2013 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.6 petrol
Summary:
Boring
Faults:
Oil cooler leak (common) about £320 to replace!
Coolant leak (also common, expansion tank fails, not too expensive to replace).
Suspension rattle.
Brakes.
Air con non operative, expected at age and mileage - not bothered to fix.
General Comments:
Mediocre is what the Astra is and always has been, but it is by no means a bad car.
Good looking in bright red, the SRi model is sharp to drive, not exciting but handles better than base models, while still having a comfortable ride (although a bit firm in town) and quiet on the motorways. Interior is also nicely equipped. Spacious also for its size.
1.6 16v petrol engine is plodding, not slow but not fast either. 35 - 40 mpg on average. A bit more reliable than the diesels, so that is a plus point. Tax and insurance are reasonable. Reliable enough if looked after (service on time and timing belt essential).
Value / Depreciation is pretty poor on this car. At this age and mileage - buy one cheaply, run it for a couple of years as an economy car, then scrap at higher mileage with problems, or sell if it is still going and in good condition. Mine is average condition - I will keep it for another year or so. After that, who knows.
So there you have it - the Vauxhall Astra - most average / boring car in the UK used car market.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 7th January, 2024
12th Jan 2024, 16:54
If it was even just slightly better to drive and a bit more reliable, the Astra could have been the best in its class, even more than the Ford Focus. But there is little between any of these family hatchbacks now.