Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch (2005 - 2010) 1.9 CDTi 8V (120ps) SXi 3d (2008/57) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Brave vauxhall owner.

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

They all think it looked nice and indeed it does. Especially with the exterior pack upgrade.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Definately not. Look anywhere on astra owner forums and the diesel engines are torn to pieces. Everyone hates them due to massive repair costs when they go wrong. It appear that every owner has had lots of problems. If you must buy an Astra. Make sure you stick with a petrol model.

What are you likely to buy next?

Already have. Now driving a toyota celica 1.8 VVT-i. Great to drive and has the all important reliability factor.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£3,800

When did you buy the car?

September 2014

Did you get a good deal and why?

Im not sure. To be honest, i didn't do a lot of research into astras beforehand. It was a bit of a rushed buy. Maybe paid a little too much but 57 plate and 75K on the clock. It wasn't the end of the world. The car was in good condition.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Loved the look of the car. Diesel engines are great to drive.

What was the dealer like?

Typical second hand car dealer. Very good at haggling, and i really wanted the car. Dealer won.

What's it like to drive?

Very strong engine (even the 120bhp model). It's suprising how good it is despite how poorly it is built (Fiat engine - avoid at all costs). Mechanics everywhere hate these engines but drivers love them. Lots of torque even in 6th gear at 80mph. Brakes are very sharp. On par with modern Audi cars to be fair. And if it floats your boat, these engines can be remapped to deliver outstanding performance. Don't look in your rear view mirror whilst accelerating though. It can be quite embarrasing due to huge clouds of black smog.

What's it like to park?

Easy but rear window is tiny. Once you get used to it, its fine.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Yes. Never buy a vauxhall with a diesel engine. The Astra in particular, looks great, drives great and feels great but when it the engine goes wrong, and unless you are very lucky, it will go wrong, you will be looking at astronomical costs which will leave you with no choice but the banish the Vauxhall brand forever. EGR valve & DPF valves are something that all vauxhall diesel owner's will know about. They go wrong....a lot, and are very expensive. My car decided to blow a gasket in the EGR valve cooler, chucking all the coolant down the exhaust leading to the engine overheating and the head gasket blowing with a couple of cracked cylinder heads. £1600 repair bill (mates rates). Goodbye Astra.

What's most practical about your car?

Economy. I put £40 diesel in the tank. Drove from Kent to Birmingham, spent 4 days running about whilst there and drove all the way back. 55mpg plus.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Auxillary input. Plug your own device in for unlimited music. Look out for these when buying an astra as not all models have them.