1990 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8i petrol from UK and Ireland
Faults:
Fuel hose split at pump body, then at rear of engine bay, two separate times.
A later fault, car would start, run while on cold idle program, then stall after five minutes, usually when you're turning right at traffic lights. After turning the engine over for 30 seconds while praying/swearing under breath it would restart and run normally for the rest of any journey. Turned out to be fuel pump relay.
Assortment of bulbs failed.
Stolen recovered once, broken into another time. Replaced the steering wheel, locks etc.
Spark plug lead came loose from the plastic retainer and chafed on the radiator fan blades. Replaced the leads with silicone 'hot leads' and made sure they were secured with cable ties.
Usual wear and tear parts, new exhaust at 85,000 miles, air filters, oil filters, gearbox oil changed, tyres wear on corners on front, even though no PAS on the car.
Used 10w40 oil and slick 50, flushed the radiator and it runs cool as you like, no overheats, ever. Slick 50 gearbox additive helped too, feels smoother for it.
Changed the cambelt and alt belt.
Standard parts are cheap for Vauxhalls, widely available, and there is still a lot of performance stuff available for these cars if you want exhausts, air filters, discs, ECU chips and the like.
Bags of crashed ones at scrap dealers too for the odd mirror, panel or light cover for pennies.
General Comments:
Thieves know this car is easy to steal, locks are a joke, so get a stoplock, and get a PRO model, all the others are easily removed (see What Car tests on security). Fit an immobiliser, it will be worth it.
It goes well enough, 115 bhp 8v SOHC engine used to power the GTE 1.8, this version, the 1.8SE has breakerless electronic ignition, it just needs oil changes every 6,000 miles and it should last and last. 0-60 nothing special, 9 and a bit seconds I think, handling is reasonable, no surprises, gentle understeer on the limit. Easily bettered by the French hot hatches though. Cheap to buy, cheap to own, but watch the rust on those rear wheel arches and door bottoms where moisture ingress gathers.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th December, 1999