Opel Astra 2016

[kelaihoyin]

Hi, looking for advice. All this while I have been aiming for Honda civic 1.6 but decided to test drive the Astra last weekend. I can say that the features of the car and the price beats the civic hands down. So this is my dilemma - should I pay 16k more for civic 1.6? Hoping expert here can help me decide.

 

If your budget can accommodate the civic 1.6 then you should consider the 1.4T as well which is even cheaper than the civic 1.6.

 

Comparing features and engine performance then would be an obvious choice.

 

Of course don't expect the Astra to be free of faults. Again depending on your luck as well.

 

However to be honest I don't see how one can end up with $16k of problems in 10 years especially Astra does have the 5 years unlimited mileage warranty on most of the expensive parts in the car.

 

I also in dilemma, but I experienced the vibration of engine was quite significant when re-igniting engine from auto idle stop, does anyone existing driver experience this before?

 

I always off the auto idle stop. Serves no real world purpose in saving fuel. Worst still more work for the starter.

Edited October 16, 2017 by kelaihoyin

[Teo2000]

Hi, looking for advice. All this while I have been aiming for Honda civic 1.6 but decided to test drive the Astra last weekend. I can say that the features of the car and the price beats the civic hands down. So this is my dilemma - should I pay 16k more for civic 1.6? Hoping expert here can help me decide.

 

Hi,

 

Please read all my posts in this thread and make a decision for yourself.

 

To me, Honda Civic 1.6 N A engine is under-powered for my needs but the Civic 1.5 Turbo was about $20K more than the Astra 1.4 Turbo.

 

Do you drive to Malaysia often? Do note that the Civic is a "magnet" for thieves. It means they will steal the whole car and will cannibalise everything. You willing to install a car tracking device on your Civic if you decide to buy one?

 

Also do take note that there are Opel haters here too....They criticize but they don't tell you which car is the best.

 

Going to make my 3rd trip up north soon.

 

Cheers.

 

[Johnny86]

I think Astra comes with a lot more features than the Civic. Given that torque, it is less a pushover than Civic 1.6 on the highway.

 

Seats wise Astra wins. Cabin space Civic slightly better but it's so much bigger.

 

Looks, very subjective. As a HB lover to me even pulsar looks sexier than Civic.

 

Sound proofing wise not so sure. Drive wise subjective. I actually like CVT smoothness but 6AT / MTA might be better in the long run.

 

Doors wise....Astra is far better. The whole body is so sturdy. Love it. Everyday.

 

Reliability wise...Civic definitely easier to service/repair islandwide. At the very least u have one less turbo and all those camera sensors to care about.

[SeVeNT2]

I think Astra comes with a lot more features than the Civic. Given that torque, it is less a pushover than Civic 1.6 on the highway.

 

Seats wise Astra wins. Cabin space Civic slightly better but it's so much bigger.

 

Looks, very subjective. As a HB lover to me even pulsar looks sexier than Civic.

 

Sound proofing wise not so sure. Drive wise subjective. I actually like CVT smoothness but 6AT / MTA might be better in the long run.

 

Doors wise....Astra is far better. The whole body is so sturdy. Love it. Everyday.

 

Reliability wise...Civic definitely easier to service/repair islandwide. At the very least u have one less turbo and all those camera sensors to care about.

Hi Jonny86,

 

In what ways r AT/MTA better in long run?

[Kiario]

Hi,

 

Please read all my posts in this thread and make a decision for yourself.

 

To me, Honda Civic 1.6 N A engine is under-powered for my needs but the Civic 1.5 Turbo was about $20K more than the Astra 1.4 Turbo.

 

Do you drive to Malaysia often? Do note that the Civic is a "magnet" for thieves. It means they will steal the whole car and will cannibalise everything. You willing to install a car tracking device on your Civic if you decide to buy one?

 

Also do take note that there are Opel haters here too....They criticize but they don't tell you which car is the best.

 

Going to make my 3rd trip up north soon.

 

Cheers.

 

totally agree, they don't own the astra but I don't know why they love to camp here.

 

Mr Mercedes is the best, first he keep telling you opel cars will have break down here and there.

But it seems not a single astra owner complained about car breaking down on the road.

Then when some Opel owner post about rattling sound, he also started posting about rattling sound in Opel cars.

Go through the whole thread if you have time and you can see his pattern.

[Kiario]

Hi Jonny86,

 

In what ways r AT/MTA better in long run?

 

I think cvt has come a long way and the reliability is no less than conventional AT, MTA is simply manual cars with automatic clutch if I use the term correctly.

 

I remember when I bought the nissan latio in 2006, everyone was bashing the choice on forum as cvt is not reliable then. I sold my latio in 2014 and the cvt was still going strong. I only remember seeing 1 person posted on latio forum about the need to replace the cvt gearbox out of warranty, I especially remember the price, $14k.

[SeVeNT2]

I think cvt has come a long way and the reliability is no less than conventional AT, MTA is simply manual cars with automatic clutch if I use the term correctly.

 

I remember when I bought the nissan latio in 2006, everyone was bashing the choice on forum as cvt is not reliable then. I sold my latio in 2014 and the cvt was still going strong. I only remember seeing 1 person posted on latio forum about the need to replace the cvt gearbox out of warranty, I especially remember the price, $14k.

Does this equate to lower maintenance and repair costs?

[Johnny86]

Hi Jonny86,

 

In what ways r AT/MTA better in long run?

Torque converters are proven to be reliable (of course ppl may question reliability of GM 6ATs especially since 6T35 is new and giving out funny sounds)

 

MTA is robotised manual. Hence it is still ok less actuators/clutch replacement at high mileage.

