second hand car choice and Cambelt

londonTiger

Some people still think vauxhall is British I suppose.

catoutthebag

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

I don't rate Vauxhalls at all so im somewhat bias against them, personally form what I have seen of the Vauxhalls in general and 1.6 16v is that EGR problems arise causing lazy idle and limp mode, coil packs are expensive, airbag lights abs lights are common to come on, interior quality is poor in that rear lower bench seat (the bum part) stitching comes away and a £150-200 bill to have re-stitched privately, drivers bolster frays through, (just have a look at high mileage ones to see what I mean on fleabay), rocker covers like to leak oil.


personally wouldn't consider one after looking at many for a stop gap vehicle, and being disappointed by quality and issues. dealerships love them because they retain a certain amount of retail value, they wont budge on them much because where there's one there's another behind you willing to pay the price you refused.

I will take a look tomorrow

I drove a 1.8 few years back and was impressed

Know several with Astras around this age and none have had problems.

As with anything, as you know, it's pot luck and its easy to be bias against a car and easily tarnish the name in your mind

Luckily I can go in with a fresh perspective and see for myself

Out of interest what hatchback would you recommend? Seat Leon and civic newer shapes are out my range, golf fsi have problems, a3 face lifts have high mileage and expensive to repair, and just had problems with a focus so not going back to the mk2. Limiting isn't it?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I worked in a motor factors for 3 years, vauxhalls especially the astra and vectra was our main parts output percentage over fiesta and focus parts in all parts lines, from service parts to engine and suspension the astra followed by Vectra was always above fiesta then focus week in week out.


although bias against I always make sure to look at them when im hunting, I want my mind to be changed, because I do like the look of their products, just not impressed with quality and feel I drove the new GTC before I had my proceed, the proceed felt much more on the target than the GTC although I noted that the product felt much better than predecessors, it just didn't do it for me.


a friend of mine has had nothing but civic's and Vauxhalls.
he had a 2001 astra 1.4 16v just couldn't stop the rocker cover leaking, EGR went 5 times, idle control went twice, throttle replaced 4 times, then headgasket went. always failed MOT on suspention parts. then rust broke the camels back and he scrapped it.
he then had a 2002 1.6 8v, headgasket went, injectors failed, air bag and abs lights were always on no matter how many parts we changed, failed MOT twice it was scrapped.
he bought a 04 Zafira 2.0DTI. fuel pump relay went, egr went, clutch went suspension went on the rear, tank strap broke off, leaked oil all over the place, drivers seat was a mess, cat converter went.
sold that now has 1.8 SRI 2007, clutch went, suspension top mounts are gone, rust coming through rear lower arches, abs light on, coil pack is going EGR showing signs of failure, rocker cover leaking and hydraulic valve slap is evident on cold start, alternator is not charging battery, and ontop of that water pump is leaking its done 76k miles.


his 2001 civic needed a alternator in 3 years he owned it and a service yearly he shouldn't have sold it.


cars ive had,
1.9 GTI pug 205, rusty in parts but what a car, never had water leaking never had electrical issues.


numerous rovers, some I never had spend a penny on some I had to do HG failures in but ran and drove and past MOT.


pug 307 1.6 16v, gearbox failure, electrical issues, a money pit.


cars I would edge toward


Hyundai I series.
Kia
skoda Fabia or Octavia, even a superb.
Toyota I'd even buy a celica VVTI over a astra eventhough parts are more expensive at least id replace them less often.
Honda civic
lexus IS early ones are money pits with poor MPG.
may even stretch to say a Renault megane avoid the VVTI engine 1.6 16v 1.5 DCI are better less problem prone engines than its 1.9.
1.4 I had ran good until I flattened the cam lobes had a few small electrical issues but nothing cheap second hand parts couldn't fix.
I would also look at another focus in better specs.

catoutthebag

The only 'better specs' focus I've seen is a titanium. Rest are zetecs etc. I find the focus sluggish dull and bland (mk2) so wouldn't touch it.

At the moment those kia hyundai just don't appeal. I'm probably not their target market. Plus I have a 3k budget so I won't get a new shiny great example that you probably refer to

The celica is not practical or economical for my motorway jaunts

I loved the 04 civic I vtec se I had in 3dr. I could get an 05 s - sport version. Guess I'd feel I was going back in time and would prefer my money to stretch to something newer. I will keep it in mind

the people I know who've had Astras had no issues. I'll look through the cars and history tomorrow and see

forgotmyname

Focus is dull and bland yet your buying an Astra? Strange person

the 1.6 can be 103bhp or 113 bhp. The 1.8 can be 123 or 138..

What about a 1.7 Diesel with a whopping 78bhp.... My sister nearly bought one. 78bhp... How on earth do they get so little power?

catoutthebag

Not strange at all

The 3dr astra is more aesthetically pleasing than a 3dr focus any day. You have a screw loose if you think otherwise. The 3dr focus is the same shape as 5dr minus 2drs. It is also far more common than an Astra. The 1.6 astra is also more powerful than a 1.6 focus and has better looking interiors

What is your choicr? Mse favourites (volvo, skoda, mondeo, sierra, hyundai)?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

catoutthebag wrote: »

Not strange at all

The 3dr astra is more aesthetically pleasing than a 3dr focus any day. You have a screw loose if you think otherwise. The 3dr focus is the same shape as 5dr minus 2drs. It is also far more common than an Astra. The 1.6 astra is also more powerful than a 1.6 focus and has better looking interiors

What is your choicr? Mse favourites (volvo, skoda, mondeo, sierra, hyundai)?

always thought the astra H and focus mk2 was a aerodynamic brick compared to the hatches on the market when they came out.
so back to the question you have to deal with dealers. take a punt on the 1.8 and spend the £210. or take the 1.6 16v and hope its what you expect in a car.

catoutthebag

Out if interest, when they came out in 2004 2005 which hatches in the same bracket do you think were aerodynamic ally better apart from the civic?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I thought the chevvy lacetti looked better than a ASTRA H in all honesty, Volvo C30 came in 2007 looked better than the astra H, 2005 on Toyota corolla VVTL supercharged than astra H and focus, 05 on yaris. facelift 206 early and 307 looked better than astra H 2005 citroen c4 looked better too.

arcon5

catoutthebag wrote: »

Hence why 'couple hundred quid' is a lot for someone 'not flash'

I have 2100 the rest comes out of savings so need to withdraw minimum necessary

If price is your primary factor and the difference is a lot of money to you, then this thread is rendered useless. You buy the cheapest one!

Car one is 2600+210 = 2810
Car two 2695

Car two it is then.