Dave1980

Been pondering this for a while, i am thinking of changing my clio 172 soon. Although orginally i wanted a 530/540i 5 series i have been thinking about all sorts of things lately.

Having been brought into the world of turbos i with my old scooby i feel like another one.

Seen a lot of these astra coupes about and seen there is a turbo version with 197bhp. Seriously tempted as they do look nice.

Anyone got any experience of them?. This is the 2000-2004 models.

How do they handle etc.

Cheers
Dave

Dave1980

anyone?

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

A mate has a 300 bhp one and its the quickest thing I have been in, his is the 888 with about everything Courtenay do thrown at it.

I quite like them, they are quite quick as standard and pretty tunable, dont look bad either.

john banks

540i - yummy

NotoriousREV

That just shows your age, Dr. B

The Chief

Although not the coupe i've drove a mates SRI Turbo that pumped out 212bhp on a rolling road. really really easy to drive, and although does not have the traction of a Scooby i was impressed with the handling and power once rolling. Not as sure footed (well it wont be being 2wd) but not as bad as i thought it would be.

Sais mate replaced it with an Audi TT for the missus and regrets doing that every day. Astra is quicker and a damn sight more reliable he tells me.

craig-sti

I used to own a y reg coupe turbo, it was the first turbo car i owned. It would wheel spin in first and second but when it got going it was quick, the handling was quite light especially when wet. I own a astra turbo sport hatch just now and its nowhere near as fun to drive. Duno if that helps mate?

Clarkie172

I was going to buy one but opted for a 172 instead. They are nice cars really. Reliable and can be tuned easily.Get a blue one with the half blue seats!

Dave1980

a few good views there, thanks guys.

werent sure how they handled. guess i might have a look for one to have a drive in.

john banks

V8 and RWD vs blown in line 4 and FWD. Classy vs Astra.

Please don't buy an Astra instead of a 540i unless it is to save money.

Petem95

Could probably do worse if cash really is tight Dave - I expect they'd chip to about 230bhp easily enough, so would be quick in a straight line once it got going (ie after the wheelspin frenzy in 1st and 2nd). Doesnt sound like the handling is that great though.

Vauxhall Astra Turbo | First Drives | Car Reviews | Auto Express

I reckon you should just get a bit more cash together and go for a blob-eye scooby tho as it clearly sounds like youre missing the old scoob! Blob-eyes are right down in price, a nice WRX STi PPP would sort out those scooby withdrawal symptons

Edit: Prob get this sort of thing for 8k with a bit of haggling - just needs an STI spolier and a remap

Subaru : SUBARU IMPREZA 2.0 WRX AWD Turbo

The Chief

That is an interesting road test. They are a very understated car, not as sure footed as a Scoob sure, but netherless especially in dry conditions pretty good.

Although i have never drove a 172 i would imagine that they would not have the nimbleness and chuckability of a 172 (what car has) but the astra are a good all round performance car. If you crave the lovely mid range turbocharged thrust that accompanies such cars without the running costs of a Big capacity V8 and assorted Scoobies then these are hard to beat.

My buddy did not have one thing go wrong with his and he got great MPG out of is (unless he was thrashing it of course)

With regards to the bad handling, it will not have the outright grip of an awd Scooby especially when the conditions are a bit crappy looking at that road test good enough.

'As you might expect, the suspension feels very firm, and the 17-inch wheels, shod with 215/40 section tyres, transmit quite a lot of road noise into the cabin. Uneven surfaces cause the nose of the SRi to pitch, and it's clear that some steering input is needed to keep the car on its intended line. However, the aggressive suspension also offers a huge amount of grip. Out on the open road, the Astra will carve through sweeping bends at impressive speed. To cope with the extra performance, the brakes have also beenuprated, and the SRi boasts the same disc and caliper combination as the svelte Coupé.'

