Opel Astra 2016

[Ozkaki]

Thanks Johnny. This is the info I'm looking for.

[Vwguy77]

Astra-5 year unlimited mileage warranty vs VW-3 year warranty. Jap cars 1 year. That answers your question.

 

Jap car 1 year warranty only?    zun boh... 

[Imac]

I am driving the new Astra 1.4T and Im loving it.......

Good choice on Opel Astra...

 

No wonder it won the prestige "Singapore Favourite Car 2016".

 

Can see more and more Astra on Sg road.

 

[Johnny86]

Hope more ppl buy, so more local WS will take it up sooner than later.

 

Else im prepared to ship parts from UK / Europe

 

Last time my kimchi car also ship parts from korea after reading diagrams and getting part numbers from Russian site

Edited January 2, 2017 by Johnny86

[NTP]

------ Car of the Year 2016 - Astra Hatch and Sports Tourer

Edited January 3, 2017 by NTP

[Club21z]

Car of the year but I only saw one brown Astra in jem on Sunday. Not the prettiest color. Where the chilli red ?!

[Johnny86]

i think they call it power red.

 

got quite a few reds in the opel FB group...

 

u saw light brown or dark brown?

[Arch1984]

Seeing alot more opel astra nowadays. Of course, Not as many as vezel.

[Maxxtotal]

congrats...

 

actually a few of us should start a mini car club for meetup and exchange of ideas....

 

maybe a watsapp group or something..... especially for the guys who are collecting their cars soon or even collected already...

Hey there is a Singapore Opel owners group in Facebook. You can find many new, current and ex opel owners there.

[Johnny86]

SG Opel Owner's Club is another FB group which has more newer model astra members.

 

Both are equally informative on new astras but the first one has more info on previous models

 

Think last month got a meetup? New and existing owners

[Maxxtotal]

In most people's minds, Opel / Vauxhall is a second-tier conti brand, with below-mediocre reliability.

This has been enforced since the two brands existence in Singapore since the 60's.

 

That one will take a long time to be proven otherwise ... and it has YET to be proven

 

Way back then, I recall my dad and uncles joking about and condemning the Vauxhaul Viva's badly vibrating steering wheel at high speeds in Malaysia ð

That's why most people dont know what they are missing...

 

My first car was a very old Honda Civic so it had tons of problems every month, next a pretty old Mitsubishi has some , then a Toyota...

 

Problem free? Nope. My Mitsubishi aircon compressor broke down, ECU issues, suspension issues.

 

Took a plunge to try Renault. Issues? Yes, but covered under warranty. Wearnes service then was v good. Would I buy another Renault? Likely not.

 

After Renault as my first conti, all my other rides are conti: Fiat, Opel, BMW, Audi...etc

 

The ride and total package is just different. They cost cheaper than Jap counterpart, may need more maintenance but I would still buy conti for the overall built quality and value it brings.

 

Opel is not that bad. Like Alfa selespeed, the Main issue is MTA actuator which needs to be replaced between 100-150k costing abt 1.5 to 2k. Other replacement parts can get from stockist and ebay cheaply. Would I buy another Opel? Definetly yes!

[Maxxtotal]

If driver still needs special techniques to operate the accelerator pedal when it's an automatic car, that might be a bit troublesome. I ever sat inside my friend's alfa before, also need special technique else the car can judder like a manual car about to stall. For me, I want my automatic to work when I step on the accelerator without any special techniques. If I want a challenge I would get a manual car...

There is no special techniques. Just step on pedal it will work. The jerk is normal like a manual car.

 

For me, I'm one of the few who likes selespeed/easytronic. Its more engaging and fun to drive. The downside is when you are stuck in a traffic jam. I overcome the initial gear 1 jerk by starting in M2 gear or press the 'winter' mode button.

 

This type of gearbox is chosen for small engine for good reasons:

Since it is mechanically a manual gearbox, it is not subjected to torque converter power lost. This is to compensate for lower engine power output of smaller cars.

 

This type of gearbox also tends to be more fuel economical.

[Maxxtotal]

Better test drive. I am not skeptical towards the 3 cyl engine.. more towards how the transmission feels. No offence but I think certain brands their transmission cannot make it. Even when it has the same size, weight and power figures with another car but it doesn't drive as well and powerful.. all let down by the gearbox.

