cfoster

As above, want to buy something a little different to what i have had in the past! Never owned a Vauxhall but this one looks quite nice! I'm going to look at it tonight!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

What do i need to look out for? Also what sort of money is it worth presuming its in gleaming showroom condition (as he says on the phone!). I presume the rear arches rust on these but thats all i know!!!

Any help would be

Cheers
Fozzy

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

look all over for rust, and its prolly had the absolute bollox cained out of it.

Anonymous

Very simple to work on, cheap to get parts for.

Rust is only thing that would concern me, anything mechanical is easily sorted.

Anonymous

PS

He probably wants about 2500 quid for it but i wouldnt pay that personally.

First thing to go should be that mantzel power cap, they are rubbish.

cfoster

What is that power cap thing?! I take it its not for the stereo!!?

He says its his pride and joy on the phone and only done 300 miles in it this year so could be a clean one. He also sounds a bit geeky which could be a good sign!!!! He reckons no marks on it bar one small scratch on the wing. Do they rust underneath as well (sills/chassis rails/legs etc?)

Chris

Dragon

Make sure it's started from cold (the C20XE does suffer from hydraulic lifter failure - about Ł150 inc. VAT for lifters + labour if you can't do it yourself), and that it comes of choke OK (as they sometimes have airflow meter, ISCV and sensor failures). They run a Bosch Motronic 2.5 system which means the engine is controlled solely by the ECU and not manually adjustable, so if anything is down it won't run very well at all.

Other things to look out for are...

1 - Crankshaft seal, sump gasket and oil filter feed/return pipes (check for leaks) - these are awkward things to rectify.
2 - ABS sensor failure (does the light flicker on and off? It shouldn't do) - these are Ł100 each side to replace.
3 - Front wheel bearings (check for play)
4 - CAT (does it rattle or vibrate?) - another expensive replacement!
5 - Traction control (it may or may not have it, but check the switch works and the light goes on and off on the dash) - these were always intermitent but check anyway.

That's about it from memory.

Dragon

They don't suffer too badly underneath - I sold my GSi earlier in the year (1991 J - 105k) and it had never had any welding.

Anonymous

Its a replacement for the SFi box found on the standard car.

Results in a SLIGHT gain in torque at the top end, and a fairly large loss in torque lower down, not a good trade off IMHO



They are vauxhalls they rust bloody everywhere, lol

Rear ends are worse though as the leaky sump keeps the front end nicely oiled and prevents rusting

Back of the sills, rear arches etc, that sort of area is very bad normally.


That one sounds like a good example though and he has obviously spent a few quid on it.

Dragon

Depends where you find them Chip

Anonymous

Agree totally ,and in this instance i would be surprised if it was rusty, all the right signs are there thats its the right sort of person to buy one from.

Dragon

Yep, looks OK to me although I don't think it's going to be a cheap one!

You sorted that wonky cam cover out yet?

Anonymous

Wonky cam cover?

On what mate?

Or were you talking to someone else?

cfoster

excellent guys cheers for all the help! Ill take me torch with me and see what snot i can find underneath! He does 'seem' and honest guy on the phone and seems a real vauxhall geek (he's just bought a mk4 astra!), it sjust the price im worried about!! Got a feeling he'll want good coin for it!

Dragon

You had a wonky carbon cover on the last pic you posted of the 3dr

Anonymous

Ah!

cambelt cover that was mate, not the cam cover.


Sorting it this weekend, just got a new cam cover for it so will hve both mounting holes used now as the old cover had a bolt snapped off in it so i could only use one.

Got a carbon turbo cover for it too now, so going to do the whole lot at once.

Should look nice and chav now


Cfoster, you could ask about the car on migweb.co.uk, i am POSITIVE that someone on there would know him as he is obviously an enthusiast, but on the other hand it might cause an influx of new bidders for it cause its such a nice example!

Dragon

I knew what I meant

BlueSmoke

Love Astra GSi's... Only thing about that one I don't like is the fact it looks like a Saxo at the front!

Dragon

Says the man who's about to buy a Mondano PMSL

BlueSmoke

LOL yeah but that's for financial reasons rather than choice

The Mondy Si hatchback is perfect for what I need right now. Big boot and a little smidgeon of power to keep me semi satisfied

Can't insure anything better til I get my year's no claims in April

cfoster

Well I just been to look at it and its mighty clean!! About three minor scratches on the whole car which aint bad for a metallic black motor thats 12yrs old!!!! Engine seemed sweet as well as steering/suspension/brakes etc. Had all the goodies like traction control, electric sunroof etc... A bit of a bumpy ride but ive had worse! Had lovely retrimmed seats in leather and they are also heated! Shitloads of history, even an AA report!! Chap seemed a genuinely nice guy as well. No rust on the car whatsoever! The arches were all sorted a while ago and also rolled and everything waxoiled (inside the wing and behind the rear quarter cards), all sills and rails were good too!. The only thing I would do it repaint the tailgate. it looks like where its been painted its gone a little flat. Nothing too bad but doing it would finish it off nicely!

God knows what to offer him for it!!

SassyRS

ive always wanted a Astra GSI

Always been very tempted,

Anonymous

Did you ask him what sort of money he was looking for?

cfoster

Yeah he reckons he'll get about 3k for it but not from me! Its worth Ł2750 all day long at the very MAX but 3k is a little steep. The fella has put some nice touches on it and hasnt skinted on anything for it. I'm gonna hold out on ebay and see what it fetches, then ill catch him after!!!! The way im thinking is use it for a bit, if I cant sell for what i paid take the bling bits off and replace with standard items, drop the price of the car and use the aftermarket bits to up the price!!

Anonymous

TBH, to the right person that car is easily worth 3K mate.

But good luck getting it for less anyway, he may well be desperate to sell.

cfoster

yeah it most probably is i suppose! If it wasnt for me being a fussy coont then it could be described as immaculate! Ill see what happens!

steviecossie

one of my first cars was an astra gsi and i absoluetly
loved it,
definetly one of the best cars i have ever had.

the back wheel arches are bad for rust but just get it into a good bodyshop
to get them fixed properly if they havent been done already.

i wouldn,t mind another 1, i totally regret selling mine.

go for it mate

Zetec Andy

Not long ago sold this minter for the full asking price






Shame it came back a week later with a snapped cambelt