Dave1980

ironically now a decent 540i now costs less than an astra coupe turbo!.

i am having turbo withdrawl symptons but as much as i miss the scooby i think they have had their day (flame suit on). glad to have owned one but think i need something different.

just got absolutley no idea, money isnt the issue. think i just need to go and try some different cars out and see what tickles my pickles.

thanks for the advice anyway guys.

Mikkel

I used to own a 2002 Astra Coupe Turbo in black a few years back. Really nice car and you get a lot for the money. Wouldn't personally put more than the standard 190ish bhp in though as wheel spin was bad enough with that.

rb5_336

I had the GSI turbo hatchback (pic here), must say it was a lot of car for the money, I enjoyed owning it. I just couldn't get past the fact it was a vauxhall so had to sell.

I have a 330d sport now (pic here, the perfect all rounder for me.

Sean

Tidgy

if you want a turbo coupe astra then the 888 is the one to go for (the older shape one, not the new dirty diesel lol)

Vauxhall : Astra 888

origional condition one

Vauxhall : Astra 888 coupe. North Scotland

john banks

540i may be cheaper to buy, but the overall cost of ownership will likely be higher?

LG John

WTF, is this sort of pricing correct??

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Yup, there's not much market for an 8+ year old 4 litre plus executive motor at the moment. Cant think why

I must be getting old as I'm really drawn to this:

BMW : BMW 530i Sport Champagne Edition

Bound to be cheaper to run than the 540?

john banks

If it is good condition it could be a superb buy. I gather you have to watch the BMW autoboxes at high miles as they are supposedly sealed for life and difficult to refill correctly, but the fluid does go off and then the boxes can fail. Not much less torque than the M5, about a second slower to 60. Always wanted one, never got round to it. Insurance is the killer as I let the NCB lapse on a second policy I had years back.

LG John

School boy!! We only need one car at the moment but I run a N reg Fiesta just to keep my policy alive and, I guess, to give me the option of being more mobile if I need it.

I really fancy something for cruising in comfort but with some power as well. I can't believe the 540s are now under 5k!

john banks

If you get a 540i Auto and take it to Crail please be gentle l(a)unching it

Once you've had a six+ cylinder motor you always have a "gap" afterwards?

LG John

LOL at "l(a)unching" - I like what you did there

John I'm becoming a ***** in my old age - my last Impreza was the fastest car I've owned and I never took it to crail because, quite simply, I didn't trust it not to put me several grand out of pocket

I must admit I miss how relaxing and easy it was to cover miles in the 406 but having lunched two of them it's not a road I could go back down. Furthermore, I think I'd prefer some german build quality. Last weekend I took the Puma up the A9 and beyond to Lochinver. It's peppy enough for overtaking but you really have to work her. I fancy the effortlessness of stomping on the gas, she kicks down, wastes 3 cars and two lorries, drops back onto the preset cruise speed and I reach for another cough drop

Another car that is similarly appealing and rare is the Passat W8. My big beef with them is their kerbweight and apparently the auto really saps the power!!!!

john banks

I saw a Continental GT advertised recently for half its new price, but it would be too posh and heavy. They are four wheel drive, turbocharged, more cylinders than many aeroplanes or boats and have an auto box though That would redefine an oil crisis I think, can only dream

Dave1980

it is shocking how much the big engined cars are dropping in price. obviously due to fuel prices and that.

hence why i at the top of the thread i said i was also considering one of these. my only worry is that in a year it will be worth the square root of **** all!.

530i sport would be great but its only a 6 pot and my heart says go for the 8.

what made me think of the astra coupe i dont know but they do look nice.

john banks

The 530i isn't far off the performance of the 540i either, and the economy is very good (expect 30mpg from the manual), as well as having rack and pinion steering. They all sound so creamy compared with an in line 4.

I would think that a 530i should hold its money as well as anything will over the next year?

rb5_336

530d sport is the one to go for I think.

DannyB2006

530i Sport, lovely motor

Thats what i now drive after my Supra TT6