They became popular due to the successful configuration of hatchbacks and were incredibly widespread throughout Europe. Success was initially guaranteed when the first Opel Astra series went on sale in 1991. A big role was played by the ease of maintenance and excellent maintainability of these cars, because spare parts cost about the same as components for an economy class car. In addition, the Opel Astra gave its owner excellent comfort and at the same time was extremely wear-resistant, supplied with an economical engine and developed a decent speed on motorways.

Auto parts and progress

Over time, the development of this series offered more and more high-tech and modern solutions. Due to the reliability of the nodes, the Opel Astra began to be actively used as a corporate transport (taxi in Germany, for example). At the same time, spare parts rose in price very insignificantly, although "children's sores" appeared - the hub quickly wore out (bearing failure meant a serious repair in terms of money) and the shock absorber struts weakened noticeably.

Spare parts and "PORT3"

The PORT3 store makes servicing the Opel Astra easier and more accessible. Our catalog contains all the necessary materials for the repair and maintenance of these cars.

We offer:

• Original and non-original auto parts Opel Astra

Simple navigation will reduce the time required to complete the application. By searching for a part by code, you can find the part you need in a matter of seconds. In addition, you can use the services of our manager, who can help in placing an order.

• Expendable materials

Glow plugs, spark plugs, pads and much more can now be purchased from the comfort of your home. All spare parts for Opel Astra can be bought by placing an order directly from your computer.

• Body parts

Thanks to "PORT3" search for items such as hood, fender, headlight, molding, etc. will not be difficult. Affordable prices and fast delivery will help restore the car's appearance in the shortest possible time.

Also, the site of the PORT3 store offers a wide selection of oils, batteries, etc. for a specific series of Opel Astra cars (F, G, H, J).

We sell auto parts wholesale and retail. The possibility of cooperation on a contractual basis and a flexible system of discounts will provide your service station, store or auto club with timely delivery of any spare part at the most favorable price.

“If you stand in the forest and listen, you can hear how Opel is rotting”, “any German car eventually turns into an Opel”. Even about Chinese cars they didn’t make up as many witticisms as they did about Opel! Are they really that bad? We understand, using the example of the review "Opel Astra N" of the last generation.

Varieties of the Opel Astra H

In the Russian market, Astra H is found in the form of a sedan, a three- and five-door hatchback and a station wagon, as well as a coupe-convertible with a hard convertible top. Which option to choose is a matter of needs. But obviously the three-door hatch is less practical than the station wagon. Yes, and fits into a sedan more than a five-door hatchback.

In terms of space for passengers, the sedan and the station wagon are the same. In the "short" Astra GTC, the ceiling is lower (presses on the head) and the knees do not roam. The manhole is also inconvenient.

A five-door hatch won't provide the sedan's space. The wheelbase with the three-door is the same, and passengers will only win a place over their heads and a separate entrance through their own door.

There is a difference in terms of driving between "Asters" with different body types: short ones go easier and more mischievous than long ones.

Engines and transmissions Opel Astra H

Cars officially imported and sold in Russia were equipped with only 1.4 gasoline engines; 1.6 and 1.8 liters. If you see diesel options, these are gray imports. Their service cost is higher, the details will have to be looked for abroad. Therefore, do not fool your head with exoticism and take the options studied.

There are also three transmissions: a "handle" for all engines, a robot for 1.4 and 1.6, as well as a hydromechanical automatic for the top engine 1.8. Better to take a "handle" or automatic transmission - no robots. You are tormented by driving on adaptation (optimization of the electronic unit to changing clutch thickness) and changing clutches.

In addition, Opelev's EasyTronic has earned a reputation for being "stupid." Switching times are long, illogical; the ride is ragged, rough. It's annoying and hard to get used to.

Complete set

The set of options is typical:

• everywhere air conditioning, less often climate control;
• steering wheel music control in versions starting from the middle;
• in the top versions there is navigation, although it is of little use. Free applications in your smartphone know and can do more and work faster.

Of the specific equipment - non-fixed steering column turn signal levers. It is difficult to get used to them even after many months of driving, and at first they generally dim the light. Orange illumination of instrument scales for an amateur.

Salon of most Russian "Asters" fabric or combined (fabric + leatherette). The fabric is not very easily soiled and durable, you cannot say that about the combined one. Dermatine inserts crack, sometimes not reaching up to 100 thousand km.

