USED Vauxhall Astra Hatchback (04 - 12)

My car

I actually have the 3dr version of the SRi and I think it's a great looking and well constructed car.

Having read a number of reviews from people I struggle to understand how they are able to breath and feed themselves, let alone drive a car!!! The green flashy arrows are your indicators, if they don't auto cancel press down on the stalk once - simple!

Anyway, the 1.8 is a fun drive, quite quick if you give it a few revs, especially with the sport button on, great for overtaking lorries and caravans etc.

Economy is average - 33mpg (I could drive more efficiently if I wanted to), but not bad considering the engine size, if you believe what any manafacturer says about economy then you'll be disappionted pretty much every time.

If looking for a negative aspect, then visability is tricky, but remember, it's a low slung sporty car not a people carrier, you'll get used to it.

If you are offered an Astra for work then get the 1.9 CDTi 150 as you won't have to rev it so hard and it'll be quieter, if you are buying for yourself then I recommend the 1.8 SRi (XP) 3dr, or the 5dr if you have kids etc.

All in all, lots of fun for the price of £13,500 brand new (showroom £17,500), look around coz there are great deals out there!

My car

We have had this car for 2 years now. The Astra has proven to be a reliable, practical and most importantly fun car to drive. The engine is eager and free-revving. The chassis provides excellent grip with good comfort - bit harsh over pumps and pot-holes but I've had worse. Handling and cornering are up with the Focus, Golf and A3's I've hired in the past few years.

The interior is a bit bland, quite dark and still has some hard plastics around the dash, but overall is an improvement on previous Vauxhalls. I'm with a previous reviewer and agree that the indicator/wiper controls are very simple and logical - what is the fuss about?

Overall, we are very happy with the Astra - my wife loves it and as an antidote to my own Volvo S60 D5 this is great fun to leap into at the weekends.

My car

I have driven this car many times as a hire car over long journeys. Frankly, I didn't like the car. I wonder why most rental cars offer Astra only. Anyway, the interior is spacious but I found driving unfortable. Mainly because I can't raise the driver's seat high enough for my best posture. Unless you're quite tall, you need to lean over windows, leaving your seat while reaching for multi-storey car park gates! The car is good for motorway cruising but low speed handling is not good. It screams like tractor while moving in first/second gear. The torque seems to be much lower for a 1.6L engine, especially it struggles to climb even slight slope in 3rd gear. The car has several blind spots on all its side! Equipments levels are generous - comes with AC/CD etc. Steering mounted controls are fiddly to operate. Some minor but useful details have been omitted. There is no place to put small soft drink bottles on door pocket! I find it really annoying as I often drink water in a long drive. In this car, I need to put bottles in passenger seat foot well or in glove box. Not good for quick drinking when I'm on a traffic signal! Also, there is no place to put keep my mobile phone! Most cars have a deep central console where I can leave my phone. The hatch can be closed only with your right hand (there is no place to hold on left side of the hatch). There's no spare wheel either! Car is ok for hiring, but I won't buy it.

My car

had my astra for 3 years from new , cabin spot on have , but the radio needing to be swith on and off and not automatic once engine running did my head in , but some smart friend soon sorted that out. boot space is large , feels great to drive love it very quite.

bad points after 35,000 miles ive needed a new cluch kit costing £500+ fitted , then the cam belt needed doing costing £200+ whitch to my shock of only doing 35,000 miles then one month on the o2 sencor needs doing cost £100 i feel in the last month my car has sat in the garage more than being on the road and i feel out of pocket as the 3 year guarantee is up. and yes its true the indercator switch is a nightmare they seem to have a mind of their own and not stay on when needed or stay on to long........... one day the car wouldnt even turn over and it had computer faults !!!

my advice is to keep the car three years then get rid only due to cost

the vauxhall garage say its normal to change the cam belt and cluth kit after 35,000 miles.