Test Drove new Astra 1.6
- Thread starter WantoN
- Start date
I've driven the 1.6 Sports Hatch, I found it pretty spritely and it certainly didn't feel like a 1.6. It seemed to pick up pretty well.
If needs be, try visiting the link in my sig. It might come in handy.
What colour would you go for? I've fallen in love with Ultra Blue and Peacock Blue. Both look great with a sports pack on.
If needs be, try visiting the link in my sig. It might come in handy.
What colour would you go for? I've fallen in love with Ultra Blue and Peacock Blue. Both look great with a sports pack on.
My parents have had a 1.6SXi for about a year so it's not the facelift model, but it's a very nice car. I won't claim to be any kind of expert because it's only the second or third car I've driven, but I personally find it very comfortable and responsive. The sound system isn't particularly good though, but that might just be an isolated problem.
Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Apr 2003
- Posts
- 8,119
WantoN said:Hey fellas,
Test drove the new astra 1.6 today. Bloody lovely it was too. Very impressed. And at 3 years 0% finance, I'm very tempted.
Anyone own one and have more experience to add. Peoples views on the car?
Cheers,
Ant
Arggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
Still comming to terms with this post, may be able to post some thoughts later
Had a 1.7cdti as a courtesy car when an Elise broke down on a recent roadtrip.
Only regret is that we didn't kill it.
You'd have to be nuts to consider buying one of these brand new - there are much better options out there. I'm sure these will be documented later in this thread.
Edit, pwnt by him above, but yeah - both pictures sum it up nicely.
Only regret is that we didn't kill it.
You'd have to be nuts to consider buying one of these brand new - there are much better options out there. I'm sure these will be documented later in this thread.
Edit, pwnt by him above, but yeah - both pictures sum it up nicely.
Soldato
- Joined
- 26 Aug 2005
- Posts
- 6,901
- Location
- London
WantoN said:Hey fellas,
Test drove the new astra 1.6 today. Bloody lovely it was too. Very impressed. And at 3 years 0% finance, I'm very tempted.
Anyone own one and have more experience to add. Peoples views on the car?
Cheers,
Ant
How much?
Soldato
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2004
- Posts
- 10,648
Driving a 1.6 astra 'life' on my lessons and it feels damn fast to me. It has the same power as my dads 2.0 laguna...i wouldnt buy one for the indicators alone. 
I do like the look of my mates 1.6 sxi though.
I do like the look of my mates 1.6 sxi though.
WantoN said:Hey fellas,
Test drove the new astra 1.6 today. Bloody lovely it was too. Very impressed. And at 3 years 0% finance, I'm very tempted.
Anyone own one and have more experience to add. Peoples views on the car?
Cheers,
Ant
In IRL. Someone in the family has a 1.3cdti Astra. Needs a bit more rev's than you'd expect for a diesel when starting off or reversing, especially if you are coming from a larger engine. When your moving its quick enough. No speed demon but in everyday driving it doesn't feel slow. Very economical to run. Handles well enough, not much roll which I like, seats are decently firm ,smaller boot than I'd expected and the those one touch indicators are a daft idea. If bought at the right price its a decent car. What I don't like are the dealer here are rubbish. Had a Focus 1.6 diesel on hire for a while and it wasn't significantly better/worse in any area IMO. Other than those indicators.
Last edited:
I had a 1.4 and a 1.6 for a while, nice enough cars, nothing special tbh, handling is much better than the previous model, interior is solid, if you can look past the crappy centre console, the sprayed silver is horrible, the 1.4 i had was a design and that was not too bad inside, the life 1.6 was horrible.
That 3 years 0% is actually a crappy PCP, beware, i would never buy a new one mind.
I would never class an astra as bloody lovely, depends what crapbox you have at the moment
That 3 years 0% is actually a crappy PCP, beware, i would never buy a new one mind.
I would never class an astra as bloody lovely, depends what crapbox you have at the moment
Had a new Astra hire car the other week, drove it to Slough. Nice interior, looked pretty smart. Gutless even when thrashed, very "flat" feeling engine.... breathless is the best word I could think to describe it. Not really got a lot to say about the handling as it was all motorway driving but it was affected by cross winds badly.
"Bloody lovely" was not the phrase I'd have picked to describe it. "Does the job" seems more apt IMO.
"Bloody lovely" was not the phrase I'd have picked to describe it. "Does the job" seems more apt IMO.
Different horses, different courses I guess 
The 1.3cdti i drove today left me very underwhelmed. Personally like the interior styling a lot, and found it nice to drive. The engine lacked punch however, and it was sedate rather than sporty.
Looks like i'm in the market for something new with 0% finance around this price, or a second-hand job around the £6k mark. Suggestions?
Ant
The 1.3cdti i drove today left me very underwhelmed. Personally like the interior styling a lot, and found it nice to drive. The engine lacked punch however, and it was sedate rather than sporty.
Looks like i'm in the market for something new with 0% finance around this price, or a second-hand job around the £6k mark. Suggestions?
Ant
Soldato
- Joined
- 1 Jul 2003
- Posts
- 6,724
- Location
- There's a voice that keeps on calling me.
The worlds your lobster with this kind of small hatch.
Leon,Focus,Auris just for starters.
Check the small print, it isnt actually a 0% deal, its a PCP you are getting stiffed on the price of the car in the 1st place.
6k Would buy a decent sh focus or leon diesel now.
Leon,Focus,Auris just for starters.
Check the small print, it isnt actually a 0% deal, its a PCP you are getting stiffed on the price of the car in the 1st place.
6k Would buy a decent sh focus or leon diesel now.
Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Apr 2003
- Posts
- 8,119
WantoN said:or a second-hand job around the £6k mark. Suggestions?
Ant
Good man, you can PCP on used cars too in case you were wondering. Is 6k what you have in cash or what you can afford to borrow.
Anyway, loads to choose from, you could get a nice focus for that sort of money
I'm a bit puzzled exactly how "sporty" or "punchy" do you expect a large hatchback with a small engine and stock suspension to be? Regardless of trim sxi etc its not a sports car or a hot hatch. If you intend to do a lot of overtaking buy something with a bit grunt. The old Astra was decent handling car too. Lotus tweaked it, and I felt you could feel the influence. The new one is decent too.
Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Apr 2003
- Posts
- 8,119
OspreyO said:
You could get a late Mk4 astra 1.8 sri (123bhp version) with 30k on the clock for about 3-4k and they are pretty decent + low insurance.
I would look at that plus a 1.8 focus zetec spec and maybe the leon.
Tiff did the Focus Zetec 1.6 Vs Astra 1.6 Club hire car special the other week, and seemed to think the Astra was pretty close to the Focus, and it posted a better time.. But, I wouldn't touch either with a barge pole.. I drove a new 1.6 Focus Zetec last week and it's so underpowered it's a joke.. the Astra is only a fraction quicker, so it must be the same..
As mentioned, go see what larger engined/older hatch you can insure etc, you'll save on depreciation, and have something that can actually overtake..
As mentioned, go see what larger engined/older hatch you can insure etc, you'll save on depreciation, and have something that can actually overtake..
In my usual driving I don't do any overtaking so it would make no difference to me. I generally switch between a few cars, 2L~1L and when I need to I don't really have a problem in overtaking in any of them. Requires more planning in the slower cars but with the right mindset anything can be made to shift. The slower cars are more fun in some ways as you can drive them harder within the limits.