1996 Vauxhall Astra Sport 1.6 16v from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Lovely!!!, I wish I had one that wasn't broken
Faults:
When I first bought the car it was burning oil and was blowing a little smoke from behind. But I didn't see this as the engine management light was removed from the dash and it drove brilliantly. I think it's due to either 'sticky valves' (which is a common problem in 1.4 - 1.6 eco-tec engines) or piston rings. Other than that the car still sounded and drove beautifully.
Absolutely no other faults. Engine still started first time and went on and on even though there was something really wrong with it.
Watch for front suspension mounts. They seem to be a common problem in Astra's as they are rubber.
General Comments:
This car performs very well.
The 1.6 16v on the back does tend to attract traffic light grand prix though.
The acceleration is quick with 0-60 in 10 seconds, but engine can be noisy on motorway trips.
Lovely interior. The black dash is very posh, with a sporty feel.
Bucket seats make the ride feel sporty and very comfy.
As for the engine, it can be a little noisy at cold, but it'll never let you down. Look after it as eco-tec engines are bad boys to replace as they are expensive and complex.
I had problems with my eco-tec and I was quoted 800 - 1000 pounds to replace it, if one can be found. Then that engine could have problems too. Also mechanics 'hate' dealing with them so I had a lot of evil looks and grunts. I recommend getting a new car if it fails as mine was costing too much money to fix.
Other than that this car is beautiful. I loved it so much, its such a shame I had to let it go. I now have a 2.0 C.D.X.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 11th November, 2004
29th Jun 2005, 10:32
Suggest you put your money in a new vehicle, head gasket will blow.