RE: Shed of the Week | Vauxhall Astra Turbo cabrio
Discussion
It's a Vauxhall, thus it'll get universal hate because Jezza said the Vectra B was crap and the VXR liked to torque steer...
Dated? The Astra Mk4 was launched in 1998, that's 21 years ago so what we're you expecting...? Something on par with a two year old i8 perhaps?
Anyway, I had a Mk4 GSi Turbo back in 2008 and adored it. It was simple, well made, went well and handled pretty good out the box but was much improved with ~300bhp, KW suspension and fully poly bushed. I put 40k on it in two years with almost no issues.
Skip forward 11 years and my sister still runs a GSi Turbo as her daily. She's not council. It's actually defying belief... she uses as a car, nothing more and all its needed is discs and pads, serviced, a rocker cover gasket and an alternator in the past 30k. No bad going.
I love them, the dash is basic... three dials for the heaters but what more is needed? It's a great balance of old school but actually pretty well screwed together and they wear their miles well. Styling wise they're pretty sharp... a CLK in comparison looks like a fat mess and when talking about dated, it's hardly contemporary either.
As a shed, it's crap but if you don't hate Vauxhalls just to fit in with the crowd nor if you give a damn about badge prestige then they're not bad. Quite delicately styled, simple, quick and getting rare and for some that's appealing.
And no, it's not the same engine as a Saab... product knowledge fail right there but it is the same engine as the darling VX220 Turbo. Which also has Turbo badges.
Dated? The Astra Mk4 was launched in 1998, that's 21 years ago so what we're you expecting...? Something on par with a two year old i8 perhaps?
Anyway, I had a Mk4 GSi Turbo back in 2008 and adored it. It was simple, well made, went well and handled pretty good out the box but was much improved with ~300bhp, KW suspension and fully poly bushed. I put 40k on it in two years with almost no issues.
Skip forward 11 years and my sister still runs a GSi Turbo as her daily. She's not council. It's actually defying belief... she uses as a car, nothing more and all its needed is discs and pads, serviced, a rocker cover gasket and an alternator in the past 30k. No bad going.
I love them, the dash is basic... three dials for the heaters but what more is needed? It's a great balance of old school but actually pretty well screwed together and they wear their miles well. Styling wise they're pretty sharp... a CLK in comparison looks like a fat mess and when talking about dated, it's hardly contemporary either.
As a shed, it's crap but if you don't hate Vauxhalls just to fit in with the crowd nor if you give a damn about badge prestige then they're not bad. Quite delicately styled, simple, quick and getting rare and for some that's appealing.
And no, it's not the same engine as a Saab... product knowledge fail right there but it is the same engine as the darling VX220 Turbo. Which also has Turbo badges.
Davie said:
It's a Vauxhall, thus it'll get universal hate because Jezza said the Vectra B was crap and the VXR liked to torque steer...
Dated? The Astra Mk4 was launched in 1998, that's 21 years ago so what we're you expecting...? Something on par with a two year old i8 perhaps?
Anyway, I had a Mk4 GSi Turbo back in 2008 and adored it. It was simple, well made, went well and handled pretty good out the box but was much improved with ~300bhp, KW suspension and fully poly bushed. I put 40k on it in two years with almost no issues.
Skip forward 11 years and my sister still runs a GSi Turbo as her daily. She's not council. It's actually defying belief... she uses as a car, nothing more and all its needed is discs and pads, serviced, a rocker cover gasket and an alternator in the past 30k. No bad going.
I love them, the dash is basic... three dials for the heaters but what more is needed? It's a great balance of old school but actually pretty well screwed together and they wear their miles well. Styling wise they're pretty sharp... a CLK in comparison looks like a fat mess and when talking about dated, it's hardly contemporary either.
As a shed, it's crap but if you don't hate Vauxhalls just to fit in with the crowd nor if you give a damn about badge prestige then they're not bad. Quite delicately styled, simple, quick and getting rare and for some that's appealing.
And no, it's not the same engine as a Saab... product knowledge fail right there but it is the same engine as the darling VX220 Turbo. Which also has Turbo badges.
The GSis seem to be fetching solid money - they did well at the 2003 Handling Day at Rockingham - decent car for those in the knowDated? The Astra Mk4 was launched in 1998, that's 21 years ago so what we're you expecting...? Something on par with a two year old i8 perhaps?
Anyway, I had a Mk4 GSi Turbo back in 2008 and adored it. It was simple, well made, went well and handled pretty good out the box but was much improved with ~300bhp, KW suspension and fully poly bushed. I put 40k on it in two years with almost no issues.
Skip forward 11 years and my sister still runs a GSi Turbo as her daily. She's not council. It's actually defying belief... she uses as a car, nothing more and all its needed is discs and pads, serviced, a rocker cover gasket and an alternator in the past 30k. No bad going.
