What can I say, because a lot has been said about this car? Let me tell you a short story:
The glorious day of March 8, 2015 was approaching … And I dug my nose into the ground, studied and compared the technical characteristics of all different cars, looking for a thread within 1,000,000 rubles. SUVs, class C, D and E sedans, hatches, both new and used, not older than 2-3 years, of all brands were considered. As you can imagine, I've lost my mind a little. As a result, the circle narrowed down to the new Mercedes A, BMW 1, Opel Astra GTC and (she really liked it .. so far) KIA Sportage diesel, (diesel is my only adjustment, because 2.0 aspirated gasoline for SUV ... too vegetarian car turns out, and in the gasoline line of engines nothing more powerful goes to Russia). There were no diesel sportages left in stock at dealers and therefore contender number 4 dropped out of the race (I did not regret it at all). In general, everything that united the remaining 3 cars was one class and 1.6 turbo engines; in other respects, these are quite different cars from each other. I note that the characteristics, equipment with options were studied to the details (so that cars would come out within about the same price) and then a test drive was passed, and ... in the category of the best price, equipment, handling, practicality and beauty, the Opel Astra GTC won.
Strengths:
Weak sides:
About cons: one hundred-oh-oyki-and-and! Well, what a "designer!" decided to make them so big and split them in two at the bottom by inserting a window into this “crotch”?! like a loophole, shoot back from enemies if you see them through it. Pedestrians, but what's there Kamaz racks easily cover from view. In some situations, the head and neck have to be moved like a dove when walking, just so that it does not become a habit.
Review of Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo (Opel Astra) 2014
Good day to all visitors of this site! Bought this car for my daughter, because. I myself don’t need the car yet (I live and work in Vietnam - I go on vacation once a year in my homeland), but when I’m on vacation I use the car unlimitedly. The review turned out to be great (I myself did not expect such masturbation from myself, therefore, after writing it, I divided it into parts and who needs which part for such information and read.
Choice and purchase:
I chose the brand of car myself, my daughter only chose the body type - I leaned towards the hatchback, it is more practical, but the sedan is so sedan, which I do not regret, because. the trunk in the sedan is much larger than in the hatch, well, the sedan looks somehow more impressive or something. Regarding the choice of a car brand, I needed a C class, an automatic (not a DSG or similar robots), not a Japanese or a Korean (the soul does not lie), the presence of a dealer in Syktyvkar is the nearest city (330 km) where there are off-the-shelf auto industry dealers. The price offer and reliability of the car also play an important role. The previous car was an Opel Corsa D 1.2l robot 2008gv, bought in 2001 in St. Petersburg with a mileage of 60tkm (bought for my wife and daughter, but I also drove and drove 1800km from St. Petersburg myself) sold with a mileage of 108tkm. So, there were no problems with the Opel Corsa, except for consumables (oil, filters, brake pads) and when examining the suspension at the dealer’s office for 90tkm, they said that the suspension was normal, although the machine had seen all sorts of roads. Yes, and I also did the adaptation of the setting point on the robot every 15k km, this procedure can be done if you have a dealer scanner, which only the dealer has. In general, all roads, taking into account the above requirements, led to OPEL. At first I wanted to order a car and wait 4-6 months, but the dealer in Syktyvkar had a car in stock, in which, to my requirements, only the armrest between the front seats was missing and the color was not black metallic, but brown (mahogany. As a result, an Opel Astra sedan was bought 1.4AT (140 hp) in Anjoy configuration plus a package with dual-zone climate control, heated seats and steering wheel and buttons on this very steering wheel (cruise and radio). and not a blonde, but they sold her rugs for 7tr), when examining the car, she found a small scuff on the front bumper, for which the first MOT was provided for free, and the scuff was then eliminated with a regular polish.
Strengths:
Weak sides:
Review of Opel 1800 (Opel Astra) 2013
Review of Opel Astra Sports Tourer 1.4 Turbo (Opel Astra) 2013
I already mentioned the acquisition of a new Astra Tourer in my review of the previous car - the Vectra S Caravan. Now the mileage has already reached 7,500 km, I think you can tell something about the machine, it may be useful to those who are considering it as a candidate for purchase.
As for the main motivation for buying a new car, I already wrote at the end of the review about the Vectra, I will not repeat myself. I can only say that among the pragmatic reasons for choosing the “station wagon” body, it was also important that the car (like all the Asters station wagons sold by us) was originally assembled at the GM plant in England with a small nodal assembly in Kaliningrad. And why exactly Astra in general - a very good (if not the best in this class) price-quality ratio played a role here, and the fact that he already imbued with well-deserved respect for the Opel brand in his previous cars. Yes, and I rented an Astra of this generation last year, drove 1,500 km in Austria - in principle, I liked it.
I’ll also add that if by the time of purchase (January 2014) a Skoda Octavia station wagon of the latest generation A7 had appeared on sale, I would definitely take it (albeit 150-200 Krub more expensive). But ... the prospects for their sales were uncertain then, the dealers mumbled that “we don’t know anything, they don’t tell us, etc.”, so I decided not to miss seasonal discounts and at the end of January I purchased a subject at a price of 720 Krub in deep sky blue metallic color , from available ones, restyling of 2013, in the Enjoy package with the Enjoy plus additional package. The latter, in addition to the so-called “2-zone climate control”, which is unimportant for me, included very useful things: a heated leather steering wheel (!), radio control on the steering wheel, cruise control - and all this goodness for only 15Kr surcharge . In general, this equipment completely suited me, in the cabin they offered Cosmo for the same price, but with an atmospheric engine 1.6 in 115ls - on reflection, I decided that I should change xenons, rain and light sensors and chrome-plated trinkets with LEDs for frankly weak dynamics not worth it.
