1991 Astra GTE 16V
Discussion
Turbofun said:
So how does it drive now with the new suspension?
No complaints at all. I did some research first & the Eibach/Bilstein combo is always praised for the Mk2 GTE.Some minor squeaking from the front has stopped, it's not stupidly low (standard vehicle height is 55" or 1395mm and mine is now 53" or 1345mm) and the handling seems very solid indeed, without being crashy at all.
Edited by zygalski on Thursday 14th June 04:07
zygalski said:
VXRuss said:
I used to use him all the time, did lots of very good work on my Astras and Calibras, a really very nice guy indeed.
Wonder if he still has his Calibra turbo??
Yes he has the blue one.Wonder if he still has his Calibra turbo??
Also a rather tasty Lotus Carlton
Anyway, sorry to spam your thread, great Astra, keep the thread updated with bits you do to it
That is absolutely awesome.
I love to see these older cars being looked after in this way. It really is heartwarming to see that some people take the time and effort to preserve examples like this and makes me glad that I'm not alone in appreciating them when the masses just see them as old relics. They are all too ready to send them to the scrapyard for £2000 towards a Hyundai Tragic or Kia Soul(less). What a waste.
Well done to you Sir; your car's bloody lovely!
I used to drive one of these as a company car back in the day when they were new. IMO one of the most grin-inducing, but at the same time utterly lethal, cars I've ever driven. The chassis was SO far behind the 16v engine in terms of ability! Despite this it was still a car which I wanted to get in and go out and drive just for the sake of being behind the wheel of the thing.
I worked for the electricity industry back then. The 16v GTE was removed from the company car scheme after a while. IIRC, the stats were something like 161 on the fleet, of which 159 had been subject to an insurance claim....
That *possibly* includes a 6 month old one which was rolled by a 25 year old whose ambition (and whose complete lack of understanding of of lift-off oversteer) exceeded his talent at the time......
I worked for the electricity industry back then. The 16v GTE was removed from the company car scheme after a while. IIRC, the stats were something like 161 on the fleet, of which 159 had been subject to an insurance claim....
That *possibly* includes a 6 month old one which was rolled by a 25 year old whose ambition (and whose complete lack of understanding of of lift-off oversteer) exceeded his talent at the time......
Thanks for the comments
As for the wheels, well I'm using the car as my daily driver so I wanted wider & lower walled195/50/15 tyres because they eliminate most of the GTE handling issues, and also it's now virtually impossible to get decent 185/65/14's in a v-rating.
195/50/15 is just about one of the cheapest sizes available too, and with the cross spokes being GTE Champion alloys it was a bit of a no-brainer for me tbh.
The car feels much more composed now, which is important as I drive it like they were meant to be driven.
As for the wheels, well I'm using the car as my daily driver so I wanted wider & lower walled195/50/15 tyres because they eliminate most of the GTE handling issues, and also it's now virtually impossible to get decent 185/65/14's in a v-rating.
195/50/15 is just about one of the cheapest sizes available too, and with the cross spokes being GTE Champion alloys it was a bit of a no-brainer for me tbh.
The car feels much more composed now, which is important as I drive it like they were meant to be driven.
NotNormal said:
As mentioned LC is mine. Dad just keeps customer LC/LO's on the road. If your at Billing come over and say hello as I'll be there
Keep up the good work on the MK2, still prefer it on original rims though
I cannot believe that your Dad still has that Calibra Dave, I hope that you are both keeping well.Keep up the good work on the MK2, still prefer it on original rims though
I'll pop and say hi at Billing
CAPP0 said:
IThat *possibly* includes a 6 month old one which was rolled by a 25 year old whose ambition (and whose complete lack of understanding of of lift-off oversteer) exceeded his talent at the time......
