1997 Astra
Date Acquired: 20th July 2005
Mileage at Purchase: 88,000 Miles
Cost: £1750
Named? Arthur, I think. After the dent in the bootlid. HHGTTG rules..;)
Status: Running.
Modifications Made
Due to an approaching MOT test, it was decided that a car change was probably the most logical action to take. Jem and I were looking around, and I saw an Ad in the local paper for this one. So we went to look.
The car was sat on the forecourt- a very nice shade of blue it was too. “Ceramic Mica Blue” to give it the proper title. It looked in good condition-shiny, clean, rust free. We sat in it, started it, I poked, prodded, tested and tasted all the things that I could think of, such as coolant, oil, PAS fluid, brake fluid and found nothing amiss. Full history in the glovebox showed it was a Motability car for it’s first 3 years, and a Network Q demonstrator for a 4th year so out of the 9 years it’s been about, the first 4 have been looked after by Vauxhall dealers.
We gave it a week of consideration, and decided that in all likelihood we probably would be hard pressed to find another Automatic in decent nick closer to the MOT time. Then we checked my paperwork and discovered that far from having a month before the test, I had 2 weeks.
Sod’s law tried to derail me-the night before I decided, a 1998 Astra 1.6 Automatic Estate came up for sale. Less miles, a year younger, £50 less. Tempting…I’ve always thought a “Technician class transport” should be an estate-most Techies I’ve met own them. However, sceptic that I am I reasoned that cheaper didn’t make sense unless it had been a “load lugger” and may well be more “tired” than the car I was looking at.
One lift, and £1800 later Jem and I drove out of the dealership and into traffic in a totally new car, with unfamiliar computers dictating gearchanges and engine behaviour. It’s the first car I’ve had with Fuel Injection.
So, after 2+ years of ownership-what do I think of it?
Plus Points
- Quiet.
- Safe, Predictable handling. Usually. Bit evil in the wet at times.
- Bloody good brakes.
- 4 speed Auto box.
- “Winter Driving” and Sports Mode ;)
- Economical (400+ miles on a tank of fuel still, never gone under it).
- “Sufficiently Rapid”-80MPH and accelerating fast up a hill by accident.
Minus Points
- Dull. German efficiency, British flair, but as engaging to drive as a fridge.
- Boring but practical (and cavernous) interior.
Sodding bloody catalyser vibrating against the sodding bloody heatshield.Fixed that when the head gasket got replaced.- To replace the thermostat, you have to remove the water pump (WTF?).
- Sports Mode (Too tempting to just hit “S” and boot it ;)
Needs the computers reset-i’m sure it’s “learned” the last owners driving style.It had. All reset now!- Idiot selector switch on the autobox. Now fixed and has its own page.
Overall, I like it. The economy, practicality, safety and capability of this car to cruise all day at 70mph all outweigh the minus points - it may be a fridge, but hell..it’s OUR fridge..;)
Now lightly modified with blue LED dashboard lighting. Because it matches the car. Plus on-board USB sockets, for chargers etc.