This is the second part of a large review on Astra H. If you want to know how quickly the body of this car rots, what first breaks down in the chassis and what kind of electrical glitches the owners of older specimens encounter, read on.

Mechanical boxes

So I would like to say "there are no problems with manual transmissions", but no ... As in Fords of the same years, the "younger" manual transmission is here with a surprise. The situation is complicated by the fact that the motors she got in a pair are quite powerful. However, the rest of the manual transmissions do not shine with health.

The five-speed gearbox of the F 17 series and its "weakened" version of the F 13 are descended from the old "Cadets", and in its latest version was put on Opel cars from the late 90s. For the increase in the power of the 1.6 motors and the appearance of the 1.8 motors, the old box was not ready: the bearings literally collapse from the load. We even included this checkpoint in.

But if for the venerable age Vectra B it was possible to change the manual transmission to a larger and more reliable one from the F 16-F 18-F 23 series, along with new drives and hubs, then such a unit no longer fits under the hood of Astra H, larger manual transmissions simply rest in the steering rack.

In the photo: Salon Opel Astra Hatchback (H) "2004–07

Most of the car owners stubbornly change manual transmissions to the same ones or repair them, which is quite expensive, because if the bearings of the secondary shaft are damaged, the box body suffers, and literally all of its components are damaged by metal chips. Basically, they try to change the box to a used one, with good chances of repetition of trouble. A new manual transmission costs more than 200 thousand rubles, rare sales of "stocks" of dealers at prices of 40-60 thousand rubles pass very quickly.

Fortunately, they learned to solve the problem in at least two ways. The first is to transfer the powertrain attachment points. A shift of just a few centimeters allows you to put a more reliable box of the F 23 series. A more reasonable option is to install a manual transmission from Chevrolet, which is essentially an old Opel F 16 manual transmission assembled in a compact body, or an F 16 bulkhead in a Chevrolet body. This method is much more reasonable, and the owner does not risk cancellation of registration due to gross alterations of the structure.

It is quite simple to identify the "problem" box on the Astra. Raise the car on a lift, turn on the engine, spin the wheels. And it is better - with the removed rims. Put in fourth or fifth gear, turn off the engine and listen. Damaged bearings of the output shaft make a characteristic noise, it will be perfectly audible.

The price of the correct "treatment" now ranges from 30 to 70 thousand rubles, depending on the novelty of the installed components. Repairing the original box is largely useless: a lot of metal debris, damage to most elements and the initially unsuccessful design of roller bearings with a split plastic cage are simply doomed. When slightly larger metal particles appear in the oil, they quickly destroy the weak differential and the main pair, which in combination also work as the oil pump of the box, and often the axis of the satellites or gears break through the case and there is nothing special to fix.

Also, watch the oil level in the manual transmission and change it sometimes - Opel boxes traditionally leak. Moreover, old-timers advise pouring ATF Dextron II into the box, which is not officially recommended by the manufacturer, and not oil for manual transmissions.

For cars with a 1.8 and 1.3 diesel engine, the probability of a box failure is especially high. According to unofficial estimates, more than a third of cars with such engines and a mileage of more than 60 thousand kilometers have gone through at least one manual transmission replacement / repair. For cars with a 1.6 engine, the risk is significantly less, the box is better tolerated by a weaker engine, but you still should not relax. Risks greatly increase for those who like abrupt starts, winter slippage and shock downshifts during overtaking.

On cars with a 2.0 Turbo engine, a manual transmission of the M32 series was installed, and it also sometimes breaks down, and just like the "younger" one. But in this case, the problem is not massive, the differential is ten times stronger, and there are relatively few cars with such motors, the problem is not so noticeable. Here are just a two-mass flywheel is not very happy opelevodov. More precisely, its price and resource. Against the background of otherwise very economical designs, such a "consumable" seems superfluous. The cable drive is quite reliable, the main complaints are on the wear of the wings and the deterioration of the inclusion of the first and second gears. This is treated either by replacing the scenes, or by installing new ball joint liners of the lever.

In the photo: Opel Astra Hatchback 2.0 turbo (H) "2004–07

With diesel engines 1.7-1.9, the "good old" five-speed gearbox F 23 is most often encountered, it rarely has such problems, but finding a completely live unit is not a problem. The main complaints are about the cable drive and the wear of the wings, the problem is similar to that of the M32 gearbox drive.

