Sold Lacking any Merit: MK2 Astra estate now for sale

[Vince70]

I remember when these first came out and the bubble shape made it look space age compared to the competition.

I had a few mk1 and mk2 Astras with the OHC lump and the things would fly.

It looks a real nice car and it’s an autoshite winner with its shared fan and heated rear window switch.

After that all Poxhalls are Shite.

[Christine]

I had the Bedford Arsetravan  1600D and the fucker wouldn't start in the cold.. Misses used to tow me down the road every morning..

[Angrydicky]

Very nice! I do like the look of these pre-facelift MK2 Astras, a very rare sight now. I'll keep an eye out for it as I'm not far from Stowmarket.

[Shep Shepherd]

Good purchase! I often see a similar looking G-reg example in the car park at Tesco in Lakeside

[stephen01]

My old mechanic who is now retired, has one of these still in his garage, it needs a new screen and he can't find one.

[holbeck]

Back in the 80's we had a 1300 4 door estate as a pool car for the Purchasing Department at work.

 

I did a 3 month placement there and seemed to spend much of it haring off thunderbird style to collect parts from suppliers rather than stop the production line. My own car at the time was a 1.9 Manta SR and that seemed quite slow and trucklike by comparison.

[sierraman]

I'd treat it to some of the correct Frey Bentos tin hubcaps. 

[Joey spud]

I was a yts trainee at the long gone Vauxhall/Opel Emporium G.Wells & Sons in Strood back in the 80's when these came out and we couldn't sell enough of them,they were streets ahead of the mk3 Escort.

 

I remember back then the mechanics saying that the 1.3 felt nearly as brisk as the 1.6 (the 1200 engine was a dog that was worn out at about 70k miles though).

 

I think a 5 speed one would still be a perfect all rounder in 2017.

 

I must say well bought.

[sierraman]

I've got to say I haven't seen one in years, see an occasional Mk3/4 Escort but these haven't attracted the scene tax. 

 

My neighbour had a 2 door 1.6 diesel estate, absolutely rotten as hell it was, it had been done with that bumperkote stuff from Holts in entirely white and it was peeling off. 

[Zelandeth]

That's got to be about as definitely practical and classic as you can get.  Keep the tinworm at bay and that will probably prove to be a surprisingly pleasant car to live with.

 

Really nice to see a Vauxhall from that era that's not been messed with.

 

I'd love a 1.2 Nova like the Antibes special edition we had in the 90s, but so rare to see one that's not been chavved up these days.  Never mind the special editions.  Didn't the "Swing" have some lurid black and yellow interior colour scheme?

 

Looking at your first photo, that's a lot of condensation.  Might suggest having a good poke around to make sure you don't have a water ingress issue somewhere and make sure it's resolved before the floor rots from the inside out.  Seem to recall the heater box drain on Novas clogging, wouldn't surprise me if these used the same unit.

[trigger]

Nice to see pre facelift Mk2, as pointed out though be on top of your game with the security, we all know how my last one end up...

[Joey spud]

Really nice to see a Vauxhall from that era that's not been messed with.

 

I'd love a 1.2 Nova like the Antibes special edition we had in the 90s, but so rare to see one that's not been chavved up these days. Never mind the special editions. Didn't the "Swing" have some lurid black and yellow interior colour scheme?

 

 

 

 

Here's a nice project i spotted on a Sittingbourne industial estate recently.

You you want the details..

[Rusty_Rocket]

^^^^ doesn't look too bad under all the tat. Nova SR in good shape must be valuable now?

[stripped fred]

Lovely, even better in estate form. Please keep it well secured at all times though, they are apparently incredibly easy to TWOC and were once the most stolen car in Britain.

Talking Astra estates, have you still got the MK3 you won in the raffle?

[Zelandeth]

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Here's a nice project i spotted on a Sittingbourne industial estate recently.

You you want the details..

 

To be honest I'd not even go for the hot version.  1.2 goes just fine (especially with the carb fettled by someone who knows their.stuff) and I'd prefer comfy suspension to breaking my spine on every pothole.

 

Silly exhaust probably does away with the lovely mid range snarl I remember ours producing under load too.

[fordperv]

What on earth is going on with that nova drivers side rear wheel

[dollywobbler]

That Astra estate is ace. Can I request some arse shots please? GM were seriously on the ball when it came to estates. Well, GM Europe were. The Mk2 Cav, much as I love them, was a bit half-arsed, but that's Australians for you.

[JJ0063]

I reeeeeaaaaalllly like these.

 

There's a hatchback in the old burgundy colour near a relatives which is on a H plate. Shows to have almost full MOT and has a for sale sign in the window but no price or telephone number.. it's on a corner on a patch of grass between a few houses. 

If it was peanuts I'd have it, but I'm reluctant to go door knocking and find out they want realistic   money for it.

 

I could stick a note under the wiper asking them call/text me I guess?

[Angrydicky]

This one, as far as I know, is still knocking around EssDeeWon's manor in Rochford, owned by a builder. It's gained a roof rack and is used as a workhorse, which on one hand seems a bit of a shame, on the other it's good it's getting used as intended. He did spend a fair bit of money getting it through its last MoT so hopefully it'll be around for a few more years yet. 

