Faults:

Usual wear and tear. Nothing disastrous, keep up the oil changes and belt changes and you should be OK with these engines. Brakes and suspension have been the biggest expense, but I do drive it hard and it is getting older now, so can't complain.

General Comments:

What a good looking car. A sleek coupe (kind of) from Vauxhall that really stands out from other Astra's like the 5 door versions you normally see about. It is a really great looking car from all angles. Best in darker colours with a nice set of alloy wheels.

SXi model is rather basic (go for Design or Elite models if you want to the lot), but you do get a lot of electric equipment as standard and the interior has a quality feel. Surprisingly comfortable for a sporty little car, but the ride can get a little too firm at times on UK roads pottering about town. It's best suited to long country roads, and handles pretty sharp.

1.6 petrol engine has average performance, it is no race car, but can overtake with ease if it needs to. Glad I got the 1.6 though - had a test drive in a 1.4 and it felt underpowered. You can also get a solid 40 MPG if you drive carefully. Go for the 2.0 if you want more performance, though expect the fuel bills and insurance to be higher of course. The car has a bit of a boy racer image attached to it.

Overall a great looking car, with average performance in all other areas being the only let down. I guess you can't expect much from a Vauxhall that is based on a run of the mill Astra, but if you want a good looking car that's a bit different from the other dull hatchbacks you see on the road, give these Sport Hatch Astras a try - you can get them now very cheap and they are much the same running costs as a regular Astra if you go for the smaller engines.

Faults:

Had it for less than 6 months.

The horn does not work.

Side electric wing mirrors don't work.

Engine rocker gasket starting to leak oil.

These old Vauxhall cars are not reliable. Never buy an old Rover or a Vauxhall. Not worth it; I keep going to garage more often with my Astra. Mostly it's electric problems and engine problems. Goodbye Vauxhall.

General Comments:

Not reliable. Not happy with old Vauxhalls.

Faults:

De-phaser pulley on the inlet manifold disintegrated and sheared from the camshaft when the car was started on the drive; no warning of impending failure. The engine was a complete write off with bent valves and damaged piston heads; uneconomic to fix on my budget. Since then I have heard of three other instances of failure of this engine from other owners, as the engine is found in Astras and Zafiras.

General Comments:

Comfortable to drive, but has a tendency to wallow into corners.

Design spec interiors are reasonable, but nothing to write home about. Lack of storage bins.

Gearbox clunking when selecting third, and that famous Vauxhall clutch judder when cold.

The car had a Jekyll and Hyde personality, in which one day the driving experience was mediocre and the next a pleasure. One wonders if this may have been an early symptom of failure of the de-phaser.