2006 Vauxhall Astra SXi 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Perfect for what it is

Faults:

Headlight fade/condensation.

Small oil leak.

Rear suspension a bit rattly.

General Comments:

A cheap used car. The Astra may never be anything special, but if you want a cheap no nonsense car that is reliable and nice to drive, you can't beat them.

Black 2006 SXi model. Still sharp and modern enough looking. Hatd to believe it is nearly 20 years old!

Interior comfortable and still looks OK.

Quite pleasant to drive. The 1.6 petrol is not very fast, but quiet, smooth, reliable and less complicated than the diesels. You can still get around 38 - 40 mpg taking it slow.

Had it one year and happy to keep it another year. Passed its MOT easy. For an £800 purchase last year and over 10,000 miles later, I am very pleased and certainly getting my monies worth.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th May, 2025

26th Jul 2025, 13:49

Do the timing belt on time, keep up with servicing, and these petrol's Astras of this generation are among the most reliable second hand cars on the market still.

2006 Vauxhall Astra SXi Sports Hatch 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great looking car

Faults:

Wheel bearings, exhaust, coolant leak, etc.

The car was serviced on time, no major issues.

General Comments:

One of my first cars, loved the look. Sports hatch Astra with alloy wheels really stands out from others on the road.

Shame the rest of the car is not up to much - pretty average to drive and run. Not an exciting car. But I had the middling 1.6 petrol; that means average performance and about 38 mpg at best.

Interior comfortable enough if a bit small, and the ride was too firm, but you could live with it.

Overall I liked it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th June, 2023

2006 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.9 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Rubbish car. Never will I buy Vauxhall again ever again!

Faults:

One month after the Vauxhall warranty finished, the starter motor failed at 17,000 miles.

The car failed every MOT from new.

It's had two front brake disks, two bottom ball joints, 6 track rod ends, two front springs, and at 30,000 miles the ABS pump failed (£1500).

At 35,000 miles, the flywheel went (£1,800).

And after I sold the car, at 46,000 the gearbox failed.

Yes it looked good with the Xpac on it, yes it was quick, but it's the worst car I've ever had; it ate tyres! Vauxhall have the worst customer care ever! Even after the starter motor failed, they did not want to know, even though it was only 3 weeks after the warranty finished! They wanted £380 for a new starter motor. Not fitted!! So I got a new starter motor for £120 and I fitted it myself.

General Comments:

The car is quick! But it was the worst car I've ever, ever had in my life! I will never buy Vauxhall again. I've got a Skoda Octavia vRS now; I wish I'd bought this instead of that Vauxhall! Please, if you have any sense, DON'T BUY VAUXHALL, read reviews on any car web page, I wish I had!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st September, 2015

18th Feb 2016, 20:39

I doubt it - he had it since 4500 miles. The ABS pump failed early on - you can't trash an ABS pump. Ditto with the starter. He got a lemon.

In reply to 18th Feb 2016, 20:39

19th Feb 2016, 02:09

ABS and the starter are both items which wear depending on the specific driver. The first commentor is correct. This vehicle was brutalized before the second owner even went a mile.

In reply to 19th Feb 2016, 02:09

19th Feb 2016, 20:03

Within 4500 miles from new? Not even rental cars (often abused) fail that quickly. It's a lemon.

In reply to 19th Feb 2016, 20:03

20th Feb 2016, 17:55

The failures happened long after 4500 miles. At the mileages those failures occurred, they're not totally unexpected. Those first 4500 miles were so harsh that it accelerated the failures of those parts.

21st Jul 2016, 21:36

Stay away from these old secondhand Vauxhalls. Trust me, it will give you problem after problem.

30th Jul 2016, 22:01

Avoid buying an secondhand old Vauxhall. Looks good from outside, but the inside is bad. I had a Vauxhall in the past that gave me too many problems, so I got rid of it. Now I'm very pleased and happy with my Ford Focus 2003.

In reply to 30th Jul 2016, 22:01

17th May 2025, 21:04

Vauxhall are no worse (or better) than any other car, and I've had them all;

Cavalier, Carlton, Senator, Omega, Vectra, Insignia, and so it goes on.

Had many Fords as well (Focus, Fiesta, Mondeo). And I do not want to start a Ford vs Vauxhall debate, but they were absolutely the same. Average in all departments, especially reliability, no better than any other manufacturer.

Point being, the original reviewer got a lemon, no way should any car be that bad at low mileage.