I had a 1.8 SRI "sport hatch" for 11 years, and it never once let me down! Every year I'd secretly hope it would fail it's MOT so I could convince the Mrs that I needed a new car, and every year it would pass. I eventually sold it as we needed something bigger, and it's still going strong for the woman I sold it to. This video has been an emotional watch for me 😂
I ran Astravans right from the Bedford Astravan to the last incarnation Sportive. They were good, solid vans. I used to thrash the bollocks off them but they never gave me any trouble. Just got them serviced on the dot. The final version, the 150bhp Sportive, was pretty bloody fast. It was definitely the fastest van in its day and not much slower than hot hatches.
In 1993 Top Gear ran an acceleration test between a Lotus Esprit and an Astramax van. The Lotus got off to a good start but by the end of the run, the Astramax blew its doors off. You can catch the action on youtube.
@@mariemccann5895 No rose tinted specs on me. I don't wear them. Our company rans some bad cars and vans and I'm all too willing to slag them off. We bought all our vehicles new and the Mercedes Vito was poor. It began falling apart and breaking down before 40k. The best vans we had were the Toyota Hiace. They were bloody fantastic vans but the Astravans were great too. We put thousands of motorway miles on them which is good for the engines and we serviced them on the dot.
It is all true, in the 1980s the Astramax was the fastest thing on the road except for a stolen 3-door Cossie, it was customary to see them breaking the ton on any motorway when most 1.3/1.6 family cars struggled to do so without severe provocation.
The Mummy had less tape wrapped around it than that mirror... Astras are okay, they just get you around without much effort, or too much expense. That era Astra design looks sharp.
I love the Vauxhall smell! They always smell like new! The Astra H is smart looking, cheap, relliable(if you service them) and generally a good car! Such a good buy Matt! Great video as usual :D
Recently got rid of my 2018 Mk7 Astra K 1.4 Turbo Petrol 150HP Elite Nav Premium as I needed a bigger vehicle but in 5 years of ownership, service every 5k miles, and 40k miles later, It is hands down the most reliable car (owned several new and used cars before) I've ever owned. I've had 2 other Vauxhalls with no issues, also. Vauxhall is quite reliable if you look after them, like anything else. Unfortunately, a majority of Vauxhall owners don't service them ever and/or just run them into the ground, adding to their "terrible reliability" reputation. My dad had a 2000 MK4 1.4 Astra with 196,000 miles until about 2015 when someone crashed into him and wrote it off.
Matt, a friend of mine bought an 08 plate astra 7 years ago with 70k on the clock for £2.5k from a dealer! It's been run into the ground & on a shoe string, hardly any issues and still going strong with high mileage.
They don't sound very impressive but the best car I ever had was a 1995 m reg 1.4 astra h/ back automatic. Poor acceleration but would wind up to 70 to 80 on m way no trouble. Am looking out now for cheap astra after watching matts video. I'm sick of being ripped off by merc for repairs and services over the past 6 yrs and am determined to get some sensible priced motoring for a change.
That is brilliant work Matt - my inclination was that the head was ok and just needed an 'Italian Tune' and oil change. To be honest I find this type of car far more interesting than so called supercars because they represent everyday honest motoring. Like a lot of people at my age I could easily afford a brand new car - but find it more interesting to keep an older car going. In fact all of the 'lane assist/start stop/updating' rubbish I do not like. Cars of this era are a golden spot for me - generally lighter and more fuel efficient than new cars, more reliable and involving with driving. One of our cars (an estate) carries everything you could ever need - has been 100% reliable - feels good to drive - and on a run will do 60 mpg. It has done over 120,000 miles (but it gets pampered) and I honestly cannot think of anything that could replace it. Keep up the great work!
Good video Matt, It's great to watch how with even older cars that you don't skimp on the quality of repairs required. Most car traders would have bought a used door mirror and put cheap and nasty wheel trims on etc. Keep "em" coming. Be nice to see you review a Gen. 7 Celica.
After watching so many of your videos I see how having a good network of ‘go to’ people (mechanics/painters/valeters etc) helps you get a sense of how much each car is going to cost you and what’s going to be left in it for you. I’m sure it’s still a gamble but an educated one. Very interesting keep them coming Matt 👏🏻👍🏻
My Dad bought one of these as his retirement car back in 2006, he still has it, having done just 32k miles. Always garaged, flies through the MOT every year. Only had one problem with it, an immobiliser/ ignition start problem. For a Vauxhall, they aren't too bad.
This is the way to go environmentally wise. Reviving older cars must be the way forward until EV's can get their act together regarding battery life and the woefully inadequate charging point provision in this country. I'm keeping my 12 year old car going until it becomes uneconomical to do so
I bought my 2010 Astra 1.6 from Motorpoint in Derby in 2011 with 10 miles on the clock for £8,000. Now has 140,000+ on the clock. Apart from the usual wear and tear items, never had much wrong with it (saying that with crossed legs and fingers). I have it serviced every 5-6 000 miles. If looked after and not ragged, they are a decent car to get from a-b. Whoever buys Matts motor can look forward to many years of happy motoring.
BFC- Brake Fluid Change. Do a Sniff test on the cooling system, oil looks clean (obvious by recent service but the Anti freeze is nice and pink and the Expansion Bottle clear and clean which is a good sign as well.
I bought a Montego in the early 90s. The previous owner was in his 30s. He lived a half mile from his kid's school, his work and the pub a mile from the in laws and the shops. He never walked anywhere, just drove. At five years old it had 33,000 miles and was full of margarine. Short journeys meant it never got properly warm. The local garage kindly refused to deal with it, but gave me instructions on removing the pipework on the engine cleaning them out and flushing the engine. I spent a whole weekend removing the emulsion from the engine. They then charged £35 to give it a tune. Six years later with a further 130,00 miles on the clock the wife bent it badly and wrote it off
Wow, those tyres! People who skimp on tyres annoy me, that’s the only thing that keeps you on the road, basically doesn’t give two hoots about others on the road along with you and your passengers. That mirror is also shocking to leave it for that long. Those roof rails are a common issue for paint flake, 95% of Astras of this era have them. People need to spend more looking after their cars, or just walk/get the bus. I see these shoe string run cars daily. BFC means brake fluid change. Great video as always.
