RE: Vauxhall Astra GTE (Mk1): PH Heroes
Discussion
cookie1600 said:
J4CKO said:
I had one and thought it looked great but it was a bit of a wheezy, lolopping old thing as standard, the Astra had a smidge more power and the engine was a bit perkier all round, the Mantas was saddled with an old Iron Block lump with fuel injection on it, the Astra had a much more modern, revvy unit.
I plumped for the Manta GTE in black too, I probably should have had the Astra in hindsight but I was towing a race car quite a bit back then.The Manta was not slouch but you knew you were flogging it to wring out every extra mph you could. The build was good (for the time and price) and the doors had a healthy clunk. I was just on the cusp of the Mk1 to Mk2 Astra GTE era, so that may also have had some bearing on it.
Just shows how journalistic taste changes - they'd all pick the Corolla now!
My uncle worked for Vauxhall from the early seventies into the mid eighties on the high performance development side (he was an ex rally driver). I recall a long line of souped up test cars from Victors, Magnums, with the 2.3 to VX4/90's with tricks. I recall he tested the HP Firenza with the droop-snoot which was later put on the sportshatch estate version.
The ultimate was the beige Mk1 Astra with (IIRC) a turbo-charged 1.6 under the bonnet and steelies, trick suspension etc. It looked like a basic car but was an absolute hooligan on the road. Obviously it never went into production for reasons I cannot remember but I recall a trip around the lanes of Mold in it and I was scared sheetless by the sheer B road pace of it. He then had the Mk1 GTE followed by the Mk2. I will never forget watching the LED dash hit 125 as a speed mad 17 year old.
The ultimate was the beige Mk1 Astra with (IIRC) a turbo-charged 1.6 under the bonnet and steelies, trick suspension etc. It looked like a basic car but was an absolute hooligan on the road. Obviously it never went into production for reasons I cannot remember but I recall a trip around the lanes of Mold in it and I was scared sheetless by the sheer B road pace of it. He then had the Mk1 GTE followed by the Mk2. I will never forget watching the LED dash hit 125 as a speed mad 17 year old.
Edited by Trophy Husband on Wednesday 21st November 15:11
lee_erm said:
Never understood the love for the MK1 Golf GTI and it's position as the benchmark which all old hot hatches are compared too.
The GTI had slow, heavy steering. A thrashy engine which didn't like to rev. It was a bit wallowy. A 205 GTI it wasn't.
Well, of course it wasn't. The Golf GTI came out in 1978 when the nearest equivalent Peugeot was a 54 hp 104. Being six years later, the 205GTI was a competitor for the Mark II Golf GTI, not the Mark I.The GTI had slow, heavy steering. A thrashy engine which didn't like to rev. It was a bit wallowy. A 205 GTI it wasn't.
XK140 said:
IMHO the Manta GT/E,which would have sat alongside the Astra in the Vauxhall showrooms at the time, was the nicer car.
My opinion too, reflected in my having one which I did 100K in and upgraded as I went. However I did think the Mark 1 Astra GTE was an attractive package for 1983, when it came out. Looked great, was a refined motorway car compared to a lot of the hatches of the time, and had those lovely seats (mind you, teh Manta had those too). BFleming said:
Ah the uncommon 207 x 15 tyres 
Anyhow of the 5 Ogle Astra's built, there were 2 grey, 2 white & one red, so the red one really is one of a kind. It seems they only built 5 as the price tag was £10,000, compared to the GTE at £6400ish.
Guy who bought it off ebay to restore had to fetch it on a trailer - that's the red one Anyhow of the 5 Ogle Astra's built, there were 2 grey, 2 white & one red, so the red one really is one of a kind. It seems they only built 5 as the price tag was £10,000, compared to the GTE at £6400ish.
Did this car have a choke? Because one of the hooning great big pics with the article suggests.. not.. ffs..
https://ph-classic-prod-images.s3.amazonaws.com/ni...
https://ph-classic-prod-images.s3.amazonaws.com/ni...
