Faults:

Usual rusty rear arches.

Replaced most of the rubber hoses as they were perished.

Check control ECU replaced.

General Comments:

A much loved hot hatch of the 80's. I got plenty of positive comments and offers to buy when out and about. It was easy to work on and most mechanical parts are still available. Watch out for rust and remember to change the cambelt, and you'll be set for life.

Faults:

Required new disks and pads; 30 quid, fitted myself.

Offside track rod end worn; needs replacing before its MOT.

Very very small oil leak.

Fuel gauge gives false readings (don't all Vauxhalls from this era do it?)

General Comments:

Quite possibly the best car I have ever owned. I brought it for the total sum of 180 pounds, just as a runaround as my Civic had failed its MOT, buts it's so good I have decided to keep it, and have sold the Civic.

OK, so what's it like to look at? Well it's a 19 year old car, so it looks like well a 19 year old car. Having said that, it's not very rusty for its age; just a small amount on the offside wheel arch, and a small scab on the sills.

Mechanically the car is perfect, having only covered a genuine 64k miles. The engine is a real minter, pulling well, however the clutch biting point is extremely high, so I'm suspecting I'll have to change that soon; either that, or is there an adjuster for the cable??

I'm going to keep this car and restore it, as I have been driving it for a month, and haven't seen a single mk2 Astra hatchback, only an estate, and with only 64k miles on it, I think the old girl's got a lot of life left in her.

Faults:

An earth lead had rusted, causing the car to not start.

Hand brake locked on when it was cold and damp one morning.

Rear arches rusted.

ABS failed but easily repaired.

General Comments:

An iconic hot hatch from when I was a kid. I was lucky to find a low mileage 8v example in flame red. Not the fastest of the breed, but will keep up with the best of them. I've had the rear arches replaced and a full respray to tidy up the 17 year old paint (though the old paint still looked good).

Parts are cheap and easy to come by, Ebay or Germany are the best sources. Join the Astra Mk2 owners club for advice on repairs. Shown the car at Santa Pod, had nothing but praise!

Faults:

I have just bought a Vauxhall Astra GTE 8v on an H plate - with the digital dash in.

Next to the side light icon on the dash, I have another icon coming up when I put my foot on the accelerator! It goes out when my foot is taken off the accelerator! The icon is orange and looks like a kinda fuel pump icon, and it also has a small lightning bolt, which is inside it. Can anyone help me out? Cheers, Simon.

General Comments:

The car is very quick for an 8 valve and handles well, but can be a handful in the wet!

Faults:

The traction control unit was faulty when I got the car, second hand one done the trick, 50 quid.

Stiff spot on the steering rack.

Engine light comes on for a while then goes off for a period of time, which makes it hard to get it diagnosed.

General Comments:

The car is a lot of fun, for the time I have had it and for the money I have spent on it I am well chuffed with it, it's a good buy.