard 1.7 CDTi models). The sports seats make a big difference in comfort, so make sure you get those. The standard seats are pretty flat and easy to slide around in.
The handling is my favourite thing about it, with the HiPerStrut suspension doing it's job to make for a clean drive, with the front wheels coping very well with acceleration out of corners or over wet/rippled tarmac without torque steer or undue corruption. It doesn't mimic an LSD, but does deliver an impressive drive for a passive suspension system. The ride is also relatively pleasant, being neither too stiff nor too supple. It certainly deals well on B roads, being able to keep all four wheels down over a typical undulating B road surface without feeling boaty or rolling excessively.
In terms of of the petrols, I didn't find them very exciting and perhaps lacking in torque so I went for the 2.0 CDTi, being familiar with Vauxhall diesels and liking it's easy grunt. At 162bhp, it makes a respectable amount of power and is flexible if a bit noisy at idle. It's also very easy to tell when it is in regen too thanks to the instant consumption monitor (indicating that the rear demist has activated, if you were wondering) so you'll never accidentally stop driving or switch the engine off whilst it's cleaning the DPF.
Overall great cars, I think. Cheap, nice to drive and reliable. I also considered the ubiquitous Golf GTD and Scirocco as alternatives but found they just couldn't match the GTC for value for money. Next time, a GTD may be in order due to the GTC now being discontinued and I am much less a fan of the Astra I over the Astra J.
I picked up an SRi 2.0 CDTi '63 plate model with 35,000 miles on it from a Vauxhall main dealer last October for £6175. All service history in order and with a good MOT history that suggested that any work that needed doing was done promptly and not left to lie. It even had four new tyres on it too, and not some Chinese ditchfinders.
With the SRi pack and ambient interior lighting it's a nice step up over the usual Astras I drive at work (bog standard 1.7 CDTi models). The sports seats make a big difference in comfort, so make sure you get those. The standard seats are pretty flat and easy to slide around in.
The handling is my favourite thing about it, with the HiPerStrut suspension doing it's job to make for a clean drive, with the front wheels coping very well with acceleration out of corners or over wet/rippled tarmac without torque steer or undue corruption. It doesn't mimic an LSD, but does deliver an impressive drive for a passive suspension system. The ride is also relatively pleasant, being neither too stiff nor too supple. It certainly deals well on B roads, being able to keep all four wheels down over a typical undulating B road surface without feeling boaty or rolling excessively.
In terms of of the petrols, I didn't find them very exciting and perhaps lacking in torque so I went for the 2.0 CDTi, being familiar with Vauxhall diesels and liking it's easy grunt. At 162bhp, it makes a respectable amount of power and is flexible if a bit noisy at idle. It's also very easy to tell when it is in regen too thanks to the instant consumption monitor (indicating that the rear demist has activated, if you were wondering) so you'll never accidentally stop driving or switch the engine off whilst it's cleaning the DPF.
Overall great cars, I think. Cheap, nice to drive and reliable. I also considered the ubiquitous Golf GTD and Scirocco as alternatives but found they just couldn't match the GTC for value for money. Next time, a GTD may be in order due to the GTC now being discontinued and I am much less a fan of the Astra I over the Astra J.
Don Roque said:
It is easy enough to find a decent GTC though like anything that sold relatively well and was fairly cheap to start, there will be plenty of shonkas out there.
No nice ones near me at the moment, though. 
CB43JD is a nearby postcode (local VX dealer, not my address).
I think 2.0CDTi 165 would be my preferance, with consideration for the 1.6 CDTi 136 (ULEZ compliant) and even the 1.4T 140 petrol. Due to the 20k+ annual mileage the car will cover I don't want something too thirsty.
With the usage pattern I have in mind (mostly extra-urban) cars roughly match their 'combined' mpg figure.
The combined figure for the 1.4T 140 is 46mpg which would be just about acceptable although the 60mpg of the CDTi would be nice.
Edited by Ron99 on Thursday 6th August 12:50
Don Roque said:
....
The handling is my favourite thing about it, with the HiPerStrut suspension doing it's job to make for a clean drive, with the front wheels coping very well with acceleration out of corners or over wet/rippled tarmac without torque steer or undue corruption. It doesn't mimic an LSD, but does deliver an impressive drive for a passive suspension system. The ride is also relatively pleasant, being neither too stiff nor too supple. It certainly deals well on B roads, being able to keep all four wheels down over a typical undulating B road surface without feeling boaty or rolling excessively.........
Overall great cars, I think. Cheap, nice to drive and reliable. I also considered the ubiquitous Golf GTD and Scirocco as alternatives but found they just couldn't match the GTC for value for money. Next time, a GTD may be in order due to the GTC now being discontinued and I am much less a fan of the Astra I over the Astra J.
You need to be careful saying things like that on PH. The handling is my favourite thing about it, with the HiPerStrut suspension doing it's job to make for a clean drive, with the front wheels coping very well with acceleration out of corners or over wet/rippled tarmac without torque steer or undue corruption. It doesn't mimic an LSD, but does deliver an impressive drive for a passive suspension system. The ride is also relatively pleasant, being neither too stiff nor too supple. It certainly deals well on B roads, being able to keep all four wheels down over a typical undulating B road surface without feeling boaty or rolling excessively.........
Overall great cars, I think. Cheap, nice to drive and reliable. I also considered the ubiquitous Golf GTD and Scirocco as alternatives but found they just couldn't match the GTC for value for money. Next time, a GTD may be in order due to the GTC now being discontinued and I am much less a fan of the Astra I over the Astra J.
Ron99 said:
No nice ones near me at the moment, though.
CB43JD is a nearby postcode (local VX dealer, not my address).
I think 2.0CDTi 165 would be my preferance, with consideration for the 1.6 CDTi 136 (ULEZ compliant) and even the 1.4T 140 petrol. Due to the 20k+ annual mileage the car will cover I don't want something too thirsty.
With the usage pattern I have in mind (mostly extra-urban) cars roughly match their 'combined' mpg figure.
The combined figure for the 1.4T 140 is 46mpg which would be just about acceptable although the 60mpg of the CDTi would be nice.
The wife had a 1.4 petrol. She averaged about 36mpg in the real world. The GTC is a heavy car and it never felt quite powerful enough. CB43JD is a nearby postcode (local VX dealer, not my address).
I think 2.0CDTi 165 would be my preferance, with consideration for the 1.6 CDTi 136 (ULEZ compliant) and even the 1.4T 140 petrol. Due to the 20k+ annual mileage the car will cover I don't want something too thirsty.
With the usage pattern I have in mind (mostly extra-urban) cars roughly match their 'combined' mpg figure.
The combined figure for the 1.4T 140 is 46mpg which would be just about acceptable although the 60mpg of the CDTi would be nice.
Edited by Ron99 on Thursday 6th August 12:50
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