2005 Vauxhall Astra Reviews - Page 4 of 4

Nothing at all so far

Only had the car 2 months.

I had My reservations about buying a deisel having owned one before and vowing "never again" mainly due to the refinement of the engine.

There have obviously been big strides made in recent years I neednt have worried. Its quick enough comfortable and very economical to own. I do have concerns over the design of the heating controls does it really need to be so complicated why can't we have the red and blue hot and cold.

Creaky driver's door. Easily fixed with a drop of oil.

Automatic transmission is very smooth, offering Winter, Economy and Sport modes.

The car almost has a split personality...

Sport mode gives you gear changes at the point you'd expect to change with a manual gearbox when driving fast, although without the double de-clutch, and it seems to do something to the engine as well as the gearbox. It's almost like the car is wanting you to enjoy the responsive, yet smooth engine.

Economy mode is generally very smooth, remaining in as higher gear as possible, although rapidly down-changing as and when required.

Road holding is very good, and there is plenty of grip available. Feedback through the wheel is good.

Seats are fairly comfortable once you've got them in the right position, although haven't driven any long motorway journeys yet. Steering wheel is adjustable for height and reach, which is a nice feature and allows you to find the best seat position and worry about where the wheel is afterwards.

There isn't a tremendous amount of rear legroom, but it's not uncomfortable. The Astra isn't a large car, so room is about what I would expect.

Boot space is pretty good for the size of the car.

It feels like a higher spec'd car, thanks to the silver coloured centre console and gearbox surround.

The air conditioning system cools the car quickly.

The CD player is pretty good for a standard system, with 6 speakers.

Build quality feels very good, and I don't anticipate any problems.

The car is brand new so it is too early to say, but the general build quality and materials are the best I've seen on a car of this class, so I am not anticipating any problems.

The leather trim occasionally creaks over bumpy roads.

Possibly the best car Vauxhall have made to date. Incredible coupe-style looks in what is essentially just a 3-door family hatch. A real head turner. I have already had people making comments on it's sleek appearance, most of these were total strangers!

The driving position is extremely adjustable, with tilt, height and lumber support on the front seats and a steering column that adjusts for reach and rake.

The boot is quite big for a car with such dramatic styling and there is plenty of under-bonnet access.

The specification is comprehensive and the optional leather trim that my car has is of good quality.

The driving experience is superb. Loads of grip, good feel through the steering, very little body roll and a supple, if quite firm ride. The engine is responsive and smooth, with very impressive acceleration on offer at motorway speeds.

Refinement is exceptional for a small 3-door car with sports suspension. The engine is only just audible, but is always there in the background with a throaty rumble at all revs. There is little road noise although wind noise can build up at higher speeds.

Overall, I believe this to be an excellent car and I anticipate being extremely satisfied with it during my period of ownership.

Well done Vauxhall!