I'm going to have to replace my Mondeo diesel by the end of the month when the MoT expires. I've seen a clean P reg petrol Astra 1.6 Artic for £695 with a claimed 75k on the clock.
Subject to the usual checks are these generally ok or potential money pits?
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There are people on here who know more about Vauxhalls than me, but I reckon a clean Astra would be as good a secondhand buy as any other car.
It will not be as nice to drive as the Mondy, though.
I take it there's no way back for the Ford?
Seven hundred quid pays for quite a bit of repair work, even in today's troubled times.
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>>
>> I take it there's no way back for the Ford?
>>
>> Seven hundred quid pays for quite a bit of repair work, even in today's troubled
>> times.
>>
Timing belt (over)due, rear shocks knackered, exhaust starting to blow, front suspension bushes on way home, rear bumper hanging on with a bungee cord because right side bracket has rusted away, O/S headlamp lens gone seriously yellow, battery will not see another winter, ditto glow plugs, advisory on rust around suspension mounting on last MoT, and that's just what I know about.
Crying shame because the engine is a beaut.
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>>Crying shame because the engine is a beaut
Well there had to be something good about it!
On the Astra - check out technical here and in the other place. There's usually a pattern if a car has 'known' problems.
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Astra f on a p plate is a old boot now look for a good G model x reg you can pick these up for a 1k, A much better car solid built motor. 1996 or 2000 go newer.
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...that's just what I know about...
There does come a time, doesn't there?
And it seems this Mondy's time has come.
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>> I've seen a clean P reg petrol Astra 1.6 Artic
>> battery will not see another winter, ditto glow plugs
It won't have glow plugs if it's a 1.6 petrol.
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>> It won't have glow plugs if it's a 1.6 petrol.
>>
I was referring to those on my Mondeo oil burner. Even I ain't that fick, innit.
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Ah sorry, I misread your post and thought you were listing faults with the Astra.
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RR,
It's as much of a risk as anything else at that price, it's a well known engine that can be fixed by local garages without reverting to expensive or obscure parts - 4 good tyres, a decent set of brakes and a check for HGF should see you right. Far less risky than anything with a French badge of that vintage....:-)
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>>1996 or 2000 go newer.
An ex colleague of mine has one he bought in 1998. It's well looked after and still looks as good as new.
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Is it an 8 valve or 16 valve 1600 Astra? If 8v, at least if the cambelt goes, it's quite benign, and the 8v engine is more robust generally.
These cars eat the void bushes on the front lower suspension arms - they're not too difficult to change the bushes on their own, but, you might be better simply fitting new lower arms if you find trouble.
I agree with the suggestion to aim for an Astra G - they're a much more solid car, and if the car hasn't been in a crash, they are much better at resisting corrosion.
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Before you terminate the Mondy have you had a good look round the scrappies or indeed flea bay to see if there's a donor car lurking about worth getting/raiding and investing a few quid, a bit of time, some skinned knuckles and some swearing into, possibly even another Mondy with blown engine and use yours as donor.
You might just be buying something that appears ok but has underlying problems, sounds like the basics of the Mondy are fine, the rust aforementioned might respond to a good wire brushing and waxoyling, which might have been better done at the time..;)
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RR,
I'd go for the Astra - I looked at a couple before getting my R reg Escort.
A P reg Astra is one of the last of the old shape, therefore most problems will have been developed out, plus the specification will be better. All V-grille (ie M-reg onwards) Astra Fs have power steering.
A last-of-the-old-shape model is also more likely to have been bought new by a more gentle driver, therefore should outlast a cheap but tired early Astra G. To some people that's more important than standing next to a stylish looking car on the hard shoulder.
Hth,
Dave TD
Last edited by: Dave_TD {P} on Sun 1 Aug 10 at 14:53
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Cheers for the replies, I'll have a look at it and a drive and go from there. Any idea what scrap value would be on a Mondy?
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>> Any idea what scrap value would be on a Mondy?
I weighed in a P-reg Escort for a mate last month, got £75 for it. Completely different trim, engine, brakes and tyres to mine as well, couldn't salvage anything useful for myself besides a couple of bits of plastic trim.
Last edited by: Dave_TD {P} on Sun 1 Aug 10 at 19:32
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See if the back arches are as new
if they are then peruse the astra further,if rotten then leave it
Makesure the air con switch works properly or it causes all kinds of problems with fan under the bonnet for cooling as its all on a seperate ecu
I would only buy the 8 valve model in this the f or the g model if you want trouble free banger money motoring
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I'd go for an Astra G - fully galvanised with originally a 12 year (from memory) rust perforation warranty and as already said a much more solid car.
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>> I'd go for an Astra G - fully galvanised with originally a 12 year (from memory) rust perforation warranty
Only cars pre 1st Oct 2001. After the 1st Oct 2001 they only got 6 yrs - and the perforation warranty is only covered if the service book has been stamped yearly to say the car has been inspected.
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Thanks for the tips.
A brief inspection when I walked round didn't show up any rust though I'll obviously give it a thorough check if it drives ok, ditto the aircon switch. It didn't say 16v on the tailgate which I'm assuming it would were it that.
I've left a message on the guys answerphone so I'll see what he says when he gets back. It has a fresh MoT and I'll be very wary if he can't produce the list of advisories
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>> It didn't say 16v on the tailgate which I'm assuming it would were it that.
Not necessarily.
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From memory the 16v ones have a much more modern look about them. The 8v models have a much more old fashioned looking rocker cover. Check underneath the sills for the rust, my dads Fiesta failed the MOT for that, they look find at a glance but when you look underneath you can see how badly rotten they actually are.
For this money I would rather take an older F than a newer G. The old 8v vauxhalls just seem to last for ever.
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16 valve unfortunately.
Back to Autotrader :-(
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Providing the cambelt is changed every 40,000 miles / 4 years, along with the water pump, then there shouldn't be too many issues with the 16v.
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Whats the chance of that on P reg Astra? Probably zero.
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>> Providing the cambelt is changed every 40,000 miles / 4 years, along with the water
>> pump, then there shouldn't be too many issues with the 16v.
>>
One of my concerns is economy and this would be the first petrol engined car I have had in nearly 20 years. I would imagine the 99bhp 16 valve engine would be a bit juicy.
When our local dealer MoT'd the wife's car last month he told me I would be in tears if I saw what had gone through the crusher under the scrappage scheme. It has knackered the banger market.
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>> I would imagine the 99bhp 16 valve engine would be a bit juicy.
'Bout 38 combined, according to Autotrader.
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>> I would imagine the 99bhp 16 valve engine would be a bit juicy.
Depends if you pootle about or not. If you drove the 8v harder to compensate for the lack of power then it would probably use more than the 16v.
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i would take 38 with a large pinch of salt unless it was low mileage and impeccable in compression
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I agree that the '98 on Astra is a much better car, sweet 16v motors.
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This looks nice:
bit.ly/cTQIqY
The photographs are not very good, though. The wording of the ad. seems a bit odd. Could be incompetence, in which case it might well be a good 'un, or it could be a part-time guy's try. The fog lamps seem to work, anyway. 'conomy's good. Nice colour.
innocent word picked up by the swear filter corrected
Last edited by: VxFan on Tue 3 Aug 10 at 00:47
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Vauxhall Astra F - Worth a punt or avoid? - Iffy