Strengths:
- Price quality
- Design
- Dynamics
- Reliability (so far)
- Lack of attention of traffic police and hijackers
Weak sides:
- tight at the back
- Some flaws in ergonomics (see review text)
- Small washer reservoir
- The windshield is extremely weak - after a run of 7500 km it looks like 75,000
Review of Opel Astra Sports Tourer 1.4 Turbo (Opel Astra) 2013 Part 2
Greetings to all!
Well, almost a year and a half behind, already 18,000 km on the odometer. The car runs and works as it should. I’ll start right away with the failures that happened during the reporting period (year), I must say, not very serious ones. Nevertheless:
1. At the end of 2014, the antifreeze leak began to intensify (about which I initially decided that this was a consequence of underfilling at the factory and the release of air jams). There was also a smell from under the hood. The total topping up to 10,000 km was already about a liter. Therefore, when traveling to the first MOT, it was indicated that the coolant and the smell were declining. The verdict of the inspection by the engineer under warranty was a coolant pipe leak, a warranty case (and what else!). They fixed it in half a day of work - it took a decent disassembly to get to this very pipe. Since then, 8 t.km. - coolant level is ok.
Strengths:
Weak sides:
Review of Opel Astra GTC 1.4 Turbo (Opel Astra) 2012
Review of Opel Astra 1.7 CDTI (Opel Astra) 2013
Everyone knows that Henry Ford invented the world's first conveyor belt. But that was in the USA. And the first conveyor in Europe was installed at the factories not of Mercedes or Volkswagen, but at Opel. The flow of Opels poured into the European market. Historically, the "eagle" produced cars for the general consumer, with an emphasis on budget and affordability. There is no talk of any luxury to this day.
My acquaintance with the brand began around 1991/92, when the father of a classmate and friend brought an Opelkadet from Germany of some dense year. At that time, I thought that this is a separate brand of car and it is written together)). Opelkadet sounded worse to me then than Rolls-Royce today. Actually, I never saw the car. But I heard enough ... And in 1997, my father brought Opel Omega Caravan 2.3d 1992 from Poland. Restyling. Rare dark green. The car looked like a spaceship in the Belarusian expanses at that time, which was subsequently also cosmically hit in the face, and then safely rotted away. Little is preserved in the memory of the car. I only remember the royal feeling in the passenger seat during the first trip, its price was $ 5500, and that the numbers on the motor were broken ...
But a billion years have passed since then. Today is a trip to Germany. 800 km there. 800 - back. 2 drivers. Me and my colleague Leonardo. In the car 4 people + trunk to the eyeballs. Oh yes… Opel Astra J 2013 Motor 1.7d 110hp Hatch. 5 doors. White. The owner bought the car new for - 13 thousand euros. The car was taken from the display, so a decent discount was included.
Strengths:
Adequate price / quality ratio.
Weak sides:
Numerous minor bugs.
Review of Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo (Opel Astra) 2011
Good day everyone!
Decided to write a review about the Opel. This is the first German in the family before that were the Japanese (Toyota) and Fiat. Opel bought after the sale of Toyota Auris. Reviews about this car are here. Astra has been in the family for 2 years. They fought the car for my wife, because she uses it more often, I'm only on the weekends.
What immediately caught my eye on Auris — low landing — relative to Toyota and no second glove compartment — it was very convenient in Toyota, but now I'm used to doing without it. Opel took new in the cabin, COSMO equipment, only the light and rain sensor is missing, everything else is there. In terms of the quality of the interior, sound insulation - Opel is much better than the Japanese - this is my opinion. What else I liked very much in the Opel, and no one writes about it. Thanks to the built-in computer, you can set up the climate control, central locks, rear wiper as you like, set it and forget it.
Strengths:
- Good car
Weak sides:
- High consumption for a 1.4 engine
Review of Opel Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo (Opel Astra) 2012 Part 2
Hello car enthusiasts!
I decided to write a short continuation-addition to the first review ... Although there is not much to write. :)
The car drives me every day, no problems. Everything works, nothing creaks anywhere now. Tfu 3 times!
Strengths:
- Design
- Dynamics
- Comfort
- Reliability
Weak sides:
- Popularity, there are more of them on the roads :)
Review of Opel 1.8 MT (Opel Astra) 2013
After a long and flawless operation of Fedor, comments about which are available here http://avtomarket.ru/my/garage/?c.id=18389&show=opinions, I bought myself a new car called Astra GTS. I will not describe the agony of choice, because they lasted a long time and until I saw Tisha. After looking at it and sitting in it, my hesitation went away completely.
Of course, it is too early to write about the reliability and safety of a car, to share impressions of the appearance is too selfish, so I will compare Tisha with Fedor. Fortunately, they have already appeared in 100 km of run.
Appearance - the car is still rare on the roads, so I catch a look at Tisha regularly. The design is uniquely attractive and here only a person without taste will argue with me. It's amazing how different the base version and GTS are, despite the fact that in the price category they are almost the same. The color range offered on the market is rather poor: black, white and yellow. So you will have to wash the typewriter regularly, unlike the silver one that was on Fedor. Yes, I think that there will be more problems with chips on black.
