She brought the car. Was up for £5999 got them down to £5450. 12 months MOT and tax. £20 of fuel. New set of mats and 1 year warranty

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Test drove one for my missus. Ended up getting a mk1 focus. In a different league.

I have had experience of two. One an ancient firms car ,that was the boooby prize for new blokes. Other was a Y ex motability car. liked the car, but compared to the old 1.6 Cav and later 2.0GLI Cav, was thirsty . Last firm used to get Focus TDCI models. Think the last lot were 1.4 with the turbo on constantly. Compared to my little gal, they were thirsty underpowered slow sods with poor handling.

My old car was a 5 dr MK5 Vauxhall astra 1.7cdti (100hp)... I liked it.

 

Front coil spring snapped at around 75k, alternator and battery went at around 78k, Gearbox completely knackered at 81k

 

It wasn't too bad though, decent acceleration and because of it's small size was great for rallying around country lanes and it had decent torque. Although the engine was loud... intrusively loud at motorway speeds and the ride was a bit bumpy.

 

My new Octavia II FL elegance 1.4tsi is much more refined, although it's not as much fun... either that or I haven't had the ball's to really rally it around as of yet.

My parents had two Mk5 Astras before defecting to Skoda- both were 1.9 CDTi Sport Hatches. 

 

 Rear visibility was poor and I never really rated the driving dynamics much BUT it didn't really matter to them- they weren't likely to be on their door handles on the A39 bends. What did matter was that it was relatively quick, relatively frugal and relatively reliable. It hit the mark on all three scores and I can't recall them having any major problems with either of them, certainly not enough to send them back to the dealer over. Neither did particularly big mileage and I think because of this the interior wore well and didn't end up with any annoying rattles/ squeaks. 

 

 The price you pay with pile them high and sell them cheap- somes is good, somes is bad. Good luck with yours! 

Not bad cars tbh. Vauxhall a can't be that bad if so many companies, police and taxi drivers use them.

Not bad cars tbh. Vauxhall a can't be that EXPENSIVE if so many companies, police and taxi drivers use them.

FTFY

had a Vauxhall Combo van for 3 years up until 2012.

 

Apart from an exceedingly awkward failed glow plug that took them a week to get out under warranty and a slow leccy window, it was great.

had a Vauxhall Combo van for 3 years up until 2012.

Apart from an exceedingly awkward failed glow plug that took them a week to get out under warranty and a slow leccy window, it was great.

WHAT! ELECTRIC WINDOWS! Mine only has poverty spec wind ups on a 55 plate (2006)

WHAT! ELECTRIC WINDOWS! Mine only has poverty spec wind ups on a 55 plate (2006)

 

Mine was a limited edition 'run out' model in Star Silver, leccy windows, leccy mirrors alloys and air con.

Crew cab too, and had windows installed in the 2 sliding doors, wood lined the back panels and carpeted them.

 

For a 'Postman Pat' van, it actually looked very nice IMO, and the room for passengers in the back was as much if not more than in the Superb.

No DPF, and the 1.7 Isuzu lump  with a D-Tune box installed pulled like a train

I'd have had another one IF they'd continued making it instead of bringing that ugly badge engineered Fiat out to replace it.

Even the Vauxhall van sales manager agreed with me.

Edited 2 July, 201411 yr by Mr Ree

Ohh colour coded everything etc. my works one is just a bog standard white 1.7 CDTI great van would get another happily but not so keen in new ones! Mins you mine does shred flywheels!

I've had plenty of vauxhalls(got one now actually)

Had 3 1.9cdti 150 vectra all driven up to 90000 miles with no issues apart from the one I'm on now...

New turbo

EGR delete and remap@200bhp (no DPF on hatch but is one on estate!?!) so don't worry about DPF

New DMF clutch kit

Cam belt

Also changed interior to half leather from a 100 edition turbo vectra as the bog standard seats in vauxhall a don't wear very well.

All this from 65000 to 88000 BUT once these jobs are done it will be good for plenty more miles.

Gearbox is only weak on 1.9CDTI 120 BHP model

Also had ASTRA Sri XP 3 door, no probs in 2 years and 60000 miles so it's look of the draw as with every other make and model

Got to say though the 1.9CDTI is a rapid bit of kit in any model, especially remapped!

Edited 10 July, 201411 yr by Northerner190

Ohh colour coded everything etc. my works one is just a bog standard white 1.7 CDTI great van would get another happily but not so keen in new ones! Mins you mine does shred flywheels!

...and tyres. 

 

You get that sorted Toxi?

 

As stated up there ^^^^, luck of the draw with EVERY make and model, but the way a car is treated has some bearing too I feel.

 

I'd certainly have another one, and did temptingly look at the Astra estate Sri, but a model with the couple of fairly common extras and limited colours I wanted couldn't be sourced without placing a factory order.

Don't do factory ordering.

Edited 10 July, 201411 yr by Mr Ree

No I've got the parts just haven't got the time in the meanwhilst the tyres have been replaced again on company funds! Maybe this weekend! I'll see but I've got a feeling the poor van needs a lot of attention desperately!