Younger diesel engines 1.3 are most often equipped with a six-speed M20 - the same M32, but lightweight. Of the introduced features - a weak differential, so it's not worth slipping much, and you need to carefully monitor the purity of the oil.

Automatic boxes

Instead of a "real" automatic transmission on cars with junior diesel engines and gasoline engines up to 1.6, the Opel Astra H was mainly equipped with an EasyTronic robotic transmission. In fact, this is an ordinary manual transmission of the F 17 / M 20 series with all its problems and shortcomings, but also equipped with an automatic clutch drive.

In the photo: Torpedo Opel Astra Sedan (H) "2007-14

The operation of such boxes with a very calm driving style can be considered quite satisfactory, especially with regular adaptation of the grasping point and assistance with the "handbrake" on steep hills. But in the absence of an uphill start assist system and ABS with not the best operating algorithms, it cannot replace a full-fledged "automatic" - the driver constantly runs the risk of being left without traction at the right moment and at the same time "enjoys" poking when switching "down" under traction. In addition, in conditions of urban traffic jams, the resource of the clutch actuators and the clutch itself is less than 50-60 thousand kilometers, and the price of the actuators of the box "bites".

The whole bunch of problems with mechanical boxes F17 remains even with Izitronic, so a robotic gearbox is perhaps the worst option for Astra.

Those who want a "real automatic transmission" will have to spend money on a more powerful motor. Either a petrol 1.8, or find a very rare petrol 2.2 series Z 22YH on the Astra. In any case, it will be a four-speed "automatic" Aisin of a very respectable design. With the 2.2 engine, they installed Aisin 50-40NE, which is very strong and familiar from many Opel models, starting with Vectra A, and with 1.8 its "little brother" in the person of Aisin 60-41SN is combined.

"Younger", despite its excellent pedigree, still does not belong to super reliable boxes, although by modern standards, the resource has a very good, and is not prone to unexpected breakdowns. Very reliable gearbox mechanics and dirt-resistant valve body give confidence that this gearbox is completely indestructible. But in practice, with runs over 150 thousand, you can expect wear of the Forward package and fourth gear clutches. The latest generations of this box also very aggressively wear out the blocking lining of the gas turbine engine during active movement. And with the growth of oil contamination, problems appear associated with the wear of the linear solenoid for blocking the gas turbine engine, and later - the rest of the valves.

In the photo: Opel Astra Sedan (H) "2007-14

With smooth pedaling, the automatic transmission is capable of passing for 300 thousand, especially if the oil is changed more often, but in our reality, even with runs of 200 thousand, it most likely should go through with the replacement of all worn out units. Fortunately, usually the repair is not too expensive, and consists in cleaning and routinely replacing the "rubber bands", replacing worn out clutches of the forward and 3-4 package, as well. The rest of the filling can go many times longer if you do not allow movement at low pressure or oil level and overheating. However, even in this case, the losses will be minimal.

Until 2006, cars still had a specific problem of antifreeze getting into the oil, associated with the design of Valeo radiators. Then these radiators spoiled the lives of all car manufacturers who used their services, and Opel was one of the main buyers of their products.

A later design of radiators with similar problems is rare, usually the cause is a slight accident and unwillingness to change a radiator that has not leaked visually, or "defrosting" of the cooling system. If you have the slightest doubt about the normal operation of the box, it is worth conducting the so-called "glycol test" ATF (good service stations know how to do this) or just check for emulsion. Moreover, the glycol test will not hurt to carry out purely preventive measures on any cars with an automatic transmission heat exchanger in the main radiator.

The old AF 22 box, aka Aisin AW 50-40, which meets the 2.2 engine, has a resource comparable to that of the machine itself, provided that the "auto-neutral" function is turned off in time. Otherwise, it requires an oil change on time and careful operation.

And since, due to natural archaism, this automatic transmission does not know how to partially block the gas turbine engine and blocks it only from the third gear, then it is not afraid of aggressive movement. Dies mainly from overheating, cracks in the Forward / Direct drum or extreme wear, missed oil levels and mechanical problems. However, if you decide to put this old "machine" instead of the AW60-41 to Astra from 1.8, the idea is doomed to failure - you will have to do too many alterations.