The comments from the road tests at the time were that the 16 Valve wasn't for novice or inexperienced drivers - they were like to reward mid-bend indecision with the back end stepping out like a 205 Gti could. Suspension was changed quite a bit over the 8 valve model to reward a more press on driving style. The one thing that is worthwhile is fitting a 195 on a 15 ( like the Champions got or the optional wheel/tyre on Euro spec Kadetts ).'Motor' had a good test with 3 up and coming racers ( Justin Bell, Paul Warwick and Paul Stewart ) - they found the Astra faster than the 309Gti and Golf 16v but felt they wouldn't recommend it to novices as it could bite back at the limit whereas the Pug was very progressive. I had a 309 Gti and would agree - the Astra was my favourite though - just more exciting to drive for a hot hatch imo
SAJ is due for some bodyshop work in the next week or so. I'm getting it done at Ian Taylor's bodyshop - aka http://www.paintshophorley.co.uk/
Work to be done includes the rusty rear corner, very minor-looking corrosion in boot, remove rear strut brace & clean strut tops up & repair/respray of front bumper.
Here are some picks as the car stands...
He is also due to have his exhaust overhauled as the front box baffles are shot. Going to replace with a high-grade SS custom made straight through de-cat pipe at
http://www.dsb-mechanical.co.uk/custex.php
Work to be done includes the rusty rear corner, very minor-looking corrosion in boot, remove rear strut brace & clean strut tops up & repair/respray of front bumper.
Here are some picks as the car stands...
He is also due to have his exhaust overhauled as the front box baffles are shot. Going to replace with a high-grade SS custom made straight through de-cat pipe at
http://www.dsb-mechanical.co.uk/custex.php
72,800 miles.
Just had the front exhaust box removed & straight-through pipe fitted in its place at DSB Mechanical Services.
They also had to patch a hole in the rear silencer & reposition the hanger.
Car sounds fantastic now!
The offending item
2" bore high-grade stainless pipe welded in its place:
Here's the lovely 912 they're working on:
and the system they made for it:
Couple of cars from the team they work for were in the workshop:
Just had the front exhaust box removed & straight-through pipe fitted in its place at DSB Mechanical Services.
They also had to patch a hole in the rear silencer & reposition the hanger.
Car sounds fantastic now!
The offending item
2" bore high-grade stainless pipe welded in its place:
Here's the lovely 912 they're working on:
and the system they made for it:
Couple of cars from the team they work for were in the workshop:
Edited by zygalski on Monday 16th July 12:50
Looks great - always liked these cars. Looks in great condition too.
The only thing I would change if it were mine is the multispokes back to the original wheels. They look like the special edition wheels fitted to some of the later 1.4 and 1.6 Astras....can't remember the name now, but they were mainy dark blue - "Expression" maybe?
The only thing I would change if it were mine is the multispokes back to the original wheels. They look like the special edition wheels fitted to some of the later 1.4 and 1.6 Astras....can't remember the name now, but they were mainy dark blue - "Expression" maybe?
zygalski said:
Hi.
The wheels I've got are GTE Champion alloys.
The Champion was the leather edition GTE which Vauxhall made 250 of in 1990 to celebrate their recent BTCC win.
The expression alloys are slightly different. GTE champs have a 2nd "lip".
Ah - I see that. Cool to see the old adverts! Still like t'other wheels more though The wheels I've got are GTE Champion alloys.
The Champion was the leather edition GTE which Vauxhall made 250 of in 1990 to celebrate their recent BTCC win.
The expression alloys are slightly different. GTE champs have a 2nd "lip".
Time for a summary...
Astra GTE 16V J897 SAJ
10/09/11 car bought 68,500 miles
12/09/11 Toad AI606 alarm/immobiliser with remote central locking fitted by Thatcham/VSIB approved installer
13/09/11 new windscreen fitted after stone chip
22/09/11 69,000 mile service carried out at V-Tuning: Cambelt & rollers replaced/new battery/spark plugs/fuel filter/air filter/oil filter/10w-40 oil/anti-roll bar bushes/rear wheel bearings adjusted
28/09/11 New number plates fitted
11/10/11 V-Tuning: driver/passenger front door locks & trim covers replaced/new gearstick gaiter fitted
11/10/11 Original radio/cassette player removed & Pioneer DEH-1300MP fitted/original front speakers removed & Pioneer TS-G1013I fitted
19/01/12 71,000 miles. New GM thermostat fitted/refurbished GTE Champion alloys x5 purchased
03/02/12 71,250 miles. MOT carried out/5 x 195/50/15V Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres fitted. Advisories on MOT are both rear springs corroded/both rear wheel bearings have slight play/oil leak
10/02/12 Replacement tailgate struts x2 fitted/new bonnet prop
28/02/12 Custom GTE 16v floor mats fitted
13/04/12 2 x new door pull surrounds fitted/armrest blanking plug fitted
23/04/12 New K&N high flow air filter installed
12/05/12 Worn drivers side vertical bolster fabric replaced, sagging lateral bolster foam replaced at http://www.cwtrimming.co.uk/
Also had spare steering wheel reconditioned.