 

1988 Vauxhall Astra 1.3 Merit by steve wilson, on Flickr

[Sudsprint]

 If I recall correctly the motoring press thought the cooking 1300 Mark 1 Astra/Kadett was the closet thing you could get to an Alfasud for verve and handling - highest praise there is.

[sludgeguts]

That is amazing! My first car was a B plate 1.3L in China Blue followed by an E plate in Mexico Red (I think that's what it was called) Really very nippy for what they were and loads of space boot wise. Would love one now, in fact I've been looking for one in a half arsed kind of way, hopefully next year?

[Brodders]

Wow, I didn't expect to have such an overwhelmingly positive response to this, thanks everyone. Sorry about not updating further or responding yesterday, it was the work Christmas party.

 

Today I managed to fish it out of the work car park to take it home for the Christmas holiday, which gave me the first opportunity to assess the car on a longer journey, where I noticed that although the car managed to heat up nicely whilst stationary, it started to run very cool after a few miles on the A14. I suspect the thermostat is stuck open, so will add that onto the list of things to deal with. If anyone can point me in the direction of a cheap Haynes manual for a Mk2 Astra I would really appreciate it, as there doesn't appear to be much that I can find online about doing jobs like this on one.

 

I treated it to a valet today whilst doing a few bits of Christmas shopping, and do believe that it has cleaned up rather well. However I will be popping something onto the bumpers to get them back to how they should be.

 

 

It has helped to highlight the extent of the rust on the car, and although it is not bad for a 30 year old Astra, the main priority for me will be to clean up these areas so that they don't get any worse

 

 

Plus getting some paint on these areas

 

 

Original trims are a bit worse for wear, but still with the car

 

 

Mark of quality

 

 

 

Very nice! I do like the look of these pre-facelift MK2 Astras, a very rare sight now. I'll keep an eye out for it as I'm not far from Stowmarket.

 

It might be easier for you to see than that. After the Christmas break I will be using it for commuting to work, in Bury St Edmunds, for a couple of weeks until my insurance runs out on it. If you don't get to see it I will be very surprised. I am also hoping to make it to the ECR impromptu meet at the Stag Cafe on the 30th, so might even see some Shitters there too. 

[purplebargeken]

That really is rather ace Connor. That ain't rust. Really.It isn't.

[coalnotdole]

I like that. I have no idea why...

[beko1987]

That dashboard, my childhood! Sat in the back as Grandad worked near where me and mum lived, so picked me up on Friday evening and took me over to theirs for the weekend!

[Rusty_Rocket]

....and that rattly glove box lid?! 

[DeeJay]

 

That looks about the worst bit on the car.

I know it's going to need a new bit of metal letting in but I'd get a bit of gaffer tape over that hole to stop more salty road shit getting thrown in (give it a bit of a clean out first)

Less rust than a Ka, That's my yardstick by which I measure older cars. Result.

[oldcars]

Result on the original trims. A few hours with some sandpaper, primer and ford moondust silver should have them like new.

[Rusty_Rocket]

They always used to go at the bottom of the wing.  You'll probably find a hole behind it, too- but no issue really.

As said, that's less rusty than a Ka a third of it's age, so I'd say she's doing ok!

 

Incidentally, I love the way the paint used to fall off these, always in the same place- it's as of the 80s robots painting them just lost the will to live     The metallic ones were the worst though- the paint used to come off in sheets...

[Angrydicky]

Wow, I didn't expect to have such an overwhelmingly positive response to this, thanks everyone. Sorry about not updating further or responding yesterday, it was the work Christmas party.

 

Today I managed to fish it out of the work car park to take it home for the Christmas holiday, which gave me the first opportunity to assess the car on a longer journey, where I noticed that although the car managed to heat up nicely whilst stationary, it started to run very cool after a few miles on the A14. I suspect the thermostat is stuck open, so will add that onto the list of things to deal with. If anyone can point me in the direction of a cheap Haynes manual for a Mk2 Astra I would really appreciate it, as there doesn't appear to be much that I can find online about doing jobs like this on one.

 

I treated it to a valet today whilst doing a few bits of Christmas shopping, and do believe that it has cleaned up rather well. However I will be popping something onto the bumpers to get them back to how they should be.

 

WP_20171222_002.jpg

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It has helped to highlight the extent of the rust on the car, and although it is not bad for a 30 year old Astra, the main priority for me will be to clean up these areas so that they don't get any worse

 

WP_20171222_003.jpg

WP_20171222_005.jpg

WP_20171222_007.jpg

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Plus getting some paint on these areas

 

WP_20171222_006.jpg

WP_20171222_004.jpg

 

Original trims are a bit worse for wear, but still with the car

 

WP_20171222_010.jpg

 

Mark of quality

 

WP_20171222_009.jpg

 

 

 

It might be easier for you to see than that. After the Christmas break I will be using it for commuting to work, in Bury St Edmunds, for a couple of weeks until my insurance runs out on it. If you don't get to see it I will be very surprised. I am also hoping to make it to the ECR impromptu meet at the Stag Cafe on the 30th, so might even see some Shitters there too. 

Oooh, I'll keep an eye out for it. I'm not back at work until the 2nd, but I assume you drive into Bury on the A14 from Stowmarket. I go on the A143 from Rickinghall, so I still might not see it! Probably won't get to the Stag either because going back to my parents in Southend for Christmas.