My grandad has one of these 54 plate, bought it for 3k about 8 years ago.. does around 4k millage a year. Has it serviced every year, still going and has had hardly anything go on it. Still on orginal clutch I believe . money well spent (if you need a car A to B) :)
A petrol engined Astra H is a very good runabout. My wife had a 1.8 vvti with a 140bhp. It would do 30 mpg in town and was surprisingly quick. Had it for 5 years was 100% reliable.
Great engine, sluggish but very economical - run one in the Vectra, routinely gets 50mpg on a run, quite remarkable for a nearly 2 tonne mid size family car.
There goes my idea of selling you mine on the basis you'd do a video on it 😂 got one if you're interested however, same colour but nicer spec and condition! On another note I've had 3 of these and none have ever let me down. Brilliant little cars, cheap to run and repair, comfortable and still look modern 15 years later.
People hate on Vauxhall, yeah there are terribly boring, but they just do the job of A-B motoring - had many marques of cars, despised Vauxhalls with a passion, yet at this end of the market they are super value for money, I now run a 17 year old one (Vectra petrol) and it's been great, gets more drive time than my 3 series!! Another car saved from the scrap yard that has years of decent service still, good job Matt, love your work!
I had one of these Astra H on a 10 plate. It was a 1.4 and when I brought it in 2015 it had 50k on the clock. That was until December just been when the head finally gave way with 170k on the clock and until then with regular servicing has been the most reliable car to date.
A man used to the pain inflicted by cars. After the mirror, dents, discs, tyres, valeting requirements, et-al, he took the horror story, inside the rocker cover, on the chin and in his stride. Respect.
Rented one of these at Alicante airport years ago it was OK but a bit dull - I found the indicators annoying! You were lucky on the head gasket - my guess is that it did lots of short runs hence the blocked breather. Looked pretty good when you were done with it. I think you probably went further with your prep than a lot of dealers would so think the 2995 price tag is justified good luck with the sale!
Hey, Matt, how about a summer special. - Pros and cons of Mx5's and other cheap soft tops. - Do they really get more expensive in summer. Can you buy a high mileage ragtop, or should you pay premium for low mileage ect ect.
Great to see daily uploads recently. Never have I watched someone's recent uploads for more than two months consistently except for you which says a lot about how engaging and consistent you are with each upload.
Great vid and excellent tip on the oil check. Most including me would of ran a mile away after seeing the oil cap in that condition but as you say checking the dip stick is also must to confirm one way or another
Indeed very nice video. In my opinion in this video Matt is really optimistic about the Astra. While in other videos he is very realistic, in this video there are red flags all over, and Matt goes like "Oh well there might be a profit in it", "does'nt look that bad" while I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
I had that model with same engine but from 2005 , what a great car ! Simple and very good , not a bit of rust and no problems in 8 years ... now my father is driving her and is still strong. Best car for the value
Used car prices are nuts, and that's not a bad reflection on you Matt. £3k for a 14yr old car. I remember paying that for a 5yr old car back in the day!
The Astra H is a good car , cheap to run and reliable if you look after it , I’ve had mine since it was 2 years old , it will be 19 later this year , never let me down !
Matt I started to learn to drive in this generation of Astra back in 2008! I think it was a 1.6 petrol. I just got used to driving it when my instructor changed it for a 107 🙈 I also owned a late Corsa C in metro blue, ace colour. Really enjoy your cheap car videos.
Owned a number of Vauxhalls over the years. Nothing but trouble. They eat head gaskets & or core plugs. And is doesn’t matter how often they are served or driven. Alloy heads are always trouble. And Astra. Wouldn’t touch one with a barge pole. Vauxhalls generally drive okay, mainly due to sensible gearing ratios, but it’s about the only saving grace.
Grand job. Vauxhall are better than you'd think. My 1992 1.4 ran 135000 without any issues and could return 50mpg on the occasional French run. The 150bhp Vectra was a fast cruiser..
Hi Mat I have that model of Astra and found a way of checking the engine temp.The temp will show on the display screen if you do the following.Switch on the radio,press the setting button untill to hear an audible bleep.Then press the bc button 9 times.Knowing the temp us handy especially if you are in a traffic jam,when the temp starts getting hot I put the heater on full,it should bring the temp down.I hope that helps.Great videos Matt.
After owning a 2009 1.6 activ from new (170k miles) this is really interesting to know. The fact I never actually need to know says eveything about these idiot proof, indestructable old bangers.
Solid a to b car. Spares plentiful. Should be able to do 200k if maintained. Very comfy and quiet. Its a budget car that should last IF maintained. Not forgetting Matt these older petrol cars are ULEZ friendly whereas most older, even newer diesels are not. People that live in these cities want old petrols where dinks etc don’t worry them. These sort of cars are for people (like me) that want cheap motoring. It wont hang about i dont think
Matt is what other car traders need to aspire to be like, no cheap or nasty repairs and goes the extra mile to sell the car to a good home, very honest, Always excited to watch a new video.
Run an Astra for years with mayo under filler cap. Only collects in winter due to condensation. Quick wipe every time I check oil and it’s never been a problem.
Had an Astra GTE in the 90s. And a few Cavaliers (top of the range) but in hindsight, not great. This is one of the best before and afters I think you've done, Matt. Almost picked the phone up. PS. I like the refurbed rims. Don't be too hard on yourself.
I hate when people say… “older cars and unreliable and break down more” NOPE. vehicles that haven’t been looked after are unreliable…. I have a VW transporter with 306 thousand miles and it’s never missed a beat in the 18 months I’ve owned it.
My girlfriend (now wife) had one of these when I met her. Same colour, same engine, very similar spec. Surprisingly reliable and actually pretty good to drive. The only issue was the suspension which I believe was made out of some sort of dairy product. It seemed to need new shocks and springs weekly.
