RE: Vauxhall Astra GSI: Spotted
Discussion
Some harsh comments here, I side with those saying that Vauxhalls were pretty decent in the 80s and 90s before they put in ecotec engines and complex electronics.
The GSI was quite a looker and a desirable car of the time (Ask any joyrider of the era) and that engine was arguably the best in a hot hatch at the period.
Compared to a sporty Ford of the era, this is a bargain and a better car to boot.
They just needed the suspension tweaking to really shine, in fact i much preferred mine to a Golf mk2 16v which was unreliable and hard work to drive.
The GSI was quite a looker and a desirable car of the time (Ask any joyrider of the era) and that engine was arguably the best in a hot hatch at the period.
Compared to a sporty Ford of the era, this is a bargain and a better car to boot.
They just needed the suspension tweaking to really shine, in fact i much preferred mine to a Golf mk2 16v which was unreliable and hard work to drive.
1974foggy said:
Johnnytheboy said:
I'll take one of these instead:
Seriously, the mk 5 escort was terrible in every way - only the Cosworth version was desireable. The Astra ran rings around mk5 escorts at the time.Possibly the worst car ever to wear the RS badge.
Still, motoring journalists, eh?
I am a little biased; my mother had two RS2000s and I drove the latter a lot; it was an absolute cracker by the standards of the day.
Mate had a GSi, lots of sensor issue if I recall whereas my GTE was great. Bought it at 2 yo for £4400 as you couldn't give performance cars away in 1993! Thought I had a bargain until I worked at the local Ford garage who had just sold their Sapphire Cosworth demo for the same money... Insurance would have been over £2k on that though, was £600 on the GTE. Plus it would have got nicked lol
Here's mine, long since disappeared off the road.
Here's mine, long since disappeared off the road.
cooperd5 said:
Mate had a GSi, lots of sensor issue if I recall whereas my GTE was great. Bought it at 2 yo for £4400 as you couldn't give performance cars away in 1993! Thought I had a bargain until I worked at the local Ford garage who had just sold their Sapphire Cosworth demo for the same money... Insurance would have been over £2k on that though, was £600 on the GTE. Plus it would have got nicked lol
Here's mine, long since disappeared off the road.
Yep, I remember the insurance going mental early 90s - had to wait a few years to get mine as after trying one new I knew I had to own one someday Here's mine, long since disappeared off the road.
Got a really nice one and waxoyled it to death to avoid any rust problems
Fantastic car plus the engine was just on another level - had real pull everywhere, right up to the flashing dangerpaint on the tacho.
Plus being so light it returned really good mpg if you ever needed to do a motorway run. Had some good pointers from the ex-Vauxhall boys my friend ‘spannered’ alongside on the Nissan touring cars. Made my old 325 Sport look a bit sluggish
Like your old pic cooperd5 - is that an Escort Ghia behind?
Edited by s m on Thursday 21st February 15:10
Mr Tidy said:
Jon_S_Rally said:
Lovely that. Not the best car of its era, but quite a handsome thing and very much of it's time. I'd always pick the RS2000 over one of these, but can still appreciate these.
It seems pretty fashionable to knock cars of this era, but they weren't nearly as bad as some make out. We got some great hot hatches in the 1990s and some great race/rally cars off the back of it.
I would prefer an RS2000 too, but only in Mk1 or Mk2 format - the Mk4 just traded on the RS2000 brand and wasn't anything that special by the time it got launched IMHO.It seems pretty fashionable to knock cars of this era, but they weren't nearly as bad as some make out. We got some great hot hatches in the 1990s and some great race/rally cars off the back of it.
1974foggy said:
Seriously, the mk 5 escort was terrible in every way - only the Cosworth version was desireable. The Astra ran rings around mk5 escorts at the time.
Possibly the worst car ever to wear the RS badge.
The early cooking MK5 Escorts weren't much cop but, within a year or so, they had improved massively. The 16v engines improved them again and, by the first facelift, they were perfectly acceptable for the era. I've driven a cooking MK3 Astra. It is equally as mediocre as an Escort. The RS2000 was actually quite well-regarded when it was launched, more so than the Astra.Possibly the worst car ever to wear the RS badge.
The one in the advert has been for sale for about 2 years the lad had it up for less and thought meh and put the price up. Still hasn't sold it.
A later phase 2 Astra mk3 GSI was sold with 115k on for 4k the other week the garage then put it for sale at £7999 a week later. Dreaming.
Spotless early GSI's in standard form have sold for £10k and just over. Phase 2's if low mileage and mint near £6k. Finding a good one thats the hard part especially standard. Spotted a phase 2 yesterday with 40k on the clock standard and was immaculate I wanted to ask about it but no i've had to many and already one one ffs.
A later phase 2 Astra mk3 GSI was sold with 115k on for 4k the other week the garage then put it for sale at £7999 a week later. Dreaming.
Spotless early GSI's in standard form have sold for £10k and just over. Phase 2's if low mileage and mint near £6k. Finding a good one thats the hard part especially standard. Spotted a phase 2 yesterday with 40k on the clock standard and was immaculate I wanted to ask about it but no i've had to many and already one one ffs.
This Astra Mk3 GSi was the mean machine in our championships late 1990's and up to 2015. Full SBD all steel engine, throttle bodies, Quaife box. Fully roadgoing. We couldnt get anywhere near it at places like Goodwood, Brands, Snetterton and Castle Combe. The driver got his nickname of '11 Tenths'. 
This was the same Vauxhall Astra Mk3 GSi out of the Longcross banking and through the tarmac stage at well over 120mph. The cameramen and marshalls scattered. The driver of this car went on to win and took 9 seconds off our modified Integra Type 'R' DC2. We came second. So with all the right set ups, these Astra GSi's were very good. 
Edited by CoolClarky64 on Wednesday 8th February 15:51
Edited by CoolClarky64 on Thursday 23 February 15:55
Great to see this thread rebooted. Must admit I never thought old Vauxhall hot hatches would reach the prices they have done. A dear friend of mine (who took his own life 10 years ago this April) owned a very tidy GSI that was sadly written off. What spoilt it was the early intrusive traction control. He used to demonstrate how the smallest burst of throttle would get it killing the fun. The engine was superb and for its time it was as quick as any early 90s hot hatch out there. In the same ballpark as the 306 GTI-6 actually. Personally I liked it. I also liked the Mk2 Astra GTE which means I go against the grain and how I would love a 16 valve version of one of those. Yes, there were other sharper better handling choices out there, but the styling was unique and that engine was the highlight.
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