From my experience just be a little careful on the economy claims of the 1.0T. This can vary quite a bit dependent on your driving style. If you have a heavy right foot you'll be well short of the MPG. Small capacity turbos tend to be good if you take it easy. If you press on, the MPG will usually fall off dramatically in comparison to the diesel. A car regularly full or passengers can also have the same impact so if it's going to be the family car, that's also worth keeping in mind. Other than the different characteristics of a petrol compared to a diesel, the fundamentals should all be the same. I'll pin this up. Hopefully somebody with some long term experience with a 1.0T can advise

Thank you. If people are good enough to watch and comment then it’s the least I can try and do. I’m also genuinely interested in people’s thoughts and feedback and always happy to talk cars!

@@andylove9961 nice, glad you’re loving it. Always liked the look and shape of the tourer 👍

That’s great. Interesting to hear your views in comparison to the Focus. I’m not a fan of really small capacity turbo engines but interesting that you tried the diesel Focus as well and still rated the Astra. Thanks for the feedback. I’ll pin it up, should be useful to others on here. 👍

Anyone who has the 2018 Astra... Let me know how it is, I'm thinking of getting the Diesel 1.6 CDTi 110 Horse power. What is this car like?

Hi im about to buy this car same yeat, how has it treated you??!

@@lefthooked5602 still very impressed with the overall experience, very well balanced car, you'll not regret it.

Thanks for the feedback. That’s a solid figure on the long run! And saw high 50’s myself over the time I was using it with mixed driving. It’s always interesting to how other peoples experience stacks up. You summed it up nicely, a really good workhorse👍

Good to hear. Interesting that you lowered it, I found it a pretty tidy handling car any way, that would make it very interesting down the twisty B roads 👍

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch the car handled good but I felt spooked at how springy and comfortable it was as logically it is a family hatchback. But the difference in driving dynamics from that one small tweak and the stability from the lowering and stiffness is night and day. It almost feels as oem plus, the comfort is still there but now feels immensely sharper.

@@dukafit7981 interesting to hear how much it’s improved it.

Anyone who has this car... Let me know how it is, I'm thinking of getting the Diesel 1.6 CDTi 110 Horse power. What is this car like?

They are a lot of car for the money and a really good all rounder.

Also have the same car, and just as you said, very economical, solid car.

@@ibrahimnalbant7635 The feedback from people who own them seems to be pretty positive across the board.

Anyone who has this car... Let me know how it is, I'm thinking of getting the Diesel 1.6 CDTi 110 Horse power. What is this car like?

Thanks for the comment. Seems to be a common theme from owners, great value for money! And as you say, if you had to pay to get the chain sorted it would still be decent value. Keep us posted on how it fairs as a long termer.

Nice! Good spec. choice. Interesting to hear you jumped into a Crossland and back again. Hope you have plenty of happy miles in it. And thanks for watching 👍

Thanks for the feedback. All good points and like you say, the SRI spec does elevate it enough to make it a bit more fun and it does seem to be a good spec. choice. How do you find the economy on the 1.4 petrol? The decision between petrol and diesel is important to a lot of people, particularly at the moment.

@@Jason-uk9cx that’s not bad for a petrol but that diesel figure is epic! 👍

Anyone who has this car... Let me know how it is, I'm thinking of getting the Diesel 1.6 CDTi 110 Horse power. What is this car like?

@@taylorthrall7321 stay away from Diesel buddy. In no time you will regret it (or maybe not)

@@taylorthrall7321 I can’t pin this up as you put it as a reply. Post it as an original comment and I’ll pin it to the top and see if you can get any answers

Thanks for the feedback and for watching. Appreciate it! I haven't driven a Corsa for a while so it might not be completely fair for me to compare. I think it mainly comes down to usage. One person or a family, local driving, long distances, load lugger etc. etc. For me the Corsa is a little too small for what I would want. The Astra strikes a pretty good balance between practicality and not being too big.

I would recommend them,I love mine.