Strengths:
- chic appearance
Weak sides:
- Sluggish dynamics compared to classmates with the same volume
- bad signal
Review of Opel Astra J GTC (140 l / s. / 1.8 / 5MKPP) (Opel Astra) 2012
Good day, dear motorists! After a run to the Tver province, we have matured a thousand kilometers, and there was inspiration to sketch a few strokes about our new iron friend. This is my second machine and therefore, of course, there will be some comparison with the Corsa. Of course they are different in class, but still. I'll start, probably, with the fact that I planned to be friends with her for about half a year for sure. The machine was in full combat readiness. Another To was completed by 90 thousand, with the replacement of shock absorbers (rear), battery and brake system. I will not hide, no matter how much I like it, and no matter how it suits me in operation, and I will say more - the first car - it will be remembered for a lifetime - I planned to leave in the fall. Yes, and every long-distance outing made me think that I grew out of it, and the soul asks for more power. Everything flows, everything changes.
There were no special problems with the choice, because. already knew that the next car would be German, but who? She was here, somewhat, in disheveled feelings. I looked in the direction of large cars - SUVs, SUVs, but after driving a friend's car, I came to the conclusion - not mine. Such heavy horses are indifferent hard workers. Perhaps, but most likely - this was the feeling after my first baby.
The Audi A4 caught fire, began to reduce the debit with the credit, how to take possession of it, and the decision had already been made, but turning on the brain calculator and calculating how much it would cost me to maintain it, I had to part with this thought ... for a while. And the little wise man said that every person should have a dream. To have something to strive for. And that's right. So, without straining, I just waited and took my time.
Strengths:
- Reliability
- Comfort
- Dynamism
- Maneuverability
- handsome
Weak sides:
- Spraying washer on the windshield in a fan
Review of Opel Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo (Opel Astra) 2012
Hello car enthusiasts!
I bring to your attention a mini-review about the car Opel Astra GTC (J), 1.6Turbo, manual transmission, Sport equipment + packages.
Muk had no choice, because I bought it by accident, bypassing salons when looking for a new car. Initially I wanted a crossover, but when I saw the GTC-shku in the cabin, I realized that it would be my car. It cost 900 sput, taking into account the discount 62000r + the dealer gave floor mats. :)
Strengths:
- Driving pleasure
- beautiful appearance
- Pretty comfortable car (despite the R18)
- Good music "infiniti"
Weak sides:
- Low ground clearance + long front overhang
Review Opel 1.6 (116ls) 6AKPP (Opel Astra) 2012
Good evening everyone. More than 5 months have passed and 8.500 thousand km of the distance traveled on my "turik"
Well, what can I say, there are no complaints about the build quality, there are some little things, but this is a drop in the ocean.
Body — on the body I can say that the metal is good, the amazing shape of the car, which makes you pay attention to yourself, the station wagon looks pretty big, even more than the Mercedes E class. Large thick doors, lighting everywhere, even in the door handles inside, the front small glass in the racks block the view a little, but over time you get used to it and everything is OK.
Strengths:
- capacity
- Appearance
- Complete set
- Quality
Weak sides:
- Automatic blunt
- Small selection of engines
Review Opel Z 2.0 DTJ (96 kW / 130 hp), 6-speed automatic (Opel Astra) 2012
Hello drivers and Opel lovers!
I went to Opel Corsa for 3 years, the warranty is over, I decided to upgrade. A new aster JTC came out, came to the salon, saw, fell in love. I don't like acid colors, but this car looks beautiful in all colors. I chose the most charged version in black, took a 2.0 Turbo diesel, on the machine, the car became 963t.r. The car has everything: from R19 235/45 to navigation and other bells and whistles.
For the first time in my life, I'm buying a car that really has nothing to complain about. I'll start with the design of the car: from the back, the car is like a beautiful sexy girl, the shapes, the taillights are all right, from the front, the muzzle is aggressive and very beautiful, especially the headlights. By the way, who decides to buy, take it with bi-xenon headlights and LED running lights, they are very different from simple kits. Interior trim at the level of Mercedes, the Germans know how to make high-quality, chrome door sills, instrument panel lighting for five plus, USB output for a USB flash drive, its own good navigation NAVI-600, combined interior.
Strengths:
- Good strong five, I am happy and very satisfied with the car
Weak sides:
Review of Opel GTC 2011 (Opel Astra) 2012
Good afternoon
Ripe, finally, write a review about your car. In general, it is strange that there are no reviews of the new GTC on the site, because this car really deserves attention. I put all the marks to the maximum, but perhaps not all of them are objective. The car is new, on a run-in, so I can only objectively judge the appearance, comfort, and maybe. about driving performance (as far as possible during the run-in, because I haven’t driven “sneakers on the floor” yet :)
So, from lyrics to specifics. There was no choice. in cars just fell in love at first sight. He got me, IMHO, for a very sane money. The car itself is equipped with sports with USB and rear LED headlights in the most expensive color SEASHELL for 749000 (well, this is already taking into account all discounts and bonuses). Opel was not afraid, because. before that, though for a long time, he owned Vectra A and Astra F. I can say that both cars were very worthy representatives of their classes in terms of design, comfort, handling, and ergonomics. Someone will say that they had “bad”, corroded bodies, to be honest, after the nine ... they practically didn’t give me a headache at all, including the bodywork.
Strengths:
- Design
- Comfort
- Controllability
Weak sides:
- Stupid machine, but it can be handled
- While the expense is high
Review of Opel Astra J (Opel Astra) 2010
10.12.2010
After the sale of the previous Astra station wagon again the question arose of buying a new car. Of course, I compared it with other brands, I even wanted a little used one (now I know that this would be the right decision), but working in an Opel car dealership has its advantages, and the car (Astra J) was ordered in March 2010. By July I took it.
