New Vauxhall Astra

pimpdriver · 11-09-10, 06:20 AM

Had a new Vauxhall Astra last week as a hire car.

1.6 petrol, Elite model (leather seats and all the toys). But......
It would not pull the skin off a rice pudding and it would not hold a decent line on the motorway.

I was in the middle lane at 70, behind a middle lane hogger. I had to put it into 4th to get past, and it still wouldn't accelerate up a slight motorway incline!!!!!

I'd rather drive my 80 Sport on the 500 mile round trip.

And the visibility of these modern cars is shockingly bad. They say it is for all the crash protection, but if you could see where you were going in the first place, you wouldn't need the crash protection!!!!!

I won't be buying one!

Coxy · 11-09-10, 06:34 AM

Totally agree. The cabin feels enclosed on them and is very claustrophobic and the power in them is non existent. Yes, the CDTi is a better engine but the base petrol model is awful.
I really cannot understand why the new Astra was held in such high regard when it was released.

Even worse than these is it's baby sister the 1.2 Corsa. I was driving one last year going up the A34 on a nice stretch of straight road towards Stafford. Had a lorry in front of me doing 45 ish so wanted to overtake naturally. I dropped it in to 3rd and then had a go.

What a waste of time!! Flat as a fart! In the end, I just pulled back behind the lorry and sat it out.

Micky · 11-09-10, 06:57 AM

the problem with small new cars is that they arn't any more .the new corsa ect are now as big as the astra and weigh a lot more with all the gubbins in them .but they use the same cc engines so not enough power to pull the extra weight .why in this day and age do we put up with these rubbish cars that are not much more economical than cars of yeastayear ?i could get 28ish out of a 2.8v6 .small engine cars you have to thrap them just to move but a nice big engine just woft along .i wont be buying a new car again unless its a big engine or a dtci chipped

.
give me a old well built car any day

Coxy · 11-09-10, 07:21 AM

What kind of miles are you getting out of your Pissrat Micky?

Has to be said, the V6 4motions are very capable cars and the engines are superb. I'm off out with my son today and trying to prise the keys of Alex for it but she's playing hard to get with them at the moment!

john johnson · 11-09-10, 07:24 AM

They are detuned for emissions and economy chasing the lowest tax bracket possible , add to this the added weight of safety systems and all the toys and you have big fat cars. The neighbour had a 59 plate range rover sport 56k plus and done 4k miles, that's been as unreliable as hell, in the dealership yet again... New stuff is piss poor at times

Micky · 11-09-10, 07:24 AM

well the way i drive

thats less than 40mph all week

about 28mpg

Coxy · 11-09-10, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micky

well the way i drive

thats less than 40mph all week

about 28mpg

I think Alex needs to change her driving style somewhat!

I used it to go to a meeting in Stratford last week. 120 mile round trip and got 30.7 mpg out of it.

Micky · 11-09-10, 07:33 AM

tbh i hav'nt realy took that much notice as i only work 6 miles away

so the car dont get a good enough run . i put about £20 in and it lasts about 2.5 weeks

helios blue coupe · 11-09-10, 08:41 PM

The problem of small windows seems to be a modern car manufacturer fad. Most cars today seem to be all door with little slits for windows. Like you said this seems to be in the name of safety but surely with modern materials we can make the pillars slimmer and be able to see where we are going. Nissan sold the Primera with a reversing camera factory fitted. Was this fitted after they realised that without it you couldn't reverse the bloody thing without either driving over vehicles or when you get out being about six foot from the car behind !!!!

11-09-10, 07:24 AM	#5
john johnson Moderator of sausages Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sheffield Posts: 13,331	They are detuned for emissions and economy chasing the lowest tax bracket possible , add to this the added weight of safety systems and all the toys and you have big fat cars. The neighbour had a 59 plate range rover sport 56k plus and done 4k miles, that's been as unreliable as hell, in the dealership yet again... New stuff is piss poor at times __________________ Mr OCD http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t144/jsquatts/ Daily rs4 b7 with buckets that play havoc with my piles And if you are reading this as James may would say ' you're a cock '

11-09-10, 08:41 PM	#9
helios blue coupe Grown up member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bristol Posts: 24	New Astra. The problem of small windows seems to be a modern car manufacturer fad. Most cars today seem to be all door with little slits for windows. Like you said this seems to be in the name of safety but surely with modern materials we can make the pillars slimmer and be able to see where we are going. Nissan sold the Primera with a reversing camera factory fitted. Was this fitted after they realised that without it you couldn't reverse the bloody thing without either driving over vehicles or when you get out being about six foot from the car behind !!!!

11-09-10, 06:34 AM	#2
Coxy 4 Ring Mafia Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on the side of a hill in Shropshire! Posts: 28,215	Totally agree. The cabin feels enclosed on them and is very claustrophobic and the power in them is non existent. Yes, the CDTi is a better engine but the base petrol model is awful. I really cannot understand why the new Astra was held in such high regard when it was released. Even worse than these is it's baby sister the 1.2 Corsa. I was driving one last year going up the A34 on a nice stretch of straight road towards Stafford. Had a lorry in front of me doing 45 ish so wanted to overtake naturally. I dropped it in to 3rd and then had a go. What a waste of time!! Flat as a fart! In the end, I just pulled back behind the lorry and sat it out.

11-09-10, 06:57 AM	#3
Micky Mr Fifty Thousand! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 8,738	the problem with small new cars is that they arn't any more .the new corsa ect are now as big as the astra and weigh a lot more with all the gubbins in them .but they use the same cc engines so not enough power to pull the extra weight .why in this day and age do we put up with these rubbish cars that are not much more economical than cars of yeastayear ?i could get 28ish out of a 2.8v6 .small engine cars you have to thrap them just to move but a nice big engine just woft along .i wont be buying a new car again unless its a big engine or a dtci chipped . give me a old well built car any day

11-09-10, 07:21 AM	#4
Coxy 4 Ring Mafia Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on the side of a hill in Shropshire! Posts: 28,215	What kind of miles are you getting out of your Pissrat Micky? Has to be said, the V6 4motions are very capable cars and the engines are superb. I'm off out with my son today and trying to prise the keys of Alex for it but she's playing hard to get with them at the moment!

11-09-10, 07:24 AM	#6
Micky Mr Fifty Thousand! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 8,738	well the way i drive thats less than 40mph all week about 28mpg

11-09-10, 07:33 AM	#8
Micky Mr Fifty Thousand! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 8,738	tbh i hav'nt realy took that much notice as i only work 6 miles away so the car dont get a good enough run . i put about £20 in and it lasts about 2.5 weeks