2000 Vauxhall Astra Coupe Turbo from UK and Ireland - Comments

Severe turbo lag in damp weather.

Poor performance for a 2.0 turbo and drinks as if it's packing 350bhp not 190.

Don't go for leather as the quality of the finish is suspect for a £1,000 extra. You would be better off getting the body kit fitted to spice up those dull looks.

Yes, you could get a Focus instead - but why trade in a good-looking Bertone coupe which is almost as handsome as its Calibra predecessor in favour of the ugliest hatchback in Britain?

Focus, that's a joke in itself, for starters the Focus is something my Grandad would drive to take him shopping in, it's a horrible car (come to think of it, all Fords are horrible!).

The Astra Coupe is a sexy looking car, I don't own one, but I did own a Calibra Turbo which was an amazing car, it would leave my friends cars for dust, and they owned Escort crapy Cossies.

All I'm saying is you should try and think about what you are saying when you disrespect a top car like an Astra Coupe.

"Disrespect a top car like an Astra Coupe"?

You make it sound like the second coming!

It'a an Astra, something you go shopping in.

Vauxhall may have fitted a powerful engine, buy you'll never use it because it's front wheel drive. Loads of wheelspin and torque-steer.

The car doesn't look bad but they're just trying to echo the impact the Calibra had in it's early days.

I do agree that the Focus isn't exactly attractive, but both cars are built for going shopping in and taking your kids to the seaside.

If you want proper looks and power (that you can actually use and enjoy), then you'll have to move up to a proper coupe, not a dressed up shopper.

Interesting comments. However according to the leading car magazines figures, the Coupe Turbo has better performance than the 'Real Coupes',

The new Astra looks like a hamster on wheels, the Focus looks nicer and according to all the motoring press is a much better all round car.

Not true, in most resects the Astra is as good, but without the slapped fish looks of the croakus.

How can you even compare an Astra Turbo to a Focus?? I pick up my Astra Turbo this Thursday, after test driving a Focus, Audi TT and a Subaru. Believe you me, the turbo is a fantastic car! I must admit that I haven't give it some stick yet, but at a top speed of 152mph... hold tight!

Inside and out makes this car better than the rest.. you can even put your sim card in the CD player and use your phone through it! You get a spoiler, leather interior and bags of extras (comp) as standard. To get these extras on the TT, of which I came close to buying, would have taken me into the 30k bracket. What a RIP, considering it has a Skoda Chassis!

I can see this car actually benefiting my health also, as I'll probably start driving on a Friday and Saturday night!

How could you ever think the Ford Focus matches the Astra Coupe Turbo. I pick mine up this Friday and even the guy's down at Vauxhall say it's the dog's doodars. My advice is pay the extra grand for the leather, it is definitely worth it.

Nice Car - shame about the stupid idiot who thinks that a focus is better.

I also can't understand why anyone would think that the Audi TT is not worth the extra if you could afford it? The Astra Coupe Turbo with leather etc is £20.5k the TT180 £24.5k.

I love the TT, however somebody, may choose the ACT over the TT because, you can get good discounts on them and not on the Audi, making a bigger difference in price. They may also want 4 proper seats, and a nice big boot. You also get a multi disc and met paint, and according to my boys book of cars the ACT, has a higher top end than the TT (including 225), go figure!

Just to add my opinion to the Astra/Focus argument, the looks of the cars are good/bad depending on each persons taste, and I have never driven either car, but reading all the motor mags they all say of the standard spec cars that people buy (1.6's/1.8's with LS/LX spec) the focus is a nicer car to drive with better handling and ride etc.

Why compare it with the Focus, it belongs in a group with cars like the Celica 190, Cougar V6, and Nissan 200SX.

I have just bought a mint second hand TVR Griffith 500 for £17k. Think about what you want on your drive waiting for you. Life is too short not too...

I'm getting my Astra Coupe Turbo on the 1st September. Can anyone tell me what the 'drive-by-wire' throttle is all about? Is the car as quick and responsive as I think it is going to be? Any other comments about the above car would also be appreciated.

Drive-by-wire throttle just means that rather than a cable linking the pedal to the throttle butterfly, it is done with a potentiometer on the pedal which controls an electronic stepper motor on the throttle body in the engine bay,