@@NEW SHITE@@ MODERNish ASTRA ESTATE

[Lankytim]

I just tapped out a big write up on this, but the fecking computer had a spaz fit and I lost it all (actually, I hit the wrong button) so heres a condensed version as I cannot be bothered to type it all out again.

 

Fiesta too small for small family > mate selling Astra with a few faults > we buy Astra. Simple!!

 

After giving it a damn good clean and blatting it around for a while i'm well impressed with the Mk4 Astra. Build quality feels great, the engine is quiet, the steering is light, its great on the motorway and its very comfortable. This one is the 1.6 8v petrol "Club" variant and has working air-con and electric windows. Compared to the Audi and Fiesta its like a Rolls Royce!

 

110k, giffer owned most of its life and loads of service history, although it needs an oil change now. Known faults are cutting out at junctions (it has yet to do this to us though), a temp gauge that takes 15 miles to register anything (thermostat??) and a clutch that can be provoked into slipping if you pull away in 2nd with the handbrake on, the gears also apparently get jammed up too, again this fault has yet to show itself.

 

The wife and inlaws are over the moon as we now have a modern safe car in which to transport Lankytim Jnr. I'm happy coz it was cheap and its an estate.

 

ON TO THE PICS...

 

 

This rear bumper damage is annoying but can be lived with.

 

COMFY!

 

 

The rear tyres are borderline so they will need replacing pretty soon, any faults will get fixed as they arise. I've budgeted for a new clutch so any extra mileage I can get out of this one will be a bonus.

 

I'm gonna say it now... I LOVE MODERNS!

[Station]

Being the 8v, it'll be the ICV, from what I remember of mine. It's just a tiny little plunger that goes into the inlet.

[mattblack]

OMG THEY R CR@P THEY DON'T GO ROUND CORNERS AT 180MPH THEY R BORING THE HEATER CONTROLS ARE A FUNNY SHAPE THEY R THE ONLY CAR IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD THAT EVAH BREAKS DOWNS...

 

ECT, ECT...

 

[pogweasel]

I can neither agree with or disagree with this purchase and can offer no opinion or comment postive or negative whatsoever.

[Station]

OMG THEY R CR@P THEY DON'T GO ROUND CORNERS AT 180MPH THEY R BORING THE HEATER CONTROLS ARE A FUNNY SHAPE THEY R THE ONLY CAR IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD THAT EVAH BREAKS DOWNS...:

 

I agree, it's awful because it's not a driver's car, or something.

[Guest]

Look at the crash damage on the back, it is obviously a write-off and should not have passed a UK MOT. Write to your MP immediately.

[Cavcraft]

Thermostat *might* have been left because I'm sure you have to take the cam belt off to get at it on the 8V versions of these. I did hear of some 'cure' which involved getting one from a Renault and actually placing it into one of the water pipes but quite possibly that's not true.

 

Looks like you have a rev counter so it must be a (relatively) posh model. You're right about the build quality, these are very well screwed together. What size tyres are they by the way, I have a couple of mint either 175/70 or 175/65/14 tyres here.

[Lankytim]

They're 175/70/14's so if you have any good ones, i'm interested!

 

I'll have to check out where the thermostat is. I know the waterpump is driven by the cambelt but can't remember where the stat is. The shit haynes manual that came with the car will no doubt help in this regard.

[Cavcraft]

TXT ME 2MOROW EVE M8 AN ILL AV A LUCK 4 U.

[Barry Cade]

Thermostat isn't bad to do- belt has to come off, but not a major hassle on the 8v, just pull it off the cam pulley, remove cam pulley, take out 2 top bolts out of the plastic cover and pull it back- this gives just enough room to get the thermo housing off, and the new one in. When I did mine, I found it had the "bodge" one in the top hose, which was fecked as well! You may find this is the cause of the cutting out at junctions, and crap fuel economy too....

[peter9000uk]

That rear bumper should come out with gentle warming with a hairdryer and a bit of pushing from behind. Won't be perfect but will be a hell of a lot better

[Lankytim]

I actually lent my mate my hot air gun to have a go at reshaping the rear bumper but he never got round to it and its now in the boot. Ill have have a crack at it later on in the week. The fixing in the rear arch seems to have just popped out and looks like it should re-attach quite easily.

[Cavcraft]

Tim, just had a shufty in the garage and they're 175/65/14s. If you're stuck they'd pair up on the front axle and they're a matching pair with stacks of tread.

[Lankytim]

Thanks Billy, i'll have a shop about and see if theres anything going locally. The missus was looking forward to a daytrip to Chester though!

[Station]

Aren't those ones on your Corsa OE mk4 Astra ones? Nice fit!

[Lankytim]

Hey everyone, got the hot-air gun out and had a go at the rear bumper...

 

Before...

 

 

After..

 

Smart eh??

 

I used a thin piece of wood to prod the dent back into place. When the plastic got warm enough it pretty much sprang back by itself. Its not 100% perfect in terms of shape but its pretty close and obviously the paint is borked in that area from the impact. How expensive is it to get rubbery/plakka bumpers painted?

 

Another bonus was the loose fixing next to the rear wheel that had popped off due to the impact and was flapping about was simply slotted back into place and re-attatched with the original torx-bolt. FREE REPAIRZ R THA BEST!!1!

 

Took the distastra on a trip to see friends in Market Deeping in Norfolk, a round trip of 350 miles odd. Drives lovely and is very economical too! There seems to be a bit of transmission "shunt" though- It looks like an engine mount may have gone, by the way the engine is moving it looks like the rear one. Better get on ebay!

[M'coli]

Nice one! I'm sure some of the deep scratches will come out with some wet'n'dry, but I've never painted a self-colour bumper.

[MK5 Escort]

A very nice, underrated motor there. I actually prefer these to the original Focus. My father had an X plate 16v 'Club' hatchback. A very well screwed together car and indeed, they do drive very well.

 

The 'Club' model sat directly above the LS. Basically, it was an LS with a more limited colour choice...(and alloys in some cases)! Only the 8v had wheeltrims. The 16v’s and the diesels came with five spoke alloys.

 

If you ever get around to painting the bumper, the colour is 'Classic Green'. Personally from looking at that damage, I'd probably just touch up the worst of it and leave the rest.

[trigger]

A rub with some 1500 wet n dry then a good T-cut then touch up would sort that out now, good work!

[Station]

Obtain shite points by painting in colour that is slightly darker.

[Guest]

I can neither agree with or disagree with this purchase and can offer no opinion or comment postive or negative whatsoever.

 

TELL MY WIFE I SAID HELLO

[Guest]

Get a spraycan made up and tackle it yourself, shouldn't be that bad.

[Split_Pin]

Nice one, I like the MK4. I've had mine for nearly 6 years now and they are very reliable and easy to work on.

 

Stalling at junctions is the idle control valve. A new one is only £30 from e-bay, and is a more permanent fix than trying to clean the old one.

[Lord Sterling]

Looks nice, very clean and original, I quite like these Astras, they look purposeful, good as a daily economical hack.