2000 Vauxhall Astra LS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Please leave and make a cup of coffee before finding a comfortable chair to sit in to read this.

Lets see, to start off with we have front fog lights filling with water.

(Non) ABS faulty.

Gearbox refused to admit there was a third gear it there.

Power window (driver's side) screeching when parked in the sun.

Engine underside splash guard detached itself from the body, hitting a manhole and jamming itself between the car and the road.

More power window noise (same window).

Drove through a ford less than a foot deep, replacement engine splash tray detached itself while traversing the river and pushed a bow-wave in front of the car and the resultant locking of the engine when water was sucked into the air-intake. Waited a month for the new engine.

Radio uncoded when the vehicle was returned, waiting a further week for the code.

Both engines, new and original, drink oil like Keith Floyd on booze, apparently this is 'normal' consumption of 1 litre/1000 miles upto 18000 miles (that's a lot of oil).

Steering and suspension seriously out of alignment since delivery, fault corrected but has returned in less than a month.

Back brakes have a nasty habit of gently applying themselves, or not releasing themselves after braking, thus causing heat and illumination of the rear brake assemblies.

I think that covers most of it. There's been that much wrong with it, I've probably forgotten something.

Crap car. Would recommend anything else. Raising the standard? Rubbish!

Dealers generally unhelpful (except for Wilson and Co, Humberston. Thanks lads!) and pretty much useless. Three attempts at ordering the correct wiper blades. In the end I had to go back to the dealers, take the blades off myself and show them which ones I wanted! (Thurlby Motors, Louth - avoid like syphilis and dodgy maidens).

I have a 1998 Astra diesel 2.0L DTi auto estate and I have not had any problems whatsoever with it. I have now done 35,000 miles and I have nothing but praise for this car.

The Lotus suspension is fantastic and drives like a dream.

It uses no oil in between oil changes and it is very economical on fuel.

We also have a 1998 estate 2.0L turbo diesel with 65 000 miles with the following faults: rear calipers seized, air flow meter faulty, rattles from the steering column, intermittent fault on the radio.

The first two faults are well known and common to the 2.0L diesel. The extended warranty paid for the repairs, but I'd never buy another Vauxhall. Any Vauxhall dealer we've used for servicing apart from the one who sold the car has been rubbish and dishonest. I believe it'll last half as long as my Sierra with twice the hassle.

I own a Vauxhall Astra 16 LS 8v. I have had this car for just over six months now and I love it. the car had covered over 85000 miles when I bought it and had been regularly serviced at 10000 mile intervals (which means it had already had 8 services) and had one cam belt (as they say the change interval is 8 years or 80000 miles). someone who I work with said that his in-laws had one of these and had a slight problem with the speedo head which was put right (i think my one has had the same problem as the plastic bungs have been removed at some time).

This car has given me no problems what so ever, and my only citisism is that sometimes there is a slightly damp smell from the air vents which I have been reliably informed is a result of having air con (a friend told me this and as this is my first car with air con and he is a good mate I have no reason to disbelieve him).

I am a mechanic myself and I have just done a six month oil service and general look over so I know how the car is mechanically and structurally myself. and it is in a1 condition on both counts. so keep looking people there are good ones out there.

I have owned a 1990 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 Starmist for the last 5 years and it is the best car in the world, it has never let me down and hasn't cost me A PENNY! There are bargains to be had in older cars, it just depends on whether or not you are prepared to 'not be keeping up with the Joans's'.

Can't comment on the Astra specifically as I have a Vectra Gsi and a Frontera. The Vectra is just over three years old now, I've had it a year. The first six months were problematic and niggly, but since then it has been A1. The Frontera is coming up four years old and we've had it a year now with no problems at all. We are unfortunately selling it now due to other reasons, but that's a different story.

I have a 1998 Mk4 Astra 1.4 16v with 89k on the clock. Bought it last december with 74k up and have only had a few problems associated with high mileage. When I bought it the car had no service history so with hindsight I should really have expected problems!

First to go was the camshaft and crankshaft speed sensors which meant the engine would hardly start, but once it was going all was well. Premier Vauxhall in Edinburgh then had the pleasure of charging me £250 quid, but to be fair they threw in a new timing belt at the same time so I reckon that one worked out well!

Next it decided to blow its head gasket, and having had enough of main dealers I bought the parts and had a private garage do the work. Much cheaper! Then the exhaust was replaced by the same guy from the cat back.

One final last problem is when it starts from cold it tends to rev at 2000-2500RPM for a few minutes from idle especially if it is wet, but it even did it during the height of summer. A few people have said this is only the auto choke kicking in, but I know for a fact it didn't do that last winter even in -16 degree cold! Anybody any ideas? Email me: superfurrycamel@hotmail.com if you can help. Hooked it up to the tech2 equip and it failed to find anything.

Apart from all this I love the wee car its just such a relaxing drive and so fast on the motorway for a 1.4. Cruises at 90 all day and still gives back 40-45mpg! Fantastic. Who needs a BMW?!

We own a 2001 Astra 1600 LS Est. We love the car, but since buying it we have experienced problems with the gears! Basically the car jams into 1st when idling in traffic and then won't always change up to 2nd. It is a nightmare. So far the garage have changed the clutch and fitted new selectors and it is still no better. Does anyone have any idea what is causing this? Please e-mail di@reedd66.fsnet.co.uk.

I bought an Astra diesel 1.7 over 24 months ago 65000 miles on the clock. It has been driven without maintenance the whole time since. Last week the alternator went, had a new one fitted and decided to change the cambelt set and give her a full service. Cost £360.00 it has now done 84000 miles which is brilliant. Economical car and reliable, hardly used any oil. Brake pads never changed.

Was a bit flat on acceleration, but I have my motorbikes for fun and this for my family. Slightly cramped on my left leg, but you can put up with that on short to medium journeys. Longer journeys are also OK aslong as its only a couple of times a year.

Comfort 7/10. Reliability 9/10. Economy 8/10.

I own a 2000 (W) Astra 1.4 LS 5 door (AC). I have had this car for almost 6 years and can honestly say the only thing that I have had to change was the waterpump (bearings gone), and I renewed the cambelt and tensioner whilst I was there doing it.

I have always found the Astra reliable, but to be honest I can only slate the handling. I have had two brand new shocks fitted on the front and it's still way too soft, in fact it tends to lean into the bends too much that it feels unsafe at times.

The clutch has just gone, and I was amazed to be quoted around a hundred pounds for the clutch and six hundred to fit it by Vauxhall... It annoys me that Vauxhall can build a car that they know the only way to the gearbox is by removing the engine and box together, or by having to remove the exhaust and front subframe assembly just to get to it. Manufacturers are making sure we get ripped off by having to take our cars to them for repair and designing them to make sure we have to. In all honesty, if I knew what would have been involved to get the clutch out, I wouldn't have bought the car. I can now understand why more people are buying older cars so that they can service and repair them themselves... Never mind, if the government get there own way there won't be any older cars on the road, so everyone will have to pay the rip off manufacturer's repair prices...