Engines

Traditionally, everything is very good with Opel engines, although at one time 1.6 engines were among the "problematic" ones.

Pump Z18 XER / Z16 XER

price for original

Cars before restyling are mainly represented by related engines 1.6 and 1.8 of the Z 16XE and Z 18XE series, which, in terms of the block and cylinder head design, go back to the glorious ancestors in the person of Opel Ascona and Kadett. Less common are variants of the same 1.4-liter engines of the Z 14XE series. These 16-valve engines have a resource of over 250 thousand kilometers, they are distinguished by a well-thought-out design and from the serious disadvantages there is only a rather weak control unit, prone to overheating and the appearance of cracks in the soldering. The emerging problems are usually initially associated with numerous failures of the periphery and only then are they engaged in the repair of the ECU.

In the photo: Under the hood of the Opel Kadett "1988–91

The ignition modules and the throttle valve have more than a decent resource and only need regular maintenance and cleaning. But the EGR system and the variable intake manifold are poorly adapted to our realities. The EGR valve becomes dirty and stops closing, the collector is also contaminated with soot and oil, the length adjustment flaps fail, until their axle breaks.

But the basis of the engine is made with a margin: the pistons are a little prone to coking, but nothing more, the resource of the valve oil seals is limited, first of all. With the timely replacement of the timing belt and the elimination of leaks, which inevitably arise due to the primitive ventilation system of the crankcase and the clogging of the hole in the throttle space, the motor lasts for a long time.

As I said, 250 thousand before overhaul is an almost guaranteed option, there are engines with runs for 400 thousand, only with a moderate oil appetite of 100-200 grams "per thousand". And when the engine finally breaks down, repairs will not be expensive, because the price of spare parts is ridiculous by modern standards.

Newer engines 1.6 and 1.8 of the Z 16XEP / Z 16XER and Z 18XER series differ primarily in the new cylinder head and the presence of a phase shifter in the timing system for the XER versions, which slightly raises the torque at low speeds and increases the maximum power - the 1.8 engine produces very good by the standards mid-2000s 140 hp

Less noticeable is the lack of hydraulic compensators, now the valves need to be adjusted with washers, best of all - once every 60 thousand, although the manufacturer is optimistic about 150. And the extra noise during operation is often associated precisely with the "gone" clearances. A controlled thermostat also appeared, the operating temperature increased, an oil heat exchanger appeared, the type of oil filter changed, and the pump is no longer driven by a timing belt.

In the photo: Opel Astra Hatchback (H) "2004–07

The changes had little effect on the maximum resource of the piston group, it is still very high with a reasonable maintenance interval, but the probability of failure of individual units has increased. Especially a lot of criticism is caused by phase shifters and their valves, which are prone to unpleasant knocking and cause the speed to float. But there is no EGR, and the intake is not dirty. Heat exchangers are prone to leaks for fans of annealing on a cold one, and sometimes they also damage the oil filter.

A controlled thermostat turned out to be a rather harmful option, oils with DEXOS approval actively "curl up" after overheating, and detonation at high temperatures happens in motors. At the same time, the manufacturing quality of the thermostat seals is not too high, so that the operating temperature is usually noticeably lower than the calculated one, and if you wish, you can set the “cold” thermostat to 85 degrees and forget about early oil aging and heater malfunction. At the same time, the resource of the couplings and valves of the phase shifters increases, because the latter do not react well to a minimum increase in temperature and frequent stay in traffic jams.

These motors with slightly different calibrations can also be found with the designation A 16XER and A 18XER, they are a little more "thoughtful", but in fact the motors are the same. An unpleasant feature, though not related to the engines themselves, is the new European technical regulation that has appeared, which prescribes oil changes at long intervals on machines with these engines. Cars from Europe often have a noticeably worse engine condition, even with a confirmed mileage, than Russian ones. Consider this when buying and try to change the oil more often, for example, every 10 thousand kilometers, use oils with a viscosity of SAE 40 and without DEXOS approval - the additive that provides it causes severe coking of the piston rings and heavy deposits inside the engine.

