1984 Vauxhall Astra 1.6SR 1.6 from UK and Ireland
Summary:
The best warm hatch of its generation
Faults:
Blocked fuel filter caused loss of power for a while.
Battery flattened due to wiring short, mysteriously repaired itself!
General Comments:
I have owned 14 cars ranging from an MG Metro to an MR2 Turbo with 2 Porsches in there too and I swear that this is the finest car I have ever owned!
I owned this car from the age 19 to 21, when I was one of the most notorious street racers around!
The handling was unreal, I can honestly say that no car or bike ever got the better of me round a bend!
In a straight line the car was no rocket, but could pull to an honest 105mph on the flat. There was plenty of pull in every gear, right to the red line in the first 4!
My friend had an XR2 and we raced round a street circuit once, the Ford would pull away on the straights, but coming out of every bend Id be trying to pass him, the car had limpet like grip from the 185/60/14 shod Cavalier SRi alloys.
The car had big comfy recaro seats and the same dash as a GTE with extra gauges for oil temp, battery volts etc.
The factory bodykit looked tough, so I didn't modify it at all apart from the afore mentioned alloys.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st February, 2003
13th Mar 2003, 11:47
Thank you very much to the woman with the first comment, I hope you are enjoying your retirement home!
I sold the car after 18 months without ever marking the bodywork, these days I am nearly 30 and an advanced driver, I still blast down the odd familiar B road, but tend to be quite careful and always obey speed limits in built up areas!
I agree entirely with the second comment, the engine was very sweet and torquey, My current Ford Zetec motor is certainly no great step forwards in economy, refinement or economy!