Ive run the same Astra H (1.7cdti) for the last 12 years. The issue on all Astra`s of that age, was no coolant level sensor. People continued to drive oblivious when a hose fails, overheat the block and blow the head. I average a bust hose once a year, to the extent I carry a variety in the boot for on the spot replacement. Got into the habit of every so often putting the heat on momentarily to make sure there was still coolant in the tank!
I had a 05 plate 1.4 they was renowned for the mayonnaise on the cam cover, I think it was a breather problem on the cam cover, as you said, if you didn’t run the car to a certain temperature it never got rid of the mayo. The engine on the 1.4 is chain driven Corsa engine, so when my chain was rattling it cost more than the car to put right. The 1.6 was a better engine. Overall not a bad car really
14:07 : 100% that's the HEAD GASKET! So much for the smaller Petrol engines being more reliable than the Diesels! The 1.4 always gets thrashed because it's too small for a car that size. Edit to say. OK I was Wrong there about the Head Gasket. But Every car I have seen in my life with a creamy engine oil cap prior to this was a blowing head gasket.
My heart just sank (like the profit margin) when i spotted the built in cappuccino maker under the bonnet (which is odd as it wasn't a "leggy" or badly abused car) but delighted it came good for you and once again another car saved and made really presentable. well done for not a lot of margin
My son bought a similar aged Astra 2 years ago. It had been standing still for a while, there was a little mayonnaise on the cap, but our research at the time indicated that it wasn't a head casket failure. This has been borne out, the car has been completely reliable and fault free .. the head gasket has been fine.
Astra H imo is definately better than the new astras, i had a 56 plate, non dpf 1.7 diesel, ultra reliable car had 5 years trouble free motoring out of it.
Still run about in an 06 1.4, done 114000 and still going, Changed the timing chain at 100k, car owes me nothing. There is a hidden feature in these which tell you the coolant temperture.
I always liked these, they’re good cars. You could pick them up for £8995 at a year old back in the day which seemed a really sensible purchase. I was never that sensible though.
I had quite a few of these low mileage Vauxhalls with this gunk in the top of the cam cove. We got a 2009 Corsa D 1.4 for my cousin as her first car 2019 it had done 9800miles. After a flush out she’s had total trouble free motoring since. I have just serviced and MOTed it know on 40k
Hello from Ireland. I recently bought a 2007 astra 1.4 petrol that needed some TLC. honestly their not the most exciting cars on the planet but after borrowing my neighbours astra due to my previous car being a total loss , i did actually find the astra very economical and cheap to run. I did however buy my astra for 850 euros. I got the rear bushings replaced. Then the rest of the work i did myself. I replaced the rear shocks and discs and pads. Then I replaced both of the front lower control arms , then i got my local tyre place to do the tracking. I did replace the plugs and mass airflow sensor. And not forgetting the battery I also replaced the passenger mirror cover. All in including the cost of the car i did spend around 1450 euros. I have 4 children and 3 grandkids and at the young age of 51 years old I find my astra a joy to drive. It holds the road very well , especially on the country roads next to my small town. My last two cars were a 2008 saab 9-3 that was a total pain and a 2006 mercades 180 kompressor that was a pig on petrol. In conclusion I have mixed feelings about driving an astra and hope its not a midlife crisis 🤣🤣 I really enjoy working on cars but just for now ill stick with my astra. Keep up the great work , and keeping those videos coming.
We had a silver Astra 1.6 SRI Twinport DY07. Solid build never failed. Had a Sport button on the dash which gave you a boost at low revs. We would still have it today had it not got rear ended in 2014. Our new Astra 1.6 DP14 is underpowered and always going wrong.
Looks nice actually and it’ll do for someone looking for a cheap runaround. Nice to see you saved the car. Wing mirror damage due to cataracts was hilarious 😂
We've got a 2009 Zafira petrol with only 56k miles. Only use it for camping and tip runs. Had it 7 years and not had a single issue with it. I know they get a slating normally but I think they're underrated. Peak Vauxhall era
I always thought the vauxhall plastic wheel trims shaped to the " unique" steel wheels was a genius idea. Alloy wheel curb appeal from 10 feet, but a refurb on all 4 with a washing up sponge and 1 can of silver.
I bought an Astravan once with those 5-spoke alloys. Thought it looked quite smart. I always power-washed it so never got close to the wheels. I'd been driving it a year before I realised they were actually plastic trims over steel wheels lol !😆
@Gravemind I've still got one 2008 1.8cdti getting a matching spare wheel is easy too. Just buy another steel and just move the wheel trim over. And £46 for a brand new wheel vs £280+ for an alloy.
I use a 56 plate 1.7 CDTI Astra as my commuting car. While there isn’t really anything I particularly like about it, it’s a good honest workhorse and hasn’t needing anything spending on it over and above servicing and wear and tear items, so guess you really can’t argue with that.
My partner had one of these which was in really nice condition HOWEVER, it had the semi auto gearbox which was absolutely horrible to live with around town although it drove really well on A roads and motorways. Avoid the semi auto gearbox
That mayo on the oil cap is likely to be due to lots of short journeys, the engine never gets properly up to temperature to evaporate any condensation. The oil on the dipstick is clean, and the coolant looked is also clean, so less likely to be a HG failure.
One of your best, Matt. Really enjoyed that video. I found it weirdly satisfying watching this bog standard ageing Astra being given a new lease of life. And while £740 is not to be sniffed at, actually, I'd imagine that pales into insignificance when you take the proceeds of this excellent video content into account.
What would you get done about the front and rear subframe rusting advisories? On a car this age I imagine replacing isn't worth it. Would you just have it brushed and waxoiled to try and extend it's life or what ?
I always forget how smart this generation of Astra looks when they’re clean. It’s like a good but inexpensive suit that you can wear everyday and still look respectable.
