Re: Vauxhall Astra

80K for me is sometime next year!

I only use the A/C when its hot (except for running it for a few mins every
couple of weeks as the book says - although in Winter it does not come on
anyway under about 4 deg)

Yup - I am disappointed in the consumption - or was until I found the car is
actually heavier than the 1.8 Cavalier that preceded it! (NB my older 2
litre cavalier used to regularly give me 45mpg under similar driving
conditions...)

Apart from the wheel bearing, I think most of the failures are on bits that
simply weren't fitted to my previous car - such as the A/C, the silly to my
mind) eletcro-hydraulic steering (why not stick to the mechanical pump!)
Previously rock-solid, comparatively simple components have been replaced
with over-complex, expensive and fragile ones - I would expect the same
trend to continue on the new models (such as the electrics, lights etc).

The hydraulic clutch is relatively new as well ....

NB did you know that if you fit a towbar to some modern cars you need a
software download to make the lights work properly?

"Thats OK" you might say, "I don't have a caravan" - but there's a big
market for people with bike carriers, trailers etc. isn't there?

Worth checking out if you are buying a new generation Astra (or vecyy etc
come to that)




"DervMan" <dervman@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:yvIEe.803$hc4.5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> "R. Murphy" <newspam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:dbugjp$1pk$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>I have an '02 Astra estate 1.6 8v, a replacement for my Cavalier.
>>
>> In use - very useful. I commute 60 miles/day in comfort.
>>
>> et around 37 - 39 mpg regularly (don't forget its a motorway commute)
>
> That's a little bit low if it's the previous generation (and not the one
> currently being sold).
>
> Ahhha - cancel that. Dad's 1.6-8 was never especially economical even
> with me driving. :)
>
>> On holiday - 250 miles to Dover to get ferry, then 320 miles the next day
>> across France, then return a week later - no problems, comfortable
>> enough.
>>
>> Goes around corners well.
>>
>> Now covered 53k miles.
>>
>> Warranty (3yr) up last week - and a B*****y good job it was for3 years
>> because in that time I have had
>>
>> A complete steering assembly (would have been £400 parts + £200
>> labour, it had started to leak oil) about 18k
>>
>> A steering pump a year later (it started to whine a lot) (Cost
>> unknown) 39k miles
>>
>> A thermostat - hardly worth mentioning you might think, except I've
>> just found out what's involved in replacing one - and a front suspension
>> top bush 39k miles
>>
>> EGR valve problems (Code read would have cost £50 but got for free
>> under warranty, rest is cost unknown)39k miles
>>
>> GBox oil seal 39k
>
> Ouch. That's a lot of replacements needed at the 39,000 point.
>
>> A failed front wheel bearing (complete hub assembly replaced) (Cost
>> unknown)
>>
>> A pair of drop links (joints on one had worn out!) (£60 reclaimed from
>> Vauxhall)
>>
>> And just before the warranty was up (like 7 days before!) - an A/C
>> compressor. (was quoted £173 for the compressor before they realised
>> warranty still applied, fitting charge unknown) (clatter from unit when
>> A/C switched on, disappeared when A/C switched off. Good job it was
>> summer, eh!)
>
> Not really, because you would be using the system all year round, surely?
>
>> Steering has needed alignment twice - both times just after my VX garage
>> had done work on the steering
>>
>> In winter I get a lot of condensation in the engine, have to clean the
>> oil filler cap every week, OK in summer/hot weather though. (Even when
>> the stat works properly!) VX say it is normal, garage says the 16vales
>> are even worse!
>
> Hmmmmm. Dad didn't have this issue with his Astra although I daresay he
> didn't check it often, heh.
>
>> Most of these repairs would have amounted to more than the total of
>> repairs to my Cavalier in 7 years/125k miles or so.
>>
>> This is in addition to service items and rear wheel cylinders.
>>
>> Comparison to the Cavalier? - Front suspension bushes flagged as "tired -
>> recommend replacement" - at the 90k MOT. Had the lower wishbones + bushes
>> + antirollbar links replaced at a cost of £275 inc the MOT ! Oh, and I
>> think I had a dizzy cap and a set of plug leads at one point, about £30
>> quid.
>>
>> I have to say - I am feeling a little uncomfortable about the next 3
>> years or so of planned ownership ...
>>
>> Partly because I have now got the Haynes manual and have discovered that
>>
>> Apparently I have a hydraulic instead of a cable clutch - for me that
>> means if the gears get sticky I can't just tweak the cable adjustment and
>> see what happens, I need a garage ...
>
> It's becoming more and more common to use hydraulic clutches, often linked
> in with the brake circuit too.
>
>> It seems that if the clutch or steering mechanism need work - the
>> subframe has to be dropped and then realigned
>>
>> So - there you go.
>>
>> As I said, love the car, but sh****ng myself over the likely ownership
>> costs and hassle.
>
> You might be lucky and find that everything will be just fine now, or a
> chunk of stuff will need replacing at the 80,000 mile point... Good luck.
>
> --
> The DervMan
> www.dervman.com
>


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Vauxhall Astra
    ... > Now covered 53k miles. ... > A steering pump a year later (Cost unknown) ... > Steering has needed alignment twice - both times just after my VX garage ... chunk of stuff will need replacing at the 80,000 mile point... ...
    (uk.rec.cars.misc)
  • Re: Budget tyre offers?
    ... and 60k miles. ... Strange that someone who is so concerned about the safety advantages of branded tyres should have such a cavalier attitude to car safety... ... It's not so much the cost as the bloody nuisance of regularly having to mess about replacing parts. ...
    (uk.rec.driving)
  • Re: GM introducing hybrid pickups,, 6000 lb tow capacity
    ... 150,000 miles. ... and don't forget about replacing the batteries at ... It's not about cost. ...
    (rec.boats)
  • Re: Why settle for a measly 230 MPG when you could get 1560 MPG?
    ... The same problem states that a hiker can go 30 miles on the same 2000 ... My boss spends much of her time away from the office in meetings, etc.; and hours are arranged so as to make sure there is someone in the office during most regular business hours. ... If I could work from home via computer and telephone, and only go in to the office one day a week, I could be more efficient in my work and save several gallons of gas per week. ... I wonder how much gas and other energy is going to have to cost before I can make a decent case for this to *my* boss; and, by extension, to other employers. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: General checkup questions, 1996 Toyota Tercel!
    ... me a quart every 1000 miles added is nothing. ... belt to go ahead & replace water pump while the engine is in the belt ... I just figured being he mentioned it while replacing timing belt, ... My '95 was a nice car. ...
    (alt.autos.toyota)