Opel Astra, the car that opened the era of Opel's "golf class" models, appeared on the market in 1991. The purpose of its appearance was to replace the empty niche previously occupied by the Opel Kadett A. Each new generation of Opel cars is marked with a letter of the Latin alphabet. Since the latest Kadett model had an E index, the first generation Opel Astra, the price of which was absolutely democratic, is denoted by the letter F.
Overview of Opel Astra of all modifications
Opel Astra F (1991)
The first generation of Opel Astra was represented by a wide range of modifications. It was made up of: 3- and 5-door hatchbacks, a sedan, a 5-door Caravan station wagon and a commercial version of the latter - a 3-door "Astravan", designed for the transport of goods. At the same time, two sports modifications were presented - GT and GSI. The first - with a 2.0 liter engine with a capacity of 115 liters. with., and the second 16-valve, with 2.0 liters and 150 liters. With. respectively. Two years later, the GSI version, which was previously produced in the modification of a 3-door hatchback and 5-door Caravan, was supplemented by a four-seater Astra convertible.
As for engines, their choice is impressive: five petrol and two diesel. All of them are 4-cylinder, with a volume of 1.2 to 2 liters. Diesel "opelevsky" 1.7 l with a capacity of 60 liters. with., and turbodiesel Isuzy 1.7 l with a capacity of 82 liters. With. The gearbox of all models is a five-speed manual (less often a four-speed "automatic").
High-quality leather materials in the interior trim, comfortable seats with a range of adjustments for maximum comfort, an elegant instrument panel, air conditioning and an airbag for the passenger - an interior that creates a pleasant impression.
The Astra car is also relatively soft on the go. An anti-roll bar at the front and rear of the machine allows good road holding. Independent front and semi-independent rear suspension provide excellent maneuverability and efficient movement. Most Astra models have an ABS brake system, as well as front disc and rear drum brakes. In sports versions - disc brakes both front and rear. The volume of luggage compartments: 3- and 5-door hatchbacks - 360 liters, and with the rear seats folded down 1200 liters, 5-door Caravan station wagon - 500 liters. and 1630 liters, respectively.
Minor changes that the Opel Astra car underwent in 1994 affected the appearance. There are new wheels, grille, headlights and mirrors. The quality of the finish has improved in the cabin, and the steering wheel has acquired an airbag.
Opel Astra G (1997)
Designed by Opel, the Astra model, presented in 1997 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, was practically new, taking nothing from its predecessor. Driving performance, ergonomics, as well as interior trim have been improved. At first, the update was presented in three models: three- and five-door hatchbacks, and a station wagon. A year later, another sedan was added to them. The convertible was discontinued. The strength of the body has significantly increased, in the manufacture of which about 20 grades of steel are used and the resistance to corrosion has improved. As for safety, four airbags, two front and two side, hidden in the backs of the front seats, provide it on an Opel Astra car. For the first time, a thruster rear suspension was used, which ensures the stability of the car on steep turns. Gasoline engines remained the same, but diesel engines were supplemented with a new option: a 2.0-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 82 hp. Additionally, in 1999, the Coupe model was released, with a coupe body, and in 2001, the Opel Astra Cabrio cabriolet. The exclusivity of these modifications is that, despite the manual assembly of the new Opel Astra models, their cost was competitive.
Opel Astra H (2004)
The upgraded Opel Astra model of 2004 was made up of a sedan, 3- and 5-door hatchbacks, a station wagon, and a coupe-cabriolet. The introduction of the ESP stabilization system has significantly increased the prestige of the brand. The high quality of finishing materials and a variety of color solutions, ergonomic seats, as well as a folding rear backrest that allows you to carry loads up to 1.67 m long, emphasize the practicality of the car. The engine range consists of 5 petrol and 3 diesel engines, and the power ranges from 90 to 200 hp. With. Despite the numerous technical innovations of the new Opel Astra model, the price has remained almost the same.
Opel Astra J (2010)
The new C-class model is based on the Delta II front-wheel drive platform. The wheelbase length was increased by 71 mm and the front and rear tracks were widened by 56 and 70 mm, respectively. The rigidity of the body in torsion (43%) and bending (10%) has increased. As in the restyling of 97, this time the Astra car was also almost completely updated. The quadrangular headlights were replaced by LED optics, the air intakes and fog lights began to look more modern, the radiator grille also changed its look. The silhouette of the roof has become more sporty, and the rear window has received a greater slope. The sporty look of the seats, a number of additional compartments for small items, red illuminated door handles, cup holders that perfectly fit a mobile phone or a GPS navigator are the main interior updates.
