used Astra for wife

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Sat 14 Jan 2012 20:51
used Astra for wife - dumbo

Hi,

I have a 2002 Astra with an 1.7 Isusu engine. It has been comfortable, economical, reasonably reliable and the parts needed have been reasonably priced. The Astra I had before that had the same engine, That car had to be scrapped at 135,000 miles because of engine failure.

I am minded to buy an Astra of similar vintage for the wife. Because I have come across occasional comments on the internet about the lack of durability of the Isusu diesel engine, I would like advice, please, on the best engine to get in an old Astra.

My wife does about 8 thousand miles a year of mixed driving.

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Sat 14 Jan 2012 20:59
used Astra for wife - SteveLee

If you make sure the cambelt and water pump are changed regularly (every 50K) the engine will run to steller mileages,my brother's Astra diesel engine has just finally popped it's mortal coil (piston failure) at 260,000 miles. I suspect a leaky injector has probably overfuelled that cylinder.

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Sat 14 Jan 2012 21:25
used Astra for wife - dumbo

Thank you Steve. I'm glad you told me that as I'd better get that work done on my car.

Now, if I find that the used petrols are far cheaper than the diesels, which engine should I go for? I have a vague memory of something about twinports being good, whatever they are.

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Sun 15 Jan 2012 00:28
used Astra for wife - Avant

Used Astra for wife? Stick with your wife.... :)

Seriously, if mileage is going to be 8,000 pa, look for a petrol. You can get a lot of information from HJ's car-by-car reviews on this site: this comment is relevant to the twinport engine.

"1.4 16v Twinport engines suffering same problem of camshaft bolts coming adrift as 1.2 16v Twinport engines in Corsas. Seem to have been traced to a batch from the engine plant in Spain and the engine numbers all begin with 19F***** ."

Probably best to look for a 1.6 petrol. Less sluggish than the 1.4 and - because you won't have to work it so hard - not much less economical.

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Sun 15 Jan 2012 19:39
used Astra for wife - dumbo

Thanks Avant. I'll look for a 1.6 petrol as you suggest.

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Tue 17 Jan 2012 04:47
used Astra for wife - 1litregolfeater

If you get one the same colour you could save on road tax AND insurance!

I've got one of these and it's been fine apart from two starter motors. And a repair to the wiper motor.

The Isuzu engine is the best Vauxhall diesel engine, they'll be going long after GM's own are scrapped.

They were sold when diesel was cheaper, I'm not sure if they're sufficiently more economical any more, compared to petrol, to make up for the high price of diesel now.

You can get them cheap secondhand but you won't know what you're getting most of the time and they were very popular taxis.

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Tue 17 Jan 2012 09:24
used Astra for wife - ChannelZ

Technically, the 1.7CDTi is still the same old Isuzu lump. The only true GM diesels are the 2.0Di/DTi and 2.2 DTi. The only 1.7 GM engine was the "Low Blow" that replaced the Isuzu in the late Mk3 and very early Mk4 Astras (badged "1.7TD"). They were indeed rubbish.

GM then bought a share of Isuzu and started using their 1.7 diesel again. The old Isuzu lump gained better injection hardware and became the 1.7Di/DTi, then again gained Siemens commonrail injection to become the 1.7CDTi in the late Mk4 and early Mk5 Astras. They've gone to Bosch injection again for the latest version, and added a variable vane turbo for the higher powered units like the 125hp version in the Mk6 Astra. Same old lump under all that, though.

Edited by ChannelZ on 17/01/2012 at 09:26

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Tue 17 Jan 2012 10:49
used Astra for wife - brignac

If you get one the same colour you could save on road tax AND insurance!

how so?

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Tue 17 Jan 2012 11:28
used Astra for wife - Ethan Edwards

OK sounds like a deal but first please post a recent picture of your wife.

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Wed 18 Jan 2012 12:09
used Astra for wife - jacks

If you get one the same colour you could save on road tax AND insurance!

how so?

It's a joke (I think !)

clone your own car...............just get a duplicate set of number plates made up using your owm legitiamate paperwork V5 etc for car A ............and bung them on Car B , don't forget to photocopy the tax disc from car A as well - and then SORN car B.

Try not to park them both next to each other on the drive though (nosey neighbours, camera phones, = visit from plod)

J

Edited by jacks on 18/01/2012 at 12:11

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