Advantages: goodlooking, sexy, excellent ride ;-)
Disadvantages: common!

...~ My history ~ My very first car was a Renault Clio and after a crash on Valentines Day 2005 (which completely wrote it off (oops) and I couldn't believe I had to pay £50 to get them to scrap my little baby! (grr) Because I needed a car to get to work, the search began almost instantly to find another car. I had driven an Astra before and really liked them, I thought they were quite compact but big enough to fit people in without being packed in like sardines. I know I didn't want the bog standard Astra, so I went on the Vauxhall website and started to look at what they had to offer. ~ The Sxi ~ I'm not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to cars and engines etc and was a bit lost as to what spec I wanted and what kind of engine, so was only really bothered about how it looked (typical girl?) This is where... Read review

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Advantages: Nice styling, outstanding drive and handling, good quality interior!!
Disadvantages: Finicky new toys, 1.6 lacks real muscle and Vauxhall badge!!

...Test Model Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16v SXI Reg no: BF55 FYP UK model RHD Mileage 5912 Actual 0-60: 9.6 Printed max speed: 115 mph Printed economy: 32.8mpg urban Actual economy: 25mpg The new generation Astra has gone through a complete revamp since its ageing predecessor, both externally and internally there are very few features kept from the previous shape. The main improvement overall is the driving experience which has been improved by 80%. The New Astra is a beautiful looking car in sport hatch form and in 5 door form (like the one I tested) is still sporty looking, especially with alloys and front spot lights. As mentioned before the similarities between the previous Astra and the new generation one is minimal, Vauxhall choosing more sporty and dramatic lines to complement the cars shape. Have to say I am no big fan... Read review

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Advantages: Space age looks (New Model 2004) Great Engine. Quality interior. Equipment
Disadvantages: Driving position. Ride & handling.

...the body embellishments, in Sxi trim it has a firmer suspension set up than the regular Astra. At around 1350kg unladen, this is a heavy, modern car so 100bhp, it is not going to give it brilliant performance away from the traffic lights, although as already mentioned that 177lbs ft torque should prove very useful. Let us take to the driver's seat and find out. Firstly before you can give of your best as a driver, or come to that obtain the best from a car you need to find a comfortable driving position. For me this has always been a Ford v Vauxhall thing, in a Ford, any Ford, I sit down set the seat to the right leg length and am immediately comfortable. In Vauxhall, any Vauxhall this has never been the case. I know this because I have in the past owned 6 Fords and 8 Vauxhalls. Each Vauxhall I have had I have fiddled and fiddled... Read review

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Advantages: Performance, Cost, Looks
Disadvantages: Common car, petrol and SUSPENSION!

...end about the same though - from experience)! and obviously the looks are the same the wheel size etc... you can get cruise control with both aswell, but traction control is an extra with the 1.8. Now, let me get to the bigest let down on the 1.8 (which is crazy) THE SUSPENSION. I'm not one to change things to do with engines, brakes and suspension on cars..... THIS CAR IS SO BOUNCY HOWEVER, IT NEEDS A DIFFERENT SET OF SPRINGS. ok, its not ridiculous, but it is certainly not as tame as the SXi. Being so used to my 1.6 SXi, when driving the SRi i felt a little queasy afterward. it just doesn't seem to hold the road as good. Vauxhal upgraded everything else such as brakes and general tweaks... WHY DID THEY DOWNGRADE THE SUSPENSION??? So in all, yes the astra is a good car. good to drive, good to run, insure, good looks and i like... Read review

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

...Purchased a three year old model in May of 2003 , had an immediate problem with the fuel filter causing the car to cut out when revs were idling , the car came with a network q warranty and the dealer replaced immediately (also replaced the brake pads without any prompt or info from myself). The Car came equipped with a Radio Cassette player (added a single CD player by myself) , Air conditioning , lotus sports suspension (great for hugging those bends although a bit harsh on bumpy roads)and interior sports seat (which i must 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... Read review

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Advantages: Diesel engine so fuel economy is good. Much better styling inside and outside
Disadvantages: It's still a Corsa from Vauxhall, which means it's still by General Motors.