The 2.0 engines of the Z 20LEH / Z 20LER / Z 20LEL series are based on the old Opel block, familiar from such engine series as the C 20XE, X 20XEV and the C 20NE million-plus engines. Of course, with a turbine, the resource is usually significantly less than that of an eight-valve ancestor, but their 200-300 thousand engines are nursed, and the maintainability of the design and the price of spare parts are pleasantly impressive. By and large, except for the rarity and not the most successful wiring, the motors simply do not have serious problems. Unless, of course, we do not consider the operating style and possible tuning with an increase in power to 280-350 hp as a problem.

In the photo: Under the hood of the Opel Astra OPC (H) "2005–10

In imported European cars, such exotic things as 1.2 engines and 1.6 turbocharged ones can be found, but the chances are about zero.

Diesel engines are mainly represented by the Z 13DTH series, which in practice has a very obstinate character. With high efficiency and a very high degree of forcing, there are enough problems with both the fuel equipment and the corrosion of the cylinder head. But the main complaints at low mileage are still on the turbine, EGR, intake leakage and clogged catalyst and particulate filter.

In the photo: Opel Astra OPC (H) "2005-10

Timing kit 1.6 / 1.8 16V

price for original

The presence of a chain in the timing drive is touted by some as a big plus, but in practice it is just a big headache. The resource of the chain is difficult to predict, it ranges from 60-70 thousand to almost 200, depending on the driving style, oil and oil change intervals. The high efficiency of the motor often does not justify the increased costs of its maintenance on age-old machines. And problems with oil consumption through the turbine often lead to burnout of pistons and nozzles.

Engines 1.7 and 1.9 are so rare that there are simply no reviews about their use on the Astra, but practice shows that the engines are noticeably better than the 1.3 diesel, with a slightly higher appetite. Just ask.

Summary

It turned out to be a good car, and it confidently competed for many years in a row with its own "heiress" in the person of Astra J, if only because sometimes reliability, practicality and volume of the salon are much more important than modernity and beauty. If you buy, look with minimal damage to the body and careful operation. This is trivial, but there are too many cars literally "crushed in a circle" and somehow restored. This is not the case when it will rot anyway; with a good choice, you can enjoy the car for many more years.

Your voice

Re-installation of the alarm with start Starline A93 with 2Can module for All the difficulty in this car, this is the removal of the steering wheel and the Sim block under the steering wheel

Installing autorun on Astra H

You also have to clean and solder to the contact tracks from the ignition switch. The process is very complicated and requires professionalism, since when removing the steering wheel you can get a lot of problems with the SIM block. Everything worked out great for us, everything works, more than one system did not give errors.

Installed a GSM module on the car

STARLINE GSM5-Master module integrated into the block GSM-module, 4

With installation 4,500 R



Installed on a car StarLine A93 2CAN-LIN

Car security system StarLine A93 2CAN + 2LIN is equipped with the function

With installation 14,200 R


Before activating the autostart of the engine or activating it from the key fob, the following features of the operation of these functions must be taken into account.

Engine autostart is not performed when:

• the ignition is on;
• open hood;
• the parking brake is on;
• the foot brake is engaged.

Installation of alarm on Opel Astra H



Cost of equipment:

Signaling StarLine А93- 8600r, 2Can module 1800r., lineman 600r.

Installation cost:

Alarms 4500r.
Total at the moment the cost of this service and equipment 15500r.
By the time the installation took 4.5 hours

08.03.2017

Opel Astra 3) - the third generation of the German company passenger car. The Astra has always been a popular model, but this generation has especially delighted dealers with sales volumes. Recently, the number of used Opel Astra H has increased sharply, of course, this can be associated with a natural update of cars, since most car enthusiasts do this every 4-5 years. But it may be that the owners begin to get rid of their cars after a run of 100-150 thousand km. . And, here's what the real reason is, and what shortcomings are inherent in this car, now let's try to figure it out.

A bit of history:

The debut of the Opel Astra H took place in 2003 at the Frankfurt auto show, and in March 2004 the serial assembly of the car began. In the markets of different countries, it was also produced under the names Chevrolet Astra, Chevrolet Vectra, Holden Astra, Saturn Astra and Vauxhall Astra. The novelty was intended to replace the popular at that time, Opel Vectra B. In total, for the assault on the segment " C"Or, as they say, golf class, four bodies were produced based on the" Delta "platform developed by General Motors - three and five-door hatchback, sedan, station wagon and coupe.

