Ste RB5138

I am thinking about moving over to a diesel car, maybe a Astra CDTI SRi in the near future as I am commuting 220 mile a week in my RB5 at the moment, so I am getting sick of spending money on V-Power.

I really like the look of the 5-door Astra with these wheels on:
2006 "06" Vauxhall Astra 1.9 SRi CDTi 150 on eBay (end time 05-Dec-09 12:27:03 GMT)

Has anyone who owns or owned one got any views?

Jimpreza

A friend has one and he says it's frugal as hell compared to his wifes Focus TDI. I know many people that own Vauxhalls and have nothing go wrong with them but you still hear people slating their build quality. I hear all sorts of people at work having problems with their BMW's and Volkswagans that supposedly reliable and have excellent build quality.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I own a 55 plate 3 door Design 1.9 CDTI 16v 120ps (same engine as the 150, just detuned), had nothing go wrong, excellent build quality, vauxhall really upped their game from the astra G to the astra H.
The only reported issue(s) and they are far and few between are water pump failures and clutch, though I have heard of nor seen either of these issues since owning an astra H (had mine from 16k now has 36k on the clock).
They are a good all round car, not a class leader but not far off the new one which is out this month is though

Tony

michaelro

Didn't Matteeboy have a 150 Astra

I'm sure he'll be along soon

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

That one advertised is quite expensive I feel, have a look around as you will pick up a much lower mileage one (and newer though 3k more expensive but with 1/10th of the mile on it) from a dealer

Tony

Ste RB5138

I have joined a Astra forum and it seems they are reliable, just got to watch the EGR valve doesnt get clogged up. On my old Mk 3 Astra C20XE engine it was always recommended to change the water pump with the cam belt.

How many miles do you get on a tankful Tonyburns? Are you tempted to get it remapped?

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I get a nice 500+ miles to a tank am tempted for a remap, 200+bhp would be nice but my car is still warrantied until the end of next year so may go for it then

Tony

Stryder

I had one last year. Very underated car. Punchy performance right upto the speed limit and extremely ecnomical too. Quite quiet and smooth when warmed up. Good looking motor and decent handling to boot.

Was at Crail quater mile raceway a few months back and I saw one give a 330d a real run for it's money all the way down the strip!

Go for it.

crofty

We have a sportive van at work, 150 bhp and a ton of torque, quick fun car, and can be mapped to 200bhp on the sport button, thinking of getting a coupe myself !

Matteeboy

I did indeed for four years from new - very similar spec Design model but an estate.

Good:

Handles well
Surprisingly quick
Good brakes.
Looks pretty good
Solid interior
Cheap to run

Bad:

Suspension (OSF) clunked now and again from new to when I sold it
Engine died at 40k miles - swirl flap failure. Sorted under warranty but the dealer was dire
Dealers are DIRE
Pricey oil and tyres for such a car.
Bit of torque steer

Overall it did the job it was intended for very well indeed.

nie

my dad has the cdti 150.great car...powerfull for a diesel..he got a tunning box for,so it now has 200bhp..can shock a few folk with it

austinwrx

funnily enough a friend at work today has her 2 yr old astra in a vauxhall with major engine failure. still being diagnosed as we speak. engine warning light on etc etc.

fools been driving/limping around in it too. ouch !

you've been scoobied

I owned a 1/7 CDTi SRi with exterior pack. Good car, great fuel economy. Owned for 3 years.
Only problem was the car alarm started going off on its own. Sometimes middle of the night.
Good looking car, only had 100bhp but would have gone for 150bhp if many available when i was looking.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Not a good thing to do and half the time people dont check the oil levels, they need to be checked every 500 miles as they can drink the stuff (take it her's is a diesel 1.9?)

Tony

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

But why did you downgrade

ScoobyDriverWannabe

Cant comment on the diesel but I picked up a new 1.6 SXI petrol one a few weeks ago. Almost identical to the one you linked on ebay.

Cant say iv had any problems with it, but then again its only done 400 mile so far.

Only thing about it im not keen on is the interior feels allot more plasticy than the previous 2 generations of astra I have had.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

My old works astra G 2ltr di van definately had a less nice (more plasticy) interior and wasnt as well built, but I do get the nice carbon type effects in the doors etc, and I did 70k in the astra g and 20k so far in the astra H, the H is much nicer to be in

Tony

Ste RB5138

I have heard a few problems with this, defiently something to check if I go for one.

The 1.9 diesel is a Fiat lump isnt it?

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Yes fiat 1.9 diesel engine, you find it in alfa's, fiats, saabs, vauxhalls.

Tony

Matteeboy

STE - yep it's a pretty common unit. It's pretty good really - refined(ish), pokey, good on fuel I think the latest engines outclass it to some extent but when it came out it was a class leader I reckon.

Oh and another bad point - the dash is utterly foul. Vx cannot do dashboards.

Jacko - needs must and all that. I'm managing to live with the "downgrade" though.