Vauxhall > Vauxhall Astra  

Advantages: Looks really smart car
Disadvantages: Not for a small fry, limited boot space for a family

I've had vauxhall's since I learnt to drive and think they are fantastic reliable cars. I had a 1995 1.4 Astra since it was a baby and in 2007 when I became pregnant my husband decided we needed a newer, more reliable car. So we went searching for a new Astra. After 7 months of owning a new 2007 1.4 Astra I wish I could get my old one back. My husband loves it except that he has to cram the pushchair in the boot and it takes a few attempts before ...
...view it's a nice colour (the dark blue one) but being only 5ft2, although I've pumped the seat up as high as it can go and bring it as close to the steering wheel as I can, I still can't see the bonnet or the boot enough to be confident about parking it. The rear headrests also restrict my view and even if I could see out the back window its so small. I've been driving for more years that I want to remember and this is the most awkward car to park ... Read review

Advantages: Well laid out , Tourque and high acceleration
Disadvantages: dull interior and boring fascia's

...say are extremley comfortable) , Vauxhall alloys and rear boot spoiler. The dashboard is plain and dull , they have tried to jazz it up by use of white dials , but i think they look tacky. The car to drive is a dream , it really is a wolf in sheeps clothes , i have the 5 door hatch version so it looks like any other family car on the road , but the acceleration through 2nd and 3rd gear is sometimes quite frightening , the ride is smooth , the gear ...
...am now a fully fledged fan. I was also surprised regarding fuel consumption particularly seeing as my previous car was a diesel , however 350 - 370 miles on a full tank appears to be the norm and this is what i was achieving with a 95 1.4 Ford Escort a few years ago. In my opinion a worthwhile investment as a second hand car , i would say that brand new models are a little over-priced. ... Read review

Advantages: Good, solid reliable
Disadvantages: engine noisy,

I recently rented an Astra for a couple of weeks. The car was really nice and easy to drive and handled well. It felt solidly built and had a quality finish. It was pretty responsive and nippy when accelerating. Nice smooth gearbox. The fuel consumption wasn't too good for me but I was only doing short runs, so not enough to heat the engine properly. I did notice that the engine was noisy even when inside the car, diesels these days should be much ...
...family of 5 and the boot is pretty large and deep. Music system was great and the interior dash and controls were well laid out and clear. The price isn't too cheap, RRP around 15.5K. Overall a lovely car. I would seriously consider this car if I was a buyer in this market. ... Read review

Advantages: Air conditioning as standard; Remote central locking; Power assisted steering; electric front windows, large boot/trunk space; room for three across the back with s/belts; no middle headrest so better visibility
Disadvantages: No electric wing mirror option; not a great range of colours available or trims.

...a pleasure to visit the Vauxhall dealer, who was friendly and courteous and offered advice. He sat down with me and helped me choose the best value for money regarding specifications - electric sunroof; ABS; etc On the test drive, the car was light to manouevre, with good visibility and the gears were much easier than my older Astra. The shape is similar to a 1990's Ford Escort, but still different from most of the new cars on the road. The boot/trunk ...
...a family of 5/6 or with family sized suitcases. 10.3.03 - I have now taken delivery of the car - yippee. This is not an opinion for anyone who knows a lot about cars, this is purely for the cosmetic purchaser! I went along to F J Barnes in Parkwood, Maidstone, where the most courteous salesman smoothtalked me out of my money - I willingly handed over the cash. He was actually a very genuine man, older type, but annoyingly talked about his wife ... Read review

Advantages: Large bootspace;Spacious interior
Disadvantages: Heavy Steering; Horrendous Gear Change; Slow to pull away from standing;

...driven (on par with the Vauxhall Corsa I had on hire the day after my accident). Its gearbox/gear change is what you would expect from an older vehicle - 2nd gear didn't seem to want to work. Even changing to other gears was a chore. It's steering was extremely heavy and made driving very hard work. It was also extremely slow to pick up. The non-locking fuel access door/fuel cap is also a worry. On the plus side, it had a lot of bootspace and ... Read review