For most of the CIS markets, the car was assembled at the Russian Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad, and since 2008 - at the General Motors car assembly plant in Shushary near St. Petersburg. The design of the car was developed by the director of the German design studio Opel in Rüsselsheim - Friedhel Engler, who is also the creator of the Opel Korsa. The production of the model stopped in 2009, this model was replaced by the Opel Astra J, but, even after the release of the new model, the popularity of the Opel Astra H did not diminish at all, therefore, it was decided to extend the production of this model (the car was produced until 2014 under the name Astra Family).

Weaknesses and disadvantages of the Opel Astra H with mileage

Unlike most competitors, the Opel Astra H has a fairly high-quality paintwork. The exception was cars made in Poland, on such copies the paint swelled and fell off in pieces, fortunately, the manufacturer eliminated all defects under warranty. The body is completely galvanized, thanks to this, it resists the onslaught of redhead disease well, but, nevertheless, over time, from the effects of reagents that are generously sprinkled on our roads, one can find foci of corrosion on the trunk door, door edges and sills. On cars of the first years of production, the headlights become cloudy, and the rear door handles can also jam.

Engines

A large number of power units were available for the Opel Astra H: petrol - 1.4 (90 HP), 1.6 (105 HP), 1.8 (125 HP) and 2.0 (170, 200 HP). ; diesel - 1.3 (90 HP), 1.7 (100 HP), 1.9 (120 and 150 HP). All motors are quite reliable, but after 100,000 km they require little investment. The 1.4 engine proved to be the most problem-free, but, due to insufficient power, this power unit is not in demand among motorists. In the more common engines 1.6 and 1.8, in our operating conditions, the catalyst and the EGR valve are very quickly contaminated. The problem is especially relevant for cars operated in a metropolis. One of the most serious breakdowns that many Astra owners have had to face is jammed intake and exhaust camshaft gears. This trouble occurs at a mileage of 60-80 thousand km, and after repairs there are no guarantees that it will not happen again. Signs of a problem are: increased noise when starting the engine (grinding, rumble) and deterioration in dynamics.

Also, the main disadvantages include a small resource of the rear engine mount (it becomes unusable every 60-70 thousand km). Often, the owners are faced with a malfunction of the ignition system module, the cause of the ailment lies in poor contact in the connectors and untimely replacement of spark plugs. Closer to 250,000 km, a membrane rupture occurs, which is responsible for the recirculation of crankcase gases, located in the valve cover. The problem can be determined by the unstable operation of the engine, as well as by blue smoke from the exhaust system. Very often, the services condemn the engine to overhaul, however, the problem is solved by replacing the valve cover. The most powerful power unit, in most cases, does not require repair up to 150,000 km, but minor troubles such as fogging of the cylinder head and oil leaks through the crankshaft oil seal , can occur even after 20,000 km.

All motors are equipped with a timing belt drive, according to the regulations, belt replacement is prescribed every 90,000 km, but there have been cases of a belt breaking after 50,000 km, therefore, it is better not to risk it and change the belt every 60,000 km. The pump usually changes at every second belt change. Diesel engines are reliable, but demanding on the quality of fuel and lubricants. Among the shortcomings of diesel engines, it is necessary to note the weak fuel equipment and the small resource of the particulate filter (replacement every 50-60 thousand km). If the filter is clogged, traction disappears, and fumes come out of the exhaust system, like from an old KAMAZ. Also, due to design errors, the engine control unit suffers (exposed to moisture and dirt). One of the most expensive problems faced by the owners of diesel cars is the failure of a two-mass flywheel (resource 100-150 thousand km). A knock and vibration when changing gears will serve as signals of a problem; it is worth noting that the gears are switched on clearly.

