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[terry paget]

I'm running out of Omegas, with my silver 2.5 estate failing MOT through rust. I test drove a Honda Jazz, but yesterday bought a 2006 Astra Design 1.6 petrol manual, 150,000 miles, for £600, MOT to August 14th. It seems to be OK, having removed all the wheels, looked underneath, etc. No service history since 2012 at 78221 miles, but MOT history is encouraging, no rust problems, just tyres, lights, steering play etc. I changed the oil and filter today and the dip stick came out clean, no black sludge; tyres are good. Handbrake is drum, oil filter is spin-on, exhaust looks new, body unmarked, colour is pomegranate red which grandson Tom (4.1/2) likes.

No mention of a cam belt change, so that's the next job. Please advise best choice of kit, and how best to go about it, problems, etc.

[VXL V6]

Design spec is nice, only problem I have with the Mrs Astra is the passenger seat is too low and cant be adjusted up.

[Doctor Gollum]

That's alot of money for such a short MoT

[biggriffin]

Could have bought a 3.2 for @@£700.

[Doctor Gollum]

Could have bought a 3.2 for @@£700.

Wrong gearbox

[Andy B]

Could have bought a 3.2 for @@£700.

Wrong gearbox

I'm confused  ..... the advert clearly states auto .... which of course is the correct/right gearbox for an Omega (or AN Other large car) ... .otherwise Vauxhall wouldn't have made 2 pedals the default gearbox 

[dave the builder]

locking kit £12.21 Buy it now

kit inc water pump £79.95

why you insist on buying such high mile cars I will never know 
for £600 you can pick them up nearer 100k  some with 12 months mot 

[Doctor Gollum]

locking kit £12.21 Buy it now

kit inc water pump £79.95

why you insist on buying such high mile cars I will never know 
for £600 you can pick them up nearer 100k  some with 12 months mot 

The mileage isn't the problem...

[dave the builder]

locking kit £12.21 Buy it now

kit inc water pump £79.95

why you insist on buying such high mile cars I will never know 
for £600 you can pick them up nearer 100k  some with 12 months mot 

The mileage isn't the problem...

it's a 1.6 petrol ,good for about 150k before you have to start doing expensive jobs or get rid ,which the seller did 
"No service history since 2012 at 78221 miles,
  no rust problems, just tyres, lights, steering play etc"
and probably other things like clutch wear,wheel bearings, engine shagged,gearbox ,DM fly wheel etc etc etc

just the cam-belt ,waterpump antifreeze ,oil and filter etc is £140, add 4 cheap tyres £160,
without paying for tea and biscuits that's added another £300

[STEMO]

Bit of a saga our Terry, isn't he? 

[Andy B]

Bit of a saga our Terry, isn't he? 

 

[terry paget]

locking kit £12.21 Buy it now

kit inc water pump £79.95

why you insist on buying such high mile cars I will never know 
for £600 you can pick them up nearer 100k  some with 12 months mot 

Thanks for ref. for locking kit, have ordered. Is it customary to change water pump at the same time as cam belt on the Astra H, the pump is not a pulley for the belt, is it?
I don't particularly look for high mileage Astras, but nor do I avoid them. First Astra I bought was high mileage (160K), excellent car, no trouble since October. Second and third were about 100K, not so good. This is the fourth, good so far. I am learning. Spec is important, so is MOT history (rust warnings) and proximity. I have bought too many Omegas from far away, only to find that cost of collection doubles cost of the car. The Honda Jazz was 4 miles away at Emborough, this Astra was 20 miles away at Puxton, near Weston-super-Mare.

[dave the builder]

the water pump can be changed whenever ,not driven by the toothed timing belt 
however...
you may as well while you have the aux belt off anyway(4 bolts) ,and , buying just a pump on it's own will cost £25+ ,so cheaper to buy a kit with toothed belt,water pump,deflection roller and tensioner and do it once ,
i went for a gates kit myself but that's about £5 more if you pick the right one (complicated as it's listed as corsa )

[dave the builder]

i went for a gates kit myself but that's about £5 more if you pick the right one (complicated as it's listed as corsa )

or not 
gates   
£86.95
 

[biggriffin]

So, we've bought astra for £600, then spent nearly £300 on spares and tools, and sundries. Which by my maths is £900 so far.   £50 train, £50 fuel. Still leaves £100.... Is it me. Or have I missed something. Well except he might not want my barge, but there's got to be other motors down that way if distanceis the problem