I've bought a new car!

Ed · 7 Jan 2008 at 18:36

It's not you that needs to be excited by this purchase so your point is moot.

ajgoodfellow · 7 Jan 2008 at 18:52

Thanks for all your comments

I'm excited simply because it's a new car, it's different and I'm looking forward to owning it as some people have mentioned above

As for the dead link - the dealer's probably taken it off Autotrader as he's sold it to me! Don't have the pictures cached at home (didn't view it here as I've only just got my internet back) but they should be cached at work so I'll post them tomorrow

whitecrook · 7 Jan 2008 at 19:34

Jez said:
Its nothing to do with standards (i dont even drive an expensive car),

By this you mean your Merc in the sig? I seem to recall you did get a bargain on it, but IIRC it was still close to 10K (?) I'm sure to many posters on this forum 10K is A LOT of money. Thats over 6 months salary for many people.

I think a lot of people get excited over a new car regardless of what it is, especially if they have owned the previous one for a couple of years. It's the change, something new, change of scenery.

Cars can be very personal to people so changing a car, something that everybody sees, to something different can mean a lot to some people.

ZG002 · 7 Jan 2008 at 21:27

I know what jez is on about myself. For the money you could get something exciting and fun.. but that car just aint tbh. to OP i hope you love it and it serves you well

oweneades · 7 Jan 2008 at 21:34

I quite like the look of the astra coupe however in 1.8 guise it is a tad wet.

Begbie · 7 Jan 2008 at 22:46

I was excited about getting my coupe, altough I had a 1.25 fiesta before hand.

They are really good cars, no problems with mine as yet.

On the twistys are where they shine though, uprated suspension compared to standard astras. Go round corners on rails, better than my mates leon on coilovers.

One of the reasons they were used in the BTCC.

As standard don't look too great but with new grill and GSi bumper, or irmischer kit, they really are nice looking cars.

Hope you enjoy it mate.

ajgoodfellow · 7 Jan 2008 at 22:47

Thanks me too

Good news about the handling too as I rather enjoy my MG in that respect! Didn't get a chance to really throw it around during the test drive

Begbie · 7 Jan 2008 at 22:50

It will handle much better than your mg

ajgoodfellow · 7 Jan 2008 at 23:28

We shall see

ajgoodfellow · 8 Jan 2008 at 10:10

Uploaded the photos from cache and added links to the first post (and below) as requested

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3 (Interior)

Will have more photos once I pick it up on Thursday!

Scania · 8 Jan 2008 at 10:53

[TW]Fox;10835725 said:
My Mondeo was 1260kg, 140bhp and 2 litres and wasnt that quick?

100bhp/tonneish tends to give 9.5-10.5 0-60 doesnt it?

Around that mate, my old BMW was 193BHP, 1950kg (approx) and it got to 60 in about 9 seconds.

Edit 9.3 according to parkers.

ajgoodfellow, Hate the Colour, not that keen on the Car but its a hell of an improvement on the piece of crap you had prieviously!

Enjoy it mate and I hope you have better luck with this one.

[TW]Fox · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:05

Tom|Nbk said:
Lol, It's wrong to state that its a 140bhp car though, Ford spec sheets list it as 129BHP

The original incarnation of the 2 litre Zetec engine, released in 1993, had 136bhp, as stated by Ford. Nobody disputes that.

The engine was revised in 1998 with a few changes made. Following these changes, Ford began to refer to the engine as having 130bhp. However this was despite the fact that none of the changes made to the engine were performance affecting - there is no technical reason why the engine should suddenly be rated at 6bhp less than it previously was. Some suggested it was perhaps for insurance reasons.

Either way, post 98 2 litre Mondeos (and presumably Focus) continue to make the same power as their pre 98 counterparts at dyno days etc (So even if the dynos in question were wrong, they would still show a power difference had there been a change input), as as far as I am concerned, all versions of the 2 litre Zetec outputted 136bhp, +/- 5bhp.

[TW]Fox · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:08

Jez said:
Why is it people say that "cant wait" to pick up cars like this, is it just me that would find the prospect of picking up a vauxhall a complete non event?

I dont get it, its basically the same as the rover, how is the prospect of picking it up exciting?

Because his standards and expectations are different to yours. He has a different outlook on cars to you. To him, irrespective of what we think, it is a new car. He is therefore entitled, and infact it is expected, to be excited about collecting it. He wouldnt have bought it otherwise.

I don't think I've ever been more excited about a car than the day when I went to collect my Xantia - a car which now (and arguably then) is simply 'some old diesel Citroen'. Why was I excited? Becuase it was new - to me. It was going to be mine. My car. Nobody elses.

You buy Vauxhalls purely for business purposes. He has bought one for pleasure. You may not agree it's any good, and neither do I, but you should not be suprised he's chuffed. I bet some of the people you sell those godawful Corsas to are really, really excited about the prospect of buying it.

ajgoodfellow · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:19

R124/LA420 said:
Around that mate, my old BMW was 193BHP, 1950kg (approx) and it got to 60 in about 9 seconds.

Edit 9.3 according to parkers.

ajgoodfellow, Hate the Colour, not that keen on the Car but its a hell of an improvement on the piece of crap you had prieviously!

Enjoy it mate and I hope you have better luck with this one.

Thanks - me too!

The colour looks better in the flesh but that was the only thing I was slightly unsure of!

Hungryjoey · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:36

I like it. Enjoy it.

Ignore people p***ing on your bonfire. Its your car & be proud of it.

As far as mods go, A nice boot spoiler (Vauxhall one) would complete the car off.

I'm laughing at some of the people telling you they don't like it, when some of them (no names

) are driving the biggest buckets on the road!

Hj

[TW]Fox · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:41

Begbie said:
One of the reasons they were used in the BTCC.

Don't be so silly - the suspension on the BTCC cars is nothing like that on the road cars, the reasons they were used in BTCC were marketing driven.

[TW]Fox · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:42

Hungryjoey said:
I'm laughing at some of the people telling you they don't like it, when some of them (no names ) are driving the biggest buckets on the road!

To be honest as much as I disagree with Jez's opinion that he cant get excited about it I wouldnt call an S430 a bucket, and I can't think of a single thing about the Astra thats better bar cost :confused:

Hungryjoey · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:46

[TW]Fox;10841591 said:
To be honest as much as I disagree with Jez's opinion that he cant get excited about it I wouldnt call an S430 a bucket, and I can't think of a single thing about the Astra thats better bar cost

Did I call his S430 a bucket ? Did I mention names ? Did I say Everyone ?

Its a new car for him, it might not be the performance or anything related, but a new car for him. Let him enjoy it and look forward to it, thats all I am saying.

I never for one second said the astra was a perticularily exciting car or perticularily interesting but there is obviously a part of the OP that likes the car and I think its a little bit more unique too and so he's entitled to be looking forward to it. I always would when getting new cars.

Hj

DannyW · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:48

[TW]Fox;10841591 said:
To be honest as much as I disagree with Jez's opinion that he cant get excited about it I wouldnt call an S430 a bucket, and I can't think of a single thing about the Astra thats better bar cost

i think he was referring to my car when he said bucket

[TW]Fox · 8 Jan 2008 at 11:53

DannyW said:
i think he was referring to my car when he said bucket

Your car makes this thread funny.

X reg Astra - £4000
W reg Mondeo (with more powerful engine) - £900

lol