I love them, the dash is basic... three dials for the heaters but what more is needed? It's a great balance of old school but actually pretty well screwed together and they wear their miles well. Styling wise they're pretty sharp... a CLK in comparison looks like a fat mess and when talking about dated, it's hardly contemporary either.
As a shed, it's crap but if you don't hate Vauxhalls just to fit in with the crowd nor if you give a damn about badge prestige then they're not bad. Quite delicately styled, simple, quick and getting rare and for some that's appealing.
And no, it's not the same engine as a Saab... product knowledge fail right there but it is the same engine as the darling VX220 Turbo. Which also has Turbo badges.
Jimmy Recard said:
heisthegaffer said:
kuiper said:
Oh dear.
These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.
What were it's contemporaries and why were they so much better? These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.
Raygun said:
Jimmy Recard said:
heisthegaffer said:
kuiper said:
Oh dear.
These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.
What were it's contemporaries and why were they so much better? These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.
The Nova SR thread was the classic for that
Well I quite like it!
I still haven't worked out why quickish Vauxhalls get such a bashing yet quickish Fords are held in such high regard!
It isn't like XR3is or MK3 Escort Turbos were exactly wonderful to drive, but they fetch silly money.
Back in 2004 (or thereabouts) I had a 2000 Seat Leon Cupra and was following a 2.2 Astra Coupe on an A-Road that became a dual carriageway and I pulled out to overtake. It must have taken me the best part of a mile to get past - I'm just glad it wasn't a Turbo.
I've thought of buying an Astra Coupe a couple of times since then - they seem pretty cheap for what you get.
I still haven't worked out why quickish Vauxhalls get such a bashing yet quickish Fords are held in such high regard!
It isn't like XR3is or MK3 Escort Turbos were exactly wonderful to drive, but they fetch silly money.
Back in 2004 (or thereabouts) I had a 2000 Seat Leon Cupra and was following a 2.2 Astra Coupe on an A-Road that became a dual carriageway and I pulled out to overtake. It must have taken me the best part of a mile to get past - I'm just glad it wasn't a Turbo.
I've thought of buying an Astra Coupe a couple of times since then - they seem pretty cheap for what you get.
Raygun said:
Jimmy Recard said:
heisthegaffer said:
kuiper said:
Oh dear.
These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.
What were it's contemporaries and why were they so much better? These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.
Finally, it had lovely dials when lit at night. I recall they were all white.
heisthegaffer said:
Raygun said:
Jimmy Recard said:
heisthegaffer said:
kuiper said:
Oh dear.
These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.
What were it's contemporaries and why were they so much better? These were pretty terrible when new, especially when compared with pretty much all of the conteporaries - time has not helped that fact.
Finally, it had lovely dials when lit at night. I recall they were all white.
I think Vauxhalls are perceived as a bit low rent, Fords kind of get a bit of a pass out to an extent but there are large swathes of the country that wouldnt be seen dead in either.
What if the neighbors think we arent living the dream ?
A Vauxhall, arent they for tattooed men (not the hipster types) with fat wifes and many shaven headed children ?
The cars are actually alright but there seems to be, certainly with the more aspirational section of society, a real image problem, I think there is a large and loyal following out there though.
What if the neighbors think we arent living the dream ?
A Vauxhall, arent they for tattooed men (not the hipster types) with fat wifes and many shaven headed children ?
The cars are actually alright but there seems to be, certainly with the more aspirational section of society, a real image problem, I think there is a large and loyal following out there though.
I had a poverty spec 1.4 Astra of this generation as a rental for a month from work in 2003. It was much better than I was expecting, to be honest. Went well enough, with the engine being free revving and willing like Vauxhall engines of the time tended to be, and it drove pretty well.
The only real negatives I remember about it were high noise levels at speed, and some of the nastiest seats I've experienced. Two planks of wood nailed together perpendicularly wouldn't have been any less comfortable.
My problem with this shed (and I accept it's my problem not the car's) is that I have absolutely no desire to own a Vauxhall Astra convertible, even if it is cheap. I'd rather sacrifice the fresh air, and put my £1,500 into the best mk1 Focus I could find.
The only real negatives I remember about it were high noise levels at speed, and some of the nastiest seats I've experienced. Two planks of wood nailed together perpendicularly wouldn't have been any less comfortable.
My problem with this shed (and I accept it's my problem not the car's) is that I have absolutely no desire to own a Vauxhall Astra convertible, even if it is cheap. I'd rather sacrifice the fresh air, and put my £1,500 into the best mk1 Focus I could find.
SweptVolume said:
The styling is by Bertone, the handling is by Lotus, and there's a slug of performance from a turbocharger.
Yet most here hate it because Vauxhall forgot to look into their crystal ball when designing the interior, and because herberts in council estates might drive one. Hardly the car's fault in either case...
