Whilst my car is in for some bodywork repairs I have had a brand spanking new black Astra, i've got it for 1 week and my 1st impressions are suprisingly very good.

It looks brilliant from the outside and in black everyone comments on how nice this new Astra looks (even now after 1 year since it's release, if not more!)

The seats are suportive and in a sumptious black leather, and the interior is nice and chunky, everything feels well screwed together.

The engine is a little lack lustre (1.6 twinport) but can still do the national speed limits without a struggle. But it isn't going to set the world on fire.

The handling is a bit odd, admitadly I don't have the "sport" spec e.g. SRi or similar. The initial turn in very direct, however you never really get any feedback about what is happening, so chuck it into a corner too fast and i'm sure you'd know about it after you where in a hedge.

Whilst the handling I would characterise as not being the most focused sports car the car gets lots of plus points over bumpy roads and speed humps. It simply glides over rough surfaces as though they don't exist.

Overall i'm very suprised, build quality which appears anyway to match that of our vRS, interior which is a lot better, no back jarring ride and with in SRi spec with a more communicative feedback from the steering wheel i'm sure I can see myself in one when I change car :eek:

Must admit I agree.

I took an SRi 1.8i 16v out for a test drive last summer, I was mightily impressed too, in particular with the ride and handling, but it also felt very solid. Plus the sportback version looks really good, especially as you said in black.

Compared to the Octy vRS though it was frighteningly slow. I would have looked at the VXR but nobody had one available for test drive.

VXR is hugely overpriced though, especially compared to the VRS or Focus ST3. Vauxhall seme to have priced the VXR to compete with the Golf GTi.

you should see the price of a second hand Manaro ... Bargin!! fabia rs has bigger breaks tho lol! (wich is scary)

But the monaro's engine weighs less than the Fabia 1.9

I personally am not a fan of the dash in the astra, a bit plain for my liking, and it definitley has a lack of storage loactions. However, it is comfortable as a passanger. Never drove one so can't comment on handling but it felt quitre good in the passnager seat.

but the Manaro is also alot quicker... and bigger....

edit: its actually an omega with a roof chop! so wouldnt the wight equal itself to the rs if not more!

A chap at work has one , again in black, although I haven't driven it I am very impressed by build quality and general feel of car..