26/05/12 72,600 miles. Following work carried out at V-Tuning:
Goodridge hoses fitted all-round
New brake fluid/system bled
Eibach springs front & rear fitted
Bilstein shocks front & rear
New front top mounts
New polybushes
Rear wheel bearings adjusted
Coolant drained & renewed
Steering wheel replaced with reconditioned one
Rear wiper cover replaced
New grille & badge fitted
Crumpled O/S front sill rail straightened & undersealed
10/07/12 72,800 miles
Front exhaust box removed & straight-through pipe fitted in its place at DSB Mechanical Services.
They also had to patch a hole in the rear silencer & reposition the hanger.
14/07/12 72,800 miles
Ian Taylor Body Repairs
Front bumper removed. Stonechips & split repaired. Bumper resprayed & 16v decal fitted.
Rear panel/boot rust ground out, treated & painted.
Astra GTE 16V J897 SAJ
10/09/11 car bought 68,500 miles
12/09/11 Toad AI606 alarm/immobiliser with remote central locking fitted by Thatcham/VSIB approved installer
13/09/11 new windscreen fitted after stone chip
22/09/11 69,000 mile service carried out at V-Tuning: Cambelt & rollers replaced/new battery/spark plugs/fuel filter/air filter/oil filter/10w-40 oil/anti-roll bar bushes/rear wheel bearings adjusted
28/09/11 New number plates fitted
11/10/11 V-Tuning: driver/passenger front door locks & trim covers replaced/new gearstick gaiter fitted
11/10/11 Original radio/cassette player removed & Pioneer DEH-1300MP fitted/original front speakers removed & Pioneer TS-G1013I fitted
19/01/12 71,000 miles. New GM thermostat fitted/refurbished GTE Champion alloys x5 purchased
03/02/12 71,250 miles. MOT carried out/5 x 195/50/15V Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres fitted. Advisories on MOT are both rear springs corroded/both rear wheel bearings have slight play/oil leak
10/02/12 Replacement tailgate struts x2 fitted/new bonnet prop
28/02/12 Custom GTE 16v floor mats fitted
13/04/12 2 x new door pull surrounds fitted/armrest blanking plug fitted
23/04/12 New K&N high flow air filter installed
12/05/12 Worn drivers side vertical bolster fabric replaced, sagging lateral bolster foam replaced at http://www.cwtrimming.co.uk/
Also had spare steering wheel reconditioned.
26/05/12 72,600 miles. Following work carried out at V-Tuning:
Goodridge hoses fitted all-round
New brake fluid/system bled
Eibach springs front & rear fitted
Bilstein shocks front & rear
New front top mounts
New polybushes
Rear wheel bearings adjusted
Coolant drained & renewed
Steering wheel replaced with reconditioned one
Rear wiper cover replaced
New grille & badge fitted
Crumpled O/S front sill rail straightened & undersealed
10/07/12 72,800 miles
Front exhaust box removed & straight-through pipe fitted in its place at DSB Mechanical Services.
They also had to patch a hole in the rear silencer & reposition the hanger.
14/07/12 72,800 miles
Ian Taylor Body Repairs
Front bumper removed. Stonechips & split repaired. Bumper resprayed & 16v decal fitted.
Rear panel/boot rust ground out, treated & painted.
Edited by zygalski on Saturday 14th July 15:40
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