Real leather is found as an option for the "sports salon". Buyers of the remaining versions - either in the studio for a banner, or put up with a combined finish.

Operation Opel Astra H

Astra H was produced in Russia for a record long time - until 2015. During this time, all the garage masters have studied it well, and the shops have gotten used to carrying a huge range of duplicate spare parts. In general, there will be no problems with servicing even in remote corners of Russia.

The flip side of the popularity and minus of the Opel Astra is the interest of the hijackers. She is taken away for analysis, so you need to think about safety in advance.

Pros and cons of "Opel Astra"

“Hearing how Opel is rotting” is unlikely to work. Both imported and localized machines are welded and painted well, there were no massive complaints about corrosion. If there are signs of corrosion, then they are probably the result of a crooked body repair after an accident. The car itself should not rot.

Much more complaints about the durability of the body panels. There are sagging driver's doors. Trunk lids on hatchbacks can knock due to dry seals. All this is treated by adjusting the hinges, locks and replacing the seals. Uncritical, but worth paying attention to when choosing.

To close the body theme, be sure to say about the rubber "lip" under the front bumper. In theory, it works for aerodynamics, in fact it flies off after contact with curbs. Dealers know this, so they offered the owners to dismantle this rubber band, which many used. If you see a bumper with a live "lip", then the former owner or pedant, or recently changed the bumper assembly.

There are few questions to the steering racks. Leaks and backlash are not typical for them. There are no complaints about the brake system: you only need to change the pads and discs according to the regulations / wear. A normal resource with adequate operation is 100-150 thousand km.

What can not be said about the manual transmission. She doesn't like torque. The manual transmission on the Astra H is old in design, the engines, on the contrary, are modern and "torque". They were not trained for such a mechanic, so accelerated wear and crumbling of bearings became a massive problem. And this could lead to damage to the transmission housing. Craftsmen got the hang of installing on the "Astra" boxes from related "Chevrolet". This already smacks of changes in the design of the car and unnecessary questions when registering with the traffic police.

With motors - boredom. Separate "sores" "Opel Astra" can be found in careless owners, but in general, gasoline aspirated engines are the most problem-free thing in Astra H. To leave 200+ thousand km without overhaul, it is enough:

• timely change the oil and timing belt;
• adjust the valves every 60-100 thousand km;
• clean the throttle valve from time to time.

How much is "Opel Astra"

On the secondary housing for the "Opel Astra N", on average, they ask 365 thousand rubles. 2008 sedan with a 1.8 engine; Manual transmission and a mileage of 148 thousand km can be taken for 305 thousand rubles:

Five-year "ashki" are given on average for 542 thousand. For half a million there was an Opel with a 1.6 engine; Manual transmission and only 45 thousand km mileage:

What to look for when examining

Optimal to look for "Astra" with a top engine 1.8 and a real machine. This is, albeit an age-old, but a sturdy unit from Aisin, tolerant of thermal loads. With a timely oil change and moderate driving, the units run both 200 and 300 thousand km.

In the cabin, look at the performance of all keys. The weak point of the Astra H was the CIM module, aka the module for connecting the entire console. Everything that you see on the panel is tied to its work, and not only (standard anti-theft, for example). Therefore, if the steering column switches or buttons on the panel do not work, it is better to strain.

The central locking can fail due to the design of the front door: firstly, the wires are frayed, and secondly, the microswitches of the lock. If, when slammed, the lock will work by itself, the microswitches for replacement.

Sedans and station wagons need to be diagnosed especially carefully on the basis of the suspension. Firstly, they are heavier than the hatcht by a good half a centner. Secondly, they load more into them. This is a sentence to both springs and elastic bands in the beam (bushings).

Problems of "Astra N" on the secondary housing

To show the problems with which "Ashki" are sold, we will give a couple of examples. The first version of the 2007 release:

The body is black, toning, "eyelashes" on the headlights. Probably, the car was owned by a young and hot man, which means that we need to take a closer look. Watching the report:

The declared and estimated mileage does not coincide, there are fines, there are restrictions on registration and two accidents. We pass by and look for something else.

The second option is even worse than the previous one. Among the problems of the Opel Astra are two accidents, a duplicate PTS and a bail.