Most on here just bash anything that isn't German sadly.Yet most here hate it because Vauxhall forgot to look into their crystal ball when designing the interior, and because herberts in council estates might drive one. Hardly the car's fault in either case...
heisthegaffer said:
I do wonder at times. All I know is I drove my brother's brand new SRi with the 2.0 and it was a lovely, sweet engine that revved very easily and caught me out hitting the rev limiter a few times. It also seemed to have pretty quick steering and a good ride.
Finally, it had lovely dials when lit at night. I recall they were all white.
You can't say that either as I recall, because the 2.0-litre Ecotec is a terrible engine and not nearly as good as the 2.0-litre XE. Though I do seem to remember reading an article in CCC when the Ecotec first appeared stating that it wasn't actually that different. Never let facts get in the way of blind rage against a particular brand though Finally, it had lovely dials when lit at night. I recall they were all white.
heisthegaffer said:
Also, when he rolled his first one into a ditch (when 2 weeks old no less) it fared pretty well. Indeed, the only injury was his head when he undid his seat belt and landed on his head.
To be fair though, weren’t you used to a scabby, white Rover P6 with a back seat full of parking tickets? 
Steamer said:
CS Garth said:
Majestic. Regal. Imperious!
Roof down, a bit of PM Dawn Set Adrift on the Stereo - I can hear the knicker elastic snapping already.
By coincidence there is a a rather large heffer I've seen driving the wheels off one of these near me...Roof down, a bit of PM Dawn Set Adrift on the Stereo - I can hear the knicker elastic snapping already.
...I'm assuming her knicker elastic must be at upper-yield point.
Jon_S_Rally said:
You can't say that either as I recall, because the 2.0-litre Ecotec is a terrible engine and not nearly as good as the 2.0-litre XE. Though I do seem to remember reading an article in CCC when the Ecotec first appeared stating that it wasn't actually that different. Never let facts get in the way of blind rage against a particular brand though
Maybe it was the 2.2? I remember it being a lovely engine, being really surprised about how sweetly it revved. heisthegaffer said:
I may well need a whoosh parrot delivered here but I have no idea what you are referring to?
He's the gaffer!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J_RX0dJFkE
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Monday 21st October 20:14
I think I dislike these for replacing my Calibra. My mum had an LPG 5 door hatch for a bit and the LPG system never worked. I don't remember too much about it other than fixing the boot lock one day and the seats seemed vary "grabby", as in the material tended to grip to t-shirt and such. One of these in leather would be nice and with the Z20LET would be quick enough to see of most people at the Traffic Light GP (remapped 335d's excluded).
I had one of these brand new in 2002 when I passed my driving test.
I had the facelifted version (different wheels and some touches on the interior). I was 17 and driving around in a Star Silver 3 door hatch 1.8 SXI (127 BHP 0-60 8.8 seconds) - I have very fond memories of this version of the Astra!
The Astra G seems to get a lot of stick - as has been said it is 20 years old now in design (both inside and out). The interior was actually very smart on the SXI and up models (white dials, red needles, chrome rings, aluminium trim details etc.) and was certainly no worse than other hatches of the time inside. The Golf mk4 may have been screwed together better, and the Focus more modern looking - but they weren't in a completely different league. Don't forget the mk4 Golf came out with a beautiful 2.0 GTI version producing an entire 115 BHP...… Even the Focus 2.0 produced only 128 BHP. They were both 2.0 engines and only the Focus could produce a fraction more power from another 0.2 L (0-60 was the same if I remember correctly at 8.8 seconds).
I'm probably the only person on PH to say this, but I loved that Astra and certainly remember a some great times as a 17 year old - driving like 17 year olds drive - especially when all my friends had 1.1 - 1.4 L cars....
I had the facelifted version (different wheels and some touches on the interior). I was 17 and driving around in a Star Silver 3 door hatch 1.8 SXI (127 BHP 0-60 8.8 seconds) - I have very fond memories of this version of the Astra!
The Astra G seems to get a lot of stick - as has been said it is 20 years old now in design (both inside and out). The interior was actually very smart on the SXI and up models (white dials, red needles, chrome rings, aluminium trim details etc.) and was certainly no worse than other hatches of the time inside. The Golf mk4 may have been screwed together better, and the Focus more modern looking - but they weren't in a completely different league. Don't forget the mk4 Golf came out with a beautiful 2.0 GTI version producing an entire 115 BHP...… Even the Focus 2.0 produced only 128 BHP. They were both 2.0 engines and only the Focus could produce a fraction more power from another 0.2 L (0-60 was the same if I remember correctly at 8.8 seconds).
I'm probably the only person on PH to say this, but I loved that Astra and certainly remember a some great times as a 17 year old - driving like 17 year olds drive - especially when all my friends had 1.1 - 1.4 L cars....
Edited by StuE39 on Tuesday 22 October 16:04
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