Astra G 2.2
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Discussion

nsmith1180

Original Poster:

3,941 posts

208 months

Wednesday 7th July 2010
quotequote all
Right, I have the opportunity of an Astra G? (I should know being a proper fanboi!) Bertone Coupe SE2 2.2 Direct on a buy now pay whenever you can type situation. Funds are pritty fking tight so the paying may be a few months/years hence!

My question is thus, what am i looking at with regards to running costs. Im working part time at a local fitterie and full time for my bros Computer company, but the computer thing is new so payday is at the end of the financial year! As I say, funds are tight,

Servicing is not a major, my dad works for Vauxhalls cental depot and can get a fairly hefty discount on parts and stuff, its more the fuel that im worried about. How much do those 2.2s drink?

Mr Dave

3,233 posts

225 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
nsmith1180 said:
Right, I have the opportunity of an Astra G? (I should know being a proper fanboi!) Bertone Coupe SE2 2.2 Direct on a buy now pay whenever you can type situation. Funds are pritty fking tight so the paying may be a few months/years hence!

My question is thus, what am i looking at with regards to running costs. Im working part time at a local fitterie and full time for my bros Computer company, but the computer thing is new so payday is at the end of the financial year! As I say, funds are tight,

Servicing is not a major, my dad works for Vauxhalls cental depot and can get a fairly hefty discount on parts and stuff, its more the fuel that im worried about. How much do those 2.2s drink?
Walk away as the directs can cause big bills and from what I have heard it is a matter of when not if.

Fuel is pretty reasonable for the size of engine, fairly smooth and boring but good. Mr brother is getting about 32 MPG taking it easy in a Vectra.

nsmith1180

Original Poster:

3,941 posts

208 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
Thank you for your advice.

Basically the deal is that I can have the pick of my cars from a mates used car place. Me and my bro built his website so he thinks he owes us a favour. The only remotely interesting cars on the site at the moment are the 2.2 Astra and an EP3, but running the EP3 would kill me.

wildoliver

9,313 posts

246 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
By the sounds of it your not massively flush so do the sensible (and decent) thing and take a cheap little runaround or part ex off his hands and pay it back asap without skinting yourself, that way he does you a favour and you don't take advantage, also you end up with a car you can afford and enjoy without always panicking what if it breaks.

Then after a year or so you can sell it without worrying about the money you owe and buy something quicker.

Chris_w666

22,655 posts

229 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
If funds are tight why does it need to be interesting? The Vauxhall isn't BTW it may look pretty and have a bit of power but it isn't really a great drive.

Stick to something like a 106 or base model fiesta rather than being in debt for something common.

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

238 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
Save your money and get a EP3. They aren't even in the same league in terms of fun/performance.


Plus the running costs on the EP3 arent high!

Edited by RobCrezz on Thursday 8th July 14:55

nsmith1180

Original Poster:

3,941 posts

208 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
Its not a debt, its a case of we did a favour for him and he will do one back.

Everything I have heard about EP3 Type Rs is 24-26 mpg.

It needs to be interesting because im stuck in a forign country with nothing to do but drive or sit on my computer.

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

238 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
nsmith1180 said:
Its not a debt, its a case of we did a favour for him and he will do one back.

Everything I have heard about EP3 Type Rs is 24-26 mpg.

It needs to be interesting because im stuck in a forign country with nothing to do but drive or sit on my computer.
They are only that low if you use vtec a lot. On a long motorway run 40mpg is possible, the k20a2 engine is quite efficient.

nsmith1180

Original Poster:

3,941 posts

208 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
Its not a debt, its a case of we did a favour for him and he will do one back.

Everything I have heard about EP3 Type Rs is 24-26 mpg.

It needs to be interesting because im stuck in a forign country with nothing to do but drive or sit on my computer.
They are only that low if you use vtec a lot. On a long motorway run 40mpg is possible, the k20a2 engine is quite efficient.
Hummmmm we'll see what he says then!

HellDiver

5,708 posts

212 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
Mr Dave said:
Walk away as the directs can cause big bills and from what I have heard it is a matter of when not if.
Yeah, good advice. Shame it's bullst - the Astra G never had the 2.2 Direct. rolleyes

nsmith1180

Original Poster:

3,941 posts

208 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
HellDiver said:
Mr Dave said:
Walk away as the directs can cause big bills and from what I have heard it is a matter of when not if.
Yeah, good advice. Shame it's bullst - the Astra G never had the 2.2 Direct. rolleyes
Ummmm good point, the direct badge will be coming off the back then! The standard 2.2, is it any good? I am assuming its the one from the Omega and Vectra SRi 140 then? I knew that the Directs had been on watchdog and all manner of other bad stuff, but Im not a major textbook on the non direct.