Transmission

Opel Astra H buyers were offered three types of gearboxes to choose from - mechanical, automatic and Easytronic robot. The mechanics are considered the most problem-free, even the clutch kit serves 100-120 thousand km. The only thing for which the manual transmission can be blamed is for the lack of synchronizers, because of this, the reverse gear does not always turn on correctly. Among the shortcomings faced by the owners of cars with mechanics, it is possible to single out a leak in the rear oil seal of the crankshaft and a small resource of the secondary shaft bearing (60-80 thousand km). On some copies, after 70,000 km, cracks appear along the seam of the box. If, when switching from first to third gear, a shock is felt, it is better to contact the service, but, in most cases, to eliminate the disease, it is enough to change the oil.

The automatic transmission is famous for jerking and jerking during gear changes, but they are not afraid of this, since this is not a breakdown, but a feature of the transmission. The most common automatic transmission problem is a leakage of coolant into the hydraulic circuit of the box, after which a complete failure of the unit occurs. If the auto-neutral fails, most likely, cleaning the jet in the box will help. When going into emergency mode, the box only works in fourth gear. The robotic transmission is very capricious and requires attention every 15,000 km (maintenance and clutch adjustment).

During operation, the driven disk is erased, while the point of contact with the basket is displaced, but the controller responsible for the fuel supply does not know about the shift of the point of contact and supplies the wrong amount of fuel. As a result, this leads to incorrect operation of the box and premature wear of the clutch. It is worth noting that even with timely maintenance of the robotic transmission, its resource in rare cases exceeds 150,000 km. Before buying a car with a robot, be sure to ride it, if there are strong jerks when switching, it is better to refuse to buy such a car.

The reliability of the Opel Astra H chassis

Simplicity is a guarantee of reliability, it is according to this principle that the suspension of this model was developed, a semi-independent torsion beam is installed at the back, and MacPherson strut at the front. If we talk about driving characteristics, then the suspension copes well with the realities of our roads, but it is distinguished by increased noise. If you do not take into account the struts and stabilizer bushings (resource 20-40 thousand km), thrust bearings are considered the weakest point of the chassis, and steering rods, their resource, in most cases, does not exceed 60,000 km. Wheel bearings (the ABS sensor becomes unusable after 50,000 km) and ball bearings at average loads take care of 50-70 thousand km. The rest of the suspension elements serve 100,000 km or more.

The weakest point in the steering mechanism is the steering rack, as a rule, it starts knocking after 100,000 km of run, there may also be a fluid leak, this, over time, can lead to the destruction of the unit, but if you notice and eliminate the problem in time, complications can be to avoid. There are no complaints about the reliability of the braking system, the only thing the owners complain about is the small resource of the front pads (30,000 km.).

Salon

The salon of the Opel Astra H is made in a strict style, but, at the same time, the manufacturer used sufficiently high-quality materials, but, despite this, almost every car has crickets in the cabin. The car cannot boast of the reliability of the electrical equipment of the passenger compartment. The main problem in electronics is the incorrect operation of the buttons on the steering wheel and steering column control levers, the reason is a faulty steering column SIM module. There are also claims to the climate control system, or rather to the air recirculation damper. The problem manifests itself with a characteristic crackling from under the console.

Outcome:

In terms of reliability Opel AstraH does not differ much from its competitors, but due to the low cost of maintenance and repair, this car is one of the most interesting representatives of the golf class in the secondary market.

If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.

Best regards, editors AvtoAvenu

The new Opel Astra golf-class car debuted in 1991, replacing the Kadett E model. Buyers were offered versions with bodies of a three- and five-door hatchback, sedan, station wagon and convertible, the development and small-scale production of which was carried out by the Italian company Bertone. The choice of engines was also wide: petrol 1.4 (60–90 hp), 1.6 (71–101 hp), 1.8 (90–116 hp), as well as a 1.7 liter diesel engine with a capacity from 57 to 82 l. with. The "hot" versions of the car were called Astra GSi, they were equipped with 1.8 and 2.0 gasoline engines, developing from 125 to 150 hp. with.

This model was produced in Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, South Africa, Poland, China, India. In the British market, it was known under the Vauxhall brand, in Australia - as the Holden Astra, in South America - as well as in South Africa - also under the name Opel Kadett. In 1998, sales of the first generation "Astra" in the main European markets were discontinued due to the appearance of a new car (the convertible was produced until 2000), but for another four years under the name Opel Astra Classic the car was assembled at the company's Polish plant and sold in Eastern Europe. and Turkey.

