Here’s a page I wasn’t expecting to write just yet.
Due to April 2009′s Fiesta rear-ender that so nicely wiped out the MK3 Astra, I needed a new car. I had a rather tasty 57 plate Golf 1.6 with the DSG semi-automatic gearbox, but it was a hire car..not mine. I wanted my own back.
We were all set to to looking around the dealers etc, and I’d been trawling the web looking at such things as Mercedes A class, Corsa-B’s, and I’d also found another MK3 Astra Auto 3 door. I was tempted, very tempted. BUT..you get what you pay for. Could a £450 1995 car be a proposition? Now, for me personally, yes. However, it’s not just me now, is it? I have Jem, and quite possibly an offspring to look after in a while. 3 doors are not practical for pushchairs and baby seats. Also, safety…I wanted safety. The MK3 did a good job in the crash, a VERY good job..but the one I was looking at might not have been so well looked after.
Then..I saw this car. A 2000 X plate MK4 1.6 Automatic Astra. Hmm. I quite like the MK4..so we went to see it.
54000 miles, a full service history, ex motability, one owner, tidy outside and in, all paperwork..it checked all the boxes. Still the 8valve engine..I’ve never liked the 16valve, don’t know why. It had the emissions warning on, and the airbag warning lit. I arranged for it to be serviced, have those problems sorted, and have it delivered to my workplace, all in at £1995.
So far, it’s mostly good. I’ve heatgunned the trim back to factory-fresh grey, I’ve repaired the semi-buggered wingmirror (popped spring latch), and I’ve found that this engine is the Z16SE, the replacement for the good old X16SZR. It has a bit more go, and a lot more tech. Unfortunately it still shares that failing of the X16SZR, the bloody stupid thermostat that requires the timing belt to come off – and it looks to have failed. It’s about time to have the timing belt done anyway, so..meh. Even the aircon works.
The warning light also came back – if you hold down the brake and accelerator and turn the ignition on, the car will flash out any fault codes on the dash..I’ve got a P0400, EGR fault. Seems quite normal for these, and is easy to fix.
Lets see how good this car is compared to the other, shall we? It has a lot to live up to.