Astra-Thoughts

lukechad

lukechad

lukechad

Soldato
Joined
25 May 2004
Posts
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Location
Burton-On-Trent
Right, you may or may not recall I asked for car ideas for my next car, moving up from a corsa 1.2. Anyway, after a few thoughts and looking into various cars I have narrowed it down to either a focus or more than likely an astra.

I just want to know common faults people are aware of, things to look out for when checking one out. I am looking for an Sxi model or similar.

Just wanted to know thoughts on the cars :)

Cheers all.
 
If i had the choice I would go for a focus, much better inside, more comfy, better looking, better overall car, my astra is fine but i wouldnt of got it if i didnt get it for a good price.

http://www.astraownersclub.com/vb/ should check out there a huge wealth of info.

Main thing to check is last time the cambelt was changed as they are a 4 year/40k mileage part. and HGF is rife it seems. (although not as bad as rovers :D )

also when looking around, some didnt come with abs and this is denoted by the fact it usually has 4 studded alloys not 5.
 
If you dont mind me asking what spec do you have and how old are you? I am 19 myself so insurance is still at the front of my mind when looking for a new motor.

Thanks for the website, looking over it now.
 
I actually prefer the interior in the Astra, wasn't too keen on the Focus inside.

I've got a 52 plate SXi, around this age they got the tinted lights from the Coupe and 16" alloys and IMHO look smarter than the earlier ones. Insurance on these is pretty cheap, Group 6 I think. They are pretty reliable cars and a much nicer drive than a Corsa, Focus is a better car all round though and has a smoother less crashy ride.
 
I have a '99 1.8 16v Astra Sport and I love it. I was lucky enough to buy it off a chap that treated it like gold and also had a bunch of extras added when he bought it new.

Depending on the age and whether it has rear discs, try to find out if the rear callipers have been changed as there is/was a known problem with them sticking.
 
SoliD said:
If i had the choice I would go for a focus, much better inside, more comfy, better looking, better overall car, my astra is fine but i wouldnt of got it if i didnt get it for a good price.
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Sounds familiar! When I got mine everything was great, it's quite fun to drive IMO but then again I was coming from a Laguna so no real contest! I have a couple of issues with mine now, but I wouldn't say they were common. The Air Con stopped working even though it was regassed in January and the Airbag light has come on even though the passenger airbag unit was replaced in January also.

I've heard good things about the Focus though, and am contemplating switching to one later in the year once my finances have settled down a bit.
 
SoliD said:
If i had the choice I would go for a focus, much better inside, more comfy, better looking, better overall car, my astra is fine but i wouldnt of got it if i didnt get it for a good price.
Click to expand...

Gotta say the opposite of this, i prefer the Astra interior by a long way, the Focus interior is absolutely puke inducing! Also the driving position is no where near as right, you feel more sat over the wheel rather than in front of it. i aslo prefer the astra's looks (in 3dr!).

I got a 1.8SRi and @18 0ncb it cost me 1200 FC, now im 19 1nc its 800 FC.
 
lukechad said:
If you dont mind me asking what spec do you have and how old are you? I am 19 myself so insurance is still at the front of my mind when looking for a new motor.

Thanks for the website, looking over it now.
Click to expand...

Got an 1999 SXi as stated in my sig :D and i'm 22 first car paying 850 fc with 300 excess. has aircon fogs alloys etc. I mean does the job but is nowhere near as nice inside as my friends focus and doesnt look half as good in my eyes.

Chris1712 said:
Gotta say the opposite of this, i prefer the Astra interior by a long way, the Focus interior is absolutely puke inducing! Also the driving position is no where near as right, you feel more sat over the wheel rather than in front of it. i aslo prefer the astra's looks (in 3dr!).
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Well The focus switch gear isnt a 15 yr old design, the dash etc is just exactly the same as the bog spec corsa horrible hard plastics. Much nicer inside a similar spec focus.
 
[TW]Fox said:
They are a bit cheap and nasty to be honest, you'd be better off with a Golf or a Focus.
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Fox in Golf reccomendation shocker!

I agree with the sly devil though, Golf for apparent quality, Focus for "drivers car".
 
SoliD said:
Well The focus switch gear isnt a 15 yr old design, the dash etc is just exactly the same as the bog spec corsa horrible hard plastics. Much nicer inside a similar spec focus.
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Perhaps it isn't made of similiar quality plastics, but at least it doesnt look like a babies playpen. The random angles curves and blocks just put me right off!
 
Thanks for all the help guys, so many different opinions here! I think I will have to go and look at both in the flesh, i see what they look like from the outside all the time so I think I better take a look inside. Obviously coming from a 2001 corsa the astra will be quite similar which could appeal to me, I will have to take a look.

Does anyone have any photos of the interior of a focus particularly the head console and the dials. Many thanks.
 
focusghiainterior38c13ckk3.jpg


I think what annoyed me was the gap between the gear stick bit and the dash itself, i prefer the dash coming down and along the transmission tunnel as such.
 
I was looking for the same car a few months ago.

Settled on an 02 Elegance model. It cost me the same price as an SXi (which I wanted originally) but I feel I got more car for my money getting an elegance.

If you wanna chat about it add me on msn *looks around* Astra's seem to be frowned upon here :p
 
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