Faults:

Oil leak, cam rattle, exhaust, air con won't work, plus all the usual wear and tear.

General Comments:

The GTC Astra is a stunning looking car. Quite a change from the regular Astra.

Mine is black with a nice set of alloy wheels, looks very smart. "Sport" model is rather basic, but the car has enough electrics as expected for a modern car.

To drive the 1.4 turbo will not stun you with amazing acceleration, but it has enough get up and go for everyday driving while doing around 40 mpg. Tax and insurance are reasonable. Repairs can be costly, but find a nice independent garage and you should be OK - these are fairly simple cars to maintain.

The car handles great, but the ride gets a bit too harsh sometimes. Overall a fun car to drive and own, highly recommended.

Faults:

Oil cooler leak (common) about £320 to replace!

Coolant leak (also common, expansion tank fails, not too expensive to replace).

Suspension rattle.

Brakes.

Air con non operative, expected at age and mileage - not bothered to fix.

General Comments:

Mediocre is what the Astra is and always has been, but it is by no means a bad car.

Good looking in bright red, the SRi model is sharp to drive, not exciting but handles better than base models, while still having a comfortable ride (although a bit firm in town) and quiet on the motorways. Interior is also nicely equipped. Spacious also for its size.

1.6 16v petrol engine is plodding, not slow but not fast either. 35 - 40 mpg on average. A bit more reliable than the diesels, so that is a plus point. Tax and insurance are reasonable. Reliable enough if looked after (service on time and timing belt essential).

Value / Depreciation is pretty poor on this car. At this age and mileage - buy one cheaply, run it for a couple of years as an economy car, then scrap at higher mileage with problems, or sell if it is still going and in good condition. Mine is average condition - I will keep it for another year or so. After that, who knows.

So there you have it - the Vauxhall Astra - most average / boring car in the UK used car market.

Faults:

Springs, exhaust, brakes, usual mechanical for mileage.

Air con a bit weak.

Battery.

Changed the cam-belt, well worth doing if you plan to keep these cars beyond 100K mileage. There is a small oil leak, but not serious.

Stupid inflation kit failed when I had a puncture. Not really the car's fault I know, but I wish they would give us a spare wheel instead of these stupid repair kits that are in most post year 2000 modern cars!

General Comments:

2013 Astra SRi still feels fresh and modern for a 10 year old car.

Great looking car when you look at it closely - never really noticed these cars till I bought one as they are modern and do not really stand out. The right color and trim make a difference. Black (best color) SRi trim looks very smart with the alloy wheels. Inside is nice too - sports seats are very comfortable. Suspension a little stiffer than on regular models - but not uncomfortably so. Has all the electrics you would expect. Steering wheel feels nice - leather wrapped. Good visibility and driving position. Quite spacious for its size.

1.6 16v petrol is fast enough for me while doing 40 - 45 mpg. Easily more reliable than the diesels, and worth that little extra on fuel over the weaker 1.4 petrol. Change the oil and any belts and you're good for high mileage with this simple proven engine.

Love it, just a bloody brilliant and reliable little car that does most things very well.