Pah… no match for my old Mk2 XR2 back in the day. Mind you - it wasn't stock. 135+ BHP and 840kg.
But hey, I liked the Astra GTE's too. I have fond memories of many hot hatches in that era - from most manufacturers. Hot hatches were the most popular performance cars on the road back then. All reasonably priced and reasonably interesting.
But hey, I liked the Astra GTE's too. I have fond memories of many hot hatches in that era - from most manufacturers. Hot hatches were the most popular performance cars on the road back then. All reasonably priced and reasonably interesting.
Had a mk1 of these from new. Recall very long 5th gear-great for going between London and the West Country; large easily frozen washer reservoir-not so great.
Mk 2 also-like Mr T Husband can remember the digital Speedo showing 125. Then saw the Avon & Somerset SD1 in my mirrors. Doh!
Great times though...when the graph rev counter starts flashing to say change up you git.
Mk 2 also-like Mr T Husband can remember the digital Speedo showing 125. Then saw the Avon & Somerset SD1 in my mirrors. Doh!
Great times though...when the graph rev counter starts flashing to say change up you git.
Edited by standards on Wednesday 21st November 15:46
Lowtimer said:
lee_erm said:
Never understood the love for the MK1 Golf GTI and it's position as the benchmark which all old hot hatches are compared too.
The GTI had slow, heavy steering. A thrashy engine which didn't like to rev. It was a bit wallowy. A 205 GTI it wasn't.
Well, of course it wasn't. The Golf GTI came out in 1978 when the nearest equivalent Peugeot was a 54 hp 104. Being six years later, the 205GTI was a competitor for the Mark II Golf GTI, not the Mark I.The GTI had slow, heavy steering. A thrashy engine which didn't like to rev. It was a bit wallowy. A 205 GTI it wasn't.
But of course a B-segment and thus more of an A5 rival, to be fair. But they were very nippy IIRC.
Was a young apprentice at a vauxhall garage when these were new, fondly remember them, and even though the mk2 was a much better car, I just preferred the looks of the mk1, the wooden brakes mentioned in the article were down to the car having the brake servo on the passenger side in the engine bay, and connected to the pedal via a link bar, this obviously over time suffered and siezed and the brakes became worse.
I also liked the Manta gte monza gsi. And little Nova's of the day.
I also liked the Manta gte monza gsi. And little Nova's of the day.
I had one of these when I was 20. It was great, an ‘A’ reg white one. The engine was excellent at the time, smooth and good power. As mine was an earlier one it had the gearbox with the longer ratios, better for the motorway, but top speed was pretty much the same in 4th and 5th. I saw 137 indicated once, bit of error there I would imagine!
Later ‘B’ plate cars changed to a close ratio gearbox, as did the cavalier SRi at the same time. Changed it for a mk2 GTI which was no better really apart from the brakes as the Astra was rear drums whereas the golf had discs all round.
Later ‘B’ plate cars changed to a close ratio gearbox, as did the cavalier SRi at the same time. Changed it for a mk2 GTI which was no better really apart from the brakes as the Astra was rear drums whereas the golf had discs all round.
Nothing particularly rose tinted about my memory of these cars.
My mate had one in 1990, so it was all of 6 years old.
Even at the time I considered the handling felt pretty wooden,
The brakes were naff and it of course came with some torque steer
For amusement.
Brilliant family 2 engines (surely one of the best every day engines from the 80’s)
Just about saved it from disaster.
It was riddled with rust so it was fortunate his brother was a painter and
Sprayed it Azure Blue which looked nice.
I’ll have a Golf please.
My mate had one in 1990, so it was all of 6 years old.
Even at the time I considered the handling felt pretty wooden,
The brakes were naff and it of course came with some torque steer
For amusement.
