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[danzigfan]

Hi guys, it happens my father had a crash yesterday, destroyed his old faithfull veccy, or as you call it - cavalier - which was BTW relly mint example. Well he's fine luckily and needs a car, as he said, he'd like to buy an astra G which are quite cheap bargain. I would really appreciate any opinion on astra G, what engine to buy, reliability, problem, bugs and if there's an easy option to see/clear the fault codes, like on our omegas. Thanks in advance guys

[Marks DTM Calib]

Pretty solid motors in reality, 1.6 16V is what I would consider the entry level.

No huge issues, early ones very occasionally had power steering rack/pump problems but pretty much all those would have been addressed by now.

Front brake pipes can corrode, particularly where they pass under the inner wing.

Cam belt and water pumps need changing at the usual intervals.

Seen a few 1.4/1.6 have an ECU fault which can cost circa 300 notes to repair.

[zirk]

destroyed his old faithfull veccy, or as you call it - cavalier.

he said, he'd like to buy an astra.

That will be a chevette then. 

[danzigfan]

Thanks Mark, and sorry for posting it to wrong section

[danzigfan]

...code reader is probably a must have, am I right?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Most can be read without. 

[danzigfan]

Thanks, that's nice 

[Webby the Bear]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

[Steve B]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Webby.. Did you pass your test in a auto then 

[Webby the Bear]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Webby.. Did you pass your test in a auto then 

I did mate. necessity sadly as missing my left arm just below the elbow.  although in all honesty auto is the way forward anyway 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

[The Sheriff]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

Nothing to do with the auto box. Any 1.6 would struggle with that fat bastid driving.

[aaronjb]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Webby.. Did you pass your test in a auto then 

I did mate. necessity sadly as missing my left arm just below the elbow.  although in all honesty auto is the way forward anyway 

Ooh I'm glad I didn't resort to my usual "Why do you need an auto, only got one leg?" joke..

[henryd]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

Nothing to do with the auto box. Any 1.6 would struggle with that fat bastid driving.

You are a mean bugger Sthomo

[Broomies Mate]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

It's a shame they didn't do the C20NE in the Astra G.  115BHP and 8v reliability was awesome in the Cavalier days.  Emissions controls I suppose?

[TheBoy]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

It's a shame they didn't do the C20NE in the Astra G.  115BHP and 8v reliability was awesome in the Cavalier days.  Emissions controls I suppose?

Didn't that end up in the Astra-E, tuned to 130bhp in GTE form?

[Broomies Mate]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

It's a shame they didn't do the C20NE in the Astra G.  115BHP and 8v reliability was awesome in the Cavalier days.  Emissions controls I suppose?

Didn't that end up in the Astra-E, tuned to 130bhp in GTE form?

I thought the 130BHP 2ltr engines were 16v..... but I'm not too hot on those engines.

I know the C20NE was in the GTE, but AFAIK, they were 115BHP also. 

[TheBoy]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

It's a shame they didn't do the C20NE in the Astra G.  115BHP and 8v reliability was awesome in the Cavalier days.  Emissions controls I suppose?

Didn't that end up in the Astra-E, tuned to 130bhp in GTE form?

I thought the 130BHP 2ltr engines were 16v..... but I'm not too hot on those engines.

I know the C20NE was in the GTE, but AFAIK, they were 115BHP also. 

The 16v Redtops were 150-160bhp in the GTE's, depending on age. The 8v 2.0l was 130bhp.

[flyer 0712]

i had  a 2003    1800cc automatic 5 door hatch....i.m.o.   the best mk 4 they did,,,economical,,,fast enough,,,reliable and far far better than the 1400 cc and the 1600 cc..which had no guts at all.....insurance was good on it too.....I have owned the 1400 cc and the 1600 cc   but by far the 1800 ran rings around them....They sometimes have a problem (auto or manual ) with the accelerator e.c.u. but this can be over come by simply soldering two wires together (dont know which ones though )The only reason I sold it was because I was born with a dodgy  back and found that the seats were not good for it so I went back to the old faithfull omega,far more comfortable,as i say it is only my opinion.

