Vauxhall Astra GSI: Spotted
There can't be many left, so maybe now is the time to pounce...
Much like their fast Ford adversaries, it appears that quick Vauxhalls have suffered an equally drastic decline in numbers over recent years. Cars that once seemed to feature on every other street corner or car park are now notable only by their scarcity, either tucked away in collections, for sale at ludicrously inflated prices or sacrificed to scrappage schemes.
Their popularity at one time, though, ensures the cars are fondly remembered. Cars like this Astra GSI will have once been the dream hot hatch for young drivers making their first journeys in LS or GLS Astras. Perhaps it was to a car they'd work hard to buy, only to be sold once family commitments intervened. It might even have been something exciting to a younger audience; an Astra like Mum and Dad had but with 150hp. Whatever the case, the car's visibility not so long ago - or what seems like not long ago - will have ensured plenty of people know (or remember) it very well.
The Mk3 GSI was always going to have a difficult job on its hands; not only were the early 90s a real sullen period for the hot hatch, insurance costs rather castrating the breed, but it also had to replace the Mk2 GTE - a car revered by seemingly all who drove it.
The end result won't be remembered as a hot hatch hero, but precious little of the era will. This is the time of the Golf Mk3 and Escort Mk4, don't forget. And although the GSI may not have been the most electrifying hot hatch around, it was brisk enough and looked pretty smart - arguably still does, in fact. Furthermore, you may have noticed in recent times that dynamic talent has proved no barrier to quite considerable appreciation...
With apparently just over 100 left registered in the UK, to find an unmodified, low mileage GSI really is quite notable. The condition is good for a car not far off 30, too, though the advert does note that some remedial paintwork wouldn't go amiss. As an early car with the more desirable Redtop engine, this GSI is about as good as it gets for this generation.
While £5k will no doubt shock a few, it's easy to see why the Astra commands this sort of price; as the advert states, "find me another in this condition". While all manner of other hot hatches from other eras are on offer for the same money, it should be noted that an Escort RS2000 of similar vintage and mileage is also £5,000 - comes with the territory, nowadays.
But if a Mk3 GSI is a car you've coveted for a while, it's hard to imagine a better one coming along anytime soon. With numbers presumably only set to dwindle further, an asking price above this in a couple of years wouldn't be a surprise. Funny how people remember how much they want something when there's less chance of getting one, isn't it? Finally, if it must be a really old fast Vauxhall or nothing at all, then another £1,000 buys this Mk2 GTE, newly working digital dash and all - buyers are spoilt for choice. Get in now, before there's an astranomical rise in value...
SPECIFICATION - VAUXHALL ASTRA GSI
Engine: 1,998cc, four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 155@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 145@4,800rpm
MPG: 28.9 (CAR test average)
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1992
Recorded mileage: 64,000
Price new: £15,600
Yours for: £5,000
[Source: TriggersCarStuff road tests, on Flickr]
I quite like the Astra GTE/GSI, unpretentious cheap performance motors for geezers and easily powerful enough to keep up with the French/German competition. They also had genuine motorsport success during this period with a number of class wins in the WRC during the 90s. Really tough too, these invariably took an absolute pasting. The 2.0 litre 16v engine is one of the great underappreciated engines, the transmission was bombproof (heavily overbuilt) although they really struggled to get the power down, an LSD made a massive difference in this respect.
I slightly prefer the 80s predecessor to this one, mainly due to the HUGE digital dash.
Wouldn’t give a fiver for anything out of Luton other than the train fare back to civilisation. The writer has clearly never driven one of these awful machines. A Lada of the period drove better.
They are the last of a breed and although I’m not a GM fan I appreciate them for what they are
My personal preference would be for a mk2 Golf GTi 16v but that’s by the by.
As an aside, does anyone else think that the mk2 GTE (as mentioned in the narrative) has a barren interior, as in there seems to be nothing in there? Mind you, minimalism isn’t necessarily a bad thing I guess.
Wouldn’t give a fiver for anything out of Luton other than the train fare back to civilisation. The writer has clearly never driven one of these awful machines. A Lada of the period drove better.
Compared to some of the overpriced tat on offer at the moment this looks like good value, especially with such a low mileage.
Could you be specific about which Lada you feel drives better than this? I believe your choices are Samara, Niva or the old 1200 / 1300 Fiat 124 clone. Having driven all of these in period, and the Astra, I know which I'd have.
Instrumentation with oil pressure, battery voltage etc - check
Great seats - check
Central locking - check
Radio cassette with Fischer c- box storage - check
Adjustable steering wheel - check
Opening rear quarter vents - check
Sunroof - check
Hot hatches of that era didn’t have a lot of the modern stuff
Modern cars have more power and are heavier
Your S-max is undoubtedly a lot newer
I always enjoyed driving it and I still hold the red top engine in very high regard even now. Fond memories of these for sure.
Wouldn’t give a fiver for anything out of Luton other than the train fare back to civilisation. The writer has clearly never driven one of these awful machines. A Lada of the period drove better.
Compared to some of the overpriced tat on offer at the moment this looks like good value, especially with such a low mileage.
Could you be specific about which Lada you feel drives better than this? I believe your choices are Samara, Niva or the old 1200 / 1300 Fiat 124 clone. Having driven all of these in period, and the Astra, I know which I'd have.
I bet It drives better than a mercury comet convertible
I had one of these back in 1996
And the c20xe is one of the best 4 pots ever created, although mine was exchanged for a let
For more power thoroughly enjoyed mine at the time
Wouldn’t give a fiver for anything out of Luton other than the train fare back to civilisation. The writer has clearly never driven one of these awful machines. A Lada of the period drove better.
The Vauxhalls of the 80's and early 90s were pretty decent cars for their time.
I wouldn't pay £5k for this or a MK2/MK3 Golf (and definitely not the Escort) but it's a tidy example and if somebody wants one a much cheaper option than a restoration.
Wouldn’t give a fiver for anything out of Luton other than the train fare back to civilisation. The writer has clearly never driven one of these awful machines. A Lada of the period drove better.
I wouldn't pay £5k either because it doesn't float my boat these days. But back in the late 90s when I started driving and had a basic Mk2 Astra I did quite like these. There will be people out there in their 30s or 40s now who maybe had these back in the day and want to relive those times, and £5k really isn't a lot these days for many people. £5k for a very basic used modern runabout, or £5k to relive some of your youth? Look at what people will pay for NOva GSi, and all the Ford crew etc. Not my cup of tea but each to their own.
Wish I hadn't clicked the link to the Mk2 though. I always look back on them through rose tinted glasses and seeing that example now has made me realise I'm not that fond anymore. I wanted one so badly in the late 90s. There was an immaculate red 16v same as the one for sale here that I often used to walk past in town and I'd drool over. I didn't care that they were a Vauxhall or that they weren't the "best" hot hatch, I loved the styling and my niave young mind cared more that they were one of the most powerful hatches of that era. The Mk2 felt massive inside as well. I remember folding the back seats down and sleeping in the boot of my GL after a party one night, it was cavernous!
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