Opel Astra J (restyling 2012)
Point restyling in 2012 touched the grille, front bumper and foglight shape. As additional equipment, heated seats, a rear-view camera and a lane departure warning system were added. The engine range was supplemented by a new CDTi BiTurbo diesel engine with a capacity of 192 hp. With. and a volume of 2 liters (not yet presented in Russia). The premiere of Astra J took place in September 2012 in Paris. As for the technical details of the updated Opel Astra, the configuration and prices have long been presented, including on the network.
The Opel Astra H sedan debuted in 2007 - three years later than the five-door hatchback, first presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2004. The debut of the third-generation Astra sedan came just at the time of the restyling of the model, during which the bumpers and taillights were updated.
After the appearance of the fourth generation in 2009, the production of Astra H sedans moved to other enterprises, including the Kaliningrad Avtotor in Russia, where the four-door continued to be produced under the name Astra Family.
Options and prices Opel Astra H Family sedan 2015
The front of the sedan completely copies the five-door hatchback, but the rear has been designed from scratch. The car received completely new lights and a trunk lid, decorated with a chrome strip at the bottom.
The Opel Astra Family sedan is based on the station wagon platform - they have a total wheelbase of 2,703 mm, which is 89 mm more than the hatchbacks and the Astra TwinTop convertible. And due to the longer rear overhang, the overall length of the sedan (4,587 mm) is 72 mm longer than the station wagon.
The trunk volume of the four-door is 490 liters, and rear passengers will be able to appreciate the sufficient legroom, given that we are talking about class C cars. The interior design of the Opel Astra Family sedan copies the design of the hatchback and station wagon. The interior of the latter, in turn, is made in the style of the older model Vectra C.
Finishing materials, however, are a little cheaper, but they look solid, and all elements are fitted with high quality, without unnecessary gaps and distortions. The front seats are quite comfortable, with good lateral support and a wide range of adjustments.
The line of engines for the Opel Astra N sedan in the Russian market includes two petrol engines with a volume of 1.6 (115 hp) and 1.8 (140 hp) liters. Both are aggregated in tandem with a 5-speed manual, and an alternative is a 5-band "robot" (for the 1.6 engine) and a 4-band automatic (for the 1.8 engine).
In the showrooms of dealers, the car is offered in three basic configurations: Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmo. In general, the sedan is 10,000 rubles more expensive than the hatchback, but 20,000 rubles more expensive. more affordable wagon in similar versions.
The base price of the Opel Astra N sedan 2015 is 720,000 rubles, and for the top-end four-door with a 140-horsepower engine and an automatic in the Cosmo configuration, they are already asking for 825,000 rubles. And this is not counting the numerous options for which you need to pay extra separately.
Photo Opel Astra Family sedan
However, in Europe, this company did not particularly interfere, there were completely different tasks: for all the popularity of the brand, there were problems with the profitability of production, GM managed to make the brand unprofitable for many years. But “unprofitability” and loss are very different things in the modern world, in any case, the American concern has been refusing all proposals for the sale of the European branch since 2008, and given the complex system of ownership of suppliers and the concern ... In general, not only AVTOVAZ has similar nuances.
Why buy Astra H?
But back to our "rams". The unimportant situation with Opel sales in Russia was changed by the release of Astra H in 2004. The car replaced the well-deserved Astra G, which, like all its ancestors before, was practical, comfortable and ... extremely boring.
In the photo: Opel Astra Hatchback (H) "2004–07
In the new generation, the car has been transformed in accordance with the latest requirements for C-class cars: it has become much more voluminous inside, more comfortable and at the same time more economical. At the same time, it remains quite simple in design - no multi-links, only MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam in the back, only in-line motors. Of course, it complied with all the latest European safety requirements.
In fact, the car occupied a niche in which its “relative” had recently played - Opel Vectra B, and which was vacated when a very large and solid one was released. Of course, the price of the Astra corresponded more to the class than to the status, and it fit in well with the new realities of the Russian market for new cars, in which “imported” cars were squeezed out by domestic assembly, and the import of “three-year-olds” was fueled only by an extremely low price per dollar until 2008.
