Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.0 Turbo (2005) runabout
Discussion
I'm not really a Readers' Cars sort of bloke but I'm a little bored so I thought I'd start a thread.
I've mentioned it before but I quite like Vauxhalls. I didn't really want/need to buy a car of any kind but something a little scruffy and cheap would have been helpful so in February I bought this.
It's the 197bhp 2.0 turbo. Some rough edges - a tear on the driver's seat and a broken driver's door mirror (I got a replacement from a mate for £15 but I haven't got around to fitting it yet). I'm planning to put in the full leather interior when I get round to picking up a cheap set as it's heated. I'll probably do it around autumn in time for winter.
96k miles when I picked it up in February and now it's done 101k. I'm actually really enjoying it. It's had a cambelt and water pump (£210 all in at a local garage) and it has nearly new tyres. MOT until September.
Next week it's going in for a new turbo coolant feed pipe as it has a slight weep. Otherwise I can't find any faults with it!
I looked at it vs a mk5 Golf GTi and I just preferred the styling of the Vauxhall. And it was much, much cheaper than an equivalent Golf GTi. Like under half the price. More like a third of the price.
A picture to come. I was going to just knock around in it but I quite like it - I've been thinking about getting more power out of it and a Quaife limited slip diff.
Autocar really liked them:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/vauxhall/astra...
I've mentioned it before but I quite like Vauxhalls. I didn't really want/need to buy a car of any kind but something a little scruffy and cheap would have been helpful so in February I bought this.
It's the 197bhp 2.0 turbo. Some rough edges - a tear on the driver's seat and a broken driver's door mirror (I got a replacement from a mate for £15 but I haven't got around to fitting it yet). I'm planning to put in the full leather interior when I get round to picking up a cheap set as it's heated. I'll probably do it around autumn in time for winter.
96k miles when I picked it up in February and now it's done 101k. I'm actually really enjoying it. It's had a cambelt and water pump (£210 all in at a local garage) and it has nearly new tyres. MOT until September.
Next week it's going in for a new turbo coolant feed pipe as it has a slight weep. Otherwise I can't find any faults with it!
I looked at it vs a mk5 Golf GTi and I just preferred the styling of the Vauxhall. And it was much, much cheaper than an equivalent Golf GTi. Like under half the price. More like a third of the price.
A picture to come. I was going to just knock around in it but I quite like it - I've been thinking about getting more power out of it and a Quaife limited slip diff.
Autocar really liked them:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/vauxhall/astra...
I've had a few Vauxhalls of that era now (this is by far the cheapest and oldest at time of purchase, admittedly!) and I've never had a problem. As in, not just head gaskets. No problems of any kind. So that also persuaded me it was a good place to buy a car not to worry about.
This weeping coolant pipe is the biggest problem I've had with one
This weeping coolant pipe is the biggest problem I've had with one
The petrols are pretty good, I had a 55 plate Astra 3 door Design 120 1.9 16v diesel, ran if from 16k to over 70k, only a few issues, most just wear and tear, new rear spring as one broke, oh that could be it, it was a good reliable car but the 1.9 16v diesels have a little issue with the ESP ecu... if that goes its fecking stupid money for a new one, and I mean fecking stupid money, like nearly £1400 quids worth of fecking stupid money for a small box which is a known issue. Even the parts man was shocked at the price and said go look around breakers or buy another car as it was cheaper doing so!
Luckily the petrol's don't suffer this problem but I really liked my Astra H sports hatch so it was a shame in the end to have this issue
Luckily the petrol's don't suffer this problem but I really liked my Astra H sports hatch so it was a shame in the end to have this issue
I've never had a diesel Vauxhall but I've heard about some expensive issues. When these were new the 150horsepower diesel owners seemed very smug versus the petrols until they started costing money.
It seems solid at the moment but I'm going to make sure it's all healthy before I think about more power
I have started to like this car, which is nice. I think the bodykit and alloys look great and it's even pretty comfortable and not a bad drive.
I think my main reason for buying it was that when I was about 17, I really wanted something I could tune up a bit. I've never done that so buying something sheddy and cheap years later gives me something to do that with as a bit of a hobby. Cheap, mainstream and turbo was the criteria really. I don't rely on it to get to work and back so it can sit in pieces in the garage.