A few words about the configuration. As usual, the silver color is the cleanest, as usual the pen. Turbo engine 1.4 about one hundred and forty horses. Average equipment (Opel calls it Enjoy and now includes ESP, a useful thing) and a package with a 2-zone climate and a few little things. This device was assembled one of the first in the Russian Federation, and I understood that this was some kind of experiment. To date, running 19 500km, and the soul asks to talk a little.
Strengths:
- Beautiful and fashionable
- economical
- Controllability
- The price tag is moderate
- Safety at its best
Weak sides:
- Assembly let us down
- heavy body
- low ground clearance
- While reliability leaves a bad impression
Review of Opel Astra (Opel Astra) 1999
Finally, I found the strength and time to write a review of my first typewriter.
So, in March 2007, I got the rights and really wanted to buy a car. I didn’t have any experience in owning cars at all, respectively, knowledge of their technical features, care methods, etc. there were also few. Just then I came across this site and since then I regularly read reviews here and, I think, now I understand something about this topic. Many thanks to everyone who shares information about their machines on the pages of this site.
Let's continue. I didn't have much money at the time. There was no desire to buy an old basin. I went before to 14 uchebke, and how it rolled on another Nexia. Compared with 14 Nexia liked much more, and thus our auto industry has completely disappeared. In principle, the choice was made in favor of Nexia, 2-3 year old, expected to purchase for 200 rubles. Then, unexpectedly, an acquaintance offered me to see Astra, which was sold by his friends. He praised her, especially the machine gun. But the age of the car and my lack of knowledge in cars scared me away from this proposal. Right there, on a wreck, I rolled in a BMW with a gun, and realized that the AUTOMATIC is VESCH !!! At least for a beginner. In general, I went to watch Astrochka, and fell in love with her at first sight. Despite its age, it looked very modern in design, alloy wheels, power mirrors, power steering, comfortable seats ... .. Ride — super (compared to 14 :))) I didn’t want to look at Nexia and decided to take it. Mileage was about 148 t.km, price 230t.r. A friend said that the car is in good technical condition and you just need to change the stabilizer links, but according to him, these are pennies, about 1.5 per pair. I waved my hand and didn't care anymore.
Most of all I like the second gear - sometimes I allow myself to get under way right from it if someone wants to chase at a traffic light. There are few pockets, there is nowhere to put a cell phone. The turn switch and the speed control of the wipers are a super notion. Those who still complain that they cannot turn off the turn or adjust the wipers in time, let them read the instructions, this is all done in an elementary way. But if you don’t read it, it’s hard to do it yourself and you can only swear. In winter, I put a studded Vredestein Ice Track. She showed herself well.
The spikes did not fall out, it is good to steer on asphalt, ice and snow. Regular wheels with five holes on 205/55 R16 discs add a couple of rubles overpayment for tire fitting services and to the cost of the rubber itself compared to 15 radius. Climate control proved to be an unnecessary option, which is a tuned air conditioner. Because in automatic mode, it often does not work the way you want, but manually adjusting the temperature on climate control is much more convenient than on an air conditioner. Seats, plastic, upholstery are excellent. I almost forgot - there is no engine temperature sensor. Chip for an amateur.
A large trunk is also a huge plus .. we recently went on a picnic, so many things were stuffed that we got tired of unloading later ... The interior is assembled qualitatively (as it should be for a German, albeit from Poland :)), ergonomics are excellent, it’s easy to use all available handles without being distracted from the road , I was especially pleased with the AUX input, my player fits perfectly and I don’t need a bunch of disks ... everyone says that regular music sucks, but because. I don’t understand shit about the sound (as probably many who call it sucks), it’s enough for me to get to work quietly listening to Elvis ... the climate works with a bang, right now the weather is getting hot and it’s always cool in the cabin, though with the air conditioning compressor turned on from under the hood is not a very pleasant sound (although Shumka is a separate issue).
On the go, the car is controlled perfectly, though the engine, like on all sawdust, except for the OPC trim levels, is stupid, because of the electronic gas pedal, you understand euro4, but because I don’t like sharp starts at all, then 115 hp is enough for my eyes. I specially chose the izyu, and I drive in manual mode, it’s no different from the mechanics, but it’s much easier to drive. but it’s unpleasant … that’s a good Camry, I’d like this … .. although it costs only 8t.r to make the arches and hood Shumko. at the dealer's office, I think I'll do it soon.
Strengths:
Weak sides:
Show phone
Auto Plaza store offers a wide range of spare parts for used and new OPEL cars. Check with the manager for details and availability. Go to our Avito Store to see more spare parts (link on the right under the phone number and from the bottom under the description of the announcement) Delivery throughout Russia by the Transport Company. Our website address is in the "Contacts" section. We work every day without breaks and weekends from 10.00 to 19.00. Guarantee for goods 21 days
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Capot.wing headlight lights optics front rear bumper, amplifier, bracket, with and without parking sensors, front rear left right driver's passenger passenger hinge door, trunk lid, roof, side member, panel, molding, handle, lining, lock, windshield side window, electric heated rear-view mirror, fender, trim, map, power window, buttons, light control unit, heater, climate control, stove, power windows, headlight, scythe wiring harness, connector, flashlight chip, PTF foglight external internal, main air conditioner radiator, cooling fan with diffuser, manual transmission , manual transmission, automatic, automatic, engine assembly, valve cover, cylinder head, cylinder block, piston, connecting rod, camshaft inlet outlet, crankshaft, oil pan, starter, generator, ignition coil module, fuel rail injector rail, ECU , throttle body, fuel tank pump, egr, manifold. CV joint, backstage, handbrake, console, dash torpedo, stove cabin fan, resistor, passenger airbag airbag, seat chair, radio, brain block, shelf, display, on-board computer, air filter housing, servo drive, mechatronics, twinport, twinport , tropezia, oil pump, pump, timing gears, phase regulator, pulley, crankshaft position sensor, camshaft, pressure, dmv, dpkv, mass air flow sensor, corrugation, lever, beam, subframe, fender liner, locker, casing, pump, wheel disk , fuse block, shock absorber strut assembly with spring, radiator grille, chrome, engine compartment wiring, braid, harness, support, bracket, compressor, jabot, wiper motor, trapeze, tidy, dashboard, doors sedan hatchback coupe caravan station wagon.
