25th Nov 2002, 09:21
HA HA HA!
Let a WRX go? All they usually see is the back of mine... the power you can achieve from these beauties is unreal... and for not too much cost either...
If you're looking for a car and see one for sale in good condition... buy it!
29th Nov 2002, 07:21
Ah, but think of the power and performance potential you can achieve with a WRX!
31st Mar 2003, 05:55
At the end of the day it's nothing more than an Astra which 99% of the people use for getting to the supermarket. Most have flat caps and disabled badges. I can only imagine that the rear speakers are in the boot to stop the shopping bags rolling around.
23rd Apr 2003, 06:56
Well, isn't the last comment interesting. Obviously compiled by somebody who doesn't know what its like to have a car that's a little bit different. As for the 'going down to the supermarket' comment, I would invite them to a Sunday morning 'blast' down the local country roads and see if their views remain the same. I wouldn't mind betting that their idea of being exciting would be a trip down to the nearest car dealer, paying over the odds for a box on wheels and then bragging about how many miles they are getting from their (probably), diesel engine.
19th Jun 2003, 15:48
My Vauxhall Astra 1.4 SOHC injection has an irritating, but interesting problem with fuel. Sometimes it will travel 5 miles before cutting out at other times it only manages to run until warm. I have tried changing the fuel filter and the electronic coolant sensor and still the problem persists. Can anyone make a suggestion?
7th Sep 2004, 10:59
Hi, well I have had my G S I for about 2 years now, and I have never looked back. i have had new arches put in the other week and she now looks mint. I do not regret spending £900 for this to be done, well worth the money. Now I only have one more thing to do those annoying tappets, I have been told that you are best to change them as the synthetic oil does not take the sound away completely. Got a qoute the other day for them which was £12 each plus the v.a.t comes to a very nice bill of around £250.
12th Oct 2004, 07:57
Alright mate, I've got a gsi and like all the others it taps when you first start it up in the morning or when cold I've been quoted £15.99 each for the new lifters from vauxhalls... do you know anyone who will sell them cheaper?..about the oil I've been told its not good 2 put that type of oil in a car with high mileage mines only done 117000,miles.
18th Oct 2004, 05:52
I am the original author of this review. I have had the arches done along with the tappets. At the time Courtney Sport supplied the tappets much cheaper than Vauxhall (I don't know if this is still the case as it was a while ago, but it would be worth a call).
The car has now done 97,000 miles and is still in lovely condition although I am itching to buy an Impreza at the moment.
10th Dec 2004, 15:04
Wassup? I bought my blue Astra GSI J plate 2 months ago.
After taking advice, I went for the early J plate, as the later GSi's had the less powerful Ecotec engine, which I had many problems with on an R reg Tigra.
The car has 110k, with no rust in the arches. Very good condition.
It did need a new gearbox, clutch, ECU. 900 quid in total, including fitting.
I do suggest any work done on these cars is carried out by professionals that know what they are doing.
It makes that irritating tapping noise from cold. Takes 5 minutes to quiet.
As for performance, it's excellent. I've done 140mph with ease, and still had more left. Raced my mate's 1.8 turbo Seat Leon 180bhp. He couldn't out run me. The handling's scarey on corners, but on the straights it's a beast.
Brakes are crap, and in the wet are frightening.
Mines up for sale now, as I have a R reg Astra GSI with the Redtop turbo engine fitted. Very good cars.
22nd Aug 2002, 08:04
I Agree completely, I've had various car from xr2's to GT5 Turbo, but nothing beats the Astra. Its got 120K on it and it goes better now than ever. Tappets are noisy from cold. I've had the car 10yrs and always used Synthetic oil. A friend who's a Vauxhall Mechanic reckons the only way to quieten them is to replace them Approx £300.
Only fault I can see is the double skin rear arches. Mine have started to rust and when it gets inside the skin your taking expensive surgery.