Astra GSI question.

LiamC · 26 May 2011 at 10:59

I've had a quick google but can't find anything...

Can you get the Mk3 Astra GSI in a 1.6? Or is it only 1.8 and 2.0?

Cheers.

MikeHiow · 26 May 2011 at 11:15

I don't think they made a 1.8 GSI?

It was the original GSI which was the 2.0 XE and ~150bhp and the Sport was a 1.8 115bhp model.

Later on, around the end of 1996 they ditched the GSI and introduced the Sport which was a 2.0 Ecotec lump based on the XE with around 135bhp.

LiamC · 26 May 2011 at 11:35

I quickly checked another forum and just saw aload of jibberish and whilst skim reading picked up 1.8 and GSI so i assumed you could get a 1.8 GSI, but yeah it must be a sport.

Thanks for the reply.

Ev0 · 26 May 2011 at 11:59

There was no 1.6 GSi, only a 1.6 Sport.

There was a 1.8 and a 2.0 GSi, as well as a 1.8 and 2.0 Sport.

The 1.8 GSi had 125bhp, sport was less iirc.

Early 2.0 GSi had the 150bhp XE engine, then it got renamed to the Sport and given the 134bhp engine, and then it was renamed GSi again with the same lower powered engine near the end of production.

Begbie · 26 May 2011 at 15:08

There was a facelift model of the MK3 Astra which came with the 1.8 and 2.0 ECOTEC engines. They also had different skirts, and a different spoiler.

I believe the front lights were also different. To put it bluntly they were crap and the only decent one to get is the XE'd one. Though everyone else on here will say they are crap etc.

I would love a MK3 GSI, but then there all rot boxes now or stupid amount of money.

Ev0 · 26 May 2011 at 15:29

No you're right, the original 2.0 GSi wasn't a terrible car at all, it had bonnet vents and everything

I always liked them, but as you say the likelihood of ever owning one nowadays is pretty slim.

Scrutinize · 26 May 2011 at 15:44

Ev0 said:
No you're right, the original 2.0 GSi wasn't a terrible car at all, it had bonnet vents and everything

I always liked them, but as you say the likelihood of ever owning one nowadays is pretty slim.

Was a quick car in its day too esp when 150bhp was seen as a proper hot hatch.

Begbie · 26 May 2011 at 17:11

Ev0 said:
No you're right, the original 2.0 GSi wasn't a terrible car at all, it had bonnet vents and everything

I always liked them, but as you say the likelihood of ever owning one nowadays is pretty slim.

It really was a nice car, in its day, but that day has passed and will always look at them in rose tinted glasses!

Though I do think if I had the chance I would take one on as a project. Would have to be ran on webers or bike carbs though

Django x2 · 26 May 2011 at 17:33

It actually wasn't a nice car at all. It was the "one to avoid" GMs "Vista" of the GSI Astras. Shocking handling, shocking materials. The MK4 was the Windows 7 by comparison.

MikeHiow · 26 May 2011 at 18:05

The XE is such a wonderful engine though.

melchy · 26 May 2011 at 19:24

In my opinion the MK2 GTE 16V was the better car.

[TW]Fox · 26 May 2011 at 19:24

This thread is 10 years out of date. It doesn't matter what engines you could get in a GSi, because they are all in the bin now. In much the same way that we don't discuss whether you should buy an Escort 1.8 LX or perhaps get a Ghia anymore

melchy · 26 May 2011 at 19:26

Most XE's aren't in the original cars anymore

or LET's for that matter

Minxy · 26 May 2011 at 19:57

If you want a mk3 GSi then look for the 2.0 engine. If you can find one in good order they go for quite a bit of money considering what they are. A bit of a collectors item now amongst griffin enthusiasts.

Django x2 · 26 May 2011 at 20:02

Z20LET for the win

Begbie · 26 May 2011 at 20:04

[TW]Fox;19231035 said:
This thread is 10 years out of date. It doesn't matter what engines you could get in a GSi, because they are all in the bin now. In much the same way that we don't discuss whether you should buy an Escort 1.8 LX or perhaps get a Ghia anymore

Was waiting on this

There is still some Vauxhall fans out there, mostly old mechanics that seemed to love them for the ease of fixing, tuning.

Plus we all know the Astra was better than the Escort in its day.

[TW]Fox · 26 May 2011 at 21:22

Yes but thats a bit like having your leg sawn off being better than having your head sawn off.

Scrutinize · 26 May 2011 at 22:01

Lucero said:
It actually wasn't a nice car at all. It was the "one to avoid" GMs "Vista" of the GSI Astras. Shocking handling, shocking materials. The MK4 was the Windows 7 by comparison.

You used to love these GSIs, remember the dixiland chicken delivery guy who used to have a blue one?

Django x2 · 26 May 2011 at 23:20

Yeah, but they were rubbish. You have to remember that they would have been unobtainable to drive at our age which was why, when the MK4 SRi was released, it was about as good as it got in the "return of the hothatch".

If money had been no object back then (like it is now), I would have had a Mk2 GTE. Hell, I might even try and find one just for the lolz!

Begbie · 26 May 2011 at 23:22

Lucero said:
Yeah, but they were rubbish. You have to remember that they would have been unobtainable to drive at our age which was why, when the MK4 SRi was released, it was about as good as it got in the "return of the hothatch".

If money had been no object back then (like it is now), I would have had a Mk2 GTE. Hell, I might even try and find one just for the lolz!

Friend just bought a minter, cost him a fair bit though.

Looks lovely, well from the pics. LOVE them.