Astra 'sport' hatches

[Golaboots]

Does anyone know much about these? They would appear to be a way of cheating 'cash for car' system at work leaving enough cash to finance something a bit more PH for playing with.
We're only allowed cars upto 4 years old but the Astra can be picked up very reasonably at a couple of years old.

I don't know much about them and wondered if anyone had any experience of them. Which engines would you recommend? Which have 6 speed boxes? Are they bearable on the motorway? What MPG can you expect for motorway work?

I'm only considering the petrols, despite doing 25k miles a year. The diesels cost more to buy and are known for problems.
The 1.6 115 is cheapest, does the 1.8 VVT offer much more?

Thanks.

[Astra Dan]

Hmm. As much as I do like the Sport hatches, the petrols, unless the 2.0 turbo, are just a waste of time. They're noisy as they're so badly geared - 70 is nearly 4k in the ones I've had as hire cars. Juicy too, about mid 30s at best on a 200-odd mile journey.
I don't know if the lower CC petrols have 6 speeds; I've not seen one yet.
If I had the choice I'd get the 1.8 I think, that was slightly less painful than the 1.6.
The diesels are like a different car, quiet, smooth, refined and 50MPG is easily attainable.