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| Performance | 6/10  |
|---|---|
| Practicality | 6/10 |
| Reliability | 9/10 |
| Value for Money | 3/10 |
| Overall rating | 5/10 |
Full review by
mazda3
expert review 
on 21st Nov 2006
User Rating : 5
Respect :
+5
Good Points: Had the car for 2 days and I think I have a good feel for the car. Firstly the power steering is very good and responsive to the slightest movements at low speed and gives you good feel at speed and when cornering. The uprated suspension on the model I have makes this model sit on the road and corners like it is on rails. This was surprising as your first thought when you see the car is that it would handle like a hearse. You just point it and it goes - topnotch handling. This handling is with the sport option off, if you live where I do and frequently have to traverse severe steep hills and poor weather and single lane roads it is perfect as it keeps the car running at about 4k revs and stiffens the suspension (if possible) and also makes the throttle even more responsive. I loved it going over the fells where we live and would enjoy driving around town equally as much. Being fully automatic you have not got a great deal to do and driving is a cinch. Quick box seems like a very good car. Luckily as I only had the car for 3 days I can't give you a full long term review of motorways etc but on a few miles of dual carriageways it was good. I will go into problems below!
Bad Points: Before I go on I will ask you to note the price of this vehicle (£18.807.00) along with co2 emissions of 202. the price is the most astounding figure I have come across in a while. 19k for a car should get you something pretty luxurious or something very sporty, depending on which you want. The Astra does neither. It looks OK and sporty with blacked out rear windows but the 1.8 engine is left screaming for help when you need power such as overtaking or climbing long hills. One other serious problem with the engine is that it doesn't tick over that well - I'm not sure if it needs looking at but when you start it it feels like you need to pull out the "choke" which is not quite right. The noise and roar from the engine is ridiculous - I described it to my wife like a elephant moaning every time you pat its back. As soon as you give it some gas it moans like heck and on short drives around towns is going to drive you mad. The inside of the Astra should be luxurious as I have no reason to be able to class this car as sporty as it lacks the engine so for 19k I would want a compromise, possibly the interior. Mmmm not happening, the seats are rock hard and too small across my back - I'm quite a big guy but even my wife felt very uncomfortable sitting for a 6 mile journey to work. I could never buy this car as the comfort only comes when you step out of the car and then have to look back at it as something is beeping at me- you have forgotten to turn the lights off! You eventually get into the house and lie down in comfort to wring yourself free of all the bumps and potholes on our nations roads. You get nothing for your money - no armrest, no power windows in the rear, no chance of auto lights and wipers not a hint at fancy headlights, no climate control - in general not a hint of luxury. The manual air con controls were too low and you had to feel for the dials and the same is true for the stereo - you also get no cruise control or any form of speed limiter. Perhaps I want to much from a 19k car but I know you can get far, far more out there for your money than an Astra estate with lowered suspension.
General comments: 19k... no chance - look for something with a bit more to offer - save another grand and treat yourself to an s type jag. Never would I pay for this car, it wouldn't be so bad but it professes to be the top of the range so god knows what the bottom of the range comes with... or should I say without. I have never been a fan of Vauxhall and I thought I would take them up on their offer of 3 day test drive whilst I'm making my mind up what to buy. Benefit of the doubt I thought but I was wrong give me anything but an Astra. Try the Focus, Golf, C4, Skoda Fabia, Corolla... anything but the Vauxhall - Sorry!
mazda3's review and ratings | 770 words | 1 comment added.
