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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Amigo on 21 February 2011, 21:22:23

Title: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Amigo on 21 February 2011, 21:22:23
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1987-VAUXHALL-ASTRA-1-3L-NEW-MOT-2-OWNERS-LOW-MILEAGE-/250773304627?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a6340f533
  What a cracking little motor. I've always liked these & even the 1300 is surprisingly punchy, 2 door as well, looks so much better. Not a classic yet but certainly old school/retro, cheap tax bracket as well.
   Rather run this than a ropey old Vectra etc. 8-) :y

    If i wanted a budget car i reckon i could do worse. 8-) :y
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 21 February 2011, 21:26:25
Cracking little engines....very tuneable!
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Shimmy on 21 February 2011, 21:42:04
Looks good for it's age.

If I was looking for a cheap run about I'd probably get a K11 Micra or Fez 1.25 though.
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 21 February 2011, 21:54:35
I once had on loan in 1997 an Turbo Diesel Astra 1.8 (?) and I found it a cracking car :y :y

Rather liked Astra's ever since ;)
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Amigo on 21 February 2011, 21:59:07
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Looks good for it's age.

If I was looking for a cheap run about I'd probably get a K11 Micra or Fez 1.25 though.
That was exactly my point. Reliable & VFM as the Micra & Fezzy are they're boring bland boxes.
    The Astra does the same job but is old enough to have some character & soul. You'll never stand out from the crowd in a Fester.

  That said i'm a classic car fan so maybe biased but i know where my money would be! :y
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 21 February 2011, 22:00:47
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I once had on loan in 1997 an Turbo Diesel Astra 1.8 (?) and I found it a cracking car :y :y

Rather liked Astra's ever since ;)

1.7 and probably the Isuzu one (and not the rather poor low blow GM)
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Shimmy on 21 February 2011, 22:02:01
I agree.

I'm just saying you're more likely to get a cheap runabout with a Micra of Fez rather than any 20+ year old hatchback.  But if you can get one in good condition, happy days!

Can get classic insurance too.  :y
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Vamps on 21 February 2011, 22:04:58
Dodgy clutch and Bournemouth seem to go together, little old ladies slipping the clutch and hitting the revs at every opportunity, we have all heard of them..... :D :D :D A brilliant little car even for the asking price, I had a new estate version as a company car in 1984......
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 21 February 2011, 22:05:18
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Looks good for it's age.

If I was looking for a cheap run about I'd probably get a K11 Micra or Fez 1.25 though.
That was exactly my point. Reliable & VFM as the Micra & Fezzy are they're boring bland boxes.
    The Astra does the same job but is old enough to have some character & soul. You'll never stand out from the crowd in a Fester.

  That said i'm a classic car fan so maybe biased but i know where my money would be! :y

Yeh, a nice bit of carb induction noise....and you cna get 100bhp from those little lumps.

Sadly, not much reliable about a 1.25 Fiesta but its good clutch, gearbox and welding practice  :y
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Banjax on 21 February 2011, 22:11:17
'87 Astra.....a classic?  :o

you're 'avin a giraffe mate  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Shimmy on 21 February 2011, 22:28:37
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'87 Astra.....a classic?  :o

you're 'avin a giraffe mate  ;D ;D

Nope, as long as it's old enough anything qualifies afaik.  Just mileage limited.

Heard of 10 year old Rover sheds getting classic insurance..

I'm not say they are classics.  :P
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: tigers_gonads on 21 February 2011, 22:36:51
got my first ever speeding ticket in one of those  :-X
a 96 1.3 estate  :y

6 points in one go  :-X
96.92 mph ( VASCAR c/o north yorkshire police )  ::)

on a "B" road  :-X

very nearly got band aswell :-[
crocodile tears infront of the court does work  ;)

used too wear it like a medal in my youth  ;D
just cring every time i travel down that road now  :-[
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Amigo on 21 February 2011, 23:01:08
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'87 Astra.....a classic?  :o

you're 'avin a giraffe mate  ;D ;D
Back up big boy i said not a classic yet...read the post! You can do a clutch for £50 in an hour on these, coz GM were good enough to fit inspection plates for us to take off, even i can manage.
   Still take it to any classic/VX show. When did you last see another? 8-)
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 21 February 2011, 23:25:38
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Cracking little engines....very tuneable!


They go to nearly 8000rpm as well. :-[

They had no rev limiter and I only found out when I eventually drove one with a rev counter.

Go well for a 1300 though :y
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Psychoca on 21 February 2011, 23:32:28
More of a classic here me thinks...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1989-VAUXHALL-CARLTON-GSI-BLACK-/320656385585?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4aa89c2631
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Amigo on 22 February 2011, 00:17:33
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More of a classic here me thinks...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1989-VAUXHALL-CARLTON-GSI-BLACK-/320656385585?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4aa89c2631
Hardly a budget car, no T&T only an 8 valve & no mention of mileage???
Much as i love Carltons  I'd take the Astra as a cheap runabout. 8-)
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: Banjax on 22 February 2011, 09:14:06
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'87 Astra.....a classic?  :o

you're 'avin a giraffe mate  ;D ;D
Back up big boy i said not a classic yet...read the post! You can do a clutch for £50 in an hour on these, coz GM were good enough to fit inspection plates for us to take off, even i can manage.
   Still take it to any classic/VX show. When did you last see another? 8-)

you did - sorry  :y

it'll never be a classic, despite achieving old age -  had a 1.4L "H" reg - terrible car in whats known as lovely "corpse blue" - you know that flat blue colour VX insisted on ruining cars with in the 90's  ;D

wallowy, uncomfortable, underpowered, poorly put together - maybe i had one of the friday afternoon ones  :(
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: henryd on 22 February 2011, 10:14:00
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'87 Astra.....a classic?  :o

you're 'avin a giraffe mate  ;D ;D
Back up big boy i said not a classic yet...read the post! You can do a clutch for £50 in an hour on these, coz GM were good enough to fit inspection plates for us to take off, even i can manage.
   Still take it to any classic/VX show. When did you last see another? 8-)

you did - sorry  :y

it'll never be a classic, despite achieving old age -  had a 1.4L "H" reg - terrible car in whats known as lovely "corpse blue" - you know that flat blue colour VX insisted on ruining cars with in the 90's  ;D

wallowy, uncomfortable, underpowered, poorly put together - maybe i had one of the friday afternoon ones  :(


no, I think most afternoons were much the same :D
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: P_Russell on 22 February 2011, 13:30:31
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'87 Astra.....a classic?  :o

you're 'avin a giraffe mate  ;D ;D
Back up big boy i said not a classic yet...read the post! You can do a clutch for £50 in an hour on these, coz GM were good enough to fit inspection plates for us to take off, even i can manage.
   Still take it to any classic/VX show. When did you last see another? 8-)

you did - sorry  :y

it'll never be a classic, despite achieving old age -  had a 1.4L "H" reg - terrible car in whats known as lovely "corpse blue" - you know that flat blue colour VX insisted on ruining cars with in the 90's  ;D

wallowy, uncomfortable, underpowered, poorly put together - maybe i had one of the friday afternoon ones  :(


no, I think most afternoons were much the same :D

Likewise I had a 1.4 LX on an L plate - wallowy wasn't the word!  Having said that I clocked up nearly 80k miles in it & it was uber-reliable.  I thought it a very comfortable and economical motorway commute-mobile tho
Title: Re: Cheap & cheerful runabout?
Post by: russ0205 on 22 February 2011, 16:40:56
i don't think you can go wrong with an old astra,cheap to repair and run :y