Hi All,

Has my Fabia for a year now, it's an 06 plate with nearly 42K on the clock, it's been a really good car, no problems at all other than a spongy brake pedal after I bought it, all sorted by Skoda under warranty..

I could just really do with something slightly bigger, ideally want a diesel as do about 20K miles a year.

Budget will be up to about £7500 as not long ago bought a new house so money quite tight. Prefer something with the same sort of mileage which sort of rules out an Octy.

Saw a Astra cdti 150 with Exterior Pack for sale the other day and quite liked the look of it. Anyone had or driven one?

Hewey

The 150bhp 1.9 vauxhall engine is pretty poor in terms of reliability. I had a vectra sri with it in. Owned for a year and it spent more time at vauxhall that with me! Common faults include knackered swirl flaps. I had it happen twice, plus an alternator and a starter motor. After having these issues I googled and found it wasn't just me but it is pretty widespread. I loved my car but the engine ruined it for me!! Great when it worked though!!

HTH

I had two vectras (54 and 56 plate) Sri 150's and a 58 plate Astra Sri 150 3 door xp and did more than 40,000 a year in all of them with no problems.

Loved the Astra, looked good(in black) went like stink as well!

I see they are quite reasonably priced second hand.

They are a good choice, for a sporty diesel.

Vauxhall diesels engines arnt brillant in my humble view. The higher power units so the 1.9 130 - 150 etc.. have got some poke. But they dont return much mpg at all. I know a few people who have owned all manner of diesel engines from vauxhall and the economy is quiet shocking. Bizzarely enough one of my dads friend changed his astra van from the old 1.9DT to the 1.9CDTi (not sure which power varient) and his getting on average 9-11mpg LESS with the same driving. His taking it back to vauxhall and they claim thats what the engines achive in the real world.

Plus ive driven an astra sport hatch diesel (My boss has it as a courtest car for his saab 93) and they are pretty good to drive. Steering was a bit numb for my liking and ride rather abit to firm considering how much body roll there was. But over all there pretty sweet to drive

My money would go on an octy.

Edited 23 October, 201114 yr by TorqueXIsXCheap

I would suggest an Octavia 2 diesel, stick with the Skoda brand or even a Passat TDI. Astras look out of date with their "Fussy" styling.

My cousin has the SRI 150 with XP and when he first had it it looked a nice car but I hasn't aged that well. Plenty of poke in it but no quicker than a Mk1 vRS. Mine easily kept with it. *touches wood* apart from the horn problem (Google it) his engine has been fine but isn't that good on fuel. His missus is only doing short trips in it now which doesn't help.

I'd go Octy Mk2 vRS TDI. Did they ever do ones without DPF's or did they add them the same time they went to CR?

How about a Fabia Est?

A friend of mine has a Zafira 1.9 150bhp, goes in at least once a month for something to be fixed, costs him a fortune, and it's about £200 a year to tax.

The engine light on the in laws astra seems to come on every month, they are gonna chop it in for an octy

Ok, I've not driven that exact model, but I've driven a number of current and recent model V@*xh@11s, and they've all been the motoring equivalent of a sensory deprevation chamber: no feel and no fun!

Thanks for all the comments.

Some Good some Bad which I suppose it to be expected on such a mass produced car.

Will try and have a drive of one and see what I think, must admit had a quick look round one the other night, was surprised how small the boot was, I jet cheesed off having to put the back seat down in the Fabia to get my Golf Bats in and the Astra didn't look much bigger.

Fabia VRS?

The older 1.9 diesels don't have DPFs to worry about. Switching to something older with that engine is certainly something I'm thinking about.

I have a friend with an 02 Golf with that engine. 140k no issues at all other than a bit of wear and tear.

you could even pick up an 06/07 Audi/BMW on that money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201141421790203

Edited 24 October, 201114 yr by Aspman

If you are looking for something a bit bigger than a Fabia, what about a Roomster? Same mechanicals, just more room.