Bought a 1.3 CDTi 90bhp, 6 speed one of these on the cheap. Needed a turbo. So rebuilt the turbo myself, then discovered the timing chain had a tiny rattle. So replaced it too along with the oil pump. Then the turbo failed again. And the chain started rattling again. Dropped the sump and pieces of a timing chain guide from a previous timing chain job was in there. That's what was killing the turbos and from memory starved the chain tensioner of pressure. Lost a few bob on that one.
Just bought astra H 1.6 2008 full history needs the usual cam cover gasket and a servce and the vvt oil actuator replacing as is stuck closed leading to rough running but an easy job .
a good example of why low mileage isn't always as it seems....not being used dries out rubber and seals (tyres here are a good indication) and makes them brittle, no matter how much you service it cars arent made to be stood around.
PMSL at that door mirror being like that for five years. Honestly, some people. A deer ran into my old smoker of a work car, a 19 year old 130,000 mile Avensis. Fifty quid for a used powerfold electrically adjustable mirror off eBay, in the correct colour. Delivered in two days, half an hour to fit. If you can't do it yourself, surely you'd know someone who would fit it for a drink.
Great video as usual. Were the wheeltrims that bad? Would a good clean not have sufficed, as you said it’s 14 years old and you would have saved £180 !
I've just bought a 1.9 CDTI with full main dealer service history from new for £300. I wouldn't pay more than a grand for a perfect example let alone one in need of work & potentially a head gasket
@@Mr330d I did but there is a catch.... the timing belt snapped, did very little damage but ended up being easier to just replace the complete cylinder head. It needed 2 tyres, a mirror and the MOT expires in July. Overall, £100 for a new head, £25 for mirror, £50 on new head bolts & headgasket, plus we got 2 nearly new Michelin tyres for free... say 20 quid for local tyre shop to fit them and dispose of the old ones. Add in a fresh MOT next month and it'll stand us somewhere between £550 & £600. Probably worth a grand.
Not sure if you know you can check engine coolant temp by pressing down and hold setting on radio until you hear a beep, and scroll and you’ll find the coolant temperature live data, that’d be an indication if head has blown, or not. Vauxhall’s are generally quite bullet proof, if looked after, my mrs ad a 1.8 in same colour, I’ve had GM cars do 250k and still running and on original engine and head.
@@leonpalmer2429 Adsatly I sold my Astra Elite 1.9 CDTi 57 plate which forgetting about the VXR is the top of the range with 118,000 Xmas 2019 for £940 with a full MOT. If I had kept hold of it another 6 months probably got nearer £1500 but you don't know covid a few months later would send cars up in price but there is also greedy bastards who now ask too much for cars.
Matt you should buy a paint thickness checked device they are like 50 quid, but you can check whilst filming the videos if it the car has been repainted, just a thought!
I owned 2 of these Astra H's, both silver, both SXI trim they were both great cars to drive, first one was 1.7 diesel clutch went at 203k, then bought another some time later this time was 1.6 twinport petrol, was very quick for what it was, only got rid as lost control at a roundabout in bad weather and broken the rear axle. Definitely would buy another
Astra for 1k cheap??? How much are those trashcans selling for? Thought that these unreliable junks were somewhere between £300 and unsellable scrapyard donation.
I’ve got a 2010, 1.6 petrol, estate version here in Spain with FSH and 238,000 kilometres on the clock and see no reason to sell it. Looks nice for its age in gunmetal grey with alloys. Only wish it had a 6 speed gearbox for the motorways
I know Vauxhalls tend to get a bad reputation, but i have always found them to be decent value for money and good workhorses and comfortable suspension. Fords of course do drive better
Love an "I bought a cheap" video
Definitely the best ones! The expensive ones are so boring 😅
Same
Best ones
Agree. It’s because they’re more relatable.
Out of curiosity what do you make on these videos?
Can't go wrong with some friday night High Peak Autos, great video as always Matt.
I loved the wing mirror breakage being caused by cataracts.
Even better, I have TH-cams auto generated captions on, and it said (Applause) at that moment (from Matt's footsteps). 😂
I had a 1.8 SRI "sport hatch" for 11 years, and it never once let me down! Every year I'd secretly hope it would fail it's MOT so I could convince the Mrs that I needed a new car, and every year it would pass. I eventually sold it as we needed something bigger, and it's still going strong for the woman I sold it to. This video has been an emotional watch for me 😂
I ran Astravans right from the Bedford Astravan to the last incarnation Sportive. They were good, solid vans. I used to thrash the bollocks off them but they never gave me any trouble. Just got them serviced on the dot. The final version, the 150bhp Sportive, was pretty bloody fast. It was definitely the fastest van in its day and not much slower than hot hatches.
In 1993 Top Gear ran an acceleration test between a Lotus Esprit and an Astramax van. The Lotus got off to a good start but by the end of the run, the Astramax blew its doors off. You can catch the action on youtube.
Love the rose tints lol
@@mariemccann5895 No rose tinted specs on me. I don't wear them. Our company rans some bad cars and vans and I'm all too willing to slag them off. We bought all our vehicles new and the Mercedes Vito was poor. It began falling apart and breaking down before 40k. The best vans we had were the Toyota Hiace. They were bloody fantastic vans but the Astravans were great too. We put thousands of motorway miles on them which is good for the engines and we serviced them on the dot.
It is all true, in the 1980s the Astramax was the fastest thing on the road except for a stolen 3-door Cossie, it was customary to see them breaking the ton on any motorway when most 1.3/1.6 family cars struggled to do so without severe provocation.
@@roberttaylor7462 I'm embarrassed to say I was a maniac in those vans. I look back and shudder at my antics. I'm a steady Eddie these days.
The Mummy had less tape wrapped around it than that mirror... Astras are okay, they just get you around without much effort, or too much expense. That era Astra design looks sharp.
I love the Vauxhall smell! They always smell like new!
The Astra H is smart looking, cheap, relliable(if you service them) and generally a good car!
Such a good buy Matt!
