Vauxhall Astra Review (1998 to 2004)

Quick Summary

It may not be particularly exciting but the Astra estate offers virtually all the attributes of far more popular mini-MPV vehicles at a fraction of the cost. Before taking the plunge with something like a Renault Scenic, ask yourself whether you really need all the 'lifestyle' baggage. If not, a used Astra estate will certainly keep the budget looking healthy and offer a more inspired drive. Sometimes sensible has a lot going for it.

Overall:

Models Covered:(5dr estate 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.2 petrol, 1.7, 2.0 diesel, 1.4, 1.6 LPG [Envoy, LS, .com, Club, Comfort, CD, Elegance, CDX])

ART OF THE ESTATE

With compact estate cars now coming back into vogue a little more, it's easy to forget quite what a tough time Vauxhall's Astra estate faced. Launched just in time to coincide with the boom in popularity of mini-MPV style vehicles, this was a car that never got a great deal of attention yet offered most of the 'real world' benefits buyers craved. With solid build quality and a no nonsense appeal, a used Astra estate makes a very sound buy. They're undervalued and as such represent quite a bargain. What you'll lose in admiring glances you'll more than make up with the thick wad of cash saved in your back pocket.
Used Vauxhall Astra for sale

History of the Astra

February 1998 marked a very key date in the development of the Astra estate. Before the Mark 4 version was launched, the Astra had, for a long time, been a makeweight; a car that justified its own existence purely on fleet finance balance sheets. There was no logical reason for a private buyer to choose an Astra, because there were so many better options about, and Vauxhall realised this, knowing they had to raise their game. When the new range was unveiled, UK buyers realised it was worth the wait, for the car was demonstrably better than anything in its class. The Astra held this position for a mere eight months until the launch of the Ford Focus, but although the Astra had to give second best to the all-conquering Ford, it was still an excellent car.The estate models were launched alongside the three and five door hatches and played second fiddle to the big-selling hatchbacks. Nevertheless there was plenty of choice available. Six engines were on offer: a 90bhp 1.4i 16v, a 75bhp 1.6i 8v, a 100bhp 1.6i 16v, and 115bhp 1.8i 16v petrol units and 68bhp 1.7 turbodiesel and 2.0-litre direct injection diesel units. Trim levels started at Envoy, and ascended through Club, LS, CD and CDX. December 1998 saw the advent of Bi-Fuel versions which ran on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) as well as regular unleaded petrol. In October 1999 a new .com version of the Astra 1.6i estate was launched and sold at a reduced price over the Internet, while summer 2000 the 1.7-litre turbodiesel engine was replaced by a more advanced turbocharged direct injection unit of similar capacity, and an intercooled 2.0Dti engine was introduced alongside the regular 2.0-litre direct injection diesel.For the 2001 model year, the entry-level 1.6-litre engine's power was upped to 85bhp, while the 1.8 developed 125bhp. The 2.2-litre engine seen in the Astra Coupe and sporty VX220 roadster was also introduced to the estate range. Comfort and Elegance trim levels replaced CD and CDX respectively in autumn 2001 at a time when the rest of the Astra range enjoyed a boost in standard equipment levels. Spring 2002 saw the introduction of the common-rail diesel 1.7-litre CDTi powerplant. This offered a smoother and more economical alternative to the somewhat outdated direct injection units with which Vauxhall had unsuccessfully tried to do battle against ever-more sophisticated Ford diesels. The Mark 5 Astra arrived to replace the mark 4 in the summer of 2004.
Used Vauxhall Astra for sale

Vauxhall Astra Road Test

On the Astra's report card for driving impressions, it would probably receive a B grade for achievement and an A grade for effort. The willing engines, always a strong point of any Astra range, are still not quite matched by the dynamic handling characteristics but this tends to matter less to typical estate drivers than sports hatch buyers. If your demands in terms of outright handling are not so stringent, the Astra estate is perfectly good. After all, how many of us regularly go around corners, all adrift, sawing at the wheel? Or, to put it more relevantly, how many used buyers with a tyre budget in mind are going to? For the majority of the audience the Astra will appeal to, the combination of tractable engines, sweet transmissions, class-leading refinement and a surprisingly cosseting ride will all be major pluses. Of particular merit are the 2.0-litre diesel engines and the 2.2-litre petrol engine that has now found its way into the sporty VX220 model.
Used Vauxhall Astra for sale

Buying a Vauxhall Astra

The Astra has yet to suffer any significant faults. Build quality is leagues ahead of its predecessors, as is the technical excellence of the new engines. Aside from obvious body damage, just ensure that the car has been well looked after, insist on a service history and buy with confidence.
Used Vauxhall Astra for sale

Vauxhall Astra Typical Pricing

A 1.6-litre 8v Envoy estate on a 1998 R plate shouldn't trouble you for much more than £2,400. That buys you a heck of a lot of capability for what's approaching banger pricing. An additional £200 will buy the better equipped and air conditioned LS model which many will see as a fair investment and pay another £200 again and the sweeter 1.4-litre 16v engine is available, again in LS trim. Probably the best buy among the petrol engined Astra estates is an early 1.8-litre 16v CDX model, equipped with plenty of kit, endowed with a fair turn of speed and yours from £2,700 on a 1998 R plate. Opt for a newer version and you'll need £4,000 for a 2000 V plater and £5,300 for a 51-plated example. The pick of the diesel range is the 1.7DTi engine and in LS trim this can be yours from £3,600 on a 2000 V plate.
Used Vauxhall Astra for sale

Vauxhall Astra Parts

(approx based on a 1998 1.6 Club estate) You'd expect spares from a mainstream operator like Vauxhall to be cost effective, and with the Astra being a bulk seller, you wouldn't be wrong. A new clutch assembly is £145, whilst front brake pads can be found for around £20. Rears are nearer £35, whilst a radiator for an air-conditioned car will; cost around £130. Alternators are slightly pricier, nudging the £300 mark, so make sure your prospective purchase is generating a healthy current to its battery.
Used Vauxhall Astra for sale