Take it or not

The Astra H is not a bad car. Both in quality and in performance. He is not ashamed to look, he is not ashamed to travel and is equipped. When choosing, pay attention to cars of 2013-2015 years of release with a 1.8 engine and automatic transmission, one or two owners and a clean history of operation. It will turn out to be a little more expensive than the options tested above, but you will be calm.

Text: Vladimir Andrianov

Have you had any experience with Opel cars? What problems did you encounter while operating the machine? Let us know in the comments below the article.

The timing belt on these engines is changed according to the regulations every 90,000 km (along with the tension roller), but in rare cases it can break by 50,000 km. The pump usually changes at every second belt change.

There are no reliable statistics on diesels, since such cars rarely come to official services for maintenance. But it is worth mentioning the weak fuel equipment and the need to often (every 50,000 km) change the particulate filter or fork out for "snag", if the previous owner has not done so yet.

Transmission

There are no questions to the ITUC. The clutch is unlikely to have to be changed up to 120,000 - 130,000 km.

There are much more problems with automatic transmissions. The engines 1.4 and 1.6 are equipped with the "robot" Easytronic, which turned out to be not without sin. It happened that his electronic control unit broke down, which changes in assembly. In addition, the masters recommend adjusting the "robot" clutch every MOT (15,000 km). During the ride, the driven disc is erased, and its point of contact with the basket is slowly shifting (due to abrasion of the disc), but the controller, which doses the fuel supply, does not know about the shift of the point of contact and supplies the wrong amount of fuel. As a result, the gearbox does not work properly, accelerating clutch wear. If you regularly perform this procedure, then the clutch in the "robot" will calmly cross the line of 100 00 km.

The 1.8 is equipped with a classic hydromechanical "automatic" Aisin. The box is often let down by the cooling system. Its oil pipes pass through the radiator, but have weak plating. As a result, the tubes burst, the oil mixed with antifreeze, after which both the box itself and the radiator "died". In the risk group, cars of 2005-2007, Opel changed radiators for them free of charge, but dealers did not always agree to repair or change boxes at their own expense. In general, if you bought a car with a 1.8 liter engine, watch the color of the antifreeze in the tank: it began to grow cloudy (brown) - urgently go to the dealer to replace the radiator, automatic transmission oil pipes and change the oil in the box.

Suspension

In the undercarriage at the front, the weak point is the thrust bearings, which simply rot. Their "cups" are closed with plastic lids, under which water accumulates. During the warranty period, the problem was solved at the expense of Opel. In the steering rack, the main problem is in the ends of the steering rods, which begin to knock when the steering wheel is turned already at runs of 30,000 - 45,000 km. The rail itself, if you do not abuse pits and potholes, will last up to 100,000 - 150,000 km.

Often the owners ended up on decent money because of a penny part - the ABS sensor, which, like the thrust bearings, rotted. This happened in all major cities due to road chemistry. The trouble is that the sensor is assembled with a hub and bearing. The rear shock absorbers usually flow as early as 60,000 km, but the front ones are not earlier than 100,000 km. Levers and silent blocks can boast of special survivability, which are unlikely to have to be changed before 150,000 km.

The fifth generation Opel Astra with the letter K debuted in 2015, when the brand was still owned by General Motors. Then, in 2017, it was bought by the PSA concern. Despite the fact that the French are promptly trying to implement their technologies, the life cycles of Astra and Insignia have not yet ended and it is economically unprofitable to transfer them to new platforms with all the attendant consequences. Moreover, the restyling of the model was started by GM specialists even before the change of leadership. As a result, the updated model was released in July 2019, and the new generation on the French EMP2 platform should not be expected until 2021. You can distinguish the new product from its predecessor by the front part. Instead of a double chrome trim, the radiator grille received two single ones. The central air intake has become slightly larger and received a pronounced trapezoidal shape. On the sides of it are other recesses with fog lights. Among other things, to reduce drag, the front section is equipped with grille shutters, with the upper and lower sections being separately controlled. In addition, the manufacturer has installed a variety of anti-turbulence guards under the underbody and re-shaped the rear suspension arms. As a result, the car received the best drag indicator among its direct competitors. The hatchback has a Cd of 0.26 and the estate's 0.25. The cabin has also undergone several changes. A new dashboard is located in front of the driver's eyes. It is distinguished by a virtual section in the center, which is responsible for the speedometer readings. On the center console, you can see the eight-inch touchscreen of the new infotainment system.

