Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Auto Review

Housey

Housey

Housey

Man of Honour
Joined
21 Feb 2006
Posts
29,591
I take it back, the Audi A3 1.6TDi is ace! I hired a car for the week as I need to get out and about and don't own an Auto and with a broken ankle that's kind of what I need right now. Had the misfortune to drive to Boston in Lincoln today so got to experience the thing. GOOD GOD!!

1) My toothbrush would beat it to 60mph and leave it for dead past there
2) I'm not sure the steering is connected to anything to do with the wheels
3) Brake feel is not something you need in this car, it's and on/off thing
4) Interior looks OK until you get inside, then you realise how poor quality it is
5) Autobox, I should have written ahead to notify it what gears I needed
6) More throttle = more noise, NOTHING else
7) Seats are terrible, just don't seem to fit right
8) Think ocean liner when it comes to change of direction
9) Cruise control, yea, need to get back to you on that
10) Heated seat buttons are nice, shame the seats aren't heated

Mind you, seems to ride OK and isn't too bad on a cruise. Tempted to write it off to save the 2nd owner after Enterprise rent a car. I miss my horses :(
 
dam I was gonna get on over a teg

They're not light cars either, 1700Kg's~ rings a bell

forgot to add, you poor *******
 
i have the 1.6turbo manual and the interia is awesome. my stearing is very responcive and my brakes are spot on.

i have the sri "bucket" seats in mine and they feel great.
 
It actually covers ground OK to be fair. I got it wound up across country on my favourite uppy downy road, which I took Gibbo down in my RS4 and is a great test of a cars handling and it was able to carry good speed and remain relaxed even at some proper leptons....when it finally got there. Problem is, it was live driving a PS3 game, it gives you nothing and though I appreciate for most owners of Astra's they seek nothing it is disappointing that they can't program in some feedback. The steering is too light and lifeless and this is crappy as other little cars can do this bit well, why can't Vauxhall get it right. The engine and gearbox however.....jesus, pants. So much noise at revs yet so little go and the box is a wwhhhhhaa wum wum whahhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaa wum wum waaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahaha but STILL 30 mph..........hang on, 31mph....................31 and a bit more mph.........etc etc etc
 
Philz0r said:
i have the 1.6turbo manual and the interia is awesome. my stearing is very responcive and my brakes are spot on.

i have the sri "bucket" seats in mine and they feel great.
Click to expand...

I have an RS4
I have an MX-5
I have an MX-5 race car
I had a GT3 road car prior to the RS4

Tis all about perspective I suggest, no? :D
 
Philz0r said:
i have the 1.6turbo manual and the interia is awesome. my stearing is very responcive and my brakes are spot on.

i have the sri "bucket" seats in mine and they feel great.
Click to expand...

Phil you are talking to people who have MUCH higher standards when it comes to cars, Sorry to say the astra is pretty much hated in these parts, Infact most Vaux are. They ain't class leading for a reason.
 
Philz0r said:
so your review is biast straight away because its not a fast audi or a small rwd convertible?.

wow....
Click to expand...

A lot of people on here turn their nose down at vauxhalls, almost all turn their nose at autos.
Most people here are 'enthusiasts', so auto is wrong in there eyes. A normal car for normal people but in auto form doesnt go down well as you can see :p

That is to be expected, given the general poster in Motors :p
 
I drove a 1.6 60 plate astra Sri 600 miles the other day.

Ride is ok
Brakes super sensitive you can modulate them but need a light touch.
Kept hitting reverse instead of first
Cruise seems ok, but couldnt work out how to get it on, I just kinda mashed the controls
steering wheel is terrible the plastic moulding is sharp and blocks the center bottom of the wheel
No power when sitting at motorway speeds I guess it's a town car
Steering is super light, even at speed
terrible visibility blocked by the a pillars, the b pillars and the c pillars which kinda wrap round half the car
Bit of trim near acceleration pedal not flush and kept catching my foot when lifting

Aircon was nice, but not dual
No auto wipers
Sri seats were quite comfy I thought

Key sticks too far out near wheel, feels like another stalk although I did get used to that

Traction control button located beside the radio band button

Average mpg over the 600 miles was 33.something. Not particulary economical either.
 
yea i was just commenting on the interior,stearing, brakes and seats as mine is the manual turbo, the other things i cant comment on as ive never driven an auto version or the 1.6 n/a. i did drive the 1.4 n/a on a test and that was a really bad engine for that car.

to turn cruise control on press the button in on the wheel. then scroll the scroller thing up and down then it turns on.

my avg fuel is about 28 around town, 38ish motorway.
 
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steering sounds pretty nasty, I like my steering to have some feed back and weight to it.

They look ok though :p
 
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