![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
It's an average run of the mill cheap plastic hatchback with a noisey shake-the-cabin-at-idle diesel engine. Absolutely nothing to get excited about whatsoever.
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- Thread starter matthab
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It's an average run of the mill cheap plastic hatchback with a noisey shake-the-cabin-at-idle diesel engine. Absolutely nothing to get excited about whatsoever.
Caporegime
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In the interests of rationality, the new Astra diesel does not shake the cabin at idle and is in fact a pretty good car.
Soldato
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I've driven a few of the newer Astras, mostly TD's (1.3/1.7s) and a 'Sport' and haven't been impressed with any of them. Engine's "OK" but that's about all you'll get that's constructive out of me.
Visibility for one thing is appalling out of them and they just feel like any generic hatchback, no verve or character, just dull, generic product. I was glad to get out of them in all instances.
Drove an 09/09 ClioSport 200 yesterday and that was, however, quite a fun little thing, so on that almost completely irrelevant basis I'd probably be looking more at the 182 or ST
Visibility for one thing is appalling out of them and they just feel like any generic hatchback, no verve or character, just dull, generic product. I was glad to get out of them in all instances.
Drove an 09/09 ClioSport 200 yesterday and that was, however, quite a fun little thing, so on that almost completely irrelevant basis I'd probably be looking more at the 182 or ST
[TW]Fox;16171298 said:
Erm no its not. in the old non common rail version i'd agree, but the cdti's are way better (i've owned both version for more than 10k). I'd still advise a 1.9 over the 1.7 though as they tend to be a little cheaper when things go wrong and have a rebuildable EGR whereas the 1.7 is a closed unit that cant be cleaned/fixed well at all and have a wee habit of jamming/sticking. But i suppose not being a BMW or a Mondeo it wont be any good in the fox book of cars
From that list I'd say either the 182 or ST. I wouldn't spend anymore than £5500 on the clio though, unless you want the trophy. They aren't going to be great at 70 on the motorway, but are fun little cars. Have you got any insurance quotes on these? I can imagine them being quite high for a 20 year old.
Erm no its not. in the old non common rail version i'd agree, but the cdti's are way better (i've owned both version for more than 10k). I'd still advise a 1.9 over the 1.7 though as they tend to be a little cheaper when things go wrong and have a rebuildable EGR whereas the 1.7 is a closed unit that cant be cleaned/fixed well at all and have a wee habit of jamming/sticking. But i suppose not being a BMW or a Mondeo it wont be any good in the fox book of cars
What a load of rubbish, Fox book of cars! ...he's got a very fair point here, the Astra is not a good car at all, it's not necessarily a bad car either it's just very mediocre, it doesn't stand out in any regard really, it's just there.
I don't understand how people can still continue to miss this point, he isn't saying it's a rattly bag of crap that's only real competition is a Yugo, he is saying it isn't a stand out car in anyway, there are other cars in it's class and of a similar price that better the Astra in just about every respect.
So this begs the question, why would you opt for the mediocre Astra that's just there? ...when you could buy something that is nicer/more engaging to drive, has a nicer interior, better economy, is faster or any number of other things that other cars on the ops list can claim to be more accomplished at than an Astra is.
I'm not saying all of those cars do all of those things better than an Astra, but all of the the cars on that list that can do at least one of those things better than an Astra and 'most' other things just as well to boot.
And the diesel Astra's are not 'willing' or 'nippy' or 'zesty' or any other superlative that tries to say, it's not quick but it's better than the engine in my old Yugo. It's poor form, it's not a tractor engine no, but it's not a particularly good car engine really either, it does the job, that's about it.
On the scale of what constitutes a 'willing' and 'smooth' engine, the Astra diesels do not rank high on the list. They aren't complete crap, no-one is saying that, but there are better alternatives.
/rant over
If you want to keep costs lower, I think the Fiesta ST is the best car there all in all, if you can spend a bit more, the Clio 182 is the best drive (can't believe I just say that about a Renault).
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This sounds insance but have a look at a Toyota Yaris T Sport and a Lupo GTi.
The Yaris isnt as fast as the 182 or ST but its pretty nippy and will do 0-60 in less than 9 seconds plus its only Group 7 insurance so its not that bad and pretty economical about 39mpg.
The Lupo is pretty quick about 8 seconds to 60 and is very unique. Its group 11 and its fun to drive.
Out of the cars you mentioned I would get the Fabia.
Also I know Im going to get stick for what Ive put.
The Yaris isnt as fast as the 182 or ST but its pretty nippy and will do 0-60 in less than 9 seconds plus its only Group 7 insurance so its not that bad and pretty economical about 39mpg.
The Lupo is pretty quick about 8 seconds to 60 and is very unique. Its group 11 and its fun to drive.
Out of the cars you mentioned I would get the Fabia.
Also I know Im going to get stick for what Ive put.
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