RichieL

Really not up to date with the price of used cars. I was checking Ebay earlier and seen Astra Coupe Turbo's for around 2k, Honda Accord Type R's around the same price......These cars are capable of 150mph and still look good to this day. The market really has fallen out on 2nd hand cars. Astra Turbo is appealing but need a 4 door really

Daviet

you have been able to get these for 2k and under for a few years now.

RichieL

Shows how behind times I am

Reading up on some reviews and the Astra Turbo Coupe can achieve 32MPG, this car is sounding appealing, trouble is it is a 2 door

CrOwSoN15

Agree.

Huge amount of car for the money.
I'm more impressed with old AMG Mercs and the likes.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/4024623.htm

Limited to 155mph, for £3800?!

Daviet

mental prices i know but if you had to buy 4 new tyres and a clutch it would probably cost you the price again lol
least the honda's and vauxhalls are cheap to run and maintain.

RichieL

Bloody 'ell.....That price is just mad for that Merc, but as Daviet says......I bet if anything went wrong it would cost the earth!

I am wondering now......Surely an Astra Coupe Turbo would/should be cheap to maintain or I wonder being the Turbo version if all the parts are that much more than say the 1.8 16v Coupe?

Java=Blue

you can get civic type r's for about the same or just over...and even mazda rx8s for under a grand! ( albeit with problems) but still.

1.3 rx8 for a grand with 200*bhp,, why not

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

Go drive the astra..... Hateful things as are all astra mk4s IMO

Escy

Accord Type-R's are a nice drive though. I guess most are a bit leggy these days.

stephenbatey

iTrader: (1)

Because they are shit.

furry

accord type R's suffer with bottom ends and gearboxes.

mine went on the ring in 2009.

the boxes select 2 gears at once and require a rebuild.

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

I think you need to watch how much faith you put in quoted MPG figures.

Remember the old saying: "Cheap, Fast, Reliable... you can only choose two."


Cheers,
Grant

richbogle

Agree!!

neilscott83

Mate of mine had a mk4 Astra gsi don't bother what a total pile of dog shit he spent more time fixing it than he did driving it and that was when they were fairly new!

zippyobrien

iTrader: (2)

Hmm. Was literally about to get in the car to go and buy a Astra gsi turbo. On second thoughts.

Are they that bad then ? My second option was a seat Ibiza cupra. Might go with that now

furry

go and try a mk1 octavia vrs, there amazing cars.
mine is a 52 plate with 175k and still returning 42mpg daily which not bad for a 1.8t with 230bhp

G2RSR

there the same engine has the Astra VXR but different turbo and injectors,

i think people just dont like the ecotec engine compared to the let, but me and my mates have never had a problem with them just a leaky rocker gasket in 4 years of ownership

neilscott83

My mates one was very poor maybe he was just unlcucky? I had an Ibiza cupra back in 2002 with a jabba sport map and exhaust great little cars made around 200hp 240lbs torque only thing that let it down was the tiny k03 turbo, it used to run out of puff on the motorway good mid range though.

zippyobrien

iTrader: (2)

I've been told that the Astros don't actually drive nice either.
On a twisty country road I can sit all over my mates gsi in my fiesta zetec s lol.

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

astra's are awful, the engine should be named ecowreck rathan than ecotec

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

Might be a bit slower, might be a bit more 'old man' and I might be a bit biased... but I don't think you can look past an older Mondeo ST200 to tick a lot of boxes, you could possibly get an ST220 at that end of the market these days too, I'm not sure.

IMO the only thing they don't do so well is MPG, but unless you cane the arse out of it, you should return around 25mpg average from them without too much hassle.


Cheers,
Grant

stwibs

Post facelifts have a better 5th gear synchro
Cambelt tensioners need checking as can fail but non interference engine
bottom pulley keyways can fail

BM08

Theres a lovely looking accord type r on gumtree for 3k, 98k on a 2002 http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...aris/107141122

RichieL

I have never heard this before......."Cheap, Fast, Reliable... you can only choose two." Like it RS Grant!

