70K with an Astra (Vauxhall Astra LS 1.6i 5-door Hatchback)

Member Name: SachaG

Product:	Vauxhall Astra LS 1.6i 5-door Hatchback
Date:	02/03/02 (330 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good build quaily

Disadvantages: Engine problems

I took delivery of a T reg in March 99 and lived with it for two and half years totally 70,000 miles. I left the car with mixed feeling towards it.

The overall build quaily of the car was generally good, the interior stood up well to hard use showing little signs of wear and tear after a good clean with all switches and trim remaining functional and in place. The bodywork also stood up well to the mileage.

My praise is not so high for the 1.6i 8v engine. This engine in my opinion was underpowered for the car and if you were looking to keep your insurance rating down the 1.4i 16v is a better bet. The car ran with no problems whatsoever for 40,000, after which it developed an engine hesitation when the aircon was on. After 500 miles of this starting this hesitation became worse and worse to the point the car would not pull away with the aircon on and could not maintain speeds above 75mph.

Unfortunately the Vauxhall garage were unable to locate a problem, but good enough to acknowledge there was one even if they could not find it ! About 200 miles after it was returned unfixed it broke down on the motorway and was towed back to the garage.

Luckily the fault was found and 'fixed', however at around 43,000 the hesitation returned although not as bad as before.

From then on the car was returned to the garage time and again for various engine problems, which usually took more than one attempt to fix.

In my opinion the 1.6i 8v engined car is to be avoided unless you are - yourself - a mechanic!!

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