@@beastyboyBlue That's good to hear

That is a lot of spec. for the money!

I'm leasing one of these at £165 per month (down from £190 because covid I guess). Since 2018. The pace of 200psi is brilliant, and the ride quality much better than my old Skoda Octavia VRS estate. I only got shut of that because the lease deal on Astra was a bargain and the ride of the Skoda was too harsh... I will probably buy this end of the year as the Covid mileage is so low - some real low mileage bargains out there this year.

You do get a lot of car and specification for the money. Enjoy!

Awesome feedback, thanks! I do like the tourer, good looking car. Interesting to hear about the MPG, not great although I'm finding this is an issue on a lot of turbo petrol engines. The MPG in real world driving doesn't always stack up well against manufacturers claims. Thanks for this, I'm sure people will appreciate feedback from an owner.

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch ta for that! Yeah, i know looks will be something most people can judge for themselves but ive got the estate in white, looks sharp in the drive with the white trim etc. Its also kind of... more hatchbacky than estatey looking, haha - the previous one i had "looked" longer, deffo. I think its because theres less glass at the rear sections of the car on the sides, so makes it look a bit smaller/the curved bits of the roof section stick out more when looking at it side on Edited to clarify a little at the end there

Good to hear. It is a good cruiser, I found I could cover a lot of miles very comfortably in it. There is something very satisfying about not paying any road tax😉

Yep, I think they’re often unfairly overlooked

Sounds like a nice spec. Good to hear you’re enjoying it. Hope it keeps serving you well🤞

Had the 200bhp model for 6yrs. Great torque. Will be sad to move it on

@@robertlees7528 can imagine the 200bhp version had some pretty decent performance 👍

Max I get in my petrol is 42/3mpg on motorway. Combined 21mpg tested on full tank.

Good to hear you're enjoying it

I'm thinking about buying one of these at the weekend, any engine issues at all?

@@veerloren had for 14 months with no issues 17 plate

Thank you👍 Agreed, compliance is key, particularly with the state of UK roads. I think it all comes down to personal usage and preference. I do like a spirited drive on the right roads and if you only have one car then to have compliance and handling is ideal. Some manufacturers manage to offer both. I think the Astra offered a pretty decent balance.

I agree, never had a gearbox issue on my old Vauxhalls, they were solid. They just weren't a great gear change mechanism from a 'driver feel' point of view. The Astra I was driving here felt really well put together. Had about 30,000 miles on the clock and everything felt really well screwed together.

My 2013 Astra 1.7tdi SRI had to have gearbox rebuild at 52000 miles ,Transmission specialist who did the job said he does a lot of Vauxhalls bearings rotate in casing . Cost £1500.

Sorry to hear that. Never great to have a crash, particularly when it’s a car you really like. I’m surprised how quick some insurance companies are to write cars off nowadays. Hope you find something equally as nice to replace it.

Good to hear. Rode Wireless is a great bit of kit although I still haven't mastered where to put it yet. Too close, too far, too loud, too quiet!!! I've always been a bit of a Vauxhall fan. I think they get unfairly slated a lot of the time. What's next on the list? Thanks for the sub. I'll be following.

Big fan of Sports Tourers. I really like the look of cars in that format. It’s great to hear a comparison from somebody that’s had both engine types. I’ve always been a little sceptical about smaller engine capacities so it’s very interesting to get your feedback on it. Sounds like a cracking engine and that’s some solid mpg for a petrol engine! I’m going to have to try to get my hands on one somehow. It would be good to do a comparison. Also interesting to hear that it has a good engine note, which is rare nowadays. Something interesting about the sound from an engine with an uneven number of cylinders. A bit like the 5 cylinders in the Audis. Thanks for your comment. I’ll pin it up. Could be really helpful for others looking for a comparison between the engine types.

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch Thank you for your reply. My car is the last of the 1.4 petrol 3 cylinder engines as Vauxhall have discontinued that engine ( something to do with emissions apparently ) and now mainly using the 1.2 petrol 3 cylinder engines, personally I would not have a 1.2 engine as I feel that is to small and having watched videos of the Astra with the 1.2 engine being road tested they are very noisy.

