1988 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 injection

Summary:

Go and see what the fuss is about

Faults:

Electrical faults caused with alarm and immobiliser causing the car to lock up on me at 60 mph on a main road, and it locked me in and turning the hazard lights on!!!

Seats are worn really bad especially on the bolsters.

Exhaust starting to rattle.

General Comments:

This car is a lot quicker than I ever expected. I didn't think it would be anything special compared to my last car a MG Montego Turbo, but it was so much better. Maybe not on speed, but definitely on comfort, handling and reliability.

A revvy car that will pass the red line with ease.

The cabin is a bit grey, old and worn, but what do you expect for a E reg car?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th February, 2001

1988 Vauxhall Astra Merit 1.2

Summary:

Wow

Faults:

Um...... nothing since I've had it.

General Comments:

WOW.

This car speaks quality!!!! Faster than my old Peugeot - shame it doesn't handle quite as well. Still - only had the car 6 hours and I've already done 115mph in it - I'm very impressed - shame the standard speakers are naff!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th October, 2000

13th Jan 2001, 13:56

115mph in a 1.2 OHV? Don't think so. I got just over 110 in my 1.3 Jubilee and that OHC which if I'm not mistaken is slightly better. Twas a 4 speed too.

16th Jan 2001, 08:55

Hey - I swear on my baby's life I reached 115mph but it was downhill and I have done so on a few occasions. I'm getting 0-60 in about 10 or 11 secs - even with my mate and his girlfriend in the car, we got 110mph on the way to London - thing is that the car had never been thrashed before I got it - 2 previous female owners (both relatives of mine).

Mind - the poor things dying now and is about to be replaced by a nice L reg 1.8i Peugeot 405....

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1988 Vauxhall Astra Merit 1.3

Summary:

Grom standard to souped - an excellent car 10/10

Faults:

O/S outer sill rotted out - rebuilt and had it resprayed.

Mechanically sound, I cannot fault it.

General Comments:

I love my Vauxhall more than my girlfriend, it's knocking on to 200,000 miles now but she's still going strong. With regular oil changes they go on and on and on and for a 1300 you can certainly crank them up.

The old saying of once driven, forever smitten certainly appeals to me reading that somebody had walked from a crash at 80mph. I walked from a crash at 95mph even if I did split it from the bulkhead.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th September, 2000

23rd Jan 2004, 15:10

My lasting memory of that awesome 1300cc Vauxhall OHC engine was a mate's C plate Belmont that he had as his first car. We all thought a previous owner had dropped a 1600 in it, the thing went so well, and even went so far as to check engine codes out, but nope, it was a boggo 1300 just as Vauxhall intended.

I remember being four up in it on the M40 near Wycombe one night with 115 showing on the clock! Four speed 'box, rev counter needle buried in the red, screaming all the way to Oxford with the throttle welded to the carpet. After 20 minutes of this torture, we pulled off the motorway, stopped at a set of lights and it dropped down to a steady, sweet idle without so much as a trace of roughness. Checked all the levels when we got back - oil and coolant still up on maximum, and no bother whatsoever. Oh, and it had 135,000 miles on it at the time.

They just don't make engines like this any more.

16th Aug 2004, 22:03

My precious Abby (Abigail if she chooses to act reluctant in helping me release a stubborn nut) has been my beloved Vauxhall Astra for over 9 years. She has kept me out of debt for mechanic bills, safely corrected herself when I over-compensated with my steering whilst trying to avoid a badger and has the loyal and honest qualities one can only dream of finding in a lifelong friend. She is a stunning little mover, a red tigeress, with the name ‘Regent’ festooned upon her shapely doors. Very occasionally she will ask for a new exhaust, but still has never shown greed to ask for a full system. She exhibits all the qualities that car manufacturers would have you believe they have just perfected in their latest model. However, Vauxhall showed it to perfection when they created this marvel of motoring back in 1988. All that pedigree, and she's still the face of a supermodel, but without the high maintenance. Ruth (that’s me) and Abby forever!