I've started to like it and I drive it way more than I expected to. I sort of expected that, but I didn't expect in 2016 to be driving an 11 year old Astra.
Oh, I forgot to mention that there's a slight weep from the radiator too so I'm replacing that with the coolant pipe.
It seems solid at the moment but I'm going to make sure it's all healthy before I think about more power
I have started to like this car, which is nice. I think the bodykit and alloys look great and it's even pretty comfortable and not a bad drive.
I think my main reason for buying it was that when I was about 17, I really wanted something I could tune up a bit. I've never done that so buying something sheddy and cheap years later gives me something to do that with as a bit of a hobby. Cheap, mainstream and turbo was the criteria really. I don't rely on it to get to work and back so it can sit in pieces in the garage.
I've started to like it and I drive it way more than I expected to. I sort of expected that, but I didn't expect in 2016 to be driving an 11 year old Astra.
Oh, I forgot to mention that there's a slight weep from the radiator too so I'm replacing that with the coolant pipe.
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Thursday 31st March 21:15
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Saturday 23 April 00:29
That must be a very rare car, nice to see one that's not a 1.8/CDTi!
To my eyes, an XP 5 door is a fine looking car, more so than the 3 door too. Which gearbox do these run? A mate had a Quaife diff fitted to his VXR's gearbox when it was being rebuilt, I don't think it's been used in anger too much but from all accounts it transforms the car!
To my eyes, an XP 5 door is a fine looking car, more so than the 3 door too. Which gearbox do these run? A mate had a Quaife diff fitted to his VXR's gearbox when it was being rebuilt, I don't think it's been used in anger too much but from all accounts it transforms the car!
Pretty rare! I was tripping over Golf GTIs of the same age with the same power but only a couple of these for sale.
I too prefer the five door XP. This engine was only available in the five door
There's a 170bhp version that's only a map away available as a three door.
It's the M32 six speed box - same as the VXR and hence using the same Quaife diff. Not the strongest box in the world, but mine seems good at the moment.
It does have a smaller clutch than the VXR though. I'm sort of waiting to see if I have clutch/gearbox problems and then do the diff and VXR clutch at the same time.
I'm going to see if I have any more pictures. It's not really bad or good condition - just average
I too prefer the five door XP. This engine was only available in the five door
There's a 170bhp version that's only a map away available as a three door.
It's the M32 six speed box - same as the VXR and hence using the same Quaife diff. Not the strongest box in the world, but mine seems good at the moment.
It does have a smaller clutch than the VXR though. I'm sort of waiting to see if I have clutch/gearbox problems and then do the diff and VXR clutch at the same time.
I'm going to see if I have any more pictures. It's not really bad or good condition - just average
I bought a blue one of these in October. Somebody spunked so much money on mine; it has adaptive front xenon lights, auto lights and wipers, climate, electric folding mirrors, cruise and the IPS+ system which adjusts the dampers "100 times a second" apparently.
I'm loving mine; almost as quick as my GTE 16V, 28MPG and it seems to handle very well to me; not got it break traction at all yet.
Just had the wheels totally re-furbed and they look stunning.
And for the record, I can totally see what GM were trying to do with the indicators and I quite like them.
Cruise can be added for a few quid if it's not present, too.
Hope you have fun with yours!
I'm loving mine; almost as quick as my GTE 16V, 28MPG and it seems to handle very well to me; not got it break traction at all yet.
Just had the wheels totally re-furbed and they look stunning.
And for the record, I can totally see what GM were trying to do with the indicators and I quite like them.
Cruise can be added for a few quid if it's not present, too.
Hope you have fun with yours!
Edited by DKS on Thursday 31st March 22:52
Thanks! Yours looks better than mine. I wish mine had IPS+
I'm also going to add cruise when I get round to it and maybe auto lights (probably can't be bothered though with that one)
Mine really has no options. Wind up windows in the back, basic CD30 head unit. I was so pleasantly surprised when I first drove it - I thought it would feel much worse than a Golf (I had driven a mk5 GTI that morning at a dealer)
If anything, I felt the Astra was the better drive. Two of my alloys could do with a refurb. They may all get it, but I probably won't bother. I like how cheap it was and don't mind it being slightly shabby
Mine is doing more like 36mpg I would say.
