Anybody know what the astra 1.7dti ls eco4 are like? Seen one (cheap) but its got 140000 on the clock. Any thoughts good or bad? Ive never had a diesel car! Thanks.
We bought a new Vauxhall about 18 months ago cracking motor and ones I have had in the past were as well and they never seem to rot as much as Fords always seemed too !!
Had a 1.0 ecotec Corsa that my sister now has which was at 104000. Most major repairs it had were a timing chain and driveshaft while I had it. I don’t think it actually ever passed an MOT first time as it generally had some play in a track rod end or something else related to suspension & steering (bad roads or bad manufacturing?) but at under £10 per link/rod I wasn’t too bothered as the car was spot on otherwise! Even took it for a spin in France a few years ago!
Karl
Pal of mine had a Cavalier a good few years ago , 500,000miles on the clock and hardly any problems , had a wee Meriva recently only problem was the electric power steering unit went , but was repaired by Vauxhall free as there seems to be a fault between 2002 to 2009 , so if anyone has bother with there EPS on the Meriva run it down to your main dealer they will investigate and replace , but you’ve got to approach them with the problem , and they won’t say its a recall but they will fix it , don’t let them flannel you off stick to your guns .
my parents have had 2 vauxhalls in their past that i know of.
1st ones engine mounts failed and dumped the engine on the road and 2nd one stuck a conrod through the block… twice.
i suspect they’ve improved since the 80’s though 
Ive had vauxhalls since i passed my test 
3 Novas, 1 Astra C, 1 Vectra B, 1 Vectra C, 2 Corsa B and currently a Zafira B and an Astra G
ok, some of them have had issues, BUT reliability wise they’ve all been spot on and got me home
Vauxhalls like plenty of servicing ( i do all of mine every 6 months OR MORE!) but im lucky as i do it myself
B…
Latique:
its like the only [zb] that cut you up are driving AUDIs you only notice cos your looking for it will be just as many other manufacturers cars broke down on the hard shoulder oh and lots of scanias
Well maybe you could be right about the break downs, not too sure about the Audi drivers though
On recovery it was always high end cars i recoverd.in 3 years i only ever picked up one broken down volvo,fantastic cars
I always had Fords but had a few Vauxhall last one a 2005 Vectra SRi, look nice on the outside, but the inside usual boring plastic bland vauxhall crap with awful seats, slow as a snail aswell and a real boring drive. I went Seat (Seat Audi Skoda VW) all being similar and never looked back, got a VW TDi at the minute and looking at Audi next. 160,000 on my VW, original clutch, turbo, exhaust system amongst other bits, amazing build quality and reliability.
Not many cars have spare wheels anymore either to save weight and cost. Often a big number due to that.
I own a 61 plate insignia Sri and to be honest it’s never missed a beat but then a new car shouldn’t, right ? Before that I had an 03 plate vectra Sri that when like a bat out of hell and I owned that for 3 years and apart from service I only fitted a headlight bulb an 2 tyres !
Good cars I like them
I had a Viva and a Chevette. Vile, hopeless things. Mk1 Astra GTE was a very fine thing though, for an FWD motor. Not a Vauxhall, but GM all the same, Monza GSE. Proper, man’s car! Wish I’d still got it.
I used to own Fords. Then I was offered a Vauxhall Senator for £100 and loved it. Had it for 3 years, trouble free and sold it for £900.
Vauxhall Astra I had was ok. But MOT’s were expensive.
Bought my current car, a Volvo V40 W plate, for £450 on a whim. Only had a months MOT and had 150,000 miles on it. Passed the first MOT no problems. Second MOT just needed a brake pipe. I am really surprised at it to be honest. And will likely buy another Volvo in the future.
The 3.2 was the best engine they ever built, peachy.
Had Vauxhall’s ever since I started driving except for a brief foray with German marques which didn’t end well. Every Vauxhall has served me well including my current Astra CDTI and none have ever left me stranded nor thrown up any huge bills either. I find them a good steer and they handle like they’re on rails in SRI/sportive spec.
IMHO Ford’ seem bad for breakdowns at the side of the road. Having said that none of mine have broken down as such. Worst cars for reliability so far for me are Mitsubishi and Citroen.