 

But it is normal for a small force fed engine esp. the size only 1L to feel out of breath above 100km/h. But it will be zippy for town drive.

I used to drive a Fiat Grande Punto. 1.4l Selespeed. This small car comes with only 8valve SOHC engine producing only 76bhp.

 

Dont let the numbers fool you.This car wont start running out of breath until 160kmh!

 

Typically conti cars tend to do well at higher speed range. I've driven more powerful japs, 1.6-2.0l jap. Lancer and corolla gets straneous post 110kmh and breathless after 140kmh. On a Camry, it is a hairy experience driving fast...steering too light and suspension too floaty! Tjis little Fiat can edge out most 1.6l jap/korean/Malaysian NA cars and keep up with most 1.8 to 2.0l cars.

 

Currently I have another 2006 2.0 Legacy. It is a wonderful car around town with superb handling and ride. But I can attest that the car doesnt sound too happy or willing to go beyond 120kmh. Not that it cant, but somehow wouldnt encourage you to go faster. I would choose take my 1.4l Fiat or 1.8 Opel both selespeed type gear to Malaysia NS highway anytime.

 

I'm pretty sure Astra 1.0 would be better than my Fiat GP!

[Johnny86]

I used to drive a Fiat Grande Punto. 1.4l Selespeed. This small car comes with only 8valve SOHC engine producing only 76bhp.

 

Dont let the numbers fool you.This car wont start running out of breath until 160kmh!

 

Typically conti cars tend to do well at higher speed range. I've driven more powerful japs, 1.6-2.0l jap. Lancer and corolla gets straneous post 110kmh and breathless after 140kmh. On a Camry, it is a hairy experience driving fast...steering too light and suspension too floaty! Tjis little Fiat can edge out most 1.6l jap/korean/Malaysian NA cars and keep up with most 1.8 to 2.0l cars.

 

Currently I have another 2006 2.0 Legacy. It is a wonderful car around town with superb handling and ride. But I can attest that the car doesnt sound too happy or willing to go beyond 120kmh. Not that it cant, but somehow wouldnt encourage you to go faster. I would choose take my 1.4l Fiat or 1.8 Opel both selespeed type gear to Malaysia NS highway anytime.

 

I'm pretty sure Astra 1.0 would be better than my Fiat GP!

Haha....I drove Fiat Panda manual for a short while ... Quite fun

 

If u can handle a Fiat, Opel sure no issue lol

 

However my experience with previous Korean sedan 1.6 manual, it was very willing to go beyond 110, 160 no issue apart from being noisy.

Edited January 6, 2017 by Johnny86

[merc280v6]

There is no special techniques. Just step on pedal it will work. The jerk is normal like a manual car.

 

For me, I'm one of the few who likes selespeed/easytronic. Its more engaging and fun to drive. The downside is when you are stuck in a traffic jam. I overcome the initial gear 1 jerk by starting in M2 gear or press the 'winter' mode button.

 

This type of gearbox is chosen for small engine for good reasons:

Since it is mechanically a manual gearbox, it is not subjected to torque converter power lost. This is to compensate for lower engine power output of smaller cars.

 

This type of gearbox also tends to be more fuel economical.

This type of robotised manual gearbox will usually start to give problems at the hydraulic actuator end, after some time

[Yelax]

This type of robotised manual gearbox will usually start to give problems at the hydraulic actuator end, after some time

[Newbie70]

This type of robotised manual gearbox will usually start to give problems at the hydraulic actuator end, after some time ðð¼

I drove my Vectra C 1.8 MTA/Easytronic for 8 years without problem and sold it to my buddy, and he's still driving it.

[Maxxtotal]

This type of robotised manual gearbox will usually start to give problems at the hydraulic actuator end, after some time ðð¼

Probability is certainly higher though not all cars will need to change the actuators within 10 years.

 

I did change mine. I find selespeed cheaper than MTA to replace. $700-900 vs $1500-$1800

 

Other wear and tear part to note is the clutch. Need to change like manual cars. The diff is you need to program to reset calibration which typically need to bring to agent. There is only one other outside workshop that can do that but I personally wont recommend to go there.

 

Comparatively to other conti cars, VAG's DSG problem would cost more. BMW or those cars which uses ZF 6 speeder gearbox may need to change valve body, solenoid and torque converter and the replacements will cost much more....