Nice choice! How do you find the engine? Be interesting to get your thoughts on it, it will help others make a decision on the best engine for them.

That’s not good to hear! Is that across the board or just petrol do you know? It’s not something I’ve heard of but I’m not a long term owner so haven’t researched reliability in any significant depth. Be interested to hear if anybody else is having the same issue?!

Hi, thanks for the heads up, I'm thinking about getting a 1.4i automatic and am now having 2nd thoughts?

@@peb17 I’m bit too sure about the automatic model unfortunately. Finally have my car back and Vauxhall agreed to pay more then half of the cost. To me shows some guilt on the whole situation. Od just be careful and make sure you get one with warranty left on it.

I never got to really drive it in the dark so didn’t get to experience the headlights ability. Doesn’t sound great! That is juicy. This is one of my major gripes about small capacity engines. Ticks all the right boxes on paper but doesn’t always translate into good, real world stats! Thanks for the feedback.

This is the 2nd 1.4T petrol 150 bhp SRI. Great car, handling, mpg. Good car second hand for the money. But the headlights are shocking. The biggest letdown. Such a shame.

Agree with the headlights. It's a wonder they are legal. Such a shame as I think it's one of the most underrated cars around.

Hahaha, they're hard resist. That is a lot of car for the money. I don't have experience with the Petrol engine but Scott's comment, that I've pinned to the top here, says it's pretty nippy. I really do think they tick a lot of boxes and are often, unfairly overlooked. I don't like to commit peoples money for them but I don't think you could go too far wrong with that.

As I commented above I have one of these as you describe above, it's a bargain on these low milers. Only negative is low mpg (30's) but I drive it a bit keenly. Also I am on my second touch screen replacement since new - common warranty claim.

Thanks for the feedback, interesting to hear how the 1tr is in comparison. Nice spec. and that’s a pretty good return on the mpg 👍

Hi im about to buy this car same yeat, how has it treated you??!

@@lefthooked5602 as I driving since 2020,so far letting me down on roundabouts, I know it's not a 6.3 v8 biturbo G-wagen, but, as vauxhall and 999cm3 with turbo, really does amazing start, not bad for far distance, as drove to Belgium

You’re welcome

Thank you. Tricky. So, for a first car and if you've only just started driving, I always recommend buying something cheap and get something better for your second car. Make all your mistakes in the cheap car. Now I've got my 'Dad speech' out of the way I'll try to answer your actual question! I would say it mainly comes down to preference. People will argue for and against both cars. I find the Focus holds it's money a little better which means you'll probably get something a bit older with a few more miles on the clock but then it will probably retain a little more when it comes to selling. There's a good chance the Astra will have a higher spec. and be a bit newer for the same money. Dynamically the Focus always tended to be better but the latest Astra has definitely moved things on a lot. I honestly don't think there is that much between them. I'd definitely consider insurance and running costs. If one is significantly cheaper than the other I would let that be a factor in your decision making process. If not, then I would just go for which one you prefer the look and feel of. Try and take both for a test drive if you can, you'll often find one just feels more right to you than the other. If you're going to spend a significant amount of your hard earned cash then at least try to spend it on the one you're happiest about owning. And, take your time finding the best one you can for your money. Don't rush to jump in the first one you come across, there are plenty to choose from, it's a buyers market! Hope that helps and sorry it's not a definite answer but I find when you've got two cars to choose from that a very similar it ultimately boils down to personal preference.

