2003 Vauxhall Astra GSi Turbo from UK and Ireland - Comments

Rubber sill seal at bottom of door came away from body, but only needed pushing back on.

Vauxhall have yet to release a model that handles well, but I do have to say the new Astra GSi has to be one of the best yet, it comes with a stability "gizmo" built in to the shocks and taking corners at speed is no longer a brown trouser experience!

Very quick car.

Mine came fully equipped with almost all optional extras including:

Irmsher alloys.

Xenon headlights.

Satellite navigation.

Full leather seats.

De-badged front grille.

Sunroof.

Vauxhall have yet to make a car that handles?!? What about the VX220??

Er, the VX220 is actually a rebadged Lotus. Vauxhall's total involvement in the design and build of this car involves supplying the engine and a couple of badges. Suspension, steering, braking - all Lotus.

This really shows how much you don't know about cars!

The vx220 shares a massive 22 parts with the lotus. GM put a lot of money in to the design, and lotus offered to build it.

So you would argue that a car that GM paid Lotus to design and build is a "true" Vauxhall, would you? Apart from the fact Lotus aren't going to design and build a car for Vauxhall/Opel for free (of course money from GM changed hands, it's called business), bankrolling a car you have virtually no hand in does not mean it's your design.

I didn't actually say it was a rebadged Elise (as you correctly say, all bar 22 parts are different), but it IS a rebadged Lotus. If I pay you to design and build me a car, does that make it my design? Don't think so somehow.

If I know nothing about cars, I suggest you are a tad gullible. Keep reading the Vauxhall marketing hype, you seem to soak it up well! Vauxhall have never built a car that handles. Lotus have built several. Including one they badge as a Vauxhall.

Another thing guys, Lotus had a lot to do with the suspension on the Astra too!!!

Easy now boys!

I owned a MK1 Astra GTE for 2 years and it handled like a dream.

The vx220 is faster and more reliable then the Elise lotus are just jealous.

I have a Holden Astra Sri Turbo (Australian version of the Vauxhall Gsi) and the thing handles impeccably, I certainly haven't driven a better car for the money. I might suggest to the writer if this review that driving style might be causing a lack of appreciation for its handling, as it sounds like you rely on stability control to keep you out of trouble. It is not intended to assist everyday driving - it's there to (potentially) save your life if you misjudge your speed entering a corner. Also, the stability control has nothing to do with the shocks. It monitors wheel speed, steering wheel and accelerator inputs, and determines if the cars going where you'd like it to. If it isn't, it applies brakes and/or cuts power to bring the car back into line. A smooth, progressive driving style will do much more for the stability of your Gsi than any electronic aids.

Astra's chassis was tweaked by lotus and designed at nuremburg germany.

Speaking of nuremburg ring I did a group drive to nuremburg with me and 7mates and couldnt shake a 330ci and eventually he took me. worsened buy it being my mates 330ci whos a crap driver! was really shocked that a 2.0 turbo that's quite light couldnt keep up better than that.