RE: Shed of the Week | Vauxhall Astra Turbo cabrio

[jase_llan]

General consensus of these comments seem to back up how I was brought up to know these... Astra Gs were "ashtrays" and after a neighbour went through more water pumps than tanks of fuel the Astra Hs were christened "Disastras..."

[J4CKO]

Hmm, not one that has me quivering with my phone in my hand but I sort of like it, take out the Vauxhall prejudice its not a bad looking thing in silver, with half decent wheels and its worn well for its sixteen years.

"Council as f*ck", hmm, maybe but to be honest I think German stuff has usurped Vauxhall in that market segment, I see a lot of aged diesel A4's with blacked out windows and the life to make me think they have moved on and I dont think this looks that down at heel, however if you modify it in any way that fragile status of it might not be, dissapears.

Sort of got a vibe of someone who won a decent, but not jackpot amount on the lottery in 2003 about it somehow.

The interiors are a bit ropey, compare it with a Golf of the same year, we had a 2008 Astra H for a bit and it creaked and groaned whilst feeling like it was from a different century, but like this, no rust and had weathered very well.

I think we have a lot of choice of half decent drop tops for little money in this country, even at £1500 it might struggle as has been mentioned its competing with some more upmarket stuff but even so, its a lot of car for the money, has plenty of life left in it and isnt a dog (well, no worse than it started out). Probably not a bad thing to drive on a sunny day with the roof down, plenty of grunt, just dont expect too much.

[kuiper]

Oh dear.

These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.

[hammo19]

With some many No’s it makes it a Yes from me.

[Frimley111R]

the_hood said:

.... but horribly dated interior.

It's 15 years old. Most interiors are horribly dated from then. it always had a fairly plain design and so it's aged far better than many.

[Rich Boy Spanner]

Looks OK externally, always thought these were inoffensively pretty as a design. The cliff face dash looked out of date in all Astras, even when they were new(ish) but you get used to it. At least judge the car, not the badge, it's PH not Mumsnet.

[DoctorX]

Dannbodge said:

Always like the coupe version of these. IMO it's quite a good looking car.

Not a bad looking thing, the interior is grim though. Slightly O/T but I wish Vauxhall would stop sticking ‘Turbo’ on everything as if it impresses anyone. It’s just another part of an engine these days, an Astra Turbo is much the same as driving a Ford Focus Sparkplug.

[Triumph Man]

DoctorX said:

Dannbodge said:

Always like the coupe version of these. IMO it's quite a good looking car.

Not a bad looking thing, the interior is grim though. Slightly O/T but I wish Vauxhall would stop sticking ‘Turbo’ on everything as if it impresses anyone. It’s just another part of an engine these days, an Astra Turbo is much the same as driving a Ford Focus Sparkplug.

Exactly. It's not the 80s anymore! Next they'll be sticking "ABS" badges on the back of everything.

I must admit I do quite like this shape of Astra coupe and convertible, even if the interior is dated.

[Galsia]

A Winner Is You said:

I must admit, looks wise it has aged rather well.

Nice to see you on Pistonheads, Mr Wonder.

[FA57REN]

Remarkably sprightly performance but miles behind the sublime 306 Cabrio in looks. Which is really what counts with a cabriolet.

Edited by FA57REN on Friday 18th October 09:21

[86wasagoodyear]

"...the steering wheel appears to have suffered from .. bra clasp abrasion." Excellent.

[mooseracer]

Can't believe no-one has mentioned the Mrs Shed line about non-functioning hoods

As for the car I neither dislike nor like, a bit of an uninteresting oddity.

[scottygib553]

No.

[court]

Same engine as the 9-3 isn't it? I think I'd find one of those those if had to scratch a weird old GM convertible with a awful dash and scuttle shake itch.

[Steamer]

g3org3y said:

PH said:

200hp? Check. 140mph? Check. Drop-top four-seater? Check. Vauxhall Astra? Er, check...

Council as fk? Check.

Have to agree - there was just something about this model that screamed 'Council'

[Greg the Fish]

Astra Coupe Turbo looks like a pretty smart purchase at £1,495.

Nope.

[Mr-B]

That interior, from the drivers point of view it's not mid noughties it's mid 80's!

[only1ian]

Wasn’t this penned by an Italian Design firm? I’ve a feeling pinafarina...

[loudlashadjuster]

The Article said:

If it was a German car with this sort of spec and performance you'd probably not flinch at paying quite a bit more than £1,500.

But...it is a German car

[Steamer]

Mr-B said:

That interior, from the drivers point of view it's not mid noughties it's mid 80's!

Yer but in the (late) 80's the GTE convertible was in the space age!! (another horrible car in convertible form.. although it looked half decent for the era)