Compared to its predecessor, the Opel Astra J Hatchback has become larger in size: length - 4419 mm (+170 mm), width - 1814 / 2013 mm (+61 mm), height - 1510 mm (+50 mm). Wheelbase - 2,685 mm (+71 mm). The track of the front and rear wheels (+56 mm and +70 mm) has increased in the car, which had a positive effect on the handling and stability of the car. Ground clearance - 160 mm. Curb weight - 1 373 kg. Load capacity - 497 kg. The volume of the luggage compartment is 370 / 795 liters. When fully loaded "to the ceiling" this figure is 1,235 liters.
In the Russian market, the 5-door hatch Opel Astra J was offered with four petrol power units. These are naturally aspirated engines of 1.4 and 1.6 liters (100 and 115 hp) and turbocharged engines 1.4 Turbo and 1.6 Turbo (140 and 180 hp). In other markets, the car was available with diesel units ranging from 1.3 to 2.0 liters (95-160 hp). The engines were combined with a 5- or 6-speed "mechanics" and a 6-speed "automatic". Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km / h (depending on the engine) - from 14.2 to 8.5 seconds. The maximum speed is from 178 km/h to 221 km/h. The average fuel consumption is 5.5-6.8 liters for every 100 kilometers.
The 5-door Opel Astra J is built on a Delta II front-wheel drive platform with semi-independent rear and independent front suspension. The front suspension of the car is MacPherson strut. The rear suspension is a combination of a torsion beam with a Watt mechanism. The car was equipped with an adaptive FlexRide chassis, which, working in tandem with the CDC (Dynamic Suspension Control) system, is able to adjust the stiffness of the suspension in real time depending on road conditions. The FlexRide system has three preset modes "Standard", "Sport" and "Comfort", the activation of which changes the algorithm of the suspension, power steering and accelerator pedal.
Opel Astra J was produced in Essentia, Active and Cosmo trim levels. The basic set of options includes exterior mirrors with electrical adjustment and heating, an adjustable steering column, a radio with a CD player, front and side airbags. All proposed versions of the Opel Astra Jay hatchback were equipped with ABS + ESP and standard anti-theft alarms. As an option, customers could order dual-zone climate control, adaptive headlights and an infotainment complex with a 7-inch monitor. In addition, the car was optionally equipped with a blind spot monitoring system, traffic sign recognition and a parking assistant.
The Opel Astra Jay hatch was equipped with passive and active safety systems, including body parts with programmed deformation, a rigid roll cage, front, side and window airbags, active head restraints and an emergency pedal release system.
Owners of the fourth-generation 5-door Opel Astra J note a worthy combination of price and quality. The car is distinguished by high-quality assembly and attractive appearance, acceptable accelerating dynamics and handling. The soundproofing in the area of the wheel arches causes criticism: even on roads with high-quality coating, the interior of the car is “poured” with strong noise. Claims are caused by brake mechanisms: the calipers rattle so loudly that they cause discomfort to passengers. When operating the machine, there are problems with the electronics.
The move from the Russian market for all budget GM models was interrupted by a very good start of the Astra J. Despite internal competition with the very successful Chevrolet Cruze and the Astra H predecessor, which continued to be produced, the car, as they say, “went”. The combination of modern appearance, excellent driving performance, modern turbo engines and a very high-quality interior attracted both fans of the brand and people who had previously avoided Opel.
The undoubted advantages of the model include a wide model range of sufficiently powerful atmospheric motors. Some people “pecked” at the appearance of new six-speed automatic transmissions and excellent fuel efficiency ratings. In general, it was definitely a breakthrough in the world where the VW concern was firmly entrenched with its cars of this class. Opel made a relatively cheap, comfortable and advanced car.
In this generation of Asters, configurations with "downsize" 1.4-liter turbo engines and automatic transmissions received a clear advantage. This time, the brand's conservatism gave way to the latest trends. All these factors, as well as traditionally adequate prices for new cars, a wide selection of bodies and the fame of inexpensive cars to operate, allowed Astra J to keep the company's cash register even after the market was attacked by B ++ class sedans. But after 2014, sales ceased, and the next generation of the Astra K model was not officially presented to us.
In the photo: Opel Astra (K) "2015–present
In the world, a happy future for the model was practically guaranteed. An almost exact copy of the European Astra was sold in the USA as the Buick Verano, and there it was with a naturally aspirated 2.4 liter engine (182 hp) and a turbocharged two-liter engine with 253 hp. And in China, the Buick Excelle XT / GT showed excellent sales with more familiar European atmospheric engines of 1.6 and 1.8 liters and a supercharged 1.6. There he repeatedly won first place in sales among foreign manufacturers.
