Faults:

Battery changed after 4 years.

Small electrical problem - trunk would not open. One fuse changed and the problem was solved.

A few times the engine would not start, and some light appeared on the board "check engine". After a few minutes I would try again, and the car would start.

General Comments:

Initially I didn't really like the design of the car, but in time I came to like it more.

What I liked from the beginning, and I still like, is the feeling of "solid" and quality of build of this car.

This feeling is still present almost unchanged five years and 67.000 km later.

I also appreciate the reliability of the car, as I didn't have any major problems so far.

What I never liked is the slow acceleration of the 1.4 engine (90 hp). 0-100 km/h is 14 seconds. Because of this, I have problems overtaking. However for city driving and 2 lanes roads, the car is quite good.

Sometimes problems appeared in winter driving. The car doesn't have ESP or ASR, and this caused wheel-spin in low grip conditions. However the ABS was really useful, it saved me a few times from minor accidents.

Faults:

Nothing gone wrong, paint on bumpers is very prone to stone chips. Makes a big rattle on startup that I cannot locate. likes the petrol.

General Comments:

Lovely car, really stands out and I prefer it to my 2005 Golf GTI in looks, but the Golf drove better.

Faults:

The steering wheel makes a little noise, but it's nothing that bothers me.

General Comments:

I own the Elegance model of Opel Astra, and it is excellent in all aspects. There is no other model you could buy for this money and have this interior quality.

Driving it is a real pleasure, the 1.7 diesel engine with 100 HP has great performance with low fuel consumption. The direction and driving comfort are also great.

This care is a huge step forward for Opel. If I had to choose again ten times between Astra and VW Golf, I would always chose an Astra, even if they were the same price. This car has everything you want and it is inexpensive for what it offers.