I think most cars are pretty good these days, but I also think build quality is reflected in repairs later in life. All my Fords have rusted and two needed welding, electrical gremlins on my Citroen. My Mitsi Colt was unreliable and expensive to repair, not a good combination.
Parts are fairly cheap now, except items like alternator’s, however service items are not expensive now, and if you do the work yourself, you can save a few hundred quid.
I serviced my own last year and changed the rocker cover gasket as well, as I was putting in £20 of oil a fortnight 
Total saved I reckon about £400, although obviously I bought tools (which obviously I can use again).
The gasket on my Vectra was a ■■■■■■■ to do, the person who designed the engine needs a good kicking. The air con and fuel lines down the side of the engine were an absolute sod to remove to gain access to the cover bolts. I was sweating doing that with a few choice words thrown in
I have had a few vauxhalls over the years starting with my first car a chevette.
I once had an ex police astra for about a year 1.4 and it never missed a beat sold that for more than I bought it.
Up until very recently I had my off road toy a 18 year old Frontera 2.8tdi and I had this for over eight years and it was abused off road, it never looked the best after bashing trees and rocks but mechanically it was spot on and I sold it to a mate who drove it from Liverpool the Isle of Sheppy.
The car was lifted and modified but mechanically engine wise it only had a new water pump and I snapped the timing belt, I should have changed it months before and had all the bits to do the job but just never had a chance, that was a trip back home on the back of the big yellow wagon fixed it the next day only a couple of bent push rods 
I even own a forum for them 
Keep away from VX 2.2 petrol engines though
Drift:
I have had a few vauxhalls over the years starting with my first car a chevette.
I once had an ex police astra for about a year 1.4 and it never missed a beat sold that for more than I bought it.
Up until very recently I had my off road toy a 18 year old Frontera 2.8tdi and I had this for over eight years and it was abused off road, it never looked the best after bashing trees and rocks but mechanically it was spot on and I sold it to a mate who drove it from Liverpool the Isle of Sheppy.
The car was lifted and modified but mechanically engine wise it only had a new water pump and I snapped the timing belt, I should have changed it months before and had all the bits to do the job but just never had a chance, that was a trip back home on the back of the big yellow wagon
I even own a forum for them
Keep away from VX 2.2 petrol engines though
Apart from the gasket change, my 2.2 was sweet as a nut, powerful too.
bazza123:
Drift:
I have had a few vauxhalls over the years starting with my first car a chevette.
I once had an ex police astra for about a year 1.4 and it never missed a beat sold that for more than I bought it.
Up until very recently I had my off road toy a 18 year old Frontera 2.8tdi and I had this for over eight years and it was abused off road, it never looked the best after bashing trees and rocks but mechanically it was spot on and I sold it to a mate who drove it from Liverpool the Isle of Sheppy.
The car was lifted and modified but mechanically engine wise it only had a new water pump and I snapped the timing belt, I should have changed it months before and had all the bits to do the job but just never had a chance, that was a trip back home on the back of the big yellow wagon
I even own a forum for them
Keep away from VX 2.2 petrol engines thoughApart from the gasket change, my 2.2 was sweet as a nut, powerful too.
There are goodns but you need to know the oil and servicing was kept up meticulously, sadly with an older car its difficult to check.
The gaskets are common, my mate was going to weld hinges onto a 2.2 head for a laugh, but if its missed an oil change or three your likely to throw a con rod through the side of the block or get the knock of doom, they are so reliant on proper servicing.
Had Vauxhalls for years now, Couple of Vectra C’s and a Signum. Still got one of each now, as I can’t really find anything in budget, that floats my boat. The Vectra is a 3.2, goes like stink, but drinks like Oliver Read at a free bar, the Signum a 1.9 Diesel, that I’ve had since new. Only time it’s ever stopped, was after the alternator failed. Repaired under warranty, after a bit of a row. The 3.2 has never put a foot wrong, ever and feels absolutely solid.
The first Vectra, a 53 reg SRi diesel, took us to the Algarve and back, in total comfort. Its turbo boost sensor failed while we were there, putting the car into limp home mode, the local Opel dealer, took the car in, took it to bits, replaced the sensor, from a car in the showroom, valeted it and topped up all the fluids, before refusing to take a Euro off me, insisting they’d get the money from Vauxhall direct.
If only dealers in the UK were as good. They are shockingly inept. They make Daf look good…