TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Well ive gone and done it, I needed something a little sensible in the current climate and decided on one of these (to replace my Omega TD).

Well picked up a nice 2005 model with 16k on the clock for 8k, quite reasonable, still has the manufactures warranty remaining (bought from a vauxhall dealer), and its the nicer looking 3 door sports hatch 120ps Design, (wanted a 150 really but this one comes with the nice pack containing the rain sensitive wipers and auto lights).

I was lucky enough not to get the 8v 1.9 CDTI engine but the 16v 1.9 CDTI one (as in the same one in the 888 model cars ) but it has all the comforts you need, half leather trim, 16 inch alloys, a/c, elec windows etc, drives very nicely with very good build quality, and is pretty economical to boot (52ltr tank and in over 150 miles ive not quite used 1/4 of a tank, mixture of town/motorway driving with some "spirited" driving thrown in to see what the cars like )
Plenty of safety features as standard, this car gets a nice 5 star euro ncap award for passenger safety, drivers and passengers front/side/curtain airbags and rear passengers curtain airbag(s), ESP, ABS etc, unable to turn these off because this car doesnt have the sports mode

Very happy with this car so far and the tax aint that bad (145 per year) which is cheaper than the omega's was.

Downsides (as per any car)
The only issue is the limited rear visability because its the sports hatch, the rear window is not the largest, about the only downside to a very good car (oh unless you rate the fiat engine as a downside )

Worth looking into if your after a nice small family car

Tony

HankScorpio

Sounds good so far, keep us posted.

I think I hate diesels but that's based on 15 year old opinions, maybe time to look at again.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Still clattery at idle (better at 2-3k rpm) but tunable to 200bhp for the 16v engine, about 160 for the 8v, nice n torquey in the mid range so good for my motorway drives

Tony

Volks

I thought the 8 valve cars were the 120ps and the 16 valve cars were 150ps

Cockney Wideboy

iTrader: (2)

the 1.9 8V 120PS engine was availible in the vectra

in the astra the both the 120PS and 150PS are the same 16V unit the only differnce being software.

the astra 888 CDTI uses the 120PS version with switchable maps thats tuned up to 150PS as standard then 200PS when the sport button is pressed.

888 used the 120PS unit as a base unit because it was cheaper than the 150PS version to purchase but the achivable gains where the same.

all in all the new CDTI engines are good engines

Volks

Ahhh, I didn`t know that, cheers