2nd generation (G), 1998-2004

The second generation of "Astra" began to be offered to customers in 1998. The list of body types was replenished with a two-door coupe, which, like the convertible, was produced in Italy at the Bertone factory. The range of power units has become even wider. Now the base Opel Astra was equipped with a 1.2-liter engine with a capacity of 65-75 liters. with., other versions - 1.4 (90 HP), 1.6 (75-103 HP), 1.8 (116-125 HP), 2.0 (136 HP) and 2.2 (147 HP) ) Diesel engines had a volume of 1.7 or 2.0 liters and a power of 68 to 125 liters. with. Gasoline two-liter turbocharged engine, developing 190 hp. with., put only on the coupe.

In 1999, a "charged" three-door hatchback Opel Astra OPC, equipped with a 160-horsepower "aspirated" two-liter engine, appeared in the lineup. And in 2002, with the OPC nameplate, they began to offer not only three-door, but also five-door hatchbacks, station wagons, coupes and convertibles, under the hood of which there was already a turbocharged two-liter engine with a capacity of 192-200 hp. with.

In Western Europe, "Astra" of the second generation was produced until 2004, until 2009 sedans continued under the name Astra Classic in Poland. In the countries of Latin America, the model was offered until 2011, and in 2004-2008 in Togliatti, at the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture, they made an Astra with a sedan body called.

3rd generation (H), 2004–2014

The third generation Opel Astra was introduced in 2004. The car has versions with three- and five-door hatchback, sedan and station wagon bodies, and in 2006 a coupe-convertible was created on its basis. Despite the appearance of a new generation of cars in 2009, this version is still in production. On the Russian market, it is sold under the name.

4th generation (J), 2009–2016

The Opel Astra is offered with five-door hatchback, station wagon and sedan bodies. The cars are equipped with gasoline and diesel engines. At the end of 2015, the Opel brand will leave the Russian market, and sales of the Astra model will end.

Opel Astra five-door hatchback

Prices for a five-door hatchback Opel Astra with a 1.6 engine (115 hp) start at 691,000 rubles. The list of equipment for the initial Active configuration includes four airbags, a stabilization system, air conditioning, CD / MP3 audio system, heated front seats, front power windows, electric mirrors. A car with rear power windows, a more "advanced" radio tape recorder and an on-board computer. The Cosmo version (dual-zone climate control, heated leather steering wheel, rear view camera, cruise control, alloy wheels, fog lights) is estimated at 760,000 rubles. For a six-speed automatic transmission, available in the Active and Cosmo versions, you will have to pay 40 thousand rubles.

Opel Astra, equipped with a 1.4-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 140 forces, is offered only with an “automatic” at a price of 774,000 rubles for the Active version. A car in the Cosmo configuration costs 843,000 rubles.

The most powerful five-door Astra with a turbocharged 1.6 engine (170 hp) and an “automatic” in the Cosmo version is offered at a price of 989,000 rubles.

Opel Astra sedan

The sedan is offered in the same trim levels and with the same set of powertrains, and in the same trim levels as the hatchback.

A car with a 1.6 engine (115 hp) costs from 829 900 rubles, with a 1.4-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 140 hp. with. and "automatic" - from 744,000 rubles. Version 1.6 Turbo (170 HP) is also equipped with an automatic transmission only and is offered at a price of 1,004,000 rubles.

Station wagon Opel Astra Sports Tourer

The Opel Astra Sports Tourer 1.6 station wagon (115 hp) in the basic Enjoy configuration costs 817,000 rubles. The Cosmo version will cost 1,367,000 rubles. A car with a 1.4-liter turbo engine (140 hp) is estimated at at least 920,000 rubles, and the base for it is the Enjoy equipment. For this version, as for cars with a 115-horsepower engine, you can order an "automatic" for an additional payment of 40 thousand rubles.

Prices for the 1.6 Turbo modification (170 forces), which is offered only with an automatic transmission, start at 1,203,000 rubles. A station wagon with a two-liter turbodiesel (130 hp) and "automatic" will cost 1,223,000 rubles.

The fourth-generation Opel Astra J hatchback debuted in 2009. Five-door hatchbacks and sedans for the Russian market are produced “on a full cycle” at the plant in St. Petersburg, station wagons and three-doors are produced using the “screwdriver” method at the Kaliningrad Avtotor.

