RE: PH Blog: Astra timeline

[anything fast]

always loved the Mk2 GTE, only the chassis let it down. I sorted mine out, it had Spax lowering springs and Boge shocks, various uprated bushes, a strut brace, 7.5 x 15inch wheels with 205/45 tyres and ta da.. it was like a different car!

[anything fast]

Gridl0k said:

All I remember from a brief drive of a Mk2 GTE was that it was as if someone had set out to make a car that could be used as an example of torque steer in some textbook or other.

To be honest, I'll take the Maestro.

oh dear..

[richb77]

My '87 2.0 8V GTE was one of the best cars i ever owned (in fact seconded only to the '92 Cavalier GSI i had a few years later).

Sure the paint flaked like a lepers skin, but it was wicked quick comfy and bloody bulletproof.

The digi dash was oh so cool as well.

[richb77]

Gridl0k said:

All I remember from a brief drive of a Mk2 GTE was that it was as if someone had set out to make a car that could be used as an example of torque steer in some textbook or other.

To be honest, I'll take the Maestro.

I doubt there are any left!

Between tin worm and the fact that Austin/Rover/MG never uprated the already woefully underpowered brakes most must have gone the way of the dodo.

Pig ugly too.

[robert_raw]

have had 2 hot astra's MK3 and MK4 and my dad had a mk 1.

Mk1 was pretty cool, met its maker in a crash
MK3 was pretty dire, loads of body roll and left me feeling a little nervous as the driving "feel" wasn't great - cam shaft disintegrated - Bin
MK4 was much better, handling was ok practicality was good and it was fairly good looking - cambelt snapped 30,000 miles before it was due.

Sold it and bought an integra - Now there is a good handling car.

[Killboy]

Crafty_ said:

There was a mk3 turbo version called the 200ts. Engine from the cavalier/calibra but was FWD only. I think it was sold in South Africa.

While we did, there was a lot more special version South Africa built. Due to restrictions back then, we were forced to get creative, and the heat was on in Production Car racing (your BTCC) between Opel and BMW.





Readable version: http://www.carmagblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/201...

http://www.carmagblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/201...

In essense, a hologated car was built, (cosworth head, shrick cams, custom exhaust and Limited Slip Diff, with some revised suspension bits). and a handful were sold to the public so they could go racing. It cleaned house, destroying the BMW 325iS (another SA special).

I was lucky enough to find one in need of some TLC, and restored it from a heap to one of the most amazing cars I've ever driven. I love it. It was wild, unsophisticated, and insane. Speedo needle well off the clock with over 2000rpm to to redline, and the sound.... incredible.

It positively destroyed the competition at the time. VW had plans for a special golf "spitze", which was shelved, but the GTI was racing a class back.



Sadly, the car gods recalled their son, and it was destroyed in an explosion and fire while having the fuel tank drained, to which some people were sadly hurt too.

[zygalski]

I'm on my 3rd GTE & my 2nd redtop.
They're eye-wateringly fast even by todays standards (de-cat Scorpion zorst, k&n panel filter) & the handling issues can easily be sorted by sticking 15' wheels & decent 195/50/15 rubber on.
I've also lowered mine on Eibach springs & Bilstein shocks & it feels very competant through the twisties, whilst also not being too harsh. After all, it is my daily drive

[anything fast]

richb77 said:

Gridl0k said:

All I remember from a brief drive of a Mk2 GTE was that it was as if someone had set out to make a car that could be used as an example of torque steer in some textbook or other.

To be honest, I'll take the Maestro.

I doubt there are any left!

Between tin worm and the fact that Austin/Rover/MG never uprated the already woefully underpowered brakes most must have gone the way of the dodo.

Pig ugly too.

Careful mate, you have obviously not heard of the MG owners club, there are a few of these cars left and a tuning scene (MotoBuild0, they will be gunning for you with your unfair comments about a wonderful, rustproof, reliable Icon of a car!

[BigTom85]

alfettagtv2000 said:

I never had a GTE but an early mk2 1.3. It was still a fun car though and went better than a 1.3 should!

bulkhead mounted steering rack felt poor and used to split the bulkhead in some cases...

I agree - the 1.3 was a belter and punched way above its weight, a real hoot of an engine!

[RWD cossie wil]

zygalski said:

I'm on my 3rd GTE & my 2nd redtop.
They're eye-wateringly fast even by todays standards (de-cat Scorpion zorst, k&n panel filter) & the handling issues can easily be sorted by sticking 15' wheels & decent 195/50/15 rubber on.
I've also lowered mine on Eibach springs & Bilstein shocks & it feels very competant through the twisties, whilst also not being too harsh. After all, it is my daily drive

I loved mine, the engine just thrives on being revved, and for an N/A engine there is loads of torque as well. Not a lot of people know Cosworth helped developed the head, which explains why they are so damn good!

When Vauxhall made their own, the head was notorious for going porous and filling the cooling system with oil, but pressure testing fine! Make sure you get a Coscast head if you are after one, the earlier cars are best IMHO.

[Hub]

I've never been a fan of the Astra really... I haven't driven them, but the Mk1 and 2 look a bit cheap and nasty now. The new VXR however is a really good looking car. I wonder how many Vauxhall will sell though, given the lack of private buyers for the brand these days, and the traditional hot hatch buyer being squeezed with insurance costs, petrol costs, depreciation, and income/job worries!

