Faults:

Nothing until 55,000 miles of hard driving, when a head gasket blew. Not a huge problem. The car was more than strong enough to survive the drive to the garage without it.

General Comments:

It's brilliant. No one I take out in it ever believes it's just a 100hp 1.6. It cruises effortlessly at 90mph without a murmour, but sounds great when taken to 6500rpm on the country lanes at night. It's still all together, doesn't rattle, and once cleaned looks as good today as it did 4 and a half years ago when it left the showroom.

Faults:

Almost nothing apart from one of the bulbs on the radio central console going out.

General Comments:

Very reliable and solid car. Good perfomance without high insurance costs.

Looks very good with some additions.

Faults:

New battery fitted at 80,000 mls, new alternator 95,000 due to noisy bearing.

New front brake discs at 100,000.

Broken drivers seat height adjuster, twice. Welding required.

Diesel pump throttle damper at 25,000 - cost £25.

General Comments:

The car on the whole has been very reliable and economical 45-60 mpg depending on driving style.

Regularly carrying heavy loads. Should have been fitted with power steering though from day one.

115,000 mls. and still going strong.

I'm very pleased with the car and shall be having a new one next year.

Faults:

Engine would hesitate badly from cold, and occasionally stall. Dealer fixed this with new fuel pump and exhaust temp sensor under warranty.

Car was originally a fleet car and had covered 72,000 miles when I purchased it two years ago.

It has now covered 94,000 without so much as a service in 20,000 miles.

General Comments:

Ceasaro is quite high spec., sports interior, electric windows and sunroof, alloy wheels, power steering and pearlesent paint (Great until you get a stone chip because you can't match it)

The 1.6i engine is very willing and torquey but not very refined, close ratio gearbox means it is quite noisy at speed, but great fun on country roads. Handling is acceptable but not fantastic. All in all a nice car to drive on relatively short distances. Fuel economy has always been pretty poor, I can normally only get about 200 miles from a tank full.

Faults:

Master cylinder (because main dealer forgot to release pressure when changing pads apparently) seals ruptured, water pump, wheel bearing (manufacturing fault, where bearing assembly was outside tolerences, and the car out or warranty and out of the country... )

These details affect running costs figure of 5. Had I no problems, it would be 8-9.

General Comments:

It's an okay car - had it now for almost a year. Engine good for 1.4, not fast top speed, but punchy enough midrange.

Handling is safe but ride is a bit wearing and jiggly (though I live in Ireland and the roads are crap).

Let me down twice soon after purchase - I think the Opel Astra is built better than Vauxhall (mine's an English import), though Irish dealers are bad if my master cylinder experience is anything to go by.

Family have had Vauxhall/Opel since 70's and they are generally good. I'm initially let down by mine (after trading from a Montego), but overall it's quiet, competent and seems reliable now I've fixed initial problems (see what's gone wrong above).

It's also economical if driven easily - 150 miles to 10 quid is quite good.

Faults:

No real problems, new exhaust 40K miles.

Someone tried to break in but the deadlocking and alarm stopped them. Brakes last 20K miles, front tyres wear quickly if you corner hard.

General Comments:

Great fast Astra, 148BHP, 7.5s 0-60. Solid handling with with some body roll on corners but sticks to the road. Excellent brakes. Not too much noise at speed, will happily cruise at 95+mph.