vauxhall astra gsi turbo review

Have a picture of Vauxhall Astra GSi Turbo?, please send it to us.
Picture courtesy of gsi.jay.

Average Ratings
Performance9/10
Practicality9.3/10
Reliability9.3/10
Value for Money7.7/10
Reviewer Rating9.2/10
Overall Rating9/10 Based on 20 ratings
89% Recommended8 out of 9 Reviews

Review of Vauxhall Astra GSi Turbo

By gsi chris. Rank: Lance Corporal on 6th Jul 2003

gsi chris.'s Ratings
Performance10/10
Practicality10/10
Reliability10/10
Value for money8/10
Overall value9/10
yes gsi chris.'s recommendation

Good Points

looks, handling, power, especially the turbo kicking in at 2500 revs... and the satelite navigation (option) is cool with the colour monitor !!

Bad Points

exhaust tail pipe looks too small for car. asked for irmscher stainless sports to be fitted but told they have no plans to make one for the GSi.(?) expensive and like most cars...will depreciate like robert maxwells pension scheme

General Comments

An expensive Astra ...but does seem to have plenty of options available, mine came with the lot except rain sensing wipers...had irmscher alloys fitted and in pearlescent black which really does make the car a real eye catcher...feels very safe to drive and even though im still in the "running in stage" its hard not to let that turbo carry u off effortlessly approaching 80 before u know it !! all i need now is that exhaust changing ....any ideas on a siutable aftermarket pipe ??

Respect given for gsi chris.'s review.
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Total Respect: +5

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22 Comments on Review by gsi chris. for Vauxhall Astra GSi Turbo

  1. gsijay Rank: Corporal on 9th Dec 2003

    my car pictured on top of page I bought brand new. Im totally happy with it but why does every idiot want to race with you? But of course i can never turn down a race !!

  2. gsjay34 on 19th Dec 2003

    anyone eles with the astra gsi mrk 4 noticed stone chips on their cars due to stones flicking up from the wide wheels at the bottom of the doors and the bottom of the wheel arches my car is in arden blue and you can really notice them and on the front bumper !!! thought this was a two coat paint would like to hear from other gsi owners if they have same problem

  3. gsi chris on 20th Dec 2003

    yeah ive noticed some stone chip marks around the plastic body kit parts fitted to the bottom of the rear wheel arches, mine is black and shows every mark (go slow over loose surfaces now) they are a two coat paint finish but lets face it at certain speeds a stone can crack windscreens. im still searching for that aftermarket exaust system or backbox. ive now got hold of some coutenay turbo badges but as yet can not bring myself to stick them on....will lead to more boys in there impreza's attempting to race me!!

  4. gsjay34 on 22nd Dec 2003

    Thanks for that Chris, I was going to take the car back to vauxhall for them to check it have you had any problems with yours? my engine mangagment light came on and my gear cable broke only after 1500 miles on the clock just wonder has anything gone wrong with your Vauxhall? reckon that the top speed is 150 mph how fast have you had out of yours !!!

  5. jsparkie82 on 22nd Aug 2004

    hi i've got the gsi too but in star silver so stone chips aren't too noticeable i've had 130 out of it capable of more though handling pretty good no extras though apart from all airbags fitted hope not to be used hahaha. my brother works for vauxhall so any problems with the car can be dealt with if you have any queries though ask and i'll check with him, jason

  6. deb2108 on 31st Aug 2004

    Hi Chris, Mines the loveable blue one 2, no major probs apart from avoiding those damn cameras & zappers. Had mine 18 months n the only major problems so far are wheel bearings already gone, and battery in key failure(could've been my fault that one) anyway took it back to garage and they are doing it under warrenty which is good so i'm a happy woman :o) Deb

  7. gsi chris on 2nd Sep 2004

    good to hear deb :) only problem im having with mine (which is metalic black) is that some prat has opened a door or ? into the rear side panel leaving a "lovely" dent and me a bill for £300 to have repaired !!! shame they couldnt stop to leave there insurance details, do hope they made it home safely !! maybe we can find a deal on a pair of radar detectors, like 2 for 1 offer ;) ? :)

  8. deb2108 on 3rd Sep 2004

    Hi Folks, it's me again, I knew I should never have contributed to this review on my car, it's a curse, the cars cost me more in the last wk than it has in the the last yr LOL now i've got to get a new tyre, that i'm told is due to the wheel bearings. So in a week I've had a service (WELL THE CAR HAS) cam belt, wheel bearings (done under warranty) & a new tyre. Good job that cars my best friend :o)

  9. gsijay Rank: Corporal on 6th Oct 2004

    Cheers jsparkie but I dont think I will have the piece of rubbish much longer, from day one I have had problems with it - to many to list vauxhall dont care all nice nicey when your sitting in there showroom trying to sell you the car after that they dont want 2 know. The paint work is a joke a knat hits the car it takes a chip of paint off the bonnet and the bumper looks like a map of britain - bad design by vauxhall, the plastic bits at the bottom of the wheel arches look like its been sand blasted {pity stone chips} what a waste of £17000 pounds.