..., it was different somehow. The car had a different sort of styling to it, it had a different feel. The angled headlights made the car look angrier now, and the angled back made it look like a sports coupe. The alloys actually looked like they were the right size for the car and the backend didn’t look bad either, but it still has an unnecessary spoiler. I was thoroughly surprised, a Vauxhall Corsa that was actually pretty nice to look at. My mate then got out of his car, walked up to me with a slight swagger, and smiled at my surprised face. “It is a Corsa that is, and it is a SXi. But this is the new Corsa SXi CDTi 1.3l 16v 90ps.” For those that don’t know what that meant, he was boasting about his Corsa being the ‘sport’ model, which if you have read my previous review, I slated immensely. But this was a different sort of Corsa, it was a CDTi... Read review

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Advantages: Reliabilty, Handling, Economy, Insurance Prices, Safety, Acceleration, Depreciation
Disadvantages: They don't make this model anymore! The new corsa's interior is just hideous!

..., if you've even made up your mind that its going to be a Corsa - make sure its the SXi. Now, without insulting drivers of the following models - types such as the 1 litre Active and the Comfort, they just don't step up to the mark of the SXi. In my sporty 2005 model i have a CD player, I've got mock-aluminum fascia on the stereo and door handles, I've got silver seat belts, I've got alloy wheels, I've got a bit more poke under the bonnet (that actually makes quite a nice note at 4000 rpm). And all these little things add up, to make a BIG difference. The Vauxhall Corsa SXi - The Best In The Entire Present Hot Hatch Range!!... Read review

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Advantages: Looks, Performace, Running Costs, Equipment
Disadvantages: Handling in wet, Vauxhall Dealer.

...I currently own a 53 plate Silver Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXi, im going to try provide a short and sweet review on the car for any potential buyers. Engine and Performance: Whilst a 1.2 engine may put potential buyers off due to a lack of power, it should be noted that this potential 16v engine is one of the best in its class, boasting one of the best 0-60mph times of 11.6 seconds. The engine is superb through the gears, although it is revved a little hard at motorway speeds but not enough to be a problem. 9\10 - Excellent pokey engine for the size. Equipment: The SXI comes standard with a CD player with steering wheel controls, electric windows and mirrors, 15" alloy wheels and sports seats. It also has little touches like being lowered with white dials inside and a general more aggressive, sporty look to the car. The CD player... Read review

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Advantages: Good engine, looks, interior.
Disadvantages: Barmy low-ratio gears, irritating design faults, tiny boot.

...I drove one of these for over a week while my car was being repaired. I have to agree with the other more negative reviews, for 14 years on from my first car (a Mk 1 Corsa) I don't think anything has improved! It looks cool, the interior is fine, it was pretty refined, and most of the car was what you should expect from a brand new model. However... It is no longer small, about the size of an older Astra! The forward visibility was poor - I am 6 feet tall and couldn't guess where the front was! The thick pillars make pulling out from junctions a bit tricky. In the SXi model the suspension is far too hard making the car feel as if it was jumping round bumpy corners, rather than being fast (as was intended?) No feel from the steering wheel either. The gearing ratios are daft - far too low. The engine pulled really well from low revs... Read review

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Advantages: Looks, performance, comfort
Disadvantages: none

...Purchased a '99T Astra CD 1.8 16v as my second ever car and I am very impressed. Used to have a Rover 214. Mine is in dark blue and has the Irmscher spoiler and alloy wheels. Looks are excellent espesially with the Irmscher 17" wheels, makes the car look wider and more ballanced. Dark metalic blue looks great but needs to be kept clean!! Black trim is starting to fade (a problem with all Vauxhalls) but is easily sorted with some back-to-black. Interior looks good and is plain and simple with everything easy to reach whilst driving. Mine has the wood effect dash and gearknob. Could do with having better seats, (maybe the "sports" seats from the sxi or sri models) especially on long journeys, but overall it is comfortable. Build quality seems good, mine is approaching 5 years old and has no major marks or rattles. Interior light... Read review

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