Matteeboy

Dream Weaver -Don't be a ****.
Have you not noticed how mainstream cars are now often better than "premium" brands?
I tried the 3 series touring, the A4 Avant, the Passat Estate, Focus Estate, Accord Estate, Forester (WAY too thirsty) - The Astra was more solid, handled better, looked fresher and was quicker than all the competition.
You really did write yourself off with that statement - Pillock.

We like new cars - sorry but it's true.

davyboy

It also depreciates quicker, and looks turd.

This is from someone who own an Astra and a Signum.

Matteeboy

Yes but Davyboy, I could say I like Zonda's and you'd hate them just to spite me.
See that's what you are like - so your opinion is void on anything that relates to anything I post.

davyboy

Not to spite you.....just to annoy you

Dream Weaver

Nice mature post Are we back at school, shall I throw some kiddie names back at yourself?

I own a mainstream car, and its as good as anything else out there and a damn site better looking than any Astra. I'm still not stupid enough to buy one new though.

I'm sure I won't lose any sleep over whether I've "written myself off" on a SUbaru forum by slating a 0% finance bottom of the line Astra

Matteeboy

The CDTi 150 Design is actually the TOP of the range diesel - Sorry to upset you but it helps to gets ones fact right when trying to be clever.
Lets not try and argue over a cars looks - I believe that is a subject open to debate.
Unlike spec levels, handling capabilities, performance, mpg, emissions, etc, etc, all of which the Astra scores very highly.

Come on then, attempted clever last word then DM...

See I actually like cars. All sorts of cars. I only write a car off if it's REALLY unreliable (ahem Laguna) or truly shocking (ahem Rover Citycar). I enjoy driving all sorts from vans to supercars. Those that write of an entire marque based on a snippet of knowledge or information can't actually like cars and don't really know what they are talking about.

Give me a Skoda - I'll enjoy it. Give me a Transit - I'll have some fun in it. Give me a Subaru - I'll head for the twisties.

Car blinkerism is for the insecure, the Daily Mail readers, the sad.

davyboy

Ah you've got the unreliable and expensive to fix fiat engined car.

Best sell it before the warrenty runs out.

Vlad the Impaler

LOL

true to form

Matteeboy

Of course - as praised enormously by all the motoring press and used by Alfa and Saab too. A truly tragic engine

davyboy

Engines are great when they work.

Of course my Vauxhall master tech friend knows nothing about the realities of the Fiat lump.

Matteeboy

Well ours hasn't missed a beat in 40k miles.
And my uncles on his 2nd Saab with the same lump - the last one clocked up 80k miles without any issues.

So sorry, your Vx Jedi mate may bleat on about them, but my experience is all good.

davyboy

I'm very happy for you........

...and I hope you continue to enjoy driving your Astra Estate for many years to come.

Account deleted by request

Great entertainment - keep it up guys.

chop <reaches for the popcorn>

Chris L

Scoobynet at its best

VoteConservative!

the only way to lose the minium amount of money possible on a car is to buy one that hardly depreciates.

VoteConservative!

An astra better than BMW and audi and the rest of the competition

My police mate slates the force astras and they are tweaked up versions of what you have.

lol astra better that a 3 series. Not even in the same league mate

Matteeboy

Sorry but the 3 series had naff all room in the back and the 320d (at that time) was slower, plus it looked dull.
The Audi was just boring to drive (usual numb steering and average handling) and again, the 2.0TDI has less power, weighs more and it slower.

Great to see another badge monkey on Scoobynet.

A shocking number on here with scarily blinkered views on everything from cars to immigration.

Get a life -It's much more pleasant.

Matteeboy

Which is?

ALL cars depreciate horribly (my R32 was supposed to be a low depreciator - errrmmm, no it wasn't) - Unless you get a newly launched Porker or Merc, you're stuffed.

Even your worshipped base spec 316i or A3 1.6 depreciates like a rock off a cliff.

Have you ever bought or owned a car BTW?

VoteConservative!

Who says I worship BMW's and Audi's.

Go look at the my scooby and you will see what I drive. Alot more fun, faster and better built than your thing.

One car right now that does seriously refuse to depreciate is the new audi TT. Only looses like 3 grand in a year due to such high demand. Cars like your astra lose a 1/3 of their value as soon as you drive it off the lot.

VoteConservative!

"And it slower?"

If im not mistaken the 2.0TDI has 170bhp

The astra is hardly the fastest thing for 20k and is far from being class leading.

Thanks for the mature insults

mattvortex

As above! You seem very pleased with your Ashtray-good for you-but it will depreciate more than the premium brand cars you mentioned and its a lot,lot less desirable
Come trade-in time, this will be confirmed!

davyboy

It might not depreciate more in terms of ££ but probably will as a %.

Matteeboy

Whatever. Vote - The 2.0TDi only had 140bhp when we got the Ashtray.

Sorry for liking a car I've bought - Clearly most offensive to others.

Oh and there's the speed boat for high speed fun. And the surfboard.
When everything is sorted in life, a brand suddenly doesn't matter so much.

Matt - My "premium" Golf R32 lost just as much as my Astra did in a year. So did my previous Golf Gti, my Passat, etc. So what?

Devildog

Morning Matt.

Chill dude

The current Astra is very good, no question. GM Europe has finally got its act together. And its a far better drive than any comparable A3, which, even in 170PS form is not that quick.

But it will depreciate more than the Beemer or the Audi. Having said that, you'd have to shell out £'000 more to match CD spec. But until you come to sell, you won't know for sure.

My local dealer had an ex demo Signum 3.2 (?) on the forecourt a while back. Mint, all the toys, 3 months old. Sticker price was 50% of new retail.

Yes, you'll get good discounts from new. Hell, I got nearly £2k off my old 120D, which, incedentally, cost me less in depreciation (real money and percentages) over the year I had it than any other car I've ever owned. Ok, so I specced it carefully, but the difference was marked.

But as you have said, if you are happy with it, then that's all that matters Friends of ours have just bought a 150 ps diesel Astra Estate. the one with the toys, body kit, big alloys, etc. Great car. But no mistake, its no BMW or Audi in terms of premium feel.

I agree that badge snobbery is wrong. But it exists, and as such it does matter come resale time. I'm sure the new Mondeo is a cracking car. THe mags all rave about it. But it still won't hold its value like something from Germany. Which is a shame.

Anyway, back on topic. Bottom line is that if you are careful, however you purchase your car won't see that much of a difference in your pocket at the end of the day.

Matteeboy

Devildog - The voice of reason.
Of course the Astra is now worth about a fiver, but we knew that.
The original point (before the Astra slagging) was that I'd rather someone else pay interest than me - Hence 0% deals are good in many ways if you buy carefully.

Not sure what the next car will be - Probably get a 2nd car very soon and maybe a funmobile soon after that. Now the Astra is worth mere pence yet is still a damn good car, we may as well keep it!

Devildog

Now there's a post I never thought I'd read

Matteeboy

Well it appears that the leopard has in fact changed his spots...

VoteConservative!

My 20k Leon Cupra runs rings around 20k Astras, with the chavvy VXR included

Anyway like I said before the best way to save money on a car that you are only going to keep for 3-4 years is to buy something that holds onto its value well. I mean interest on a 20k car paid over 3 years is next to nothing really.

Actually now that I think about it 20k on a non VXR astra is a lot of money. You may have got 0% interest but you sure did get shafted elsewhere!

Devildog

Clearly not one who heeds his own advice

VoteConservative!

Whats wrong with my cupra?

Im going to keep it untill its like 7 years old so resale value doesnt matter diddly squat to me. Im saving for a house and a bigger bhp car