Astras

[choppa7]

Specifically Mk5's

Anyone have much experience of what to look out for on them.

Opinions between the 1.7 diesel and the 1.6 petrol models please as looking at them for the wife.

Cheers

[Longman325Touring]

Honestly - buy the equivalent Ford Focus!!

[B7]

Honestly - buy the equivalent Ford Focus!!

what he said. I have had 2 Mk5 company cars and they are the biggest heap of dogshit you can buy IMO. I do not get a choice in what I can have. Well I do but it's only a list of vauxhalls and anything bigger than the Astra they want fortunes a month for.

AC compressors noisy then break up sub 50k? Check
Gerboxes whiney after 30-40k? Check
Clutch stating to slip on the current one on 30k? Check and I've never done a clutch in any other car!
Diesel all over the drive the day after delivery? check
Front Wheel bearings going at 40-50k? Check
THE most uncomfortable front seats EVER made? Check (on both my 06 and my "improved" 08!)
Stater motor kapput on the 06 model? Check (actually that was a recall. it was not man enough to start a diesel so they had to put a higher geared one in)
Remote Key stopped working when the car was 12 months old? Check (Happened twice now )
And the best one that I can remember
Car loses ALL power. Like driving an 850 mini running on three. Barry on here drove mine when it did it and stated it was dangerious! One new Turbo later and it was repaired. Took them 3 attempts to find the fault though. Car had 40k on the clock.


Go for a Focus.

[capri_rob]

Had a 1.7 CDTi Sporthatch from new in 2006 as a company car - did 30000 miles in 18 months and never let me down.

Only car I've ever specced up myself and ordered from new ( As I wasn't paying ) - I had it because given the budget the equivalent Focus didn't have anywhere near as good a spec, and I couldn't get anything German in budget.

Unfortunately I never test drove it before I ordered it ( ) and when I took delivery I was shocked at how dark it was inside because of the way the rear windows sloped, and rearward visibility was terrible because of the tiny back window.
It also had that new car trait of no temp gauge - annoying

Servicing is 20000 miles or 12 months whichever comes first if i remember right.

Overall I still liked it though - it was reliable, great on fuel, cheaper and better specced than a Focus and better looking IMO.

the 1.7's don't get the 6 speed box unfortunately - think you have to go for the 1.9 for that.


Don't know how good a 100k 5 Year old one would be though

[Andyboy]

My next door neighbour is on his third Zafira (basically an Astra) and has had no issues. Most modern cars go wrong at some point - they build so many that the law of averages is against you. A 118d would not be any more reliable, or a Focus because they all have issues and it's pot luck if you get a 100% reliable one. The Mark 5 was okay as a hire car. I would go for a 1.6 petrol. They don't go as well or do 50 mpg but they're not bad - and are cheaper as well. Buy one from a Vauxhall Network Q dealer and barter a 2-3 year warranty....or buy one cheap from an auction. There's millions about.

[mercdriver]

They are just

Don't get a focus diesel either! Mazda 3's are good would you believe! I used to paint cars for motorpoint so i've seen my fair share of that type of car!