Brilliant family 2 engines (surely one of the best every day engines from the 80’s)
Just about saved it from disaster.
It was riddled with rust so it was fortunate his brother was a painter and
Sprayed it Azure Blue which looked nice.
I’ll have a Golf please.
s m said:
cookie1600 said:
I think the one in the article is from the Vauxhall heritage collection, so probably well looked after.
Probably so as EVO borrowed it for a similar article last year - ( see above for link ).Interesting to see how a lot of these older cars that weren't class winners in contemporary articles by journos of the time are coming to be well regarded now by scribblers now i.e.DC2 ITR, E30 M3, 964RS etc
And vice versa of course!
In Modern Classics Magazine its interesting that the original road test winner often isn't their favourite on the day. Cars like the MG Maestro Turbo get a positive re-appraisal when revisited as classics. Makes you wonder how much badge and image influences journos when these cars are new, less important perhaps when testing years later.
Another underrated Vauxhall of recent times is the last gen Astra VXR Coupe. In one EVO test, it was a mere 0.2 secs slower than a Megane RS Trophy around Blyton park despite wearing less track biased tyres and weighing considerably more, yet it finished mid table in the test. I wonder if in 2025 this is another Vauxhall which will get a fresh appraisal when tested as a modern classic.
Anyone moaning about it not getting the same love as Ford's should look at what they cost now, stop moaning and go and buy one.
When an RS1600i costs £30k and a GTE costs £6k it's not a bad thing they don't have the rep and love.
I never owned a Vauxhall or a Ford but many of my mates, between them, went through the entire catalogue of both.
I can't say I ever really like the Vauxhalls but that's comparing Mk1 and 2 GTE's to S1 and S2 RS Turbo's which probably isn't fair.
Then again, the mk2 GTE is more powerful than a S2 RS Turbo.
I had a 92 Clio 16v which I much preferred to the mk2 GTE. It was only slower at the top, licence losing end, nicer looking inside and out (imo) too.
When an RS1600i costs £30k and a GTE costs £6k it's not a bad thing they don't have the rep and love.
I never owned a Vauxhall or a Ford but many of my mates, between them, went through the entire catalogue of both.
I can't say I ever really like the Vauxhalls but that's comparing Mk1 and 2 GTE's to S1 and S2 RS Turbo's which probably isn't fair.
Then again, the mk2 GTE is more powerful than a S2 RS Turbo.
I had a 92 Clio 16v which I much preferred to the mk2 GTE. It was only slower at the top, licence losing end, nicer looking inside and out (imo) too.
Lowtimer said:
Well, of course it wasn't. The Golf GTI came out in 1978 when the nearest equivalent Peugeot was a 54 hp 104. Being six years later, the 205GTI was a competitor for the Mark II Golf GTI, not the Mark I.
My comment with regards to the 205 could apply to a Clio 172 for example. Those are both cars deserving of their status as benchmarks, the Golf being the crude thing it is probably isn't. greenarrow said:
That's a very good point which I've been musing over myself, although in the case of the E30 M3 and 964RS they were always pretty highly regarded.
In Modern Classics Magazine its interesting that the original road test winner often isn't their favourite on the day. Cars like the MG Maestro Turbo get a positive re-appraisal when revisited as classics. Makes you wonder how much badge and image influences journos when these cars are new, less important perhaps when testing years later
That is true, a lot of the older stuff was highly regarded but I remember the Sierra getting the verdict over the M3 a fair few times and the 964RS was often slated for being too unrefined, too expensive and too stiff for the road. In Modern Classics Magazine its interesting that the original road test winner often isn't their favourite on the day. Cars like the MG Maestro Turbo get a positive re-appraisal when revisited as classics. Makes you wonder how much badge and image influences journos when these cars are new, less important perhaps when testing years later
Certainly depends on the journos doing the writing and it’s interesting to see a few of the also-rans from years back being lauded. Badge helps a lot too
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