Great video as usual :D
Recently got rid of my 2018 Mk7 Astra K 1.4 Turbo Petrol 150HP Elite Nav Premium as I needed a bigger vehicle but in 5 years of ownership, service every 5k miles, and 40k miles later, It is hands down the most reliable car (owned several new and used cars before) I've ever owned. I've had 2 other Vauxhalls with no issues, also. Vauxhall is quite reliable if you look after them, like anything else. Unfortunately, a majority of Vauxhall owners don't service them ever and/or just run them into the ground, adding to their "terrible reliability" reputation. My dad had a 2000 MK4 1.4 Astra with 196,000 miles until about 2015 when someone crashed into him and wrote it off.
Matt, a friend of mine bought an 08 plate astra 7 years ago with 70k on the clock for £2.5k from a dealer! It's been run into the ground & on a shoe string, hardly any issues and still going strong with high mileage.
They don't sound very impressive but the best car I ever had was a 1995 m reg 1.4 astra h/ back automatic. Poor acceleration but would wind up to 70 to 80 on m way no trouble. Am looking out now for cheap astra after watching matts video. I'm sick of being ripped off by merc for repairs and services over the past 6 yrs and am determined to get some sensible priced motoring for a change.
I managed to get my 09 Astra for £1.25k, no problems and 80k miles. Running perfectly still. These cars are beautiful i tell you
That is brilliant work Matt - my inclination was that the head was ok and just needed an 'Italian Tune' and oil change. To be honest I find this type of car far more interesting than so called supercars because they represent everyday honest motoring. Like a lot of people at my age I could easily afford a brand new car - but find it more interesting to keep an older car going. In fact all of the 'lane assist/start stop/updating' rubbish I do not like. Cars of this era are a golden spot for me - generally lighter and more fuel efficient than new cars, more reliable and involving with driving. One of our cars (an estate) carries everything you could ever need - has been 100% reliable - feels good to drive - and on a run will do 60 mpg. It has done over 120,000 miles (but it gets pampered) and I honestly cannot think of anything that could replace it. Keep up the great work!
Good video Matt, It's great to watch how with even older cars that you don't skimp on the quality of repairs required. Most car traders would have bought a used door mirror and put cheap and nasty wheel trims on etc. Keep "em" coming. Be nice to see you review a Gen. 7 Celica.
Very true lol@@theflyfromthefly
After watching so many of your videos I see how having a good network of ‘go to’ people (mechanics/painters/valeters etc) helps you get a sense of how much each car is going to cost you and what’s going to be left in it for you. I’m sure it’s still a gamble but an educated one. Very interesting keep them coming Matt 👏🏻👍🏻
My Dad bought one of these as his retirement car back in 2006, he still has it, having done just 32k miles. Always garaged, flies through the MOT every year. Only had one problem with it, an immobiliser/ ignition start problem. For a Vauxhall, they aren't too bad.
This is the way to go environmentally wise. Reviving older cars must be the way forward until EV's can get their act together regarding battery life and the woefully inadequate charging point provision in this country. I'm keeping my 12 year old car going until it becomes uneconomical to do so
I bought my 2010 Astra 1.6 from Motorpoint in Derby in 2011 with 10 miles on the clock for £8,000. Now has 140,000+ on the clock. Apart from the usual wear and tear items, never had much wrong with it (saying that with crossed legs and fingers). I have it serviced every 5-6 000 miles. If looked after and not ragged, they are a decent car to get from a-b. Whoever buys Matts motor can look forward to many years of happy motoring.
Do you still live in derby?
BFC- Brake Fluid Change.
Do a Sniff test on the cooling system, oil looks clean (obvious by recent service but the Anti freeze is nice and pink and the Expansion Bottle clear and clean which is a good sign as well.
I bought a Montego in the early 90s. The previous owner was in his 30s. He lived a half mile from his kid's school, his work and the pub a mile from the in laws and the shops. He never walked anywhere, just drove. At five years old it had 33,000 miles and was full of margarine. Short journeys meant it never got properly warm. The local garage kindly refused to deal with it, but gave me instructions on removing the pipework on the engine cleaning them out and flushing the engine. I spent a whole weekend removing the emulsion from the engine. They then charged £35 to give it a tune. Six years later with a further 130,00 miles on the clock the wife bent it badly and wrote it off
Wow, those tyres! People who skimp on tyres annoy me, that’s the only thing that keeps you on the road, basically doesn’t give two hoots about others on the road along with you and your passengers. That mirror is also shocking to leave it for that long. Those roof rails are a common issue for paint flake, 95% of Astras of this era have them. People need to spend more looking after their cars, or just walk/get the bus. I see these shoe string run cars daily. BFC means brake fluid change. Great video as always.
No motorcyclist would ever buy cheap car tyres, they learn the hard way
My grandad has one of these 54 plate, bought it for 3k about 8 years ago.. does around 4k millage a year. Has it serviced every year, still going and has had hardly anything go on it. Still on orginal clutch I believe . money well spent (if you need a car A to B) :)
A petrol engined Astra H is a very good runabout. My wife had a 1.8 vvti with a 140bhp. It would do 30 mpg in town and was surprisingly quick. Had it for 5 years was 100% reliable.
Great engine, sluggish but very economical - run one in the Vectra, routinely gets 50mpg on a run, quite remarkable for a nearly 2 tonne mid size family car.
Needs regular oil changes or the vvt pulleys start to knock
@@dunnockdan Maybe sluggish on a Vectra as it's a lot heavier but perfectly fine on the Astra.
@@dunnockdan you consider 1346kg nearly two tonne?
@@Mr330d I exaggerated a little :)
There goes my idea of selling you mine on the basis you'd do a video on it 😂 got one if you're interested however, same colour but nicer spec and condition!
On another note I've had 3 of these and none have ever let me down. Brilliant little cars, cheap to run and repair, comfortable and still look modern 15 years later.
People hate on Vauxhall, yeah there are terribly boring, but they just do the job of A-B motoring - had many marques of cars, despised Vauxhalls with a passion, yet at this end of the market they are super value for money, I now run a 17 year old one (Vectra petrol) and it's been great, gets more drive time than my 3 series!!
Another car saved from the scrap yard that has years of decent service still, good job Matt, love your work!