The ST220 is lovely but have read even if used with a feather foot they still drink fuel, shame as it is a good all rounder. I have a BMW E36, one of the last engines to be used in the E36 which is a 1.9 8v giving off a huge 105bhp!! MPG wise, well she does around 350 miles to a full tank and a full tank from empty costs me £68 at £1.32 a litre. I do like the tight handling and predictable handling she gives, also the interior is nice and solid and the car feels sturdy unlike all my Pug 205 GTI's I have owned, but they were all fantastic fun!

If only I was a bit younger I would go for a 106 GTI. Such a fun car to drive, trouble is at my tender age of 41 I think I may look a bit silly in one!

Also checking out the BMW E46 Coupe's, such a lovely looking car but the practicality of it will be an issue, shame

Vectra C GSI's go cheap but I drove a 1.8 16v one about a year ago and it was bloody horrid.

MK4 Golf GTI's could be an idea in 5 door form. 150BHP as standard and a simple Re-map will take them to 190BHP. Never been in one so dont know what they are like, just hope they kept the standards of the MK2 16v GTI, had a few of those back in the day......Great fun!!

xtatiana01x

Well mark just bid and won a corsa with 291bhp c20let that's stripped out and weighs. Around 800kgs lol

For £2600 should be fun for the money, we are going to get it tomorrow

RichieL

A Corsa with an LET in it........That = serious smiles per mile!!

Bungle

Have you still got yours? Not seen any updates in the pics section for a while

xtatiana01x

i dont like it but mark keeps saying they are rapid....

well its 291bhp with rebuilt engine and xe cam with 200sx manifold and td05 turbo with all the supporting mods and runs that at only 13psi on phase 3.5, frontera 2.8 fmic and hard pipes too

also uprated mounts, equal lenth shafts and uprated clutch, f20 box

coilovers, buckets, harnesses, v6 brakes

fully stripped and looks like a proper sleeper too with a side exit system

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

My mate had a 280-ish bhp c20let Corsa B, the thing didn't half go! Took up 2 lanes on boost though.

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

Yep still got it mate, not stuck any pics up recently cause it's not really changed... and the weather has been rubbish up here!!

That will go like a missile, once it gets traction. I love bonkers wee things like that.


Cheers,
Grant

xtatiana01x

thats what mark said, should be good fun, keep hearing that the f20 wont be much good though?

Fullflush

That corsa was sounding good until you mentioned it had an f20 in

zippyobrien

iTrader: (2)

Update.

Went and bough the Ibiza.

Cupra r on a 2001.

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

CupraR... 180bhp and Brembos? Quite a rare model from memory. What colour?? Stick a few pics up mate.

Leon Cupra might be an interesting choice for the OP actually, pick up the pre facelift ones for pennies these days.


Cheers,
Grant

RichieL

Just been looking at them as not even thought about one till you mentioned it......Thanks mate

Anyone know what they are like to drive and any known issues with them?

xtatiana01x

Yeh that's cool I will get a couple of spares lol

Grayzo has just brought a cupra and it's 225bhp and he paid 2k and it's real nice

Oh and the corsa is pretty quick lol

zippyobrien

iTrader: (2)

I'll get some picks up today after cleaned it.

Yh with the brembos and bilstiens as standard. Had a stage 1 remap, but think it needs a front mount as it quite sluggish if you boot it after traffic ect.

Wanna get the furling checked before use it to hard really.

And needs 3 new boots, but there 215/40/16 which is a bizzar size. So will peob get 4 new 205 /45/16.

Loving it so far though. Feels really solid for a small car.

I test drove a Astra gsi turbo and they are shit !!!! Lol

xtatiana01x

they are good cars and very tunable too

grayzo who you brought the engine from bracknell off has got his today too.