And sales were good! Astra remained in the top three sales leaders in its class, yielding two to three times in sales of Ford Focus, but at the same time steadily outperforming all competitors from Japan and Korea. And the “Czechs” lagged behind at least two times.
The reason for this growth is not only in a competent pricing policy and the recomplication of cars of this class, but also in excellent appearance and very decent driving performance. Opel cars were gaining respectability before our eyes, besides, it was clearly noticeable that corrosion was now the lot of competitors, and Astra, even with problems with painting, did not rust for a very long time, so the proverb “every car becomes an Opel over time” gradually lost all relevance.
In addition, Astra became one of the cars that went through localization, they began to be assembled at a new plant near St. Petersburg. Little by little, a new circle of buyers formed who appreciated good ground clearance and simplicity of suspensions, aggressive European design and ... engine power! After all, Astra was offered for a very moderate amount with a 1.8 140 hp engine, and lovers of “hotter” could choose from a couple of options for a supercharged two-liter engine.
The disadvantages of the model were not a secret either: minor troubles with quality, an outdated automatic transmission (albeit a reliable one), a frankly unsuccessful Easytronic “robot”, a stiff suspension and a not particularly loyal warranty policy of the company. In general, to compete, much was not enough.
In 2009, the new Astra J came out (and a little earlier - its platform), which greatly complicated the company's marketing, but even against this background, the car remained one of the most popular cars in its class. They released Astra H right up to 2015, but most of the sales are still the period from 2006 to 2012.
In 2015, when GM curtailed its presence in Russia, the new Astra confidently set the tone in sales. And most of the machines presented on the Russian market are already close to their tenth anniversary. What owners of such cars will face, and how economical solutions from GM are doing now, read below.
Body
The aggressive design of the car looks quite relevant now. Unless the paint fades over time, because the quality of body painting at Opel is difficult to call outstanding - the layer is thin, it is easily scratched. In addition, both German and St. Petersburg cars at a certain stage suffered from “peeling off” of the paint layer due to the unsuccessful technology of applying the primer, and the defect was very similar, which indicates a puncture of a purely technological plan. The advantages of the paintwork include at least elasticity - with “soft” strokes, the paint does not fly around.
Do not worry, even despite all the difficulties with the paintwork, the car is not prone to corrosion. They pretty much went overboard with the metal processing: small corrosion spots begin to appear on the surface without paint only after a year, but most of the owners fixed the defects under warranty or simply painted the car on their own. Extensive corrosion damage is usually the result of poor quality repairs or poor maintenance.
Front bumper
original price
However, there is still a chance that if the car was manufactured in 2008, then it spent a lot of time under the snow at the Rzhevka airfield near St. Petersburg, where the plant sent almost all the cars produced. Some wintered in this way two or more times before they were acquired. Personal experience shows that, first of all, such winterings affect the condition of the car doors, they are usually not subject to this scourge, but if corrosion was noticeable in the “five-year-olds”, then most likely the biography of the car has a solid pause between the year of production of the main units, the actual production according to VIN and date of first registration. Most likely, the negative effect of such wintering will manifest itself in something else, but so far, due to the young age, other consequences are not noticeable.
But earlier cars are usually still extremely far from all such difficulties. Especially if five to eight years after the release, someone guessed to carry out a second anti-corrosion treatment of the bottom and internal cavities.
“Standard” places of corrosion, such as joints at bumpers and arches, are well protected here. Unless the "shelf" of the rear arch, upon closer inspection, already shows traces of future problems: the sealant swells. This means that in another five or six years, corrosion will be noticeable from the outside, and the arch can be overhauled only by welding in a repair insert.
Now the main points of control are the lower seam of the threshold, the sandblasting points, the attachment points of the subframe and the upper part of the threshold, which is tritely stepped on, and the friction points of the door seal on the C-pillar. Corrosion also feels at ease on the leading edge of the hood and roof: they are clearly worse protected than the rest of the car. The rear doors and trunk lid are also at risk, on the oldest cars they may already have corrosion along the bottom edge, but most cars have no problem with this.
Pictured: Opel Astra Sedan (H)" 2007–14 In general, against the background of competitors, Astra is an almost perfectly protected car from corrosion, even though it has practically no plastic protection panels.
As with all cars of this class, in case of an accident, the quality of repairs leaves much to be desired. Casco repair rates simply do not leave much choice, so a lot of cars with layers of putty on the wings and doors, with non-original body elements and poor build and paint quality are waiting for their buyer. An extra layer of paint will not hurt, but everything else is best avoided, at least because the car loses its remarkable anti-corrosion resistance.
