2003 Vauxhall Astra GSi from UK and Ireland - Comments

No problems

It's seriously quick and it's handling it just incredible.

It looks fantastic without too much body kit, very sexy rear spoiler.

Very comfortable to drive

Subaru drivers don't realize how quick the GSi Turbo is, I've surprised a few at lights.

I must agree, a truly exceptional car. Very quick in a straight line and around corners. Changing from my Astra Coupe is a move I'm glad I made. Better to look at, better to drive, better to steer and what an engine. Oh, and its got much better seats.

Thanks for the comments guys I pick mine up ob Tuesday 2nd December can't wait. :)

I took mine out for a test drive last week and was very suprised at performance and how well it handles, I am now looking forward to getting into mine on friday.

I've had mine almost a year now and still get a buzz from the handling and performance. It gets though tyres a bit quick though.

I've owned my Astra for about a year now and still haven't got bored with it. the style and the handling are superb and the looks that you get from other hot hatch drivers when you pass them still amuses me. the only fault I have is why they gave it such a pointless exhuast.

Not quick at all. 0-60 slow, top speed low, too much turbo lag. A scoobie would beat you at any speed.

I own an MY05 wrx and a Astra Gsi turbo, as the astras turbo (a K04) is a bush bearing unit, and is slightly smaller then the IHI turbo in my rexy, the astra has no lag what so ever, while the rex does. On the road (not the drag strip) the astra will beat my rex away from the lights, as it has torque from the word go, only on the strip where I can clutch bomb the rex, will it beat the astra (awd vs fwd). On the highway the astra is a better weapon, as I find the rexies power is really only good in the 1st couple gears, while the astras overtaking ability on the freeway is outstanding. If you want to modify a car, then choose the wrx, if you want a fast day to day driver, take the astra, is a great drive.

Pick mine up on monday, can't wait. had test drive and loved it so much I had to buy it. is it true they only made 500 190 sri turbo's.

Extremely quick compared to my old mgzs180. just seems to take off. no turbo lag, add ind kit and dump valve and sounds fantastic.

I'm sorry, but you would'nt have to dump the clutch to beat the astra in a scoob, it may very well feel quiker, but it has less power and less torqe, if the scoob was FWD it would still loose grip in 3rd, my nova 1.6 turbo was 150 bhp and that lost grip in 3rd. I know figres arnt everything, but the standard scoob does 60 in 5 and a half seconds, the astra wouldn't get near that, so it certainly wouldn't beat it from the lights. But its not just AWD, its the whole design including gearing that makes the scoob more performance orientated, add the PPP and you've got 0-60 in 4.8 30-70 in 5 and 0-100 in 14.2 all with 4WD. It does'nt hinder it that much.

I had a 03 GSI for 2 years, 60,000 miles. Had no serious problems other than normal build problems, accelerator pedal fell off and door trim came lose. Water pump gave up at 37,000 but it meant I got a free cam-belt fitted. Best advise I can give is get the ECU remapped to restrict the boost in 1st and 2nd. They can also modify the traction control so it works more effectively. Gave me double the tyre life for the fronts and still goes well. Dump the exhaust as it looks and sounds naff and is quite restrictive. With an ECU remap and new exhaust and a few other minor changes got mine up to 230 horses. Cheap to run and insure and fun to drive (not in the wet!) handles well, but don't kid yourself you are not getting a WRX beater other than top speed. Only buy the blue version as the babes love the looks.

Yes - Vauxhall only made 500 SRi (190) turbo's. It was a limited edition made to meet demand until the GSi arrived.

I have one of those limited edition sri turbo and its fantastic, very quick. ditch the airbox as is very restrictive and opt for an induction kit, sounds amazing, and goes a lot quicker throughout the revs.

Scoobies weigh a good 200kg more. I bet your nova didn't handle with 150bhp. they don't handle with 100bhp so your buggered.

Well I don't know about 200kg, but even if it was 260 bhp would more than compensate, but I do admit if astra was tuned to 230 bhp it would be a scorcher, as is the 240 bhp VXR whenever its out. Vauxhall did well making that model.