unhealthy craving for a mk 2 Astra..

[retro80sboy]

or for proper shite points - a Belmont! My dad had a Belmont back in the eighties, I can't remember the last one I saw on the road - barring a ratty SRi model a couple of years ago.

 

Found myself browing for them on ebay today and spotted this

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1987-VAUXHALL-AST ... 3cb95e8938

 

such a shame its not local to me.

 

They seem to be quite cheap when they do crop up but obviously now im thinking about getting one its sods law that nothing will surface. Its mad to this model Astra was everywhere not that long ago and is such a rare sight these days especially when you compare them to Escorts and Golfs of a similar age.

 

anyway, Whats everyones experience of these motors and does anyone know of any for sale?

[dollywobbler]

Not had much experience myself. When I was a van driver for my dad, used to get to drive the company diesel Astravan from time to time. If you can riding in a shopping trolley on a cobbled street, you'd have a pretty good feel for the vibration on tickover. The dashboard used to shake something rotten! Went well though. Have also drive a non-shite GTE 16v. Hooligan machine. Think I felt safer in the diesel...

[Tonka]

I bought a D reg'd Mk2 1200 Merit off a neighbours Dad who was in his 70's it had failed the test, sills and front discs and came with 3 months tax and the failure sheet from the day before and cost me all of £40.

 

It had done 50k and had been brush painted by him a couple of years back in one coat navy blue when he bodged the rear arches. I did it silver along the bottom put red pinstripe in the door moulding and bumper inserts painted the wheel trims so it looked really naff but it ran absolutely perfect and I did over 600 miles in it the following weekend with no CD player or Cassette, it just kept going, the kids nicknamed it "Turdy" due to the fact they were ashamed to be seen in it.

 

I sold it on after a couple of months to a mate who's son had passed his test it served him well going to Uni until a scrote took it, they got it back and I fitted another engine and lock set but it was never the same.

[greengartside]

Hey 80'sboy - if you are after a Mk2 Astra then what about the one at the abandoned garage in Derbyshire? That only needs recomissioning and a bit of sill work but that would be AWESOME if someone on here rescued it from years of abandonment! I'm sure someone's got some pics of it (RootesArrow has a whole Flickr set dedicated to it IIRC)....

[Cavcraft]

They rot like there's no tomorrow and the metallic painted ones are usually best avoided. They're very eighties Vauxhall, switchgear etc feels quite flimsy and they're not inspiring to drive to be honest.

That said that eighties Vauxhall feel is quite unique and sort of adds to the charm of the things and they're getting very thin on the ground now. The one you linked to has had the inner arch lip touched in judging by the pictures, I don't think that's the original paint there, more like someone's painted over the surface rust to try and beautify it a bit. Still looks like a nice original one though and worth saving if that's your bag. Interior 'style' might be hard to live with mind

 

I always see these as the least desirable of the Astras in truth: they don't have the charm of the Mk1, are not as well made as the Mk3 and aren't as nice to drive as the others too.

Most of the survivors are going to be hard to find, low mileage giffer spec/owned ones or tarted up old shite. One bonus is it'll be a while before they're worth much money so a decent one shouldn't break the bank for now.

[RoadworkUK]

Get yourself a Daewoo Nexia and rebadge it!

[Pillock]

My mum had one from new - H112XRC, a 1.4 GL in white. It was nice, but dated by that point - an interior designed completely with a set square, and then an odd mix of luxury velour and leccy windows inside, and white wheeltrims with a red griffin outside. I remember it feeling older than the Mk4 Escort it replaced (with it's curvy dash, rounded front end and two-tone paintwork), but was a higher spec even including an OMG electric aerial.

 

Then, I bought a shitty rustheap of a GTE Cabrio and watched it get slightly rustier over a couple of years. Digital dash and sporty trim did nothing to hide the basicness of it, I guess Vauxhall hoped you'd be too preoccupied by the fact you were understeering into oncoming traffic to worry about the clunky switchgear.

 

There was a guy on one of the Astra forums bought a Nexia and reshelled a GTE into it, including all the sheet metal changes to the bulkhead and a few bits around the rear end too (the Daewoo has rear quarter windows in place of the Astra's black plastic, for example). I never did find out what registration it got through the DVLA, I think he was hoping to keep it with a new reg just to screw with people's minds as it looked 100% GTE. Supposedly it was an easier job than repairing the Vauxhall shell too, with all the rust.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I would smash a late-model 1.8 CDi with the grey barcode sticker thing across the tailgate for defo. They used to strike me as a pretty classy motor, bet they go alright too. Don't think I could tolerate a 1200, just too fuggin horrible even for me.

[Pillock]

Was the 1.8i CD the same engine as the 1.8 GTEs? If so then yes they go like stink, very torquey and having driven a 2.0 16v I'd say there's not a lot of real-world difference. Trackday probably, but giving it the beans on the way to Tesco? Probably not.

 

My cab was a 1.8 and I saw a very easy 115 on the digital dash before all the lighting cut out, and it wasn't stressing much at that.

[cobblers]

There was a guy on one of the Astra forums bought a Nexia and reshelled a GTE into it, including all the sheet metal changes to the bulkhead and a few bits around the rear end too (the Daewoo has rear quarter windows in place of the Astra's black plastic, for example). I never did find out what registration it got through the DVLA, I think he was hoping to keep it with a new reg just to screw with people's minds as it looked 100% GTE. Supposedly it was an easier job than repairing the Vauxhall shell too, with all the rust.