In the photo: Opel Astra OPC (H) "2005–10 However, the body is threatened not only by corrosion. Astra's door hinges are not bad, but the driver's door sags over time, with runs "over 150" adjustment will be required, which is not so easy to do. The rear door on hatchbacks loses its tightness and starts to knock even with a lower mileage, it is necessary to adjust the lock in time and change the seals. By the way, the seal on the side doors is also not eternal, and if it is “tousled” in the lower part, and its tubular part opens, then the doors will close without a noble sound, and extra noise is provided on the go.
In the photo: Opel Astra TwinTop (H) "2006–10 Windshield
original price
Chrome overlays peel off quickly and many simply paint them “in a mat”, because restoration is usually not cheap (keep this in mind when bargaining). The windshield here is quite strong, it is almost not afraid of stone impacts, but over time it is rubbed off - on early cars, windshields were changed under warranty, do not be surprised if the year does not match.
But the headlights are rather weak, the very soft material of the cap practically leaves no chance for a long service: five or six years - and the headlight is worn out. But the luminosity drops due to the banal burnout of the reflector, and both xenon and lensed halogen keep about the same, five to six years of city driving. You can replace the headlight, or you can restore it, several technologies are available.
Headlight AFL
original price
This is especially "pleasant" for those who have adaptive optics with AFL. The Astra was one of the first cars in its class to feature this system, and the headlights are incredibly expensive. If we take the price of a new original, then, roughly speaking, the price of a car is four or five original headlights! Fortunately, this is not - the headlights are not removed from the Astra.
Fog lights crack easily, and the reason is their illiterate use as additional lighting, which is categorically unacceptable - they blind drivers, especially in the rain.
Sagging bumpers are a well-known problem, and it is not at all necessary to fasten them with screws, new mounting brackets are available. Weak plastic lockers are a small problem, the price of non-original ones is something like a couple of thousand rubles.
Pictured: Opel Astra Hatchback (H)" 2007–14 And, of course, the “lip” dearly loved by astrovods is the rubber lower part of the bumper. If you saw Astra with a hanging rubber band on the street, let the driver know, save him from another unpleasant expense. The "lip" is located low, and it is often torn off during careless parking or in the winter season. If you remove it for the winter, then there are high chances that in the summer you will have to put it on screws already - delicate fasteners are also damaged. In general, a whole “lip” and fasteners are a sign of a good attitude towards the car or a recent body repair.
Salon
The interior of the Opels of this period is traditionally gloomy, but the materials are surprisingly good. Strict lines and other "ordnung" side by side with a very high quality of study of all elements, squeaks are rare, plastic is very wear-resistant, except that the steering column levers and buttons of the climate control system will have visible signs of wear. Plus the gearshift lever cover.
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The quality of the full-fabric interior is excellent, but if the equipment of the car is better, and there are already seats with combined trim, then tears in the seams and scuffs on the “eco-leather” are a common thing, especially when running over a hundred thousand kilometers. In addition, light fabrics perfectly absorb dirt. But if there is a sports salon, everything is just fine - both the material and the execution do not fail, and the skin, most likely, will be natural.
The steering wheel and door handles peel off at runs over two hundred thousand kilometers, the original rugs “end” at 150, which can serve as an indirect indicator of the mileage (unfortunately, it twists easily here).
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Here the climate control system fails regardless of the mileage. Moreover, there are enough problems in the simplest configurations with a simple air conditioner, and for those who have dual-zone automatic climate control. The block is not made well enough, the buttons stick, stop pressing and spinning as they should. Yes, and damper motor drives break, especially if you switch something intensively in winter, while the interior has not yet warmed up. If there are extraneous sounds when switching the direction of flows (including turning on air recirculation in the cabin), then this is an expensive repair. But sometimes you can still get away with just lubricating the rods, any grease will do. The same operation should be done even if everything is still good, at least once every two or three years, take silicone grease and crawl under the panel on the driver's side. Well, or entrust this business to professionals.
The water in the ceiling light is not at all a consequence of windshield leaks, just a lack of thermal insulation of the roof, the shape of the skin is such that condensation accumulates there. It is useless to look for holes in the roof, just ventilate the car more often, and you should not drive with the climate turned off and without air conditioning - the car prefers dried air. By the way, this will affect the condition of the interior materials in the best possible way.
