Should I go for this 2000 Opel Astra Club ?

metallica · 14th February 2006, 13:43

A family friend of mine has upgraded to CRV and is selling his Opel Astra Club (Petrol) 2000 Model done about 44,000 Kms.
The car has been well looked after and regularly serviced. It has been driven mainly on the highway as he used his other car for intra-city commute.
The car is Silver in color and has no dents on the body.
As you know, this car comes with Alloys, Leather Seats, Sun roof etc.

I plan to fit a CNG kit in it as I reside in Delhi and there are adequate filling stations.
My concern is spare parts- their availability and cost.

And how much should I pay for this car in Delhi ?

I request you all to share your views and help me out.

Thanks.

himanshugoswami · 14th February 2006, 15:34

max 1.5 lakhs in Delhi. availability of spares should not be a problem for at least the next 5 years, but cost of spares and servicing si a different matter altogether. It would be on the higher side.

apart frm that, the astra is a good car

Rtech · 14th February 2006, 16:20

Checkout these links to give you all the info you need:

Long term review

Linky 2

Linky 3

adya33 · 14th February 2006, 18:19

hey metallica,

44,000km in 6 years seems like very less, which also means if you buy the car pretty soon you might have to replace shock absorbers & timing belt, perhaps tyres too if they haven't changed already.
so try to get car for below 1.25 or max 1.5 but only if old owner changes tyres before selling to you.

Be sure to get car checked at authorised service center or at known mechanic.
As for CNG, no experience with it so can not comment

suman · 14th February 2006, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by metallica

I plan to fit a CNG kit in it as I reside in Delhi and there are adequate filling stations.

Any particular reason why you would like to fit a CNG kit? You would have one SLUGGISH Optra on your hands.....

adya33 · 14th February 2006, 19:19

I got my astra with 80k km on it (it was family car earlier & I did not had liecence) however as far as I can remember there was no problem of spares. However for last 3 to 4 years my Astra is given to mechanic & not at authorised station.

metallica · 15th February 2006, 00:36

Thanks to himanshugoswami , Rtech, adya33 and saajan_20 for your comments and feedback.
The car is with me now for about a week so that I can spin it around and decide if I want to got for it or not.( advantages of buying from a family friend ... you see

)
I took it out for small drive. The car seems to be well maintained as I has mentioned earlier. The tyres are new as they have recently been changed.
The car seems to be good overall but rather than the positives, I want to share the problems with you all.
The car jerks when I am in the first or second gear. If I rev harder there are no jerks but if I go soft on the accelerator, it jerks a couple of times before settling down to normalcy.
Another thing that I felt was that the brakes did not seems responsive. Infact they felt worse than a Maruti 800. Is this the way it is or maybe replacing the brake pads would solve this problem ?
Apart from this everything seems to work fine. The car is totally calm at idle , infact it difficult to make out whether the engine is ignited are not.
I asked a local car dealer and he gave me a price band of 1.30 - 1.35 (You guys were bang-on regarding the price.)

Do let me know if there is something specific that I need to check. I also plan to take the car to the nearest GM service centre and get a check-up done.

Thanks once again for all the help and do keep writing in for more valuable comments and suggestions.
I need to take a decision by this coming Sunday

PS : Just wanted to add that its and MPFI engine. What kind of average can I expect from it as I have heard conflicting views ranging from 6 to 10 Km/Per Litre

adya33 · 15th February 2006, 01:32

Definetly brake pads are worn out. Change them immediatly.
As for GM visit, they might have general vechical checkup, do it. Also check for the parts I have mentioned in earlier post. I would also advise to check air, oil, fuel filter.

As for MPFI engine you will mostly getting single digit FE, about 7 to 8 & on highway you can expect around 12.

metallica · 15th February 2006, 23:15

Can someone let me know of some good mechanic for Astra in and around Delhi ?
I would be going to the GM authorised workshop but I would also want to take a second opinion.
Do let me know.
Thanks.

metallica · 15th February 2006, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by adya33

Definetly brake pads are worn out. Change them immediatly.
As for GM visit, they might have general vechical checkup, do it. Also check for the parts I have mentioned in earlier post. I would also advise to check air, oil, fuel filter.

As for MPFI engine you will mostly getting single digit FE, about 7 to 8 & on highway you can expect around 12.

You are right. I need to take care of the brake pads and the shock absorbers for sure. The ride is a little bumpy fo sure. Plus the cluck makes a sound each time I press it and then release it. The car also jerks a bit in the 1st and 2nd gear. I guess the clutch plate too will need replacement.

Thanks for the input...Will keep needing it, now that I have ALMOST made up my mind to buy it.

Sri_009 · 16th February 2006, 14:22

You can go for this car if you have good contacts with local mechanics or with automobile shops. otherwise finding parts are very deficult and expensive. As far as car is solid and steady build car, looks like D segment car (Spares are also like D seg)

sandeep.mishra · 28th January 2009, 18:34

Hi,

Those of you who plan to buy a second/third hand Astra, please check the following;

1. Smoothness of the gearbox- I purchased a second hand one in Mumbai in 2004 and am frequently facing a problem of the gear stick getting stuck in the 5th gear. It even happens now but offlate I got the shifter changed. GM Dealers in Delhi are just horrible and are there to mint money. National Garage at Pedder Road was damn professional.

