Astra sports tourer

robfosters · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:25

Anyone had any expereince with one of these?

Looking for a new car for a grown up family of 4. Shopping, holidays and the like. Also will need space for a lab (dog, not experiments). Currently got a C4 grand picasso and while very spacious, they are rubbish to drive and too juicy.

Went along to see a Astra ST today. Very impressed with the design and space, and they seem to get positive reviews from the motoring press. Going back for a test drive in a few days.

Just wondered if anyone has any experience with them. Obviously want to make the right choice. About 20k is right. Cant be affording £50k+ A7's or the like.

rodenal · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:32

The new astra is a pretty good car, I prefer it to the focus. Are you looking new though? I wouldn't touch any cooking astra or focus etc with £20k of my own hard earned. They will likely drop a bucketload in the first year so even a 1 year old car would probably be a better bet

robfosters · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:35

Yes. Looking at new as the 100,000 mile warranty is very tempting.

rodenal · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:37

Ok, but look at your new car then look at the price difference between that and any year old example...its huge.

What model are you looking at btw? You should at very least compare the price you can get from a dealer with the usual internet discount sites.

mjt · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:41

I really wouldn't be spending anywhere near £20k on an Astra estate.
Look at slightly older ones and save yourself thousands!

If you're interested in other cars, have a look at the Skoda Superb. It's bigger, better and well, better.

robfosters · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:43

I was looking at the 1.6 auto SE edition. Not a stunning MPG, but it will do.

rodenal · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:45

Bloody hell, £20k for that!?

Consider it's value in under 2 years time.....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201302235468816

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201212114581141
(more miles but they wont have reduced it's value any more than £1k or so over say 10k)

Very similar cars, do you have £10k and 50% of the initial purchase price to chuck away before the next 2 years are out?

atpbx · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:50

I wouldn't spend my own money on an a brand new Astra.

I've had one for the past two years as a company car, its been faultless, but its now worth less than a pack of 8 Ace.

robfosters · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:52

I suppose a PCP might b a better option. Just over 8k over 3 years. Would probably lose more than that if I owned the car outright.

mjt · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:53

robfosters said:
I was looking at the 1.6 auto SE edition. Not a stunning MPG, but it will do.

I honestly think you'd be mad to spend £20k on a 1.6 automatic Astra.
Get one for half the price and take the family on holiday with the change!

Or better yet, don't get an automatic Astra at all

rodenal · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:53

If you spent £8k over 3 years on a 1 or 2 year old example you would practically own it at the end of the term and would at least have a little bit of cash to get back....

Plus your pcp example will have a fairly chunky deposit attached

You can get a new Hyundai i30 1.6 petrol Auto estate for circa £14k - that will come with a very similar warranty to what you'll get on the astra and is a good car, does something like that appeal?

Shad · 7 Mar 2013 at 22:21

rodenal said:
You can get a new Hyundai i30 1.6 petrol Auto estate for circa £14k

More like £18k according to their price list - http://www.hyundai.co.uk/new-cars/i30-tourer

rodenal · 7 Mar 2013 at 22:27

It took me 2 minutes to find them.new for 14k, either drivethedeal or autobytel - dead easy to find the diesel for that money too if that floats your boat - couldn't find.much off the astra in auto

K.C. Leblanc · 8 Mar 2013 at 00:31

robfosters said:
I suppose a PCP might b a better option. Just over 8k over 3 years. Would probably lose more than that if I owned the car outright.

Unless you're a minicab driver I doubt you'll make an 8k fuel saving switching from the Picasso.

Joe T · 8 Mar 2013 at 08:26

Astra ST is a good car, but dont buy new. As said above, get a nearly new one from a franchised dealer. You can even now get PCP on a used one from a dealer.