8th Jun 2008, 03:09

I bought my 2001 Astra 12 months ago with 57K on the clock. In one year and only 8,000km done, I have had to call the NRMA twice.

Once when the ignition would not turn and the second time when the alternator failed which completely disabled the car.

The 60,000km service cost me $1,000 because the brakes had to be replaced as well as time belt.

In one year I have spent over $2,000 on repairs to the vehicle.

I will never buy a Holden again in my life.

Hopefully I will be able to get rid of it in the next few months and buy a Toyota.

Anyone considering buying an Astra, forget it. They may look OK but they are a nightmare car.

7th Jan 2009, 05:59

I have recently purchased a 2nd hand Holden Astra 2000 model. It drives so well; I got 750km out of one tank on a long distance drive.

Just recently though, I have experienced some difficulty with the air con, it just turns itself off, and not even the fan will work.

I have it booked in to get fixed, which is costing me $65 bucks just to look at it. I'm thinking it needs regassing as it's not very cool at all. Not sure why the air con or fan is turning on though.

When driving slow the car surges if the air con is on. Does anyone have any suggestions on what the problem is?

17th Jan 2009, 05:08

I have currently bought a second hand Holden Astra 2001 model. I have been searching for comments about the Astras and have finally found a lot of them.

Reading a lot of people's comments about the Astras, I have noticed some of their problems they are writing about, are some of the problems I have.

The squeaking in the front dashboard, the front brake pads needed to be replaced, the black brake dust on my front alloys.

Also I have been reading along, and no one has written about my main concern about my 2001 Astra; when I am completely stopped at a set of lights or anything totally stopped, I put my foot on my brake pedal and all of a sudden my car will jerk forward twice. The car does not move but you can feel it. The longer you drive the car the harder the jerks get, resulting in hurting my back.

2nd Feb 2009, 01:51

I brought a 2000 model Holden Astra City, and since I've had it I have had nothing but problems with it. The fan and air con will not work, and when I did work when I first purchased the car 2nd hand, it would go to the revs of the car. I have recently taken it on a rough dirt road and now, the fan light is lit up on the dash and the fan in the engine is flat stick trying to cool the motor down, even though the motor is cold when you first start it on a morning. Does anyone know what the problem could be?

16th Mar 2009, 05:41

I bought a 2001 TS City Astra MANUAL. I don't understand all of these 'negative' comments as my car has been a dream. I love it. It has done 145,000 KMS, and I am the third owner. The ONLY problems I have had would be the Ignition barrel got jammed (had it replaced which was quite costly - $200 AUSTRALIAN), and the rear brake light seems to blow every couple of weeks. I can't think of anything else though.. I service it by the log book.

Overall, I think it has been a FANTASTIC car. I know a few other people with this car and they have loved their Astra with no problems.

I have heard that the engine light can come on often (mine hasn't)

Good Luck!!

21st Jul 2009, 08:49

My sister has a Astra TS 1.L built Aug/2000. The engine started to miss-fire at idle (sounds like 3X cylinders working not 4) and would not get to 60km/h + as it normally would. I changed the spark plugs with new ones and that did improve the idle, but it still does not accelerate smoothly (engine does miss, not too sure if all 4 are firing) from standing start to 60km/h +. Having said that, it does seem to cruise OK. Next step is to try and change the fuel filter (advice from Hayes service manual), but the clips that hold lines to filter are not too easy to remove! If new filter fails I'm going to take to a mechanic. Anyone got any hints?

14th Aug 2009, 03:10

Hi. Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY AN ASTRA. I bought a second hand 2001 Astra.. and I have only had it less than a year and so far it has cost me $3000, around a third of what I bought it for.. trust me, put the extra money towards a new car. Or don't BUY ONE!!

2nd Sep 2009, 22:00

This is ridiculous.

I have never seen so many negative comments on one car before.

I have owned my 04 Astra TS SXI 1.8lt for 2 years now, and I can say I have never really had any issues (that were not my own fault anyway).

I bought it at 93,000 kms, and it now has 135,000 on the clock and still keeps going.

I have some advice though.

When replacing the battery in the remote, BE CAREFUL!!! I lost the chip and ended up needing to get towed...

Don't grind your gears in the manual version! Your GEARBOX DIFF is fragile and will break, forcing you to replace the gearbox (oops!!). (cost still pending)

Your timing belt will be expensive regardless what car you get (Holden just charge crazy prices for parts and labour). It still cost me $1300 for a major service (plugs, oil, filters & timing belt at a local mechanic though).

Personally I feel that they are great little cars, and to be honest there is nothing wrong with giving the 4 cylinder engine a bit of a rev now and then. They are built to run with higher revs.

Anyway, I feel they have copped a bit of stick from this site.. I mean maybe it's warranted, maybe it's not...

7th Oct 2009, 00:56

I've owned a 2000 TS CD since brand new - have had to replace valves due to timing belt failure ($3000K), AC compressor failed ($800), just replaced RRH electric window regulator (off market $90), and generally replaced bits and pieces as I've broken them or someone else has (RHD electric mirror assembly taken off by a bike - wrecker $150), replaced both front lights due to water (wrecker $50 each).

Apart from that, she's just clocked up 180K with a lot of country driving - still got the same clutch. Just make sure you get it serviced when you should and the little goer will keep going. It's a car - same as others, they do have faults, but nothing major to consider it a lemon.

Going to take her 200K and retire the old girl - apart from above, she's been a great little car... time to move on though.