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[chrisgixer]

After reading this, and his comments on other WWD cars which is most of them including the focus , one wonders if TB understands the concept of "the envelope" and staying broadly within it.

[Kevin Wood]

After reading this, and his comments on other WWD cars which is most of them including the focus , one wonders if TB understands the concept of "the envelope" and staying broadly within it.

Don't be silly. They're for posting stuff in.

[aaronjb]

MkII Astra Belmont 1.8GLSi

Only had it 3 months or so, did about 20k in it. The first engine was a dream, that thing flew (still hated it though). All good things must come to an end, and its replacement engine was just gutless.

However, the only unreliability it gave was a chit chat between pistons and valves after racing a mate in his Saab 9000.


Its replacement, a MkII Astra GTE broke down on the first day. I swore, after those 2, I'd never, ever, ever own another Vauxhall. And every time I have another, I remember why I swear it'll always be the last

The 16 valve version was a properly quick little car.

In a straight line from a rolling start. But then they weighed sod all, and produced good power.

Still a girls car.

I disagree. I thought they were great cars, far too nippy for a girlie.
I remember the police in Liverpool having XR3i's, so all the scallies bought GTE's. No contest.

Bought? 

[pscocoa]

1973 Austin 2200 was most unreliable in terms of early failure or parts and body but it never really let me down apart from Oct 1978 between Dobwalls and Bodmin at 10pm when I had to stop to deal with low engine oil. Got it to destination and had new short motor fitted in an old tin mine shed at Wheal Kitty

[Stemo]

1973 Austin 2200 was most unreliable in terms of early failure or parts and body but it never really let me down apart from Oct 1978 between Dobwalls and Bodmin at 10pm when I had to stop to deal with low engine oil. Got it to destination and had new short motor fitted in an old tin mine shed at Wheal Kitty

Oh....you've just reminded me of my Austin 1100. Dear me.....dear,dear me..

Hydrolastic suspension........dear me...

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

1973 Austin 2200 was most unreliable in terms of early failure or parts and body but it never really let me down apart from Oct 1978 between Dobwalls and Bodmin at 10pm when I had to stop to deal with low engine oil. Got it to destination and had new short motor fitted in an old tin mine shed at Wheal Kitty

Oh....you've just reminded me of my Austin 1100. Dear me.....dear,dear me..

Hydrolastic suspension........dear me...

Hydragas on the legendary all conquering All-aggro ......and a 'quartic' steering wheel to boot.

They don't make them like that anymore.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Hydrolastic suspension........dear me...

I'm far to young to know...    but I'd wager that those old BL's with the hydrolastic suspension were great for entertaining the ladies! 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

157bhp in the rare early non-cat version

Proper fast little engine and quite pretty to (did I just say that?  )

I've just checked out the 1988 road test. Zero to sixty in 7.6 seconds.

Kerb weight ....1008 KG. That's less than a modern 1.2 litre Corsa.

[TheBoy]

MkII Astra Belmont 1.8GLSi

Only had it 3 months or so, did about 20k in it. The first engine was a dream, that thing flew (still hated it though). All good things must come to an end, and its replacement engine was just gutless.

However, the only unreliability it gave was a chit chat between pistons and valves after racing a mate in his Saab 9000.


Its replacement, a MkII Astra GTE broke down on the first day. I swore, after those 2, I'd never, ever, ever own another Vauxhall. And every time I have another, I remember why I swear it'll always be the last

The 16 valve version was a properly quick little car.

In a straight line from a rolling start. But then they weighed sod all, and produced good power.

Still a girls car.

I disagree. I thought they were great cars, far too nippy for a girlie.
I remember the police in Liverpool having XR3i's, so all the scallies bought GTE's. No contest.

My lodger had an XR3i, one of the first before they became the Essex favourite, and she always let me use it (esp as invariably my Vauxhalls were broken). What a crock of shite that was, one of the most disappointing cars I've ever driven - even when I used to take my mates up the pub in it, they kept suggesting I booted it to see what it could do, even though it was already flat out.

[TheBoy]

157bhp in the rare early non-cat version

Proper fast little engine and quite pretty to (did I just say that?  )

I'm embarrassed to say it was the looks of the MkII GTE that appealed. I really liked the way it looked, and the power to weight was astonishing (for what it was). Newest car I'd ever had at the time, 2yrs old when I got it, and paid £5.2k IIRC (£15k new). Being Vauxhall, rust was already coming through.

2 downsides, aside from being a girls car,
1) Absolutely hopeless at getting any power down, and in corner handling was an unpredictable toss-up between under and oversteer (yet very controllable), any attempt to correct speed in a corner was always "exciting"
2) Attracted too much attention, from both Police and scrotes. I've always tried to avoid such "obvious" cars since, as not worth the hassle.

Only had it a year, what a hoot it was, but the constant worry of not knowing it would be where you left it was overwhelming (as was the insurance renewal!)