In the photo: Torpedo Opel Astra Sedan (H) "2007–14 If the steering column switches, and sometimes some of the buttons on the center console, do not work, this is already serious. The problem is mainly electrical, the so-called CIM module is dying, it is also the front console connection module. A lot is tied to it, including the work of the immobilizer, and a breakdown can empty your pocket for a tidy sum, since you will need a visit to the owner of a Tech2 dealer scanner to bind a new module, or to those who know how to repair old ones with high quality. Thousands of pages have already been written on the problem, there are many developments for “easy fixes” and workarounds, so it’s better to turn to the original sources.
Otherwise, only random little things can annoy. I repeat, everything is done quite monumentally, from good materials. In addition, it is extremely technologically assembled and disassembled.
Electrician
Part of the electrical problems could be attributed to breakdowns of interior elements and vice versa. I have already told about the trouble with the CIM module and climate control above, it remains only to complain about the low quality of the door wiring, it sometimes breaks in the corrugation. And it's not the wiring of the driver's door that breaks, but the wiring of the rear doors. Typical signs of impending trouble are a wheezing speaker in the door and a non-working central lock. It is treated either by the skillful work of an electrician, or by a proprietary repair kit, which is preferable.
In the photo: Opel Astra Hatchback 2.0 turbo (H) "2004–07 The central lock also fails due to the wear of the microswitches in the driver's door lock, it may not unlock the lock, it may open it at the wrong time, for example, while the car is parked. If the locks click when you hit the door trim, it's time to deal with them, change the microswitches in the drive.
A weak throttle and an ignition module for gasoline engines are actually not so weak, as practice shows. The true mileage of cars with such breakdowns is usually already well over a hundred and a half thousand, regardless of what numbers the odometer shows, and the price of parts is quite sparing by modern standards. Under the condition of regular and replacement of candles at least once every 30-40 thousand kilometers, such problems almost do not appear. The ignition module is mainly afraid of moisture and oil leaks - if not noticed in time, it will pierce the tip and knock out the coil.
Here, failures of a controlled thermostat due to a failure of the heating element happen regularly. Do not forget to read the errors, on many firmwares the “check” does not light up in this case, and the only thing that saves the motor from overheating is that the thermostat loses its tightness over time. Breakdowns of the wiper motor and the ingress of leaves into the climate control motor are a sign of a rare cleaning of the engine compartment from dirt and leaves. Check the condition of the "aquarium", it may accumulate water. This rarely happens and the drain is almost never completely clogged, but at an early stage it manifests itself in the form of a wiper failure. The rear "wiper" is trite sour - they need to be used, otherwise there is a chance to burn the motor.
Radiator fans are another problematic point, the motor is literally clogged with dust from burnt brushes. Bosch fans are "famous" for the latter, and if it's Valeo, then there will be no problem.
Brakes, suspension and steering
Brake system Opel, as usual, no surprises. This does not mean that there are no problems, just that they are completely standard. The front pads creak with little wear - it's easier to get used to or pick up with new "anti-creak" plates. With a run of over 200 thousand, the turn of anthers will most likely come, especially if you abuse the wear of the pads “to zero”. Brake discs are reliable, like an iceberg on which the Titanic has worn off, relatives survive up to five sets of pads or more than one and a half hundred thousand mileage. And not very sensitive to puddles and overheating. Note to the buyer: if there is something in the region of 100 thousand on the odometer, and the seller proudly declares new disks (or it’s just clear that they are fresh), then the mileage is not real.
Pictured: Opel Astra Sedan (H)" 2007–14 Brake disc rear
original price
7 705 rub (2 pcs)
At the rear, the situation is a little worse, because the new calipers with an integrated parking brake mechanism are prone to souring even more than the calipers with drum internal handbrake that suffered from the same problem on older cars. Yes, and for breeding pads, now some kind of tool is required.
However, this is not a replacement for pads when you need a dealer scanner, otherwise there is a chance that your fingers will be slightly pressed forever ... Brake pipes and hoses hold well, the ABS module is extremely reliable. Unless the front ABS sensors are in a vulnerable area, but change along with the hub. Do not worry, the problem has long been thought about: the sensors have learned to change individually. What can I say, this is Opel, a huge number of owners day and night are thinking how to save money! However, other services are still trying to breed to the fullest, offering a complete replacement in order to get less dirty and make more money on the resale of parts.