 

Any more info on this? I remember nagging my mum to go the the local daewoo dealers when they were launched( and the dealers were on a retail park in a normal PC world type place) because they gave you free drinks and stuff. I was 9 years old at the time and remember going "WTF, This is a mk2 astra with fancy back lights". Always wondered how much you could swap over -even the dash looks bloody similar!

[dollywobbler]

I would smash a late-model 1.8 CDi with the grey barcode sticker thing across the tailgate for defo. They used to strike me as a pretty classy motor, bet they go alright too.

 

Indeed. They're fine looking machines. Were they all that lovely metallic red?

[Pillock]

There was a guy on one of the Astra forums bought a Nexia and reshelled a GTE into it

 

Any more info on this

 

You ask, I provide! This is the thread I remember : http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthre ... -Track-car!

Although on googling it it's been done a few times it seems, and the Mk2 boys have a big long list of bits they could use from a Daewoo dealer or scrapyard find.

[Tonka]

I remember nagging my mum to go the the local daewoo dealers when they were launched

 

The one at Parkgate?

[cobblers]

I remember nagging my mum to go the the local daewoo dealers when they were launched

 

The one at Parkgate?

 

Correct!

[cobblers]

There was a guy on one of the Astra forums bought a Nexia and reshelled a GTE into it

 

Any more info on this

 

You ask, I provide! This is the thread I remember : http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthre ... -Track-car!

Although on googling it it's been done a few times it seems, and the Mk2 boys have a big long list of bits they could use from a Daewoo dealer or scrapyard find.

 

 

Cheers mate!

[mattblack]

We had a 1988 1300 Merit estate for a couple of years around 8 years ago. I fitted new sills after discovering that that they were composed largely of clag, new rear shocks, and a manual choke kit among other things. It got rammed up arse by a women in a MK3 Astra and never repaired (it was 'I don't want to go through the insurance' job that desite numerous promises nevrer got sorted...) and the O/H rammed a lamp post while leanring to drive in it. I fitted a S/H bonnet and after she passed her test she reshaped the N/S sill and doors on a low wall... Sold it to a mate who had cooked his Range Rover motor and was desperate for transport for £120 IIRC.

[CreepingJesus]

Craving Mk2 Astras isn't unhealthy - they're fantastic motors. Except the 1200 pushrod 'no spec'. You can keep those.

The 1.8i and 2.0i weren't so different, but the 16v XE was. The 8v's were quick, don't get me wrong, and I liked them. But in a car which weighed naff-all (at least compared to the fat bastards which followed it, and the contemporary Golf) they were plenty. Keep the 16v planted over about 3000rpm (iirc) and it flew. If only GM hadn't bottled building the 4S roadcar...

I could be happy with an early (B-plate maybe?) 1.6 SR in flat pink on scabby steels.

[Station]

My mate's dad had a brand new F-reg GTE in blue, he had a long line of sporty cars and got rid of it because it was too mad.

 

They're nice looking cars, better than the Golf or Escort that journo's seem to always jizz their pants about.

 

[maxpower]

i knew a guy that used to nick these astra's using a teaspoon

 

he was so well known for it evrytime and astra was reported stolen the coppers used to go straight to his house... and if he wasnt at home then they knew he had stole it what a muppet

[M'coli]

I could be happy with an early (B-plate maybe?) 1.6 SR in flat pink on scabby steels.

Did the early ones have the big-block 1600 engine?

[r.welfare]

I had a real autoshite sleeper - 1.8 GLSi Belmont in metallic brown on a D-plate. For £51 I couldn't complain; sure the steering was incredibly inert but the engine was strong and the long gearing made for relaxing cruising. Quite comfortable, too. Rust, as mentioned, is the big issue - rear arches and sills, steering rack mounts and floors.

 

I seem to recall early (up to '86) 1.8's are meant to be a bit more lively than the later ones, something to do with tuning for low-end torque.

[Pete-M]

 

Just say no.

[sludgeguts]

I'd love another one. My first ever car was an early (B938 VNG iirc) German built 1.3L estate. Went on to own another 1.3L estate (E162 FJN- RIP) which went like the clappers for what is was and the 5 speed box was ace for relaxed cruising. Unfortunately this one was stolen and written off. My last one was a very late J reg Belmont 1.6. Now that one was quick.

[stuboy]

i took one as px from a mate, basic old 1300cc ran like shite brake calipers kept seizing on but i added alloys, gte spoiler, cav sri mk3 front seats, nova sr steering wheel, rev counter and painted the bumpers..

[CreepingJesus]

I could be happy with an early (B-plate maybe?) 1.6 SR in flat pink on scabby steels.

Did the early ones have the big-block 1600 engine?

I'm sure the early ones were small block. Probly changed after '87, along with the 18i's all being the HC GTE spec. Actually, the late 18 SXi with the CR 'box was a proper sleeper...

[Negative Creep]

I had a G reg 1.2 Merit ultra povvo that I bought for £100. Ran it around for a few months and despite being utterly miserable it did the job and didn't break. Very simple to work on as well, I changed the clutch cable with a flathead and wheel brace. Couldn't be bothered to re-MOT it so just drove it to the scrappy. Although I was told by several people they saw it again on the road and the reg number no longer appears on the DVLA database. So presumably it met the customary Roadwars Special fate