2. Brake master cylinder is prone to leakage.
3. Turn the steering to the extreme right or left. If you hear a humming sound, its the power steering unit which has worn out.

14th February 2006, 13:43	#1
metallica BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 134 Thanked: 13 Times	Should I go for this 2000 Opel Astra Club ? A family friend of mine has upgraded to CRV and is selling his Opel Astra Club (Petrol) 2000 Model done about 44,000 Kms. The car has been well looked after and regularly serviced. It has been driven mainly on the highway as he used his other car for intra-city commute. The car is Silver in color and has no dents on the body. As you know, this car comes with Alloys, Leather Seats, Sun roof etc. I plan to fit a CNG kit in it as I reside in Delhi and there are adequate filling stations. My concern is spare parts- their availability and cost. And how much should I pay for this car in Delhi ? I request you all to share your views and help me out. Thanks.
	() Thanks

14th February 2006, 15:34	#2
himanshugoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 2,303 Thanked: 2,619 Times	max 1.5 lakhs in Delhi. availability of spares should not be a problem for at least the next 5 years, but cost of spares and servicing si a different matter altogether. It would be on the higher side. apart frm that, the astra is a good car
	() Thanks

14th February 2006, 16:20	#3
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Checkout these links to give you all the info you need: Long term review Linky 2 Linky 3
	() Thanks

14th February 2006, 18:19	#4
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	hey metallica, 44,000km in 6 years seems like very less, which also means if you buy the car pretty soon you might have to replace shock absorbers & timing belt, perhaps tyres too if they haven't changed already. so try to get car for below 1.25 or max 1.5 but only if old owner changes tyres before selling to you. Be sure to get car checked at authorised service center or at known mechanic. As for CNG, no experience with it so can not comment
	() Thanks

14th February 2006, 19:19	#6
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	I got my astra with 80k km on it (it was family car earlier & I did not had liecence) however as far as I can remember there was no problem of spares. However for last 3 to 4 years my Astra is given to mechanic & not at authorised station.
	() Thanks

15th February 2006, 00:36	#7
metallica BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 134 Thanked: 13 Times	Thanks to himanshugoswami , Rtech, adya33 and saajan_20 for your comments and feedback. The car is with me now for about a week so that I can spin it around and decide if I want to got for it or not.( advantages of buying from a family friend ... you see ) I took it out for small drive. The car seems to be well maintained as I has mentioned earlier. The tyres are new as they have recently been changed. The car seems to be good overall but rather than the positives, I want to share the problems with you all. The car jerks when I am in the first or second gear. If I rev harder there are no jerks but if I go soft on the accelerator, it jerks a couple of times before settling down to normalcy. Another thing that I felt was that the brakes did not seems responsive. Infact they felt worse than a Maruti 800. Is this the way it is or maybe replacing the brake pads would solve this problem ? Apart from this everything seems to work fine. The car is totally calm at idle , infact it difficult to make out whether the engine is ignited are not. I asked a local car dealer and he gave me a price band of 1.30 - 1.35 (You guys were bang-on regarding the price.) Do let me know if there is something specific that I need to check. I also plan to take the car to the nearest GM service centre and get a check-up done. Thanks once again for all the help and do keep writing in for more valuable comments and suggestions. I need to take a decision by this coming Sunday PS : Just wanted to add that its and MPFI engine. What kind of average can I expect from it as I have heard conflicting views ranging from 6 to 10 Km/Per Litre Last edited by metallica : 15th February 2006 at 00:39.
	() Thanks

15th February 2006, 01:32	#8
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	Definetly brake pads are worn out. Change them immediatly. As for GM visit, they might have general vechical checkup, do it. Also check for the parts I have mentioned in earlier post. I would also advise to check air, oil, fuel filter. As for MPFI engine you will mostly getting single digit FE, about 7 to 8 & on highway you can expect around 12.
	() Thanks

15th February 2006, 23:15	#9
metallica BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 134 Thanked: 13 Times	Can someone let me know of some good mechanic for Astra in and around Delhi ? I would be going to the GM authorised workshop but I would also want to take a second opinion. Do let me know. Thanks.
	() Thanks

16th February 2006, 14:22	#11
Sri_009 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indore Posts: 38 Thanked: 0 Times	You can go for this car if you have good contacts with local mechanics or with automobile shops. otherwise finding parts are very deficult and expensive. As far as car is solid and steady build car, looks like D segment car (Spares are also like D seg)
	() Thanks

28th January 2009, 18:34	#12
sandeep.mishra BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 88 Thanked: 4 Times	Hi, Those of you who plan to buy a second/third hand Astra, please check the following; 1. Smoothness of the gearbox- I purchased a second hand one in Mumbai in 2004 and am frequently facing a problem of the gear stick getting stuck in the 5th gear. It even happens now but offlate I got the shifter changed. GM Dealers in Delhi are just horrible and are there to mint money. National Garage at Pedder Road was damn professional. 2. Brake master cylinder is prone to leakage. 3. Turn the steering to the extreme right or left. If you hear a humming sound, its the power steering unit which has worn out.
	() Thanks