[markbigears]

happy days..... had a MK1 B plate in white, same as the one in the article. Loved the seats and handled quite well, then went on to a MK2, didn't handle as well, or more like I didn't feel it did, but the dash was buck rodgers! remember having great fun replacing the bulbs in the dash when one went! Most i've ever paid for insurance on a car, 2K! but then I was 23 at the time.

[CampDavid]

anything fast said:

richb77 said:

Gridl0k said:

All I remember from a brief drive of a Mk2 GTE was that it was as if someone had set out to make a car that could be used as an example of torque steer in some textbook or other.

To be honest, I'll take the Maestro.

I doubt there are any left!

Between tin worm and the fact that Austin/Rover/MG never uprated the already woefully underpowered brakes most must have gone the way of the dodo.

Pig ugly too.

Careful mate, you have obviously not heard of the MG owners club, there are a few of these cars left and a tuning scene (MotoBuild0, they will be gunning for you with your unfair comments about a wonderful, rustproof, reliable Icon of a car!

Probably not worth mentioning to them that the 0-60 of a customer car would be no where near the uprated boost monkey that was the press car.

[hill79]

Barely a mention of the MK4 coupe? A Bertone styled, 200bhp 2.0 turbo which while never a class leader, is still a respectable drive over ten years later? (disclosure: I own one)

oh and there was an 888 special to tie in with all those Touring Car victories in 2001.



Quite a glaring omission from an article about Astra heritage.

[zygalski]

CampDavid said:

anything fast said:

richb77 said:

Gridl0k said:

All I remember from a brief drive of a Mk2 GTE was that it was as if someone had set out to make a car that could be used as an example of torque steer in some textbook or other.

To be honest, I'll take the Maestro.

I doubt there are any left!

Between tin worm and the fact that Austin/Rover/MG never uprated the already woefully underpowered brakes most must have gone the way of the dodo.

Pig ugly too.

Careful mate, you have obviously not heard of the MG owners club, there are a few of these cars left and a tuning scene (MotoBuild0, they will be gunning for you with your unfair comments about a wonderful, rustproof, reliable Icon of a car!

Probably not worth mentioning to them that the 0-60 of a customer car would be no where near the uprated boost monkey that was the press car.

Yep you can ignore the figures for 0-60 for the Maestro turbo.
What is interesting is how it affected the fuel economy stats.
The tweeking lost about 6mpg compared to the RS turbo & GTE...

[s m]

Killboy said:

While we did, there was a lot more special version South Africa built. Due to restrictions back then, we were forced to get creative, and the heat was on in Production Car racing (your BTCC) between Opel and BMW.





Readable version: http://www.carmagblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/201...

http://www.carmagblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/201...

In essense, a hologated car was built, (cosworth head, shrick cams, custom exhaust and Limited Slip Diff, with some revised suspension bits). and a handful were sold to the public so they could go racing. It cleaned house, destroying the BMW 325iS (another SA special).

I was lucky enough to find one in need of some TLC, and restored it from a heap to one of the most amazing cars I've ever driven. I love it. It was wild, unsophisticated, and insane. Speedo needle well off the clock with over 2000rpm to to redline, and the sound.... incredible.

It positively destroyed the competition at the time. VW had plans for a special golf "spitze", which was shelved, but the GTI was racing a class back.



Sadly, the car gods recalled their son, and it was destroyed in an explosion and fire while having the fuel tank drained, to which some people were sadly hurt too.

Fantastic - great post

[andymadmak]

CampDavid said:

Probably not worth mentioning to them that the 0-60 of a customer car would be no where near the uprated boost monkey that was the press car.

Doubt you have ever driven one.

[Riggers]

hill79 said:

Barely a mention of the MK4 coupe? A Bertone styled, 200bhp 2.0 turbo which while never a class leader, is still a respectable drive over ten years later? (disclosure: I own one)

oh and there was an 888 special to tie in with all those Touring Car victories in 2001.



Quite a glaring omission from an article about Astra heritage.

Fair point, although it's not strictly a hot hatch

[405dogvan]

A couple of years ago we'd taken in a Megane Sport and a mate was interested so he brought his Astra VXR in and we ended-up driving them back to back for laughs.

The Megane was clearly the better driver's car (and the guy duly bought it) however I'd have taken his VXR any day of the week because it was a hooligan of a thing. People came back after a test drive with that look on their face which said it had bitten them - and I liked that.

The Megane is composed and sorted and can be pushed harder than most people will ever push it - wheras the Astra has more power than talent and always feels on the edge of an accident - even when you're driving to the shops!!

I actually like that feeling, rather than the feeling I'm driving a car at 50% of it's abilities (or breaking the law) - I also liked the interior which was made for people who's mum didn't smoke during her pregnancies (Renault - making interiors for dwarfs since forever) - I even liked how it looked (it wasn't a white or red one) and so on...

I'd have one in a shot if I needed such a machine - but then the first new car I ever bought would have been a Mk2 16V (in Pearlescent Aubergine of course) had a job abroad not come up and removed my need for a car at the time!!

[Gridl0k]

khushy said:

the first really-cool white cars.

...*cough* Audi Quattro *cough*