In the photo: Opel Astra GTC Panoramic (H) "2005–11 Rear beam silent block
original price
The Astra's suspension has always been good, and the H's is doubly fine. Good comfort and the highest reliability. Just do not forget that sagging springs and an extra 50 kg in the trunk of a sedan drastically reduce the resource of the rear beam bushings - they are not eternal here, as a standard they are enough for about a hundred thousand mileage on "ordinary" roads and two hundred - in Moscow.
In front, it is mainly the rear silent blocks of the L-shaped lever and the pillar supports that wear out as standard. The manufacturer obviously overdid it with the supports, because they begin to creak and squeal in our climate already at 50-60 thousand mileage. Users have long privately established that the reason is a lack of bearing lubrication and an unsuccessful boot design, which collects dirt more likely. When assembling, it is recommended to lubricate the assembly liberally, and if it is still working, wash it with a high pressure washer and fill it with grease. Suspension level sensors on cars with xenon are a consumable, but this is quite typical for this element.
In the photo: Opel Astra Caravan (H) "2004–07 The steering on the Astra H is also in good health. Unless the resource of rods and tips is relatively small. Yes, the EGUR electric pump on restyled cars with runs over 200 requires a fluid change. The rail itself does not flow and almost does not play. Machines with a conventional power steering pump are again limited by fluid contamination, but they have a cheaper pump and fluid changes are much easier.
But what about motors and gearboxes?
As you can see, the material turns out to be very voluminous, so we will devote a separate material to choosing the “right” engine. By the way, in this regard, Astra H is almost a unique car, because a manual transmission can cause almost more problems than an automatic one ...
Considering the technical characteristics of the Opel Astra H, it is necessary to take into account variations: more than 5 different engine sizes, a sedan, a station wagon, two hatchbacks and a convertible, 3 configurations.
Opel Astra H - specifications for the whole family
The technical characteristics of the Opel Astra H cannot be described in one paragraph. Because the Astra H is not just one car, it's a whole family. A line of at least 5 cars. Identical at first glance, but different in essence, in their driving performance, appearance and size.
Astra H began to be produced in 2004. In 2007, experienced a slight restyling. The technical characteristics of the engines have undergone changes. They have become more powerful, economical and environmentally friendly. The front bumper, mirrors, and some trim elements have also changed. Astra H is still being produced, in a station wagon, sedan or 5-door hatchback, but already under the name Astra Family.
Specifications Opel Astra H hatchback
Performance characteristics Opel Astra hatchback
Max Speed: 185 km/h
Acceleration time to 100 km/h: 12.3c
Fuel consumption per 100 km in the city: 8.5 l
Fuel consumption per 100 km on the highway: 5.5 l
Fuel consumption per 100km combined: 6.6 l
Fuel tank volume: 52 l
Curb vehicle weight: 1265 kg
Permissible gross weight: 1740 kg
Tire size: 195/65 R15T
Disc size: 6.5Jx15
Engine Specifications
Location: front, transverse
Engine capacity: 1598 cm3
Engine power: 105 HP
Number of turns: 6000
Torque: 150/3900 Nm
Supply system: Distributed injection
Turbo: No
Gas distribution mechanism: DOHC
Cylinder arrangement: inline
Number of cylinders: 4
Cylinder diameter: 79 mm
Stroke: 81.5 mm
Compression ratio: 10.5
Number of valves per cylinder: 4
Recommended fuel: AI-95
Brake system
Front brakes: Disc ventilated
Rear brakes: Disk
ABS: ABS
Steering
Steering type: rack and pinion
Power steering: hydraulic booster
Transmission
Drive unit: Front
Number of gears: manual - 5
Number of gears: automatic transmission - 5
Gear ratio of the main pair: 3.94
Suspension
Front suspension: suspension strut
Rear suspension: suspension strut
Body
body type: hatchback
Number of doors: 5
Number of seats: 5
Machine length: 4249 mm
Machine Width: 1753 mm
Machine height: 1460 mm
Wheelbase: 2614 mm
Front track: 1488 mm
Rear track: 1488 mm
Trunk volume maximum: 1330 l
Trunk volume minimum: 380 l
Body and chassis Opel Astra H
The body line has a rich choice: sedan, station wagon, 5-door hatchback, 3-door GTC hatchback, and Astra TwinTop convertible coupe. The technical characteristics of the various body types of the Opel Astra are similar, but there are differences. The wheelbase of the sedan and station wagon is 2703 mm, and the hatchback and convertible are 2614 mm.