The compact Astra G (factory designation Opel Astra of the second generation) was introduced in 1998. The design of the car was not so welcomed, but its practical qualities were immediately appreciated by motorists. The Astra 2 is not too big and therefore convenient when parking. In addition, it offers a lot of space in the cabin. It still looks attractive today, especially if it is in good condition.

The car is really compact. Even the station wagon is only 4288 mm long. Nowadays, some compact hatchbacks are even longer. But despite the limited size, the station wagon's designers managed to keep enough room for four people and find room for a 480-liter trunk. With the seats folded down, the maximum cargo capacity rises to 1,500 liters. Not bad!

Compared to the first generation, the body of the Astra G is much better protected against corrosion. But age does its job, so when buying, you need to pay attention to whether the hood, trunk lid, rear wheel arches or door edges are rusting. Corrosion can also be found on chassis components. Fortunately, rust, most often, does not have a detrimental effect there.

You should also inspect the headlights, which will not be able to hide the age of the car. Astra G engineers made the optics glazing from plastic, which quickly loses its transparency over the years. Polishing does not always give the desired result, because the "glass" can "fade" over the entire area. In addition, the factory protective varnish layer is damaged during polishing.

There is surprisingly plenty of space inside the Opel Astra. The driver's seat has a range of adjustments sufficient even for "big". The seat upholstery is durable. The headrests in some Astra 2 are set low, without the possibility of adjustment. While the steering column can change its position in two planes.

Unlike the front head restraints, the rear head restraints surely block the view to the rear. Large rectangular doors make it easier to board the second row, and there is still plenty of room above the passengers' heads. The Astra G is a car from a time when space was a priority over fashion lines.

The dashboard of the Opel Astra has a very simple design. Speed ​​and RPM indicators are located next to each other. The small steering wheel fits comfortably in the hands and does not overlap the readings of the instruments. The plastic in the cabin often creaks. This will take some getting used to.

The glass control unit on the door handle is durable. In the case of disobedience of the glasses, as a rule, the cause must be sought in the drive motor. In the control unit for the electric drive of mirrors, the left-right switch sometimes stops working.

The center display, located under the windshield, has proven to be unreliable. It displays information depending on the mood, and at the right moment it just stops showing anything. It is worth paying attention to this before buying an Astra 2. It is also worth checking the operation of the wipers - their electric motor is not among the durable ones. This is where the surprises from the Astra G electrics end. Agree that these are trifles for a middle-aged car. All thanks to uncomplicated equipment.

If there is an air conditioner on board, then it is imperative to check its performance (intensity and distribution of flows). In addition, the floor at the front passenger's feet should be inspected for moisture. Incorrect installation of the cabin filter often causes condensation to drain into the passenger compartment.

Among the engines, the 1.6-liter gasoline engine is considered the most optimal. The powertrain provides the best compromise between performance and economy. The 1.4-liter engine is too weak, and the 1.8-liter is gluttonous. A 2.2 liter engine should be avoided due to the rapid stretching of the timing chain.

The 16-valve 1.6-liter engine develops 100 hp. and in motion it demonstrates good elasticity - it pulls well already from low revs. However, at high revs, it is too noisy. Weak points - oil leakage and increased oil consumption for waste due to wear of the piston rings. Leaks can be repaired and oil consumption will take some getting used to.

Oil leaks are also observed in a manual transmission. The manufacturer has upgraded problem areas several times, but it has not been possible to get rid of the defect. In addition, over time, the steering rack begins to "sweat" in the area of ​​the exit of the steering rods.

Paired with a 1.6-liter engine is a 5-speed manual. The gears are long, according to Opel custom. This can be annoying in the city, but on the highway it helps reduce engine load (by running at low revs) and reduces engine noise.

The Astra G's suspension is said to be tough. If you have to repair it, then the costs will be small. Most often, silent blocks lose their elasticity with age. Also, sometimes the springs collapse - this disease is well known to the owners of Astra 2.

Astra G with a 1.6-liter petrol engine is the most successful version of the second generation model. Technically, Astra 2 is simple and familiar to mechanics, and troubleshooting is not expensive. In the used car market, this model is one of the cheapest to maintain.