Dimensions (edit)

Opel Astra is a five-seater Golf class model. There are two body options available: a five-door hatchback and a station wagon. In the first case, the car is 4370 mm long, 1871 mm wide, 1485 mm high and 2662 mm between the wheelsets. The station wagon is 332 mm longer and 25 mm higher. The car is based on the General Motors D2XX platform. She has a semi-independent chassis layout. McPherson struts in front, and a resilient torsion beam in the back. The French have re-tuned the shock absorbers to improve comfort. At an additional cost, an optional sports package with reduced ground clearance and tighter struts will be available.

Specifications

Opel Astra engines also inherited from the previous owner of the company. The petrol line consists of two motors. The base unit is a 1.2-liter inline turbocharged triple, available in three versions: 110, 130 and 145 horsepower. The gearbox is exclusively mechanical six-speed. Alternatively, you can opt for a 1.3-liter engine with a similar layout. It is capable of delivering up to 145 horses and is equipped with a continuously variable variator. For heavy fuel lovers, a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder unit is available. There are 105 and 122 horsepower versions to choose from. The younger versions come only with a mechanical transmission, while the older ones can be equipped with a classic hydromechanical automatic with 9 steps.

Video

To answer this question, we decided to ride the Astra-N, which they continue to sell along with the new one, the one under the letter J. Moreover, we assigned this to the tallest editorial staff member: we need to find out if the permanent increase in size justifies itself.

MODERN CLASSIC

How she looks like?

"Why did you take an old car?" - an overly familiar neighbor met me on the doorstep. Of course, with the release of the next generation, the predecessor model almost immediately begins to look slightly outdated - especially if the appearance of the heiress is fundamentally different, as is the case with the Astra. But personally, I strongly disagree with my neighbor. Like almost all of our editorial staff, as well as friends, acquaintances and relatives, who during this time managed to come into contact with the car. Moreover, in the 3-door body "Astra-N" even today seems to be more in line with the sporting spirit of the city "lighter" than its plump heiress.

However, I can’t say that the sedan looks as organic, I can’t see it too clearly, as if hastily fastened the “tail”. Nevertheless, thanks to the correctly found proportions - thanks to the base increased to 2.7 m - the car does not cause such rejection as the early experiments of designers in the field of creating such sedans. Recall, for example, the first "Symbol" or "Peugeot 206 Sedan".

Pretty soon, the practical advantage of both the body shape in general and the sedan in particular came to light. The rear window, for obvious reasons, does not need a "janitor", and it is not at all necessary to visit the car wash even after a 200-kilometer country trip in the rain - the white sedan looks pristine from ten steps. And even mirrors practically do not lose their ability to reflect reality.

From a fairly high ground clearance, the sedan seems slightly "ankle". However, the decent ground clearance pleased me throughout our acquaintance - it is difficult to find a curb in the city that will begin to grind the crankcase protection. And winter trips to the Sergiev Posad region proved that on good tires, you can safely follow crossovers in a rut a third of a wheel deep. Miracles do not happen, but you can "plant" a sedan only when you yourself feel that you should not move further alone.

Special thanks to the bi-xenon headlights. They not only look dapper, but also have excellent low beam and stunning high beam: when, in addition to turning the curtain of the main headlight, an additional 55 W halogen is connected - in the winter forest you feel like a king.

LOT MORE!

What is she like inside?

In the salon, I settled down pretty quickly. In addition to musical accompaniment, it was possible to entertain oneself in Astra-N by telephone conversations through the standard audio system, and by laying the optimal route, and by getting acquainted with the menu of the on-board computer, which, among other things, manages the distribution of air flows.

Until recently, all this was in a fairly long list of additional equipment. But in the spring, a new price list appeared - all versions have risen in price by 5,000 rubles, and of the options they left only three packages assigned to each of the equipment versions, and bi-xenon headlights. By and large, my only regret is the impossibility of ordering ESP. Because other conveniences are not too pleasing. Luke rubbed the top of my head if I tried to straighten my back. Navigation, unlike that of Insignia and Korsa, lacks a Russian-language interface and is not as detailed as we would like. And the leather seats, on which it was, let's say, not very pleasant to sit in winter and summer, I would gladly prefer the standard "Cosmo" upholstery, where the role of leather is played by its high-quality imitation, and at the points of greatest contact with the body you find "breathing" fabric ...