  10. gsichris Rank: Lance Corporal on 12th Oct 2004

    Hi all , well thats another speeding fine and a grand total of 6 points, 61 in a 40 limit :( anyone recommend a good radar detector ?? noticed recently that the clutch pedal is much higher than the brake pedal, doesnt look right to me, anyone else's like this? Think they should be level with brake pedal. "jay" you will be lucky to get back the £17k when you sell now :( i've seen loads for sale around the North west area for around the £12k to £13k mark with options fitted. but then again its not an investment its just for fun. :) what you gonna get next ?

  11. sjh1gsi on 16th Oct 2004

    Hi, had my gsi 2 weeks and love it, Though i'd like to know more about the wheel bearings going as I now think mine may have gone. Mine is standared and putting out 201bhp with a hot intercooler. Can anyone top 201bhp standared?

  12. philip keys on 10th Nov 2004

    Had my GSI Turbo March 2003 , What a superb car and very fast , done 16000 Fun miles in it now and with out a single problem or fault , What a Fun Fast car Well Done Vauxhall!

  13. astragsifin on 28th Mar 2005

    Hi, I have had my arden blue gsi for 2 month now it has 5,000 on the clock I'm having problems with the brakes after a ten min run in it they seem to bend, it's like you can sit on a shallow hill you dont need a handbrake or footbrake to sit still on it plus I seem to have tyer wear in side and out side of front tyers. I have had the tracken done and had the car in to Vauxhall for checks on the brakes just to return for them to say there is nothing wrong with the car can any one help? Any ideas, thanks.

  14. Gsiluva53 on 5th May 2005

    Hi Ya'll, I have the 53 plate Arden blue Gsi and have to say that this motor rocks!! I was getting a fair bit of lag on the turbo, but a Bailey Dump valve sorted that out! Ok so a dump valve is a bit of a twerpy add on, but damn, what a difference in throttle response! couple that with Optimax in the tank and the power feels sooo good. Can anyone recommend a good quiet Exhaust system for this beast!??

  15. gsichris Rank: Lance Corporal on 6th May 2005

    im having much the same problem ... front tyres are wearing uneven ....had to replace the nearside font tyre twice up to now !! lookers are not interested and just keep saying keep an eye on them, but at £140 a tyre its an expensive eye!! try www.courtenaysport.co.uk for your add on extra's and more power.

  16. gsijay Rank: Corporal on 11th May 2005

    hi its me again!quick question i want to put a better dump vaule on me car is it just a case of swapping them round because some one told me i"ll have to remap the car coz talk about turbo lag about tyres my front ones only lasted 15000 miles before i had to replace them !! service costs are a joke second service i just rang up for they quoted me £290 what a rip off !!! stil getting stone chips

  17. cjcarson on 3rd Aug 2005

    Hi! All my names CJ. I have a GSi in black and its interesting reading everyone elses comments. I seem to be getting the same probs - uneven wear on tires. I've gone through three pairs on the front in 30,000 miles and had the tracking checked, all sorts. Vauxhall say there's nothing wrong. Also I've been getting a rubbing sound which I thought was the bearings and so did my brother but again Vauxhall say they can't find anything. Anyone got any ideas?

  18. steve003 on 11th Sep 2005

    I have a silver Vauxhall Astra GSi. Had I bought it new I would have fitted Amuorfend,tyres, worn at 10,000 shame. Also anyone know how many GSi's were made? The dealer told me 700 what do you lot think ?.

  19. tonys on 30th Sep 2005

    I have had my GSI for a year. Only major prob is the on-board computer. I have ran out of fuel with 51 miles on range. I have also put half a a tank of fuel in to find 620 miles on range. Been back to dealers 3 times but told no fault.

  20. dfhs on 17th Oct 2005

    Magnex Full Through System

  21. gsichris Rank: Lance Corporal on 14th Nov 2005

    well since my last comment things have gone good and bad, lookers eventually classed the car as unsafe and dangerous to drive!! which was good as it brought attention to the tyre wear problem, and after many heated discussions with Vauxhall customer services they replaced both front tyres for a higher spec at their cost. However things have not gone all smooth because shortly after, the cylinder head gasket failed at just 22,000 miles!!! Replaced under warranty but led to new water pump and new Catalytic converter. At +£60 an hour labour charges and the fact it took 3 days to get car back i would hate to think how much the total cost would be if i had to pay for it. I'm told by Lookers manager they would hate to lose me as a customer and would love to sell me a VXR at special rate, but lets face it.. im sorry i ever bought the GSi and it really does NOT inspire me to part with another £20,000 only to have to argue with Lookers service staff when things go wrong. *VAUXHALL TAKE NOTE*....Lookers have just lost you a VXR sale !!!
    It will take more than a manager offering to NOW repair the parcel shelf bracket and discount a VXR by a whopping £500 !!! to convince me to stay a loyal customer. Come on Lookers sort yourself out..
    Take a look at BMW Mini service centers you will learn a lot.

  22. mattysgsi on 13th Dec 2005

    I just bought a silver 53 plate gsi, heard the best thing for them if you want more power is to help it breath furst, by adding a viper induction kit, and a miltek exhaust then bypass the pre cat then to top it of a remap from courtney. the whole job will make your gsi fit for 240 bph!!!!



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