Vauxhall Astra Hatchback (1998 - 2005) 1.6i 16V SXi 3d (2002/02) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I think I must be growing up!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They all think it looks fantastic - reliability remains to be seen but it can't be any worse than my last car!

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes, although I'd possibly go for a bigger engine so the speed is there if you need it.

What are you likely to buy next?

Let's get the 4 year finance deal out of the way first, then I'll think about the next purchase!

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£3,500

When did you buy the car?

June 2007

Did you get a good deal and why?

I got a reasonable deal - I purchased the car from Carcraft. They offered me little money for my old car, although I was quite prepared for this as I knew what was wrong with it.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I bought the Astra to replace my ageing and increasingly rattling high mileage Alfa Romeo 145 1.8 Twinspark.

What was the dealer like?

I had the most incredible amount of hassle from Carcraft. I made my first phonecall to them on the saturday afternoon that my car started making noises. I told them I had seen the car I wanted and it was at their Liverpool site. Eventually, they kept telling me 'It will be here within a couple of days sir' and I got repeatedly frustrated. After my patience wore thin, I insisted on picking it up 12 days after the first phonecall. All paperwork was filled out and it was iminent that the car was going to come out. Then - you guessed it. Customer Liason came out and told me the Power steering had failed. I asked if I could see the car, and managed to get 5 minutes in the workshop. An hour before - they told me they had 3 men valeting the car. When I saw it, it was covered in dust! The car had

What's it like to drive?

It's lovely to drive - nippy and although not quite as fast as my old Alfa, I haven't missed the speed yet.

What's it like to park?

Very different shape at the back, still getting used to it!

Have you had any problems with the car?

Nothing yet - I have only had it 3 days!

What's most practical about your car?

Running costs - fuel consumption is great. Insurance wise I am saving a small fortune. The boot is bigger, there is more room in the back, and it's just far more refined.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

CD player is great - sports seats are very comfortable, and the white dials set the dash off brilliantly. The exhaust and engine are silent. 17" Alloys look very smart