vauxhall 'new' astra sport review

Have a picture of Vauxhall 'New' Astra Sport?, please send it to us.
Picture courtesy of Sonic.

Average Ratings

Performance	7/10
Practicality	6.3/10
Reliability	7.3/10
Value for Money	7/10
Reviewer Rating	7.3/10
Overall Rating	7.8/10

75% Recommended3 out of 4 Reviews

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By BigJonMX on 7th Nov 2006

BigJonMX's Ratings

Year Manufactured	2006
Length of ownership	2months
Doors	3
Performance	0/10
Practicality	0/10
Reliability	0/10
Value for money	0/10
Overall value	0/10
BigJonMX's recommendation

Good Points

Bad Points

You name it - it's wrong on this car.

General Comments

Mine is the Vauxhall 'New' Astra Sport GTCi (looks like the photo above).
The worst thing is that it's uncomfortable - no matter what combination of settings and adjustments I try, it gives me neck ache in 10 minutes and back ache in twenty. No matter where I sit I feel I am at the bottom of a box. I have to physically move in my seat to check if traffic is coming (window post on one side, mirror on the other - right in the way)!! I guess if you are shorter than 5foot you can sit really close to the windscreen, but I am taller and even with the seat on the floor and the steering adjusted it's a nightmare of a drive (and now I can't see the dashboard & speedo - aren't there laws about this)!
The rear window is so small you can only see some guys SUV lights at night.
And what's with the gears - some joker has moved the points. Why? You have one hand on the stick more than on the wheel 'cause you have to change gears so much.
The "i" of injection kicks in when you are almost across the junction or roundabout - so you can't 'nip' or 'zip' through the traffic. It has to be driven as a non "i". But if you want to compete with friends at the 0-60, then maybe it helps.
I do like the cruise control but it uses a lot more fuel than keeping a constant speed with your foot.
The indicators either stay on too long or turn off too soon.
This car feels every bump and bounce in the road and the gradient - you have to keep a tight grip on the wheel at all times otherwise you will find yourself in a ditch or worse on the pavement.
The inside looks and feels like cheap plastic and anything less than a jersey and your back/butt will sweat.
The button to demist the windscreen takes 'forever' to actually turn on.
The boot is tiny compared to other cars.
Why is there an ashtray? Why is the radio soooo complicated? What's all the bits in the glove box? Why are the floor mats in the back permanently moving to the wrong place? Why does the rear wiper have so many settings? Why is it sooo noisy (wind noise over the side mirrors) at anything above 80km/h? Why does the rain stick to the side mirrors so well - unlike other cars? I could go on for ever!
All in all, it's a regular city car with a semi-sport shape (not feel), and the inside has been fiddled with by the marketing dept - no real drivers involved.

The shop couldn't help, so I contacted head office-Europe. They wrote saying I should contact their Ireland offices (they didn't say why).
Very disappointing. Very Expensive. Very never-again.
Oh, if anyone knows of a ergonomic picture of how the driver should be arranged inside this car, please let the world know.

A relative bought me the car, the shop never had it available for test drive (but harped on about others models). Everyday was the teenage girl assistant's first day. I have owned/driven many cars for over twenty years and I love driving my other cars.

Total Respect: -2