I bought one of these at just 6 months old and had it for 8 years. Despite what the anti vauxhall crew say it was the most reliable car I ever owned.
You did a fab job on that Astra Matt. The next owner is going to get a great car thanks to your thoroughness. All the best.
I had one of these Astra H on a 10 plate. It was a 1.4 and when I brought it in 2015 it had 50k on the clock. That was until December just been when the head finally gave way with 170k on the clock and until then with regular servicing has been the most reliable car to date.
A man used to the pain inflicted by cars. After the mirror, dents, discs, tyres, valeting requirements, et-al, he took the horror story, inside the rocker cover, on the chin and in his stride. Respect.
Hello! Yesss! Finally ! a vauxhall astra h! Prettly cheap and reliable vehicles...had one since 2007 and done 125k miles with no major issues
after i have seen the video i saw that the car is a 1.4, same as mine...The same cosmetic flaws sadly are on mine aswell, but mine is the 90hp variant
Great video I've had a sri 1.6 sports hatch in silver 22 grand in 2010 really reliable and still turns heads. 135000 miles and solid.
Rented one of these at Alicante airport years ago it was OK but a bit dull - I found the indicators annoying! You were lucky on the head gasket - my guess is that it did lots of short runs hence the blocked breather. Looked pretty good when you were done with it. I think you probably went further with your prep than a lot of dealers would so think the 2995 price tag is justified good luck with the sale!
07 Astra H- 1.8 vvti- 176,000 miles -still going strong, it's been a great, solid, reliable workhorse 👍
Hey, Matt, how about a summer special. - Pros and cons of Mx5's and other cheap soft tops. - Do they really get more expensive in summer. Can you buy a high mileage ragtop, or should you pay premium for low mileage ect ect.
MX5
Great to see daily uploads recently. Never have I watched someone's recent uploads for more than two months consistently except for you which says a lot about how engaging and consistent you are with each upload.
Thank you
Great vid and excellent tip on the oil check. Most including me would of ran a mile away after seeing the oil cap in that condition but as you say checking the dip stick is also must to confirm one way or another
Indeed very nice video. In my opinion in this video Matt is really optimistic about the Astra. While in other videos he is very realistic, in this video there are red flags all over, and Matt goes like "Oh well there might be a profit in it", "does'nt look that bad" while I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
I had that model with same engine but from 2005 , what a great car ! Simple and very good , not a bit of rust and no problems in 8 years ... now my father is driving her and is still strong. Best car for the value
Hi Mat regarding the comment advise BFC I think it could be brake fluid change great video as always hope you’re well Best wishes Ian
I own a 2010 Vauxhall astra active with 58k miles. It was owned by my grandma, and i can confirm that my 12v cover is STILL there😆great video mate!
Used car prices are nuts, and that's not a bad reflection on you Matt.
£3k for a 14yr old car. I remember paying that for a 5yr old car back in the day!
I thought £1k would be more like it. At 14 years old it won't ever go down in value as long as it keeps going.
The Astra H is a good car , cheap to run and reliable if you look after it , I’ve had mine since it was 2 years old , it will be 19 later this year , never let me down !
Matt I started to learn to drive in this generation of Astra back in 2008! I think it was a 1.6 petrol. I just got used to driving it when my instructor changed it for a 107 🙈
I also owned a late Corsa C in metro blue, ace colour. Really enjoy your cheap car videos.
Owned a number of Vauxhalls over the years. Nothing but trouble. They eat head gaskets & or core plugs. And is doesn’t matter how often they are served or driven. Alloy heads are always trouble.
And Astra. Wouldn’t touch one with a barge pole.
Vauxhalls generally drive okay, mainly due to sensible gearing ratios, but it’s about the only saving grace.
7:25 Another person who jumped on the slate Vauxhall (Opel) bandwagon. They're actually very underrated cars.
Grand job. Vauxhall are better than you'd think. My 1992 1.4 ran 135000 without any issues and could return 50mpg on the occasional French run. The 150bhp Vectra was a fast cruiser..
Hi Mat I have that model of Astra and found a way of checking the engine temp.The temp will show on the display screen if you do the following.Switch on the radio,press the setting button untill to hear an audible bleep.Then press the bc button 9 times.Knowing the temp us handy especially if you are in a traffic jam,when the temp starts getting hot I put the heater on full,it should bring the temp down.I hope that helps.Great videos Matt.
The radio does not have to be on. But yes, this a great feature to know.
After owning a 2009 1.6 activ from new (170k miles) this is really interesting to know. The fact I never actually need to know says eveything about these idiot proof, indestructable old bangers.
Solid a to b car. Spares plentiful. Should be able to do 200k if maintained. Very comfy and quiet. Its a budget car that should last IF maintained. Not forgetting Matt these older petrol cars are ULEZ friendly whereas most older, even newer diesels are not. People that live in these cities want old petrols where dinks etc don’t worry them. These sort of cars are for people (like me) that want cheap motoring. It wont hang about i dont think
Matt is what other car traders need to aspire to be like, no cheap or nasty repairs and goes the extra mile to sell the car to a good home, very honest,
Always excited to watch a new video.
Run an Astra for years with mayo under filler cap. Only collects in winter due to condensation. Quick wipe every time I check oil and it’s never been a problem.
Had an Astra GTE in the 90s. And a few Cavaliers (top of the range) but in hindsight, not great. This is one of the best before and afters I think you've done, Matt. Almost picked the phone up. PS. I like the refurbed rims. Don't be too hard on yourself.
I hate when people say… “older cars and unreliable and break down more”
NOPE.
vehicles that haven’t been looked after are unreliable…. I have a VW transporter with 306 thousand miles and it’s never missed a beat in the 18 months I’ve owned it.
I remember when £1100 for an Astra was just the going rate, how times have changed 😕
Now it's the price for a dead one even at trade price
“[The repair to the mirror] could have been done by Vauxhall”. Beautiful. Love this channel.
Still amazed that older cars like this are worth so much money! Crazy!