In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2009–present The total circulation of the model over the years of production is more difficult to calculate, but together with the Chevrolet Cruze platform, it is estimated at millions of cars. So, given all the clones and "relatives", this model is one of the most common cars in its class. At least this fact suggests that it was well received not only by us. And knowledgeable people will be told that for Astra J there should be a rich selection of spare parts from various suppliers in different markets and an extensive market for “used” components around the world.
Body
Like most relatively "young" cars, you can not be afraid of serious "natural" corrosion. Relatively rare cases of peeling of the paintwork are typical for the first installation batches of cars assembled in St. Petersburg and very early cars. For some reason, the problem mostly affected three-door hatchbacks. Sometimes a defect happens on later cars in other bodies, but you should not look for some kind of system in this. It is rather a marriage that was eliminated precisely as a marriage. It was lucky that the body was well galvanized and easily endured a couple of months in a “bare” state.
Front wing
8 874 rubles
As a standard, paint peels off on the front fenders and in the front part of the threshold due to “sandblasting”, and this happens with a run of less than a hundred thousand kilometers. In general, paint on galvanized panels holds worse than on ordinary steel sheet, and a similar defect can be found even on very well-painted cars, like the Audi A6 in the C5-C6 body, which are difficult to suspect of cheapness and poor assembly. Be that as it may, checking the paintwork for thickness and repainting, as well as body seams for originality, is highly recommended, because the paint layer as a whole is quite thin and is easily damaged by “contacts”. And touch-ups mask more serious accidents.
Features of the geography of the production of the car at one time provided her with a rich selection of Chinese body elements. Now the situation with the availability of body parts has changed to the opposite, the original is greatly lacking. Sometimes it's easier to order imported parts from Buick than from Opel. There are almost no non-original spare parts, and you can not count on cheap body repairs. Used components are still quite expensive, and damaged items will need to be refurbished whenever possible.
In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2012–15 Please note that the anti-corrosion protection of the bottom is poorly made: the surface is only partially covered with impact-resistant mastic, and therefore paintwork defects are found there. Including with already quite extensive under-film corrosion and even in places with loose rust. And if on flat surfaces below they are easily removable, then on the rear arches or at the bottom of the doors it will be noticeably more expensive to remove it. Unfortunately, there are already cars with the initial stage of such a disaster. So it is recommended to carry out anti-corrosion protection measures and not to forget about prevention in the future. Even the best bodywork does not guarantee the absence of corrosion problems after five or six years of operation.
The rest of the body is almost perfect. The locks are strong, even on the back door function perfectly. Doors even on three-door GTC do not require adjustment, the seals work perfectly.
In the photo: Opel Astra GTC (J) "2011–present The headlights, however, are overwritten quite easily, it is better to stick a film on them. The headlight washer nozzle covers also fall off and the wipers peel off, but these problems are typical for most cars.
By the way, about optics. For Astra, front adaptive AFL optics was offered, and it is an order of magnitude better than regular standard headlights. But it was also marked by both the high price of the headlight itself, and the wear of the lens drives themselves and the failure of control systems. The main consumables are body level position sensors, but the lens motors also “get tired” over time, often freezing in extreme positions. Repair, of course, is not provided, but the headlight can be disassembled. Craftsmen will be able to sort it out, there is nothing super complicated in it, but there are problems with spare parts.
In the photo: Opel Astra OPC "2013 Windshield
13 047 rubles
There have been cases of failure of the fuel tank flap drive.
The Pilkington windshield is frankly unsuccessful, it cracks easily and rubs over quickly enough. Especially if you rarely change the brushes and stay without a “washer”. And it also cracks from temperature changes - sometimes you don’t even need airflow from the stove, a bright sun is enough.
Replacing or checking the brushes here requires transferring them to the service mode: after turning off the ignition, you need to move the lever down without removing the key, and the wipers will rise to the service vertical position. By the way, be careful with the trapezoid, it is not cheap and does not differ in strength.
Salon
Salon will appreciate the excellent work of all systems. But there are also disadvantages to be found.
The seats are somewhat weak, compared to premium brands, their wear will be more noticeable. By a run of a hundred thousand, the combined seat trim is already beginning to give out the age of the car with a small cushion drawdown. But the serious wear of the seats and steering wheel speaks, rather, of a mileage of more than 200 thousand kilometers, wound up to a “reasonable” value.
In the photo: Salon Opel Astra J "2009 Buttons and decorative elements may be worn even earlier: plastic does not withstand rough handling. In general, the interior is also characterized by small crickets of the panel, overhead console and skins. They are random in nature, and in most cases were not fixed under warranty (GM service was not particularly friendly).
In the photo: Torpedo Opel Astra (J) "2012–15 The resource of the air conditioning fan is far beyond 200 thousand. The automatic climate control control unit itself is somewhat unsuccessfully implemented: if handled carelessly, the handles can fail.
Power windows can only creak, and distortions and their other problems are rare.
Versions with a heated steering wheel are characterized by an increased load on the “snail” of the steering wheel and have a slightly shorter coating life, this is quite normal. But in winter, this option significantly improves the perception of the car, even if sometimes there are complaints about random failures of the seat heating system.
In the photo: Torpedo Opel Astra Sedan (J) "2012–present On cars with manual transmission, the gear lever becomes very loose over time, usually this indicates a mileage of over 200 thousand, but sometimes the problem occurs much earlier. In general, everything is pretty predictable and boring.
