Vauxhall Astra Hatchback (1991 - 1998) 1.4i California 5d (1993/L) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

My Astra is bright Red, as i have T-Cut'd & waxed it, the red is as red as a Ferrari, so many people do stop & give it a second glance. Although Astra's are way to common to even be considderd as an attractive car.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Freinds & family love it, they say it suits me as im a small guy. Bright red certainly describles my personality.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Unfortunatly i wouldnt, even though mines is very reliable & starts up in 1 go in the cold. I would like to step the game up & go for a German Marque next time around.

What are you likely to buy next?

I have always had my eye on a BMW 7 Series or a Mercedez Benz S-Class, just need a couple of more years worth of Non claims bonus then i can invest in a luxury beast. Although a logical step up would be a Volkswagen Golf GTI, and would be less thirsty.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£500

When did you buy the car?

June 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

I got a superb deal, This car has had 1 old lady owner since neaw. She had it for 12 years and only covered 36,000 miles with it. She wanted a little over £750 for it, but i managed to talk her down to the £500 mark with my good looks & charm.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I wanted a car that was this (family) size, It is my second car, after owning a Vauxhall Nova 1.2i, this Astra 1.4i (Hi Torq) 82BHP is much better. The insurance quotes i got were also promicing so i went forward with the purchase off a dear old lady.

What was the dealer like?

Have had no dealings with the dealer although i have obtained quotes for servicing & they are Astra-nomical! There is no way i'd go there, not even for spare parts, thats what scrap yards are for.

What's it like to drive?

In the dry, it is acceptable, but in the wet its an absolute dogg. Heavy understeer & vague handling can prove to be a scary experiance. The steering is very light as it has no power steering. Asda shopping car park is a like having an arm wrestle. It also lacks A.B.S, which does not fill me with confidance at motorway speeds, mainly due to the fact that the pedal needs to be pushed hard for it to stop quickly. The ride quality is hard and bumpy, especially over UK pot holes, can prove to be annoying as the cabin vibrates.

What's it like to park?

For the cars size, its easy but only if the car is moving, if its a tight spot, you need to have biceps like Mike Tyson to park it neatly.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Absolutely fine, just recently covered 43,000 miles & had its first Camshaft Belt & water pump changed in 12 years, runns perfectly well. Astra's & Cavalier's of this age tend to be kinda jerky, especially in the cold. No matter how softly you press the clutch or accelerator, it jerks, can be unsettling at times.

What's most practical about your car?

The boot is a nice size & can carry many things, which i'm happy with. Although my car does not have Power Steering nor A.B.S so its a bit diffucult to manuvour at a standstill. Once moving, the steering is nice & light, if not a little vague

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Mines is based on an "LS" modal, so is very basic. The only electricals i have are Central locking. But my favourite gadget has to be the irrelavant front head lamp adjuster switch, which as 1,2,3 settings. If u listen carefully, you can hear the bulbs move up & down. When i bought my Astra it came with orange indicator lights & side repeaters, faded grey bumpers and missing hub caps, I soon replaced the wheels with original Vauxhall 6spoke Alloys (fitted on later Astra's) & added some clear lense repeators all the way round. Looks a treat now & people do raise ther eye brows!