1995 Opel Astra GL from UK and Ireland - Comments

Engine management fault.

Blanket interference on the radio.

Camshaft oil seal.

Paint peeled off wheel trims.

Thermostat failed twice.

Both rear brake cylinders leaked.

Contamination of the brake fluid by water.

Oil pump gasket failed twice.

Bottom timing pulley came loose and damaged crank shaft.

Battery failure.

Indicater switch failed.

Loud drumming noise which can not be found and baffles blown in rear silencer.

This is a Monday morning car. I have had several Opels before and they were excellent. The quality seems to have gone down since they started building them at the Vauxhall factories in England.

I completely agree with the commentator. I own an Opel Astra 1.4GL since 1993. Eversince I had all sorts of problems that made me decide never to buy such a car again.

A. The water pump failed at 54.000km, 4,5 years after I bought the car (weird since water pumps usually fail much later than this).

B. The radiator failed massively at 74.000km, nearly causing damage to the engine gasket.

C. The cabin interior materials were extremely poor. The roof lining came off, five years after I bought the car, and I had to replace it.

D. Some trims deteriorated earlier than normal.

E. When it rains the central locking system fails.

F. Some lamps in the control console burned out.

G. The brake pump and rear pistons failed early in the car's life.

H. Now I have serious engine management problems.

D.

I disagree with both comments because I have a vauxhall astra and i've had it for nearly a year and it's a 1.4i N reg (1996) and I've had no problems at all (well none that can't be fixed). I bought it from a car auction (which I expected it to be in a very bad condition, but it wasn't) for £1000 exactly on 6th of january and on the 14th of february (the same year) it went through an MOT and I never had to replace anything for it, which I was supprised because usually at that age I've had to do something to get it through an MOT. I bought it when it had 67,000 miles on the clock and in nearly 10,000 miles later its run very well and had no problems with it. The only thing I've had to replace is the cylinder head gasket, but I knew that was gone when I bought it (i just didn't have the time to fix it) and I had done about 5,000 miles before I replaced it. but it only cost £8 (and 6 hours) to fit it and put it back, because of being a mechanic, I done it myself (that was about 3 months ago). I would never get any other make because they are so cheap to buy, run and repair(but i admit that is not the best in comfort but still great), I don't care what anyone says. So if your reading this I would say go and get probably the most reliable car out(Vauxhall Astra).

On my 2nd Astra, both 2nd hand.

My 1st, a 1994 1.3L 3dr, had been in a few knocks but otherwise sound.

The 2nd Astra a 1995, 1.4 GL was 10 years old but only had 48,000 miles on the clock, my dad had it from new.

The 1st car lacked a wee bit of service history, 86,000 miles on the clock. Within months the water pump was gone and shortly after the orange engine managements system light started to light up the night sky. The car would cut out in traffic and take a lot of attempts to restart. Turned out to be a micro-chip that controlled the low voltage/high voltage power source to the distributor, only €80 to fix and a lot of embarrassment in traffic jams. After about 97,000 miles the car felt like jelly tub on ice, and as much power as a sewing machine, the only thing for it was the scrap yard.

The 2nd car had been serviced as required every year or 10,000 by the same garage, and not the cheapest. I took over its care on its 10th birthday. For a 1.4L, it still had a lot of its power and felt solid. This car now, 14 years old and 62,000 miles on the clock, has continued its service history with varying garages, so better than others, and has only recently cost a few bob. Water pump and thermostat, tie rods on top of the full service, back running like a dream, yet again.

If you get a well serviced one, it will look after you, for its same comparable contemporary size it's a solid car with fair handling, but need to be serviced regularly, on older models, check water pump and HT power management switch.