Oh, and the indicator thing is quite clever. I like it too
Oh yeah, is your car in Ultra Blue? I think that's the name of the colour
I'm also going to add cruise when I get round to it and maybe auto lights (probably can't be bothered though with that one)
Mine really has no options. Wind up windows in the back, basic CD30 head unit. I was so pleasantly surprised when I first drove it - I thought it would feel much worse than a Golf (I had driven a mk5 GTI that morning at a dealer)
If anything, I felt the Astra was the better drive. Two of my alloys could do with a refurb. They may all get it, but I probably won't bother. I like how cheap it was and don't mind it being slightly shabby
Mine is doing more like 36mpg I would say.
Oh, and the indicator thing is quite clever. I like it too
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Thursday 31st March 22:56
Oh yeah, is your car in Ultra Blue? I think that's the name of the colour
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Thursday 31st March 23:07
Yes Ultra Blue. I wanted the 200 engine, XP kit and red, blue or black, not grey/ silver. I saw one red one, breaking for parts. Black common, blue slightly rare. I nearly bought a similarly specced blue on that was a little scruffy but had sat nav and leather for £1800, but it had no history or MOT (owner didn't realise!) and I admit the 11 previous owners put me off.
Yeah this is nearly immaculate as it's my 'posh' car if you like. I paid £2600 for it from a dealer in Hook, although they had to recharge the AC it's worked fine since. Both keys, FSH, 82k. I don't drive to work very often so it should stay in good nick. It has windy windows in the back, not sure it bothers me.
IPS+ is good, but I've not researched new shock prices yet! The AFL headlights are £280 each! It is fun watching them bob about when you're blasting on the back roads.
Interesting how you get on with yours as a daily. Although the Ecotec engines aren't as loved as the previous engines I've found them to be strong and smooth. This is my first Vauxhall turbo (had 2 Saabs) and I think it's applied very well.
Yeah this is nearly immaculate as it's my 'posh' car if you like. I paid £2600 for it from a dealer in Hook, although they had to recharge the AC it's worked fine since. Both keys, FSH, 82k. I don't drive to work very often so it should stay in good nick. It has windy windows in the back, not sure it bothers me.
IPS+ is good, but I've not researched new shock prices yet! The AFL headlights are £280 each! It is fun watching them bob about when you're blasting on the back roads.
Interesting how you get on with yours as a daily. Although the Ecotec engines aren't as loved as the previous engines I've found them to be strong and smooth. This is my first Vauxhall turbo (had 2 Saabs) and I think it's applied very well.
I'm looking ahead to future work on it now.
I've got the money aside for gearbox rebuild+LSD+VXR clutch but first I was thinking about suspension. I don't want to lose any ride height. I was thinking the Eibach Pro Kit springs and I'll just have to get over losing 30mm ride height and be careful with it. Does anyone know of anything else worth looking at?
I've got the money aside for gearbox rebuild+LSD+VXR clutch but first I was thinking about suspension. I don't want to lose any ride height. I was thinking the Eibach Pro Kit springs and I'll just have to get over losing 30mm ride height and be careful with it. Does anyone know of anything else worth looking at?
Yep. I'm trying to find feedback on AON, AOC etc on what's the best for drive/ride comfort but most of the solutions offered are just with the intention of lowering the car rather than improving anything.
The Eibach Pro Kit and just 30mm drop looks reasonable though. I'll get a quote for fitting (I think that's going to be a great deal of the maintenance:actual car value ratio!)
The Eibach Pro Kit and just 30mm drop looks reasonable though. I'll get a quote for fitting (I think that's going to be a great deal of the maintenance:actual car value ratio!)
Hmm but in doing that, you also end up with a 3-Series compact. They're not exactly a triumph of styling or rustproofing, are they? 
Nice car but they've never appealed to me. If I go for a BMW, it'll be a 5-series or another X5. With the 3-Series I still don't get how BMW thinks it's reasonable to build a car that taller people cannot drive
Nice car but they've never appealed to me. If I go for a BMW, it'll be a 5-series or another X5. With the 3-Series I still don't get how BMW thinks it's reasonable to build a car that taller people cannot drive
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