My girlfriend (now wife) had one of these when I met her. Same colour, same engine, very similar spec. Surprisingly reliable and actually pretty good to drive. The only issue was the suspension which I believe was made out of some sort of dairy product. It seemed to need new shocks and springs weekly.
Ive run the same Astra H (1.7cdti) for the last 12 years. The issue on all Astra`s of that age, was no coolant level sensor. People continued to drive oblivious when a hose fails, overheat the block and blow the head. I average a bust hose once a year, to the extent I carry a variety in the boot for on the spot replacement. Got into the habit of every so often putting the heat on momentarily to make sure there was still coolant in the tank!
Very stupid design, a fuel gauge but no coolant temperature dial. Typical GM product, they want it to break so you buy another.
You can see your coolant temp, in your navigation,
I had a 05 plate 1.4 they was renowned for the mayonnaise on the cam cover, I think it was a breather problem on the cam cover, as you said, if you didn’t run the car to a certain temperature it never got rid of the mayo. The engine on the 1.4 is chain driven Corsa engine, so when my chain was rattling it cost more than the car to put right. The 1.6 was a better engine. Overall not a bad car really
14:07 : 100% that's the HEAD GASKET! So much for the smaller Petrol engines being more reliable than the Diesels! The 1.4 always gets thrashed because it's too small for a car that size.
Edit to say. OK I was Wrong there about the Head Gasket. But Every car I have seen in my life with a creamy engine oil cap prior to this was a blowing head gasket.
Petrol engines aren’t the problem just them astras are unreliable bags of shit
My heart just sank (like the profit margin) when i spotted the built in cappuccino maker under the bonnet (which is odd as it wasn't a "leggy" or badly abused car) but delighted it came good for you and once again another car saved and made really presentable. well done for not a lot of margin
My son bought a similar aged Astra 2 years ago. It had been standing still for a while, there was a little mayonnaise on the cap, but our research at the time indicated that it wasn't a head casket failure. This has been borne out, the car has been completely reliable and fault free .. the head gasket has been fine.
Astra H imo is definately better than the new astras, i had a 56 plate, non dpf 1.7 diesel, ultra reliable car had 5 years trouble free motoring out of it.
Nice job. Despite being 14 years old, it still looks quite modern in design.
Still run about in an 06 1.4, done 114000 and still going, Changed the timing chain at 100k, car owes me nothing. There is a hidden feature in these which tell you the coolant temperture.
I always liked these, they’re good cars. You could pick them up for £8995 at a year old back in the day which seemed a really sensible purchase. I was never that sensible though.
And now a 1 year old Astra is double that. Sickening
I had quite a few of these low mileage Vauxhalls with this gunk in the top of the cam cove.
We got a 2009 Corsa D 1.4 for my cousin as her first car 2019 it had done 9800miles. After a flush out she’s had total trouble free motoring since.
I have just serviced and MOTed it know on 40k
The Car Vertical check said it was a Left Hand Drive !!
Hello from Ireland.
I recently bought a 2007 astra 1.4 petrol that needed some TLC.
honestly their not the most exciting cars on the planet but after borrowing my neighbours astra due to my previous car being a total loss , i did actually find the astra very economical and cheap to run.
I did however buy my astra for 850 euros.
I got the rear bushings replaced. Then the rest of the work i did myself.
I replaced the rear shocks and discs and pads. Then I replaced both of the front lower control arms , then i got my local tyre place to do the tracking.
I did replace the plugs and mass airflow sensor.
And not forgetting the battery
I also replaced the passenger mirror cover.
All in including the cost of the car i did spend around 1450 euros.
I have 4 children and 3 grandkids and at the young age of 51 years old I find my astra a joy to drive.
It holds the road very well , especially on the country roads next to my small town.
My last two cars were a 2008 saab 9-3 that was a total pain and a 2006 mercades 180 kompressor that was a pig on petrol.
In conclusion I have mixed feelings about driving an astra and hope its not a midlife crisis 🤣🤣
I really enjoy working on cars but just for now ill stick with my astra.
Keep up the great work , and keeping those videos coming.
These cheap car videos are much better than supercar or luxury car reviews 😂
We had a silver Astra 1.6 SRI Twinport DY07. Solid build never failed. Had a Sport button on the dash which gave you a boost at low revs. We would still have it today had it not got rear ended in 2014. Our new Astra 1.6 DP14 is underpowered and always going wrong.
Looks nice actually and it’ll do for someone looking for a cheap runaround. Nice to see you saved the car.
Wing mirror damage due to cataracts was hilarious 😂
A careless 20 year old could do the same
We've got a 2009 Zafira petrol with only 56k miles. Only use it for camping and tip runs. Had it 7 years and not had a single issue with it. I know they get a slating normally but I think they're underrated. Peak Vauxhall era
I always thought the vauxhall plastic wheel trims shaped to the " unique" steel wheels was a genius idea.
Alloy wheel curb appeal from 10 feet, but a refurb on all 4 with a washing up sponge and 1 can of silver.
I remember reading an article on this several years ago. Great idea.
Ford also did this around the same era on the Style variants of their Focus.
I bought an Astravan once with those 5-spoke alloys. Thought it looked quite smart. I always power-washed it so never got close to the wheels. I'd been driving it a year before I realised they were actually plastic trims over steel wheels lol !😆
@Gravemind I've still got one 2008 1.8cdti getting a matching spare wheel is easy too. Just buy another steel and just move the wheel trim over. And £46 for a brand new wheel vs £280+ for an alloy.
I use a 56 plate 1.7 CDTI Astra as my commuting car. While there isn’t really anything I particularly like about it, it’s a good honest workhorse and hasn’t needing anything spending on it over and above servicing and wear and tear items, so guess you really can’t argue with that.
My partner had one of these which was in really nice condition HOWEVER, it had the semi auto gearbox which was absolutely horrible to live with around town although it drove really well on A roads and motorways. Avoid the semi auto gearbox
That mayo on the oil cap is likely to be due to lots of short journeys, the engine never gets properly up to temperature to evaporate any condensation.