HellDiver what MPG and big risks will I be running?

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

238 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
nsmith1180 said:
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
Its not a debt, its a case of we did a favour for him and he will do one back.

Everything I have heard about EP3 Type Rs is 24-26 mpg.

It needs to be interesting because im stuck in a forign country with nothing to do but drive or sit on my computer.
They are only that low if you use vtec a lot. On a long motorway run 40mpg is possible, the k20a2 engine is quite efficient.
Hummmmm we'll see what he says then!
See if you can test drive both smile

nsmith1180

Original Poster:

3,941 posts

208 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
Its not a debt, its a case of we did a favour for him and he will do one back.

Everything I have heard about EP3 Type Rs is 24-26 mpg.

It needs to be interesting because im stuck in a forign country with nothing to do but drive or sit on my computer.
They are only that low if you use vtec a lot. On a long motorway run 40mpg is possible, the k20a2 engine is quite efficient.
Hummmmm we'll see what he says then!
See if you can test drive both smile
Again, its slightly different in that Ill tell him what car I fancy and he will deliver it to me when he comes back to his house in France. Im not going to London from Le Touquet to demo a 2.2 Astra!

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

238 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
nsmith1180 said:
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
Its not a debt, its a case of we did a favour for him and he will do one back.

Everything I have heard about EP3 Type Rs is 24-26 mpg.

It needs to be interesting because im stuck in a forign country with nothing to do but drive or sit on my computer.
They are only that low if you use vtec a lot. On a long motorway run 40mpg is possible, the k20a2 engine is quite efficient.
Hummmmm we'll see what he says then!
See if you can test drive both smile
Again, its slightly different in that Ill tell him what car I fancy and he will deliver it to me when he comes back to his house in France. Im not going to London from Le Touquet to demo a 2.2 Astra!
My advise is to trust me and get the EP3 then wink

HellDiver

5,708 posts

212 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
nsmith1180 said:
Ummmm good point, the direct badge will be coming off the back then! The standard 2.2, is it any good? I am assuming its the one from the Omega and Vectra SRi 140 then? I knew that the Directs had been on watchdog and all manner of other bad stuff, but Im not a major textbook on the non direct.

HellDiver what MPG and big risks will I be running?
It's not really much good, it's only 150hp at best, chain driven cams and chain driven counterbalance which makes it pretty laggy. Early lumps had the bad chain oilers, but they'll all be fixed by now.

The Omega had a different engine if I remember correctly.

Honestly, you'be be better off with a post-2001 1.8 over the 2.2 - only a little less power, but close ratio gearbox which makes it as quick up to national speed limit.

The coupe is OK, but really you'll need to spend money on suspension and brakes to make it anywhere close to a good driving car - I'm talking rear ARB (£130+fitting), Eibach springs and new dampers (£400), 308mm brakes off a GSI (£3-400). You'll still have a car which is using suspension from the late 80's, though (Astras still haven't really changed since the Mk2).

I loved my Mk4s. But they're long in the tooth now, and weren't terribly good when they came out. There's far better cars out there.

nsmith1180

Original Poster:

3,941 posts

208 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
RobCrezz said:
nsmith1180 said:
Its not a debt, its a case of we did a favour for him and he will do one back.

Everything I have heard about EP3 Type Rs is 24-26 mpg.

It needs to be interesting because im stuck in a forign country with nothing to do but drive or sit on my computer.
They are only that low if you use vtec a lot. On a long motorway run 40mpg is possible, the k20a2 engine is quite efficient.
Hummmmm we'll see what he says then!
See if you can test drive both smile
Again, its slightly different in that Ill tell him what car I fancy and he will deliver it to me when he comes back to his house in France. Im not going to London from Le Touquet to demo a 2.2 Astra!
My advise is to trust me and get the EP3 then wink
Heart and head are warring here.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

247 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
nsmith1180 said:
Its not a debt, its a case of we did a favour for him and he will do one back.

Everything I have heard about EP3 Type Rs is 24-26 mpg.

It needs to be interesting because im stuck in a forign country with nothing to do but drive or sit on my computer.
A Civic with that engine should be as good if not better than the Astra. In 'low cam' it's a 160bhp, relatively efficient 2.0 engine. It's only in high cam that you'll find the MPG heading south.

Doing high mileage in mine I averaged over 30, with 46mpg available at a steady 60mph on the motorway.

nsmith1180

Original Poster:

3,941 posts

208 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
Head says Astra, Heart says EP3.

Its confused even further by the clarification that the Astra is Free and the EP3 will cost me 3k. Both cars are 02/51 the VX has FVXSH and Ticket untill Jan the EP3 has just FSH but ticket till March. VX is 111k in and the EP3 is 90K in. WHAT DO I DO?????