I could not get used to quickly turn off or turn on the air conditioner at speed - there is no separate button, and distracting from the road is more expensive for me. At 190 cm tall, I definitely lacked the lower position of the seat cushion, and not only because of the sunroof - when I fully straightened, I found the sun visors in front of my eyes. For six months, I could not find the optimal driving position - I had to choose between back comfort and visibility.

But there were no complaints about most of the controls, including the leather-trimmed steering wheel of a section suitable for my hands, as well as the automatic transmission selector that walked strictly in a straight line. If it were not for the inclusion of the air conditioner through the on-board menu, the ergonomics of the driver's seat, I could call exemplary. This is not "Insignia" for you, where the number of buttons from habit can get a headache.

The sound insulation, outstanding for the "golf" class, is also impressive - even on the studded "Hakkapeliitte-7" at 100 km / h in the cabin you can hear a neighbor muttering under the nose. I was also pleased that the interior warmed up at -15 ° C overboard already by the seventh or eighth minute of the trip, and thanks to the parking sensors and good visibility, reverse maneuvering did not create any problems. The only pity is that the sensors could only be heard - unlike, say, Volkswagen, the color monitor does not duplicate them.

HEART DON'T AGE

How does she ride?

The duet of a 1.8-liter 140-horsepower "four" and "automatic", in which there are only four steps, I have optimism, who managed to get hooked on a "turbo" in a small volume and newfangled "de-es-ge", of course, did not call. But time passed, and little by little I began to remember the forgotten delights of the classic combination - a guaranteed winter start-up, quick warm-up while driving and even the ability to "anneal". Yes, do not be surprised, in comparison with the new "Astra" its predecessor in the face of dirt in no case will hit.

I can responsibly declare that it is too early to discount the time-tested 1.8-liter engine and 4-speed automatic transmission. Thanks to the "Sport" button, the automatic transmission maintains a lower gear, and the engine reacts much more energetically to the position of the throttle valve, and under certain circumstances these two are more agile than the new duo. After all, the 6-speed "automatic" of the modern sister is inclined to save fuel, and therefore quickly engages the top gear. And if you urgently need to accelerate, say, from 60 km / h, a second or even more delay is guaranteed to you, while the 4-mortar works without annoying hesitation.

In addition, the "old" car, as my neighbor thinks, the car is more friendly with bends than the "Astra-J" - the rolls are less pronounced, and the steering wheel is a little more informative. Nobody demands such qualities from a family sedan, and yet its potentialities cannot but rejoice.

With uniform movement, even in combination with a 4-speed "automatic", which on suburban highways oh, how much lacks 5th gear (at 100 km / h the tachometer shows 3000 rpm), from the 1.8-liter "Ecoteka" you can achieve a consumption of 7-7.5 liters per 100 km. But it is worth making a couple of overtaking or getting stuck in a traffic jam, as the engine begins to show a remarkable appetite. Nevertheless, the average fuel consumption of 11.5 liters, provided that 80% of the mileage fell on Moscow, including the winter one, can be called more than acceptable.

About half of the gas stations were on the Ai-92. In winter, with a more accurate, half-pedal maximum, driving the car loses a little in dynamics. But it consumes almost the same amount of cheaper gasoline as more expensive gasoline. If you hurry, then the 7% difference in price between the 92nd and the 95th will no longer cover the fuel consumption, which in this case increases by 10-12%.

WHERE IS HIS BUTTON?

What does she carry?

It is generally accepted that the hatchback is a priori more functional than the classic sedan. However, I calmly loaded the stroller into the separate trunk of the "Astra", and my wife and daughter without any hesitation sat on the sofa, where, moreover, there are standard isofix mounts for a baby seat. Moreover, in addition to the stroller, a 2-week supply of provisions could easily fit into the hold. And a jar of lightly salted cucumbers that spilled by chance revealed another plus of the trunk separated from the living compartment - we learned that the incident had occurred only when we opened the lid.

However, there were also reasons to grumble. The trunk opening button is located exactly in the middle of the center console - it is extremely inconvenient to reach into the interior with packages in your hands. There is no separate button for the trunk lid on the remote control, but if you hold the central locking unlock button for more than 3 seconds, the hold can also be unlocked remotely. But the trouble is - in the cold, the remote control did not always react the first time. I had to reach for the key in the salon again, soiling my trousers.