The oil on the dipstick is clean, and the coolant looked is also clean, so less likely to be a HG failure.
Head gasket
One of your best, Matt. Really enjoyed that video. I found it weirdly satisfying watching this bog standard ageing Astra being given a new lease of life. And while £740 is not to be sniffed at, actually, I'd imagine that pales into insignificance when you take the proceeds of this excellent video content into account.
Spoiler alert ⚠ ffs
@@wackojacko123 Watch the video then first before you come to the comments.......
@@sologames9434 you must be fun at parties mate
Just sold my astra h 1.4 after 4 years and 50k miles trouble free motoring, good little car done all the things cars should
What would you get done about the front and rear subframe rusting advisories? On a car this age I imagine replacing isn't worth it. Would you just have it brushed and waxoiled to try and extend it's life or what ?
I always forget how smart this generation of Astra looks when they’re clean. It’s like a good but inexpensive suit that you can wear everyday and still look respectable.
I laughed out loud when you said I don’t think the repaired electric mirror will work 😂
Bought a 1.3 CDTi 90bhp, 6 speed one of these on the cheap. Needed a turbo. So rebuilt the turbo myself, then discovered the timing chain had a tiny rattle. So replaced it too along with the oil pump. Then the turbo failed again. And the chain started rattling again. Dropped the sump and pieces of a timing chain guide from a previous timing chain job was in there. That's what was killing the turbos and from memory starved the chain tensioner of pressure. Lost a few bob on that one.
Funny how people still call them wing mirrors when they haven't actually been on the wings of cars for decades.
Just bought astra H 1.6 2008 full history needs the usual cam cover gasket and a servce and the vvt oil actuator replacing as is stuck closed leading to rough running but an easy job .
a good example of why low mileage isn't always as it seems....not being used dries out rubber and seals (tyres here are a good indication) and makes them brittle, no matter how much you service it cars arent made to be stood around.
PMSL at that door mirror being like that for five years. Honestly, some people. A deer ran into my old smoker of a work car, a 19 year old 130,000 mile Avensis. Fifty quid for a used powerfold electrically adjustable mirror off eBay, in the correct colour. Delivered in two days, half an hour to fit. If you can't do it yourself, surely you'd know someone who would fit it for a drink.
Great video as usual. Were the wheeltrims that bad? Would a good clean not have sufficed, as you said it’s 14 years old and you would have saved £180 !
Another great honest no frills car saved and given the Matt Magic, on to another owner.!
I’ve bought loads of these over the years, £1100 I could buy 3 for that. 😂
fr, i got a mint black one for £200 in lockdown
I've just bought a 1.9 CDTI with full main dealer service history from new for £300. I wouldn't pay more than a grand for a perfect example let alone one in need of work & potentially a head gasket
@@Cascroft-lp6ir I’m sure you did
@@Mr330d I did but there is a catch.... the timing belt snapped, did very little damage but ended up being easier to just replace the complete cylinder head. It needed 2 tyres, a mirror and the MOT expires in July.
Overall, £100 for a new head, £25 for mirror, £50 on new head bolts & headgasket, plus we got 2 nearly new Michelin tyres for free... say 20 quid for local tyre shop to fit them and dispose of the old ones.
Add in a fresh MOT next month and it'll stand us somewhere between £550 & £600. Probably worth a grand.
@@Cascroft-lp6ir Living in the past. A grand for any car in 'perfect' condition is a pipe dream now unless you get extremely lucky.
Not sure if you know you can check engine coolant temp by pressing down and hold setting on radio until you hear a beep, and scroll and you’ll find the coolant temperature live data, that’d be an indication if head has blown, or not. Vauxhall’s are generally quite bullet proof, if looked after, my mrs ad a 1.8 in same colour, I’ve had GM cars do 250k and still running and on original engine and head.
3k for a 14 year old Astra. The world has truly gone mad.
I was thinking the same thing . Before COVID this car would cost you £800
@@leonpalmer2429 Adsatly I sold my Astra Elite 1.9 CDTi 57 plate which forgetting about the VXR is the top of the range with 118,000 Xmas 2019 for £940 with a full MOT. If I had kept hold of it another 6 months probably got nearer £1500 but you don't know covid a few months later would send cars up in price but there is also greedy bastards who now ask too much for cars.
Matt you should buy a paint thickness checked device they are like 50 quid, but you can check whilst filming the videos if it the car has been repainted, just a thought!
£1,100 for a 14 year old astra doesn't sound cheap to me. suppose it has low milage
What about 3 grand then 😂😂😂😂
"99 problems but the clutch ain't one"
Man I love this channel. Keep at it Matt
Under £3k? Any repairs/servicing won't break the bank. A good run around for young single or a family. Will sell quickly.
I owned 2 of these Astra H's, both silver, both SXI trim they were both great cars to drive, first one was 1.7 diesel clutch went at 203k, then bought another some time later this time was 1.6 twinport petrol, was very quick for what it was, only got rid as lost control at a roundabout in bad weather and broken the rear axle. Definitely would buy another
The twinport was the one!
Astra for 1k cheap??? How much are those trashcans selling for? Thought that these unreliable junks were somewhere between £300 and unsellable scrapyard donation.
All that gunk in the oil filler cap is down to short journeys to the shops and back and the blocked breather pipe is probably testament to that
I bought a 250 quid Astra pre covid nonsense
I bought an Astra Twintop 1.6 2007 with 58k on it last year for £1450.
Its a tricky old thing but when its working its great fun with the roof down.
Barely noticeable that spray job!
I’ve got a 2010, 1.6 petrol, estate version here in Spain with FSH and 238,000 kilometres on the clock and see no reason to sell it. Looks nice for its age in gunmetal grey with alloys. Only wish it had a 6 speed gearbox for the motorways
Why the hell would you give £1100 for that heap of crap I wouldn't pay £1100 when you repair it lol great viewing as always
That’s why he’s the car dealer and you’re not
I know Vauxhalls tend to get a bad reputation, but i have always found them to be decent value for money and good workhorses and comfortable suspension. Fords of course do drive better