Astra K 1.6 Turbo thoughts? Got one?

darknite · 17 Mar 2017 at 09:56

Been invited to a Vauxhall sale event blah blah blah (most likely wasting my time) But I have seen a nice Astra K SRi NAV 2400 miles, registered January, 1.6 Turbo 200ps, honestjohn says just between 40 - 41 real mpg. With the threats to diesels this car has tempted me.

Anyone got their 1.6 Turbo engine?

I took a Astra K BiTurbo diesel out a few months back and found the car much better inside than my 2012 Insignia.

Big Spender · 17 Mar 2017 at 11:25

hope vauxhall have fixed the chocolate piston 4 issue in the 1.6 turbo's. Common issue on the Corsa VXR is melting the 4th piston.

darknite · 17 Mar 2017 at 11:32

Oh that sounds good. I'll check and see if the engine is the same

Jonny ///M · 25 Mar 2017 at 02:06

I believe it's a whole new engine. A16SHT or B16SHT depending on how many balance shafts it has from some reading.

I have a z16let in my H which was shared with the corsa vxr as A16LEH. These did have chocolate piston no.4 and the chocolate m32 gearbox but I believe that's all sorted now too.

Joe T on here works for Vauxhall so he would know.

Big Spender · 25 Mar 2017 at 03:10

Jonny ///M said:
I believe it's a whole new engine. A16SHT or B16SHT depending on how many balance shafts it has from some reading.

I have a z16let in my H which was shared with the corsa vxr as A16LEH. These did have chocolate piston no.4 and the chocolate m32 gearbox but I believe that's all sorted now too.

Joe T on here works for Vauxhall so he would know.

Cors VXR had the Z/A16LER. The Z16LET was used in the Meriva VXR. Big difference between the LET and the LER is under piston oil squirters which helped cool the pistons a bit so the LET doesn't seem to suffer as badly from the 4th piston issue.

I work for a vauxhall specialist breaker, i know very well of the M32 issues. 9 out of 10 M32's we get in have worn top bearings and have to get sold for spares. There is a guy we do a lot of business with, WG Motorworks, whos bulk of business comes from refurbing the M32, he does a big bearing upgrade using bigger bearings and a new end casing from a Gen 2 M32 box.

Joe T · 25 Mar 2017 at 09:19

The 1.6T is a good engine. 0-60 in 6.6s for a regular five door hatch isnt too be sneezed at. The Astra as a whole is a cracking car - as you say the interior is excellent for example.

I think you might find you get nearer 35mpg though. Still not bad for that performance.

Jonny ///M · 25 Mar 2017 at 18:56

Big Spender said:
Cors VXR had the Z/A16LER. The Z16LET was used in the Meriva VXR. Big difference between the LET and the LER is under piston oil squirters which helped cool the pistons a bit so the LET doesn't seem to suffer as badly from the 4th piston issue.

I work for a vauxhall specialist breaker, i know very well of the M32 issues. 9 out of 10 M32's we get in have worn top bearings and have to get sold for spares. There is a guy we do a lot of business with, WG Motorworks, whos bulk of business comes from refurbing the M32, he does a big bearing upgrade using bigger bearings and a new end casing from a Gen 2 M32 box.

Yeah I've saw your place on ebay I think. Have looked at the WG guy but he's awfy far down south to get it sorted. Alpine transmission are round the corner from me but I've not been in for a quote.

May have to take a trip to your place if I keep driving into thing.

ben12321 · 26 Mar 2017 at 16:10

I just got the sri nav 1.4 turbo lovely ride really nice nterior and screen goes like a rocket as well went for 1.4 for cheap insurance and economy

Diagro · 27 Mar 2017 at 09:59

The new 1.6 turbo looks good.
Might be something i seriously look at when i make up my mind to ditch my diesel and go for a petrol

Firestar_3x · 27 Mar 2017 at 10:14

ben12321 said:
I just got the sri nav 1.4 turbo lovely ride really nice nterior and screen goes like a rocket as well went for 1.4 for cheap insurance and economy

I think you need to test some better rockets tbh.

MOOGLEYS · 27 Mar 2017 at 14:14

I went to buy a K 1.4 Turbo and came away with a J 1.4 SRi Turbo... I prefer the J and it was a lot cheaper with pretty much 3 years warranty.....

Nice car the K but I could not resist another J.... :-)

Armageus · 27 Mar 2017 at 14:19

MOOGLEYS said:
I went to buy a K 1.4 Turbo and came away with a J 1.4 SRi Turbo... I prefer the J and it was a lot cheaper with pretty much 3 years warranty.....

Nice car the K but I could not resist another J....

Astra J seemed pretty underwhelming and "dull" for want of better word when I drove one (and reviews seemed to feel the same) - the K seems to get rave reviews and is much improved by all accounts.

MOOGLEYS · 27 Mar 2017 at 14:22

Armageus said:
Astra J seemed pretty underwhelming and "dull" for want of better word when I drove one (and reviews seemed to feel the same) - the K seems to get rave reviews and is much improved by all accounts.

Really can't say I have felt that and I have had a few now....

It's no sports car but the little 1.4 gets the job done well enough. I'm more interested in comfort now and I find the J far better in that respect than the K tbh....

K is a nice car shame they removed the watts link from the rear though.

Nasher · 27 Mar 2017 at 14:29

The best small petrol engines are probably Ford's ones at the moment. They do a 1.0 with 140bhp, with room for tuning to about 170. They are pretty bulletproof as well

You can get mid 50s MPG if you aren't gunning it. On top of petrol costing less, it makes diesels look a bit pointless.

Armageus · 27 Mar 2017 at 14:35

MOOGLEYS said:
Really can't say I have felt that and I have had a few now.... It's no sports car but the little 1.4 gets the job done well enough.

Might just be me, but compared to my 2012 Focus (which in itself is criticised for poor steering feel by reviewers), it felt so uninvolving.

wesley · 27 Mar 2017 at 14:43

test drove the new astra 1.6cdti 136bhp auto. thoguht it was very good. i rate it over focus 1.5 diesel auto,

the engine is quiet and very smooth. smoother than my F30 320d engine

edit: i know this thread is about 1.6 turbo petrol. just saying i like the new astra overall

MOOGLEYS · 27 Mar 2017 at 15:16

Armageus said:
Might just be me, but compared to my 2012 Focus (which in itself is criticised for poor steering feel by reviewers), it felt so uninvolving.

No idea how they mean tbh. It drives pretty much as expected but I don't throw it around. I have driven a few Focuses and they all seem similar to me. If I wanted an involved drivers car I would look elsewhere than either an Astra or Focus tbh....

TacticalFish · 27 Mar 2017 at 19:18

Big Spender said:
Meriva VXR.

Meriva VXR!!

Never knew such a thing existed. Sound like a good way to make the school run fun!

Big Spender · 27 Mar 2017 at 21:02

TacticalFish said:
Meriva VXR!! Never knew such a thing existed. Sound like a good way to make the school run fun!

Only a handful were made and there are very few left on the roads. Engines are much more reliable than the Corsa VXR. We've got one in for breaking at the moment in Arden Blue.

Joe T · 28 Mar 2017 at 06:15

Nasher said:
The best small petrol engines are probably Ford's ones at the moment. They do a 1.0 with 140bhp, with room for tuning to about 170. They are pretty bulletproof as well

You can get mid 50s MPG if you aren't gunning it. On top of petrol costing less, it makes diesels look a bit pointless.

My wife only managed mid 40s out of hers with mostly motorway driving. That was the 125PS version.

Edit: Honest John Real MPG also suggests mid-40s.