 

CVT as compared to above , not so sure. Apart from the inherent droning sounds...there may be issues on hunting where the gb can't make up its mind on the ratio, or slow to cycle through the many years to reach it's desired power/torque aka lag.

 

But this is more valid a question to explore if CVT car is cheaper than 6AT / MTA....

[Firdauzzz]

You test drove Astra hatch 1.0 ? Or Astra Sports Tourer 1.0 ? $92,888 promo rite...

I was interested in the HB but someone else took it out for a test drive. So I test drive the 1.0 tourer instead. Should be more or less the same experience right?

[Firdauzzz]

If your budget can accommodate the civic 1.6 then you should consider the 1.4T as well which is even cheaper than the civic 1.6.

 

Comparing features and engine performance then would be an obvious choice.

 

Of course don't expect the Astra to be free of faults. Again depending on your luck as well.

 

However to be honest I don't see how one can end up with $16k of problems in 10 years especially Astra does have the 5 years unlimited mileage warranty on most of the expensive parts in the car.

 

 

I always off the auto idle stop. Serves no real world purpose in saving fuel. Worst still more work for the starter.

Yes agree. I don't feel syiok paying 16k more just for "reliability". But I'm not a car expert so in future, if I encounter any car problems with astra, I cannot just bring it to any workshop.

 

Anyway how much is the 1.4 Astra? I tot it is more expensive than the civic 1.6?

[AndrewLee72]

I believe there are now outside workshops that can handle Astra repairs!

[kelaihoyin]

Yes agree. I don't feel syiok paying 16k more just for "reliability". But I'm not a car expert so in future, if I encounter any car problems with astra, I cannot just bring it to any workshop.

 

Anyway how much is the 1.4 Astra? I tot it is more expensive than the civic 1.6?

 

I'm not sure about the price now but definitely on par with the civic 1.6. I bought mine when COE was 48K and price was less than the civic 1.6. Surprisingly the OMV for the 1.0T and 1.4T is about the same.

 

I believe as the number of Astra increases on the road in a few years time more workshops would be able to handle them.

I believe there are now outside workshops that can handle Astra repairs!

 

That is good to know.  U know which?

Edited October 17, 2017 by kelaihoyin

[Johnny86]

I'm not sure about the price now but definitely on par with the civic 1.6. I bought mine when COE was 48K and price was less than the civic 1.6. Surprisingly the OMV for the 1.0T and 1.4T is about the same.

 

I believe as the number of Astra increases on the road in a few years time more workshops would be able to handle them.

 

That is good to know.  U know which?

 

looking at the number of astras.....its a matter of time workshops pick this car up

[RCTP]

totally agree, they don't own the astra but I don't know why they love to camp here.

 

Mr Mercedes is the best, first he keep telling you opel cars will have break down here and there.

But it seems not a single astra owner complained about car breaking down on the road.

Then when some Opel owner post about rattling sound, he also started posting about rattling sound in Opel cars.

Go through the whole thread if you have time and you can see his pattern.

Hahaha. Every other brand/model will have him bashing that brand/model.

[Felipe]

I think cvt has come a long way and the reliability is no less than conventional AT, MTA is simply manual cars with automatic clutch if I use the term correctly.

 

I remember when I bought the nissan latio in 2006, everyone was bashing the choice on forum as cvt is not reliable then. I sold my latio in 2014 and the cvt was still going strong. I only remember seeing 1 person posted on latio forum about the need to replace the cvt gearbox out of warranty, I especially remember the price, $14k.

 

everyone must be prepared to change gb or gb parts if one wants to hold a car for long, around 5 years onwards. cvt should last longer perhaps near 10 years so the 14k is negligible as it's crazy to change a gearbox that rivals porsche and ferrari pricing. 

 

for clutchless manual systems like MTA, it has a clutch, or dual clutch for many conti cars these days. the clutch depending on brand varies from $500-1k for one clutch. it should last in the range of 50-100k. A wide range as driver input does affect how long the clutch lasts. there are cases of clutches gone at 50k. 

 

then there's the actuator. give and take also likely to last around 100k or so. lucky if u get to 150k. tats usually a 3k part. obviously doesn't sound as scary as the cvt 14k. but at the same time, the part wears out faster than AT. 

 

For eg, my relative camry AT lasted near 400k without a single issue. He drove to 10 years and scrap. high mileage car cos he drives to msia often. 

 

now for the more serious problem of MTA. it tends to be more jerky and it's not everyone's cup of tea. im not familiar with opel but dual clutch somewhat resolves this jerkiness but it's still there. so in the end, lots of ppl curse and swear at VW. 

 

fact is, this gear system has long been used by Ferrari and Alfa since the late 90s. It was single clutch then. oh well, did u hear them curse and swear at their cars? maybe some did but not a whole lot. it's about MINDSET

[Genes]

 

now for the more serious problem of MTA. it tends to be more jerky and it's not everyone's cup of tea. im not familiar with opel but dual clutch somewhat resolves this jerkiness but it's still there. so in the end, lots of ppl curse and swear at VW. 

 

fact is, this gear system has long been used by Ferrari and Alfa since the late 90s. It was single clutch then. oh well, did u hear them curse and swear at their cars? maybe some did but not a whole lot. it's about MINDSET

 

For this category of cars, their owners usually "spoil? just change? don't need to bother me. when can i collect the car?"rather than "why so fast spoil?!"

 

[Spinball]

looking at the number of astras.....its a matter of time workshops pick this car up

Hopefully... for now, most of the workshops don’t repair opel astra.. either saying that the parts are expensive, hard to source or take a few months to arrive or no skill/knowledge to repair..

[AndrewLee72]

The workshop I heard from a fren is somewhere inside AMK Autopoint.

 

Need to ask him again to confirm.