Agreed, it is mostly down to personal preference. You could argue for and against most cars in this bracket. I think the value of the Astra takes some beating

Tricky, I don't have a vid I can point you towards and it's not something I can put together as I don't have the car. To be honest, I think it could be more about driving a different car and being a new driver. I takes time to get used to a new car, particularly if you only recently passed. Like anything, it takes time to develop your skillset and I always recommend people treat driving in the same way as any new skill. You passed your test, now is the time to properly learn and develop. Particularly with state of some peoples driving. it's not easy on the roads for a new driver nowadays. Now, all that being said, the Astra is a bigger car and if it has the larger wheels the turning circle could be a little worse. Fiesta's are a popular car for learning because of their size and easy manoeuvring, so don't panic! You just need to get used to the Astra and having nobody by your side to guide you. Now this will sound really boring. My recommendation, take yourself to an empty car park, on your own so nobody can give you any grief and practise for a while. I know it sounds obvious but so many people never bother to practice parking. Give yourself a few scenarios and practise. Honestly, you'll be a parking hero in no time!

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch I did exactly this (empty car park), and it helped :) I also talked with my instructor about it, who reminded me that I’ve always been too fast with steering - made more apparent by usually ending up too far away from where I intended to park, despite the reference points being accurate. So she’s suggested either slower steering turns, or putting less steering on. An example for parallel parking; instead of 1 turn left, 2 turns right - I’ve been advised to do 1 turn left, 1.5 turns right. I have yet to try it. :)

@@emilymoon6348 I was given some weird instructions as to how to parallel park, certain points to line up on in the mirrors etc. it went out of the window the minute I passed and got into a different car as nothing lined up the same way anymore! Sounds like you could be over doing it on the steering. However once you’re used to the car you’ll naturally understand the turning circle and with relaxed inputs and a slow/steady manoeuvre you should be able to make minor adjustments as you move. Sometimes, with a tight spot you back it up but it won’t be perfect, then pull it forward with some opposite lock and reverse again, this time at a shallower but more manageable angle. It doesn’t have to be one continuous perfect manoeuvre. As for the parallel parking, I personally don’t count the number of turns. And that number will be slightly different for every car. Again I think you need a little more time to get used to the Astra then everything else will become easier. IMO counting turns of the wheel means you’re overthinking it and not really getting a natural feel for the car. Get out and practise both for a few weeks. I honestly think that will pay dividends. Counting steering inputs is not the best way. It’s only my opinion obviously so you’ve got to go with works best for you. Good luck! And enjoy your new found freedom 😉

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch I like your view on it! This morning’s parking was horrendous, I was overthinking the size of the car and when to turn etc in a busy car park. I asked a stranger who was happy to help, to guide me in. The other times I parked today, I winged it because I’d had a long day and was kind of over it. Didn’t count the turns, used the mirror to guide me in, went reasonably quick, made the tiny adjustments - and didn’t have to correct it. (Reverse parking on the right against a high wall just outside of a turning circle - our street is too outdated and narrow, the spot where I park is both expected and accepted). Overthinking seems to be my worst enemy. Especially when it comes to parking next to other cars & the size of my car. But it is getting easier! :)

@@emilymoon6348give it time, keep practicing, and keep being thoughtful about yours and other peoples cars and you’ll get there. And most importantly, don’t panic! 😉

Thanks for watching and the feedback. My understanding is there were problems on some of the early petrol engines. I haven't read about piston issues on the diesels. Forums mainly seem to be focused on the 1.4T engine. I've heard a big cause was down to the oil used but don't quote me on this. Definitely something to be aware of and check on an earlier petrol car. As for how common this is, I'm not to sure, I can't find a definitive figure.

OK thanks

Thanks for the message. That's a tricky one. I can't comment directly on how the petrol versions drive as I've only driven the diesel. In part I think it comes down to personal preference and usage. If you're doing a lot of miles then a diesel usually makes financial sense. I also find small capacity turbo petrols can be thirsty if driven quite hard. The diesel with its better torque curve usually makes a good case for general, every day driving. Whereas petrol engines can be a bit more engaging if you're looking for a bit of fun. I think it really comes down to how you're going to use it. Sorry I can't give a definitive answer but I haven't driven a petrol version so it would be wrong of me to say which one is better. Hopefully some owners might see this question and be able to help.

