1990 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8i from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A sporty car for the young generation

Faults:

Split hoses.

Stolen and recovered many times. Thieves know that the car is easy to break into and that the locks are a joke including the ignition.

I suggest you buy a good alarm and immobiliser.

Electric window on the driver's side sticks, presume a seal is loose and pinching between the window and runner behind the door.

General Comments:

The car is very quick, this was my first car and I feel out of my league. The insurance company's don't want to touch you and I found myself paying out well over a thousand pounds for only third party.

The thieves will have an interest in your car, but the cops are always pulling you over and checking on you (which I now feel is a comfort, but can be very frustrating and embarrassing at the time).

The car is very common, but put some alloy wheels on it and it comes into a new upbeat look.

Go for a G registration (1990) as the car was updated and is smarter.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd October, 2001

14th Jun 2006, 10:29

I agree with you on the ease of stealing this car, I had mine stolen twice and recovered, I put a foxgaurd alarm on and touch wood never been touched since, car (belmont SRI 1990) now has 147000 on clock and is good as gold.

1990 Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v 2.0 16v from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Brilliant!

Faults:

No faults.

General Comments:

To get the bad bit out of the way first, this car had a crap chassis. Everything else was brilliant.

The engine was sensational - strong, reliable, economical and it even made a great noise. The seats were comfortable, the styling was spot on and the running costs low. The car was also faultlessly reliable, unlike the Vauxhalls made today.

Performance wise, this car would hand out a pasting to anything short of a Cosworth or a supercar. It was figured by What Car in 1988 as reaching 60 from rest in 6.9 seconds, and this was entirely believable. It also had torque from virtually idle, and a hairtrigger throttle response. I suspect half a second could have been knocked off the 0-60 time if the thing had got its power down cleanly off the line.

Highly recommended.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th September, 2001

25th Aug 2006, 18:32

Well its already had over 1/2 a second shaved off cos the proper manufacturers figure is 7.6 to 60 for this car. so I doubt any more will be shaved off (or imagined off).

14th Sep 2007, 09:30

Its as quick as a crx vtec 1990 so its 0-60 would be in the mid 7's.

9th Jun 2008, 10:35

I remember the issue of What Car well, and it was indeed figured at 6.9 using Datron timing gear. They also made a huge deal out of the fact that it would match a V12 XJS from 50-70. This wasn't imagination at work, but proper, accurately measured test figures in controlled conditions.

They did put paid to the ludicrous 146 mph indicated top speed though, which was actually a genuine 132 mph when measured accurately.

In performance terms, this car was leagues ahead of the competition at the time, and still not a million miles off the pace in acceleration terms when compared to today's hottest hatches. The engine is still sought after today.

Never went round corners though, and the million miles most of the surviving examples have done won't have improved matters.

1990 Vauxhall Astra GTE 16V petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

One of the best hot hatches

Faults:

Leaky power steering rack after 100,000 miles. Dealer price £500 + fitted. Recon option £80 + £60 fitted - Bargain.

Radiator leak and hoses split.

Oil leak from the sump, dealer replaced a gasket and sump - no improvement, originated from a faulty oil pump seal, be warned.

General Comments:

A car with plently to offer despite bad reviews regarding the chassis and road handling.

Seriously quick and fun to drive. Loads of engine tweaks, handling kits available for all you max heads.

My beloved car is now suffering from tin worm therefore it's time for some TLC to restore it back to its former glory.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th June, 2001