The turning radius is about the same for everyone, about 11 m. The trunk volumes of the sedan and station wagon are surprisingly the same, 490 liters each. The 5-door hatchback has 375 liters, the GTC has 340 liters and the convertible has 205 liters. The volume of the gas tank on all Opel Astra is 52 liters.
The front suspension in the Astra H is MacPherson linkage, with telescopic struts, coil springs, and an anti-roll bar. The rear suspension in Opel Astra cars is semi-independent, lever-spring with trailing arms.
Options Opel Astra H
There are 3 trim levels on Astra H: Essentia, Enjoy, Cosmo. The simplest - Essentia, includes a steering wheel trimmed with leather, air conditioning, heated front seats. Enjoy adds climate control and a light sensor. Cosmo - the maximum configuration, boasts 16-inch alloy wheels, a rain sensor, seats with eco-leather inserts. Also available for the 3-door hatchback is an option with a panoramic roof. Available only on the GTC hatchback, the OPC trim adds sporty body kits, 17-inch wheels and Recaro seats. Also, station wagons and sedans have additional cigarette lighters in the trunk to install a refrigerator in the trunk. In 2008, it was possible to purchase a version of the Astra H Limousine, but only on order, from Germany.
Technical equipment and Specifications Opel Astra H
The least powerful, but at the same time the most reliable engine offered for the third Astra is a four-cylinder gear with a volume of 1.4 liters. The power of the sixteen-valve 1.4 Opel is 90 horsepower.
The Astra H engine range includes two 1.6 petrol engines. The first produces 105hp, and the power of the second is 10 horsepower higher - 115 horsepower. On 1.6 engines, with a mileage exceeding 40,000 km, vibration was noticed at a speed in the range of 2,500 - 3,000, as a rule, this unpleasant moment is associated with the variable valve timing system.
1.8L engines produce 125 and 140 horsepower. Power plants with a volume of 1.8 liters with a run of 70,000 suffer from leakage of the camshaft oil seal, and the front crankshaft oil seal may also leak. Also, on engines with a volume of 1.6 and 1.8 liters, with runs over 50,000 km, the camshaft gear may jam. As a rule, before this, when starting the engine, a rattle is heard for a length of 2-3 seconds.
The most powerful petrol units are 2.0L turbocharged engines. Their power: 170, 200 and 240 hp.
Turbodiesel engines were installed on the Opel Astra H 2004 - 2010: 1.3 - 90hp, 1.7 - 80 and 100hp, 1.9 - 120 and 150hp. According to experts, it is better to buy a gasoline Astra, since diesel engines require even more attention than Opel gasoline units. If the power dropped significantly on the diesel Astra and the car began to smoke, the reason may be the particulate filter, which is already asking for replacement. A dual-mass flywheel is installed on Astra diesel modifications, over time it becomes the cause of knocks and vibrations, as a rule, replacement will be required after a run of 150,000 km. 
On Astra modifications with 1.4 and 1.6L engines, drum brakes are installed at the rear, on more powerful Astras, disc brakes on all wheels. Astra front pads are enough for 30,000 km, rear - drum pads for 60,000 km. The Astra brake discs themselves serve 60,000 km.
It is best to buy a used aster with a manual transmission. The mechanics from repair to repair will last at least 100,000 km, and sometimes 200,000 km. The reverse gear of the Astra manual box is not equipped with a synchronizer, which is why immediately after stopping, the reverse gear on the Astra does not turn on well.
The Astra four-speed automatic is equipped with a winter mode, but if you don’t use it for a long time, one day the activation button may simply not work. Jerks when switching from first to second on this box are considered the norm, but jerks when switching from second to third indicate a malfunction. In some cases, repair will require replacing the valve body. A gearbox cooling radiator is built into the body of the Astra automatic transmission, it happens that the coolant flows and mixes with oil, which also does not increase the life of the unit.
A robotic gearbox with a run of 100,000 km will ask for a replacement fork. Usually, before the bulkhead, the Easy Tronic robot serves more than 100,000 km, in order not to shorten the life of the robotic gearbox during a short stop, neutral gear should be engaged.
Astra's suspension is quite hardy. According to the owners, she is harsh. Most often, stabilizer struts and tie rods are changed in the Opel chassis, this operation is carried out with a run of 50,000 km.