Thank you 🙏.

@@bubblehead46 yeah, I’m hearing more and more about this being a problem area. It seems a clean through only does so much before the warning light will come back on and a decent, long drive may clear it but only for so long. It does seem to be an annoying reoccurring issue for people.

I’ll pin this up and see if anybody with more experience has any answers. I know the owner of the one used in this video and overall it’s been pretty solid. Accept for the EGR valve which has been changed and seems to need a regular clear out. That’s a re-occurring issue which is frustrating. They’re not the only ones from what I’ve heard. The rest of the engine has been solid so far though. They coming up to about 70,000 miles. Let’s see if anybody else can give you some feedback

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch thank you so much

I actually purchased my Astra J 2011 in September 2011 brand new. Over the years it's had a few issues like, cd player gets cd stuck, this actually happened within the 1st month of getting the car and it was replaced for free (used usb since). With scheduled maintenance and normal driving i can tell you the car has been very much reliable. Currently I have just clocked 91K miles and that's with motorway driving mostly. Now I don't have the latest car like in the video or your model, but looking at my example I would say that yours would be reliable, dependent on your driving and maintenance.

The other issues I have had was the heating burnt out, and the window washer bottle perished due to some other issue with the washer system. Apart from this I can't thank my astra enough for putting up with me 😂

That's a tricky question to answer as so much depends on personal circumstances, budget, priorities and personal preference. If you just want the same but a different manufacturer then it's the usual suspects, Focus, Golf, etc. So the question is, what's important to you for your next car?

@RemoveBeforeLaunch so the thing I like about Astra hatchback is the way it's got nice space in the drivers seat aswell as behind the driver. The Astra always has that hidden punch, when needed it can go fast. The main thing I like is the infotainment and modern cockpit, speedometer etc. However I don't like the electric handbrakes , I don't know but I prefer to have a big lever to pull.

@@asaad786 I understand, I'd prefer the lever handbrake sometimes. The problem is, as the cars get newer and the specification higher, you're more likely to get an electric handbrake. The only thing I would say is you do get used to it. It sounds to me like you're happy with the Astra so it's going to be tricky to find an alternative with better spec. at the same price point. You do tend to get a lot of car for the money with an Astra. So, you could go for something German but you'll need to up the budget to get a similar spec.. From experience, a Focus I don't think will seem to dissimilar to what you've got, so it's more of the same. Perhaps looking at something from one of the manufacturers from the Far East, Kia, Honda etc. They do tend to load their cars up with more tech and spec. reliability can be pretty decent and the price point is usually reasonable. And then really you need to go and take a look to see if they offer you enough space. It's never easy trying to find the perfect car. And lastly, if you really like your Astra, you get a newer one. It might be 'another' Astra but if you really like them then you're probably going to like the newer version.

Yeah, sorry about that. Slight editing glitch! I like to wake people up at the beginning😳 it’s a reference to aircraft, remove before flight etc. There are slightly different long term ideas for the channel which will lend themselves a little better to the name. An Astra being launched doesn’t quite paint the same picture. And yep, another slight oversight with there being a rather popular channel with a similar name! I don’t think they have too much to worry about though😉 Thanks for the feedback👍

Would be an interesting comparison. I haven’t had a chance to try to latest Focus yet.

Hi. As @Rayco mentioned in the comments here, look into Dexos 1 Gen 2 oil. It's been developed for smaller capacity turbo engines. It helps prevent LSPI (low speed pre ignitoin) which can cause damage. If you check it out they also claim it reduces turbo deposits, oxidisation and improves fuel economy. Worth paying attention to. I've pinned your comment as well so hopefully you'll get some feedback from some owners. Hope you enjoy your new car 👍

@Remove Before Launch Thank you for pinning the comment. I appreciate it. Will get some of the oil and use it. Hopefully, once I get the car.

Yep. Hopefully this will help with some of the longer term issues associated with the new smaller capacity engines. Although it does highlight the shortcomings of these smaller engines. Also, a lot of owners are not aware of these oils and the reason for using them.

