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Project Maybe not so Lovely Astra


purplebargeken

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Finally getting mon derriere into gear tomorrow and will be picking up the silver 2003 Astra LS from my mate.

First thing to do?

Fit the aerial, fit the rear wiper arm and blade, fit the new gear lever gaiter and maybe the handbrake cover too if CBA.

Then clean the fucker, really, really clean the fucker inside and outside.

Yes, I will take photos. Then also clean it more.

I need to order a steering wheel cover too.

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It'll actually make a nice little runabout and will look about eleventy million times better with a good scrub and some PBK valeting action.

I will aim to replace the front bumper as well, so if anyone knows of one in that common Vauxhall Astra silver then let me know please.

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24 minutes ago, Dannyk said:

. In my opinion they piss all over the mk1 focus, better car in every way

Not just your opinion, I have always been a Ford man and considered Vauxhall products vastly inferior but I had a new Focus hire car for work for a few weeks in 1999 followed by an Astra for a few weeks. I much preferred the Astra and it really surprised me. I wouldn’t swap either for a Cortina though ?

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16 minutes ago, purplebargeken said:

Never driven a Focus or an Astra tbh.

The MK1 Focus is razor sharp 22 years later. They were rightly celebrated as an absolute revelation over the Escort. 

I’d still like a properly fresh Millennium edition. 

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12 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

The MK1 Focus is razor sharp 22 years later. They were rightly celebrated as an absolute revelation over the Escort. 

I’d still like a properly fresh Millennium edition. 

Retro Cars mag (which is now excellent by the way, and full of "our" sort of cars) is currently restoring an early, S reg MK1 Focus. It's looking great! I really used to hate Focuses but the MK1 has definitely improved with age as it looks quite a clean design now, especially next to the later, bloated and fugly Focuses.

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Drove to work in the Astra this morning, lovely drive. Feels planted, nippy and responsive.

Nothing to fault really, except the bloody antenna I got from ebay doesn't fit.

The radio is in safe mode and I can't find any hint of a code.

Any ideas as to how to sort other than fitting another unit.

 

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Interior cleaning started last night, will ask a fellow shitter to upload piccies for all you photo sluts.

Jobs for the next few days, the gear lever and handbrake gaiters, they are vile so will need removing and burning.

Interior cleaning to resume. Then exterior.

Needs wheel trimz PDQ.

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1 hour ago, purplebargeken said:

The radio is in safe mode and I can't find any hint of a code.

I used radio-codes.co.uk (or similar), can't find the email, but don't remember it being expensive.

You'll need to yank the old one out for the serial number then go from there.

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Update:

Interior is 97% better. Masses of dust and hair has been removed from the seats, door cards and carpet. 

The rank gear lever gaiter has been removed and a nice new leather one fitted. Looks so much better. Just the handbrake gaiter to do.

The headlining has come up very well indeed, the dash is nice and clean, just have to vacuum the drivers footwell and that should see the end to the hoovering side of things.

I'd like to go over the seats and bits with the Bissell upholstery vac at some point, just to make a proper job of it.

The boot carpet has come up well, again a session with the Bissell would see it almost like new.

The bloody aerial doesn't fit, so that will need sorting. The rear wiper arm is incorrect, that will be refunded and the correct one is on it's way. Wish people would advertise their stuff correctly.

I'd like to get a replacement rear door and have messaged one ebay person. The colour is lightening silver.

I am going to put in one of the many stereos that I have lying around in the garage. May as well. Not sure if I will need an adapter.

Will also need a couple of wheel trims at some point. 

The Astra really does drive beautifully and is pretty good on fuel. 

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