[henryd]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

It's a shame they didn't do the C20NE in the Astra G.  115BHP and 8v reliability was awesome in the Cavalier days.  Emissions controls I suppose?

Didn't that end up in the Astra-E, tuned to 130bhp in GTE form?

I thought the 130BHP 2ltr engines were 16v..... but I'm not too hot on those engines.

I know the C20NE was in the GTE, but AFAIK, they were 115BHP also. 

The 16v Redtops were 150-160bhp in the GTE's, depending on age. The 8v 2.0l was 130bhp.

I remember that the mk3 cavalier Sri was 130bhp in 8 valve form

[Broomies Mate]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

It's a shame they didn't do the C20NE in the Astra G.  115BHP and 8v reliability was awesome in the Cavalier days.  Emissions controls I suppose?

Didn't that end up in the Astra-E, tuned to 130bhp in GTE form?

I thought the 130BHP 2ltr engines were 16v..... but I'm not too hot on those engines.

I know the C20NE was in the GTE, but AFAIK, they were 115BHP also. 

The 16v Redtops were 150-160bhp in the GTE's, depending on age. The 8v 2.0l was 130bhp.

I remember that the mk3 cavalier Sri was 130bhp in 8 valve form

Working from my piss poor memory, I think that was the SEH, which was not particularly reliable.... possibly used in the GTE as well???

[henryd]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

It's a shame they didn't do the C20NE in the Astra G.  115BHP and 8v reliability was awesome in the Cavalier days.  Emissions controls I suppose?

Didn't that end up in the Astra-E, tuned to 130bhp in GTE form?

I thought the 130BHP 2ltr engines were 16v..... but I'm not too hot on those engines.

I know the C20NE was in the GTE, but AFAIK, they were 115BHP also. 

The 16v Redtops were 150-160bhp in the GTE's, depending on age. The 8v 2.0l was 130bhp.

I remember that the mk3 cavalier Sri was 130bhp in 8 valve form

Working from my piss poor memory, I think that was the SEH, which was not particularly reliable.... possibly used in the GTE as well???

I stuck 160k miles on one with only normal servicing and repairs,never missed a beat and quick in its day.

[Webby the Bear]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

Oh, ok fair enough then. Mine was a 2000 W reg. ''LS''. 15.5 secs for 0-60 time. At the time I couldn't understand why my mate in a Citreon AX was caining me when we raced on our private track

[omega3000]

Just don't get one with an autobox.

I did (as I have to drive auto) and even with a 1.6 emgine the acceleration was, well, really shite! Scarily shite in fact.

Depends which 1.6 as the 1.6 16V actually suits an auto well and accelerates well to, the 8V would be a different matter 

Oh, ok fair enough then. Mine was a 2000 W reg. ''LS''. 15.5 secs for 0-60 time. At the time I couldn't understand why my mate in a Citreon AX was caining me when we raced on our private track

Bet it was his big bore exhaust 

[05omegav6]

Don't knock the AX... even the1.5 non turbo diesel will keep a 2.3 Granada honest... 

They're bastid quick because they weigh less than a fart in a vacuum

[Kevin Wood]

Don't knock the AX... even the1.5 non turbo diesel will keep a 2.3 Granada honest... 

They're bastid quick because they weigh less than a fart in a vacuum are made out of flimsy bits of spam can and plastic milk bottle

Fixed.

[Webby the Bear]

I wasn't knocking it...actually thought it was really nippy and fun to be in.

But when I didn't know anything about cars I just assumed a 1.6 should be able to beat it easily....yet it was t'other way round 

I do remember my mate catching his handbrake cable on those sticky-up type ''flaps'' to stop you speeding at a local fishing lake. 

[TheBoy]

Don't knock the AX... even the1.5 non turbo diesel will keep a 2.3 Granada honest... 

They're bastid quick because they weigh less than a fart in a vacuum

My mum, then my little bro had an AX-GT Sportif, went like a scalded cat (a match for my Astra GTE up to around motorway speeds), and clung to the road like glue.

Trouble is, in a strong wind, it would blow away.