Brakes, suspension and steering
The braking system is far from perfect. Squeaky pads are not so bad, this is a traditional problem of GM cars. But the souring of the fingers of the rear calipers is already an unpleasant thing. If the hand brake has the AutoHold function, then the probability of failure of the drive after four to five years of operation is quite high. And if you do not use the handbrake at all, then its mechanisms turn sour.
I draw your attention to the fact that on the GTC and when choosing the optional 17-inch wheels on the sedan and station wagon, a braking system was installed that would not allow you to put 15 and 16-inch wheels. So only anything larger than 16 inches will do. At the same time, the brakes in such cases squeak more and more often than standard ones. True, and slow down much better.
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The suspension of the car as a whole is simple and has a good resource, but there are several nuances.
The rear semi-independent suspension is equipped with a Watt mechanism for better handling. And in the case of operation in Moscow, it is prone to souring, as a result of which the traction can bend, and the car will become unnecessarily rigid. The beam itself keeps perfectly up to 150-200 thousand mileage around the city, then inexpensive silent blocks usually do not withstand further. She does not like only overloads and dirt roads, and even more so - their combination in one trip.
The front suspension is almost eternal, but there are also nuances. With frequent movement on unpaved and simply dirty roads and a rare washing of arches, the support bearing of the strut suffers. The rear arm support does not like shock loads on rails and tires larger than 18 inches. And if you have a GTC with a steering knuckle, then there are more vulnerabilities, and suspension elements are more expensive.
Front shock absorber
6 120 / 19 621 (adjustable) rubles
Not happy with the resource of shock absorbers. After 50-60 thousand runs on most cars, their efficiency decreases markedly, but they rarely leak, and a complete failure usually occurs after a hundred or more thousand runs. But with a full load on rough roads in older cars, driving is frankly unpleasant.
Adjustable FlexRide, in addition to the same resource features, are characterized by increased sensitivity to shock and a very high price. And repairing the suspension of a simple Astra can be more expensive than repairing the pneumatics of some W220 from the beginning of the century.
The steering is very good. Especially on new motors with which an electric booster is installed. The main thing is not to drive through deep puddles, not to force fords and not to neglect the prevention of contacts at least once every few years. Because the price of a new rail with a gearbox is 160 thousand rubles. The drive itself is noticeably cheaper, about 15-30.
In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2009–12 There are rare cases of steering shaft bearing failure, but mostly on the very first cars. EGUR on machines with atmospheric engines, unfortunately, has a not very successful electric pump. The officially non-replaceable fluid in the amplifier after 60-100 thousand runs is an unpleasant black goo. No wonder pumps fail and racks leak. An oil change at least at 50 thousand miles can significantly extend the life of this expensive unit, and when buying a used Astra J, it is worth checking the condition of the fluid.
Astra J is a boring car, but in the best sense of the word. He does not present any surprises, everything is predictable and expected. At least for now. Let's see what the motors and gearboxes say. But this is in the next part of our review.
The first restyling brought the Opel Astra car not only new bumpers and a radiator grill, but also two new versions - a “charged” three-door OPC and a three-volume Opel Astra Sedan, which I happened to meet in Germany, near Frankfurt.
With the advent of the sedan and the 280-horsepower three-door, the entire Opel Astra family in the J body was assembled. But what about a convertible? A four-seater open car will be shown just about, but it will be called differently - Cascada: with a length of 4.7 meters, it clearly stands out from the C-class format, which Asters belong to.
And “among its own” the new Astra feels fine. Yes, in Europe it sells almost twice as bad as the Volkswagen Golf, but in some markets it outperforms the Ford Focus or Renault Megane. So, the mission of the updated Astra is to catch up with the Golf? There is no longer any talk of overtaking him ...
Trump Opel - the widest range of engines in the class. But these motors are largely outdated, and there is only one novelty so far - a momentary, but noisy two-liter biturbodiesel (195 hp and 400 Nm), which will not be supplied to Russia. And only at the beginning of 2013, a completely new 1.6 petrol turbo engine will appear, developing a torque of up to 300 Nm. Then - a diesel of close working volume, and within a year and a half - a small gasoline engine. In the meantime, the only news from the “motor range” is a tuned 140-horsepower 1.4 Turbo engine, which in Overboost mode produces 10% more torque: 220 Nm.
And, of course, the long-awaited Astra OPC with a 280-horsepower engine. Both Ford Focus ST and Renault Megane RS are weaker! What a pity that I have less than an hour to get acquainted with this beast ...
Astra OPC: a stopwatch is built into the on-board computer, and using an iPhone application, the owner can control a lot of diagnostic parameters
The number of parameters that can be changed manually in Sport mode has been reduced to two on the OPC lighter - there is no separate line for the electric power steering sport mode
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The old Astra OPC was like a tuning one - with a furious "purely asphalt" suspension and very narrow seats, designed as if for 18-year-old youths. The current Astra OPC is already a factory, adult product. I easily settle into low bucket seats, a steering wheel with a diameter reduced by 10 mm falls into my hands - and contrary to fashion, it is round! No unnecessary bevels.
Aerodynamic lift on both axles is approximately zero - with both the conventional rear spoiler (pictured) and the optional double decker
Adjustment of the lateral support is available for both the backrest and the pillow!