It’s a good looking estate as well 👍

My understanding is, it's a timing chain and all being well, a low mileage car shouldn't need to have it changed for a long time. Varying reports suggest anything between 70,000 to 100,000 miles. Having said that, forums always carry horror stories, but then I don't know a car that doesn't have a forum full of disasters. I personally don't have any direct experience. I'll pin your comment up and hope somebody can give you some advice from their own actual experience.

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch thanks for your reply much appreciated

Interesting. I wonder why they did that. Does the dawn of 5G make car wifi redundant🤔

Countries sorry about the misspelled word

Got about 35k miles on my 17 plate one got the 1.6 biturbo diesel in it its known to be a little more hungry on fuel to the 110 and 136hp 1.6l models I'd get about 65mpg on motorway driving normally I know one of the other 1.6 engine models gets high into the 70s but I stuck with the biturbo for the extra power and torque

@@Jason-uk9cx only just seen your comment. Interesting to hear about the bi-turbo. Wondered how much thirstier it would be. That’s still a pretty impressive MPG and worth it for the extra poke IMO.

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch after trying them all the bi turbo is by far the best to sacrifice a couple mpg for the extra amount of poke you get along with the low end torque compared to the others its a easy choice plus on the 17 plate there is no ad blue so don't have to deal with that compared to the other models but iv got a overall mpg of 53 and I do a decent mix of motorway and town driving

@@Jason-uk9cx makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the feedback.

yes, it's an electric system

Yeah in struggling on weather to get the 1.0t ecoflex or the 1.4t, 1.0 seems to be fast enough and is lighter and more economical but wondering if the extra power will make much difference

From experience, it depends on your driving style. Small capacity turbo engines look more economical on paper but in real world driving, it doesn't always translate. If you drive slow and steady everywhere it may work out better but if you like to put your foot down a little I would go for the larger capacity. A heavy right foot in a 1.0t may surprise you as to how uneconomical it is. I'd try to test out both options if you get the chance.

Good to know👍

Hi. I was loaned this car to test so I can't give an honest answer from an owners perspective. However, this wasn't a new car, it was several years old and had about 40,000 miles on the clock and I didn't notice any annoying squeaks or rattles. I was pretty impressed with how it was put together. I'll pin your comment and hopefully some Astra owners can add some feedback here.

@@RemoveBeforeLaunch ok thanks

Hi Les I've had an Astra SRI Nav 1.6cdti for nearly 4 years. Great motor to have. Only issue i had was the MOT failed due to excess play in the steering rack. I spoke to Vauxhall and they covered 60% of the cost due to it being a common issue. I discussed if it would be a recall issue but they were undecided but potentially might be. Other than that the car has been a dream really. Not an issue with it.

@@randomj6188 hi thanks for the info

I've a 2018 1.4t Sri astra, been a good reliable car but had to get drivers seat replaced as creaked and squeaked when driving and then the pedal box needed replaced but when refitting the trim around the steering column they must not have done it right as had to take it back because there then was a slight rattle from the plastics that wasn't there before... All sorted under warranty and in reality the squeaks where more of a niggle than an issue

Noted for the future Joey. Too late to change it on this one though.

The current models are now sharing engines but I’m not sure this one did. I stand to be corrected by somebody in the know but I can’t find anything saying the first diesels were shared.

The original Ks are not Peugeot engines. Only the newer ones are, I believe 2019 onwards?

@@Leethemetalwarrior that’s what I seemed to find we had look for info.

Yea to the steering wheel, obviously😉 I’m not entirely sure on the details, it was about the time Peugeot and Vauxhall were talking about sharing platforms but the PSA Group didn’t fully take ownership of Vauxhall until 2017 I think. The Astra was being designed and built by then so I’m not sure what did and didn’t come through from Peugeot on this model. Certainly the later facelift models switched engines etc. which I assume are shared across the whole group now. Somebody else may have a definitive answer on this?