Faults:
Nothing out of the ordinary has gone wrong with the car. The exhaust has recently been replaced and apart from that it has just been the usual service bits such as Pads and shoes, filters and other such parts.
As with most "Vauxhalls", the electric window regulators are starting to cease up and they should cost around £40 each to replace. The alternator is also due a recondition as the bearing is starting to get noisy.
A small, but annoying thing about the car is the way that the dash board lights and heater control lights keep blowing. Bulbs are only a few pence, but replacing them is tricky.
The distributer-less coil-pack recently had to replaced however it got damaged when I tried to start the car with the leads dangling around the engine bay - my own fault. Also cheap and easy to find parts in scrap yards.
Apart from these things, the engine still feels as tight as a new one and is very lively for a 1400cc.
General Comments:
When you consider that this hatch-back is basically a shortened version of the Mark Three Cavalier (mile eating rep mobile), and weighs in at around 1.5 tonnes, you realize that the small 1400cc engine is actually a firecracker.
I've had mine doing 115mph on the clock and in a recent race with a year 2002 1.6 16v Focus I was not left very far behind.
One of my favorite things about my Astra is the interior. I think the "Recaro" half-bucket recliners are the most comfortable standard seats ever. They also look amazingly sporty and personally I prefer them to the "GSi" Astra interior.
The Mark 3 Astra is a bit ugly on the outside though, but I have transformed mine into a graceful, sleek tourer with 17" alloy rims, lowered suspension and another couple of exterior details.
Insurance is not cheap on these little numbers and the Si comes in at Group 8 (equivalent of 2000cc 16v focus) so perhaps not best suited for first time owner.
This car is the third mark 3 Astra that I have owned. I transformed my last "GSi" Astra into a track going monster as the fuel consumption was denting my wallet. However I am planning to turbocharge this little one and I have heard that even when turbocharged, these little 8v's are bullet-proof.
I would recommend this model to anyone.
11th Oct 2004, 10:33
Had exactly the same problem with that specific model. why on earth they never had power steering on them I don't know.
Also painfully slow. my daughter who had a 1.4 diesel peugeot commented on how slow the car was.
Another fault was the leaking boot.
My California never had central locking. it was just awful. I purchased it from new and learnt to live with it. I retired mine to the scrap yard. best place for it!