1997 Holden Astra 1.6 from Australia and New Zealand
Summary:
Every mechanic will tell you they are LEMONS!
Faults:
It started with terrible rattling sounds that were coming from the exhaust. It was cracked in the middle from being so low and hit so many times.
The oil and engine lights would flash on and off nearly every day, even though it had plenty of oil etc.
Then I was told it had an oil leak, which needed to be fixed. That didn’t help.
Then it kept blowing seals out, and left big black oil patches everywhere I went.
Then I was told it was the rocker cover, the head gasket, the radiator was cracked... nobody could tell me. Nothing seemed to fix it either.
Brake pads were ground down twice in two years.
Both side mirrors broke twice.
The central locking got stuck constantly.
The shocks were completely gone, and it swung around corners.
You really have to put your foot down to get it up a hill and rev the crap out of it.
Then after THOUSANDS of dollars and three different mechanics, it finally started to blow smoke out of the engine and through the air conditioning!
I had to drive it for the last three months without the oil cap on, so the engine wouldn’t fill up with pressure and blow all the seals out.
So of course I had to top up the oil twice a week, and coolant every three days!
WHAT A LEMON!!!
NEVER again.
General Comments:
It had great cabin space.
Comfortable seating.
Great size for a hatchback, and easy fold down seats.
Easy to park.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 21st July, 2012
21st Jul 2012, 22:37
6/10 for reliability sounds a bit generous...