Faults:

Turbo boost pipe came loose, easy fix.

Waterpump leaked, replaced along with new cam-belt.

Interior and exterior a bit rough, car has seen better days, but I got it real cheap as a fixer upper.

General Comments:

Brilliant little car. Amazing looking, really does stand out more than the regular dull Astra. The GTC version is well worth it and running costs are as cheap as the most basic Astra hatch.

2.0 diesel engine is OK, I don't trust it long term but did the cam-belt anyway. They can be reliable if the oil is changed on time; unfortunately my car has missing history so cannot be sure. It pulls strong with enough power and appears to be economical at around 49 mpg, so it must be a relatively looked after car.

Interior comfort is good even with stiffer SRi suspension. The car has all the mod cons for a 2015 vehicle, still feels modern. Bright red, best color. Big alloy wheels.

Lots of thrashed examples out there on the used market, buy carefully and it's well worth paying extra for a nicer condition Astra GTC, but do not pay too much, this car does not seem to hold value well, most of this age are around the £3000 mark even with lower mileage (I got this slightly rough one for just £2000). I'd also recommend the petrol engines over the diesels, they seem more reliable. Spec wise SRi is most popular. Basic Sport model is still a nice one. There is a VXR version, but that is a totally different beast on another level, and you won't get that version for cheap. As with any car, whichever you choose, do your homework to avoid surprises.

Faults:

Oil leak, coolant leak, suspension, and the A/C wont work.

Slight engine misfire, hope it's not the timing chain stretched!

General Comments:

Astra GTC in bright red - fantastic stand out car from other Astra's.

Fun to drive, actually better than my old Audi A4, and that's saying something.

Not super fast, but the 1.4 turbo petrol engine is good enough for everyday driving. Can achieve 40 mpg as well driven correctly.

Ride rather firm, but probably due to the fact it has massive alloy wheels.

Nice interior, with all modern extras.

A great run around that you can get cheap on the used market! Buy carefully - a lot with have issues at the age these cars are now.

Faults:

Air con does not work.

General Comments:

The Astra estate "sports tourer" is a fine car if you want space and economy and don't mind a boring drive.

It's not bad to look at in silver with alloy wheels.

Interior dull and grey, but it is functional and very comfortable. "Design" is a basic specification but has all the electrics I need.

Rear load space is huge.

The car is OK to drive, 1.6 diesel pulls strong enough, but not a fast car. Very economical however - genuine 60 mpg or more if driven correctly.

Only had this car one year and not done much mileage, too early to comment on long term reliability. If looked after it should be OK, but be aware these diesel engines are troublesome and expensive to fix if anything goes wrong, and there are lots of abused examples out there on the used market. Buy carefully and be aware of cars priced suspiciously cheap!

Faults:

Turbo pipe split (common, cheap and easy repair).

Oil leak, have not found out where it's coming from yet. But not significant, no top up required, very small leak.

Cam-belt + water-pump changed. Water-pump was leaking.

Slight judder from the clutch.

Brakes grinding, new pads due soon. Pedals also looking very worn.

General Comments:

The Astra GTC is an amazing looking car. Limited Edition gets massive wheels and some extras over other models.

Very good to drive. 2.0 CDTi - Not the fastest engine in the range and it is rather noisy and unrefined. It does however have reasonable tax and insurance costs, and always seems to do 50 MPG +, so cannot complain.

Bright red, looks amazingly modern for a nine year old car.

Quite spacious inside. Ride a bit harsh, but that's probably due to those big wheels. Quality wise actually quite comparable to my old Audi A3, yes it is that good.

You can get an Astra GTC pretty cheap now, they are well worth a look. Make sure you only buy a looked after original car with full history however, avoid abused examples, there are lots of modded Astras out there on the used market, and they are usually modified by people who do not know what they are doing!