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The 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo engine, which appeared back in 2007 on the Opel GT roadster, simply raised the boost pressure. The first gears of the six-speed "mechanics" are made "short" - the second one "ends" before reaching 90 km / h, as if under the hood there are forces of 100, not 280. And you need to switch "wisely" even earlier - firing from 3000-4000 rpm / min, the turbo engine noticeably goes out already by six thousand. Moreover, instead of a sporty roar or rumble, it makes a nasty hoarse sound, as if a very powerful vacuum cleaner is clogged under the trunk floor. Therefore, I can’t believe somehow in the declared six seconds to a hundred.
The seats provide great support for the hips and waist, but the protrusions around the shoulder blades are more decorative.
There is enough headroom in the rear seats, but a tall passenger's knees hit the hard back of the front seats.
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And - no extreme. The steering wheel does not break out of the hands, the efforts on the pedals are only slightly higher than usual. But you look at the speedometer - and there ... Quickly!
And the suspension is good. All three modes of the FlexRide shock absorbers - normal, Sport and OPC - are devoid of both buildup and frank "shaking". All patches and cracks on the asphalt "lighter" goes unnoticed, and only the repetition of the road profile in OPC mode becomes too detailed.
Like all Opel Astra three-doors, the OPC chassis features a front suspension with extended steering knuckles - and therefore a very clean reactive force on the steering wheel. Small twitches from the operation of the limited slip disc differential in the OPC version do not interfere at all
A reversing camera (alas, without dirt protection) finally appeared on the list of options. Screen tips are active. In addition, blind-spot radar, an auto-brake system and an updated camera for traffic sign recognition are now offered. The options will also be available on the Russian market, but mainly for SKD Kaliningrad vehicles.
Four-piston Brembo brakes through a hard pedal hint that they can withstand a lot, and braking "to the floor" requires masculine strength. Stabilization system - with a sport mode and the ability to completely turn off. In general, a harmonious factory product. Wish the exhaust sounded better...
By the way, the original three-door GTC "went" very well in Russia - up to a third of the total Astra sales! In Europe, the picture is different - only 13% of buyers take three-door Asters, but a third prefers the Sports Tourer station wagon. From now on, the choice will be expanded with a sedan, which should take up to 15% of sales in Europe and more than half - in Russia.
Astra OPC has no equal in terms of power and price ratio: for 1 million 150 thousand rubles you can’t buy another 280-horsepower car
But the Opel Astra Sedan is really good! Elegant. Unlike its predecessor, or, say, the Peugeot 408, it doesn't look like a third world do-it-yourself project. Although in the general market "portfolio" of the sedan, including Germany and Spain, Russia and Turkey will account for three-quarters of sales - they made a four-door with an eye on us.
The base Opel Astra Sedan costs 675 thousand rubles, and with a 1.6 engine (115 hp) and an “automatic” - 715 thousand rubles. Prices - approximately at the Focus level
The base of the sedan remained the same as that of the five-door, hence the tightness on the back sofa
The trunk, however, is not the largest - 460 liters versus 560 liters for the same Peugeot 408. There are no buttons or handles on the trunk lid, and you either need to press a key on the key fob or climb into the cabin and look for one of the many buttons on the center console. If we talk about Astras, the Sports Tourer station wagon is much more convenient for transporting goods - it has a 500-liter trunk and a loading height of 11 cm less.
For an extra charge, the Sports Tourer can carry up to four bikes, and the retractable bike rack does not interfere with access to the 500-liter compartment.
For an extra charge, the Sports Tourer can carry up to four bikes, and the retractable bike rack does not interfere with access to the 500-liter compartment.
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But worse, the wheelbase and rear seat position are exactly the same as in a hatchback. And this means that, with my height of 187 cm, I sit down behind “by myself” right next to my knees. Alas, compared to Astra Peugeot 408 or Renault Fluence - limousines ...
Driving settings relative to the hatchback have not changed - the sedan is just as obedient, but without Volkswagen precision, follows the empty steering wheel. The “European” suspension is not particularly rigid, but at the presentation there were cars only with adjustable FlexRide shock absorbers, and Russian sedans, like hatchbacks, are equipped with a “bad road package” with a 15 mm higher ground clearance.
The step remains when folding the rear seat, but the opening to the cabin from the side of the trunk is large, and the finish is neat
In Europe, the Astra can now have a 2.0-litre biturbo diesel like the Insignia, but with a single twin-flow intercooler. Astra Biturbo features body styling and slightly sportier suspension
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The 1.4 Turbo engine, which added power, if it became livelier, then not much. Overboost mode is activated only when accelerating to the floor, and during a quiet ride, the reaction of the motor to pressing the gas pedal was not the most lively. Let's wait for completely new engines ... In the meantime, Astra Sedan left the impression of a pretty, but not the most practical car.
Hatchback restyling? The most noticeable innovation is the new "smiling" design of the front end. New wheels, finishing materials, colors have been added ... But the most expected improvements lie in the suspension. Astra owners have repeatedly complained in letters to Autoreview about the knocks that shock absorbers and brake calipers often make “cold”. On Internet forums, two out of three "astrovods" complain about this problem!
“We know, we know,” the Opelevites answer. Extraneous sounds, they say, are a unique phenomenon, noted only in the Russian market. But so far, since August 2012, only the design of the Watt mechanism bushings in the rear suspension has been changed.
It is better not to joke with our buyer today. Russia is the saving straw in the ongoing European flood. Russian sales of Opel are growing faster than our market as a whole: in the first six months - an increase of one third! And the main merit in this is Astra: for her, our market is the third in the world after Germany and Great Britain. The updated Astra, coupled with a sedan and a prettier "lighter" OPC has every chance to support the trend. Unless Opel loses the lead on reliability.
