Show Us Your Motors!

I did consider a 1.6T but not many about. I just wasn't sold on a diesel really, especially 1.9's due to the long list of common issues. I haven't really read anything bad about the engine and box in this one, so I'd rather put 10 quid a week extra fuel in for less hassle. Perfect for pootling around town car for me right now and a lot nicer looking than most of the competition at this price I think :) There were no good Golf's, A3's etc even worth contemplating at £1700 and the Focus's are ugly without an ST kit, didn't want more jap stuff with overpriced parts etc. I do actually really like this thing amusingly. I did think about another 2.0 turbo like my last one... but no point over complicating things, this gets to 30 quickly :D And no M32 box to worry about to boot!
 
The EP3 was only a money pit because you couldn't resist chucking money at it.

I drove an Astra of that era, it had the Elite trim with heated seats and stuff as well... It was ****ing awful.

Needs a window sticker that says "EvenAcmeWouldn'tBuyOne" ;)
 
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If I had to go back and do it again then it would be the 1.8.

Solid engine, none of the rattly chains of the smaller blocks I believe and no bloody m32 as you say.


Hope you keep it for longer than your usual...
 
Acme said:
I drove an Astra of that era, it had the Elite trim with heated seats and stuff as well... It was ****ing awful.

Needs a window sticker that says "EvenAcmeWouldn'tBuyOne" ;)
Click to expand...

That's rich coming from you. They are a perfectly adequate car for what he's buying it for.

My brother has a 1.7 diesel and averages 65+ mpg on motorway miles. Again, perfect for its purpose.
 
I've also just got a Astra Sri 1.8 changed from a Jag S-type sport. Mainly because I do a lot of commuting on twisty back roads and the Astra is far superior to the Jag for those type of roads. Cheaper too run average 41mpg, cheaper to insure and cheaper to fix if it goes wrong. I miss the comfort and toys of the Jag but not the running costs.
 
Stormster weren't most of the issues with your Civic down to the incompetency of the garage you chose to do the work?

Anyway, whilst those Astras are pretty average in most ways, they're reliable and cheap to run so it's not a bad choice. The 3-door looks quite sharp, too.


If the new Insignia looks anything like the red one above, then that's a big improvement on looks alone and hopefully on how it drives. I look forward to getting one as a hire car to try out :D
 
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That Astra looks like great value for £1,700, providing it doesn't throw up any bills for the first 6 months or so. Throw away afterwards I guess, if anything goes wrong?

Not a bad shout, I always think about running a cheaper car but the faff of anything that isn't under warranty bothers me enough to pay for something that is.
 
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