Price
You can buy Opel Astra H 2004 - 2010 in almost any city in the CIS. Price Opel Astra H 2007 $11,000 - $12,000. Astra is a good option for a person living in the city, a moderately fast car with a non-gluttonous engine and a spacious interior, besides, Astra has a good level of safety. 
Figures and facts
According to statistics, Opel Astra H is one of the cars that lose the least value over time. Plus the relative cheapness of maintenance. And adding to this the technical specifications and a large selection, we can conclude that the Opel Astra definitely deserves attention.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OPEL ASTRA FAMILY (OPEL ASTRA)
Specifications Opel Astra
| Body | 3-door | Sedan | 5-door | station wagon | OPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height (mm) | 1435 | 1447 | 1460 | 1500 | 1405 |
| Length (mm) | 4290 | 4587 | 4249 | 4515 | 4290 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2614 | 2703 | 2614 | 2703 | 2614 |
| Width (including/excluding exterior mirrors rear view) (mm) |
2033/1753 | 2033/1753 | 2033/1753 | 2033/1753 | 2033/1753 |
| Front / rear wheel track (mm) | 1488/1488 | 1488/1488 | 1488/1488 | 1488/1488 | 1488/1488 |
| Turning radius in meters | 3-door | Sedan | 5-door | station wagon | OPC |
| From curb to curb | 10,48-10,94 | 11,00 | 10,48-10,85 | 10,80-11,17 | 10,95 |
| wall to wall | 11,15-11,59 | 11,47 | 11,15-11,50 | 11,47-11,60 | 10,60 |
| Luggage compartment size in mm (ECIE/GM) |
3-door | Sedan | 5-door | station wagon | OPC |
| Luggage compartment length from tailgate to second row seats |
819 | 905 | 819 | 1085 | 819 |
| Length of cargo compartment floor, from cargo door compartments to the back of the front seats |
1522 | 1668 | 1530 | 1807 | 1522 |
| Width between wheel arches | 944 | 1027 | 944 | 1088 | 944 |
| Maximum Width | 1092 | 1092 | 1093 | 1088 | 1092 |
| Luggage height | 772 | 772 | 820 | 862 | 772 |
| Luggage compartment volume in liters (ECIE) | 3-door | Sedan | 5-door | station wagon | OPC |
| luggage compartment capacity (with luggage compartment shelf) |
340 | 490 | 375 | 490 | 340 |
| Luggage compartment capacity with loading up to upper border of the front seat backs |
690 | 870 | 805 | 900 | 690 |
| Luggage compartment capacity with loading up to the backs front seats and roof |
1070 | — | 1295 | 1590 | 1070 | 3-door | Sedan | 5-door | station wagon | OPC |
| Curb weight including driver (according to 92/21/EEC and 95/48/EC) |
1220-1538 | 1306-1520 | 1240-1585 | 1278-1653 | 1393-1417 |
| Maximum allowable vehicle weight | 1695-1895 | 1730-1830 | 1715-1915 | 1810-2005 | 1840 |
| Payload | 323-487 | 306-428 | 320-495 | 336-542 | 423-447 |
| Maximum front axle load (minimum value) |
875-1070 | 910-1015 | 875-1070 | 880-1075 | 1015 | 840 | 860 | 860 | 940 | 840 |
| Gasoline engines | 1.4 TWINPORT® ECOTEC® |
1.6 TWINPORT ECOTEC® (85 kW) |
1.8 ECOTEC® | 2.0 Turbo ECOTEC® (147 kW) |
OPC 2.0 Turbo (177 kW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol | Petrol | Petrol | Petrol |
| Number of cylinders | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 73,4 | 79,0 | 80,5 | 86,0 | 86,0 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 80,6 | 81,5 | 88,2 | 86,0 | 86,0 |
| Working volume, cm3 | 1364 | 1598 | 1796 | 1998 | 1998 |
| Max. power in kW/hp | 66 (90) | 85 (115) | 103 (140) | 147 (200) | 177 (240) |
| Max. power at rpm | 5600 | 6000 | 6300 | 5400 | 5600 |
| Max. torque in Nm | 125 | 155 | 175 | 262 | 320 |
| Max. torque at rpm |
4000 | 4000 | 3800 | 4200 | 2400 |
Considering the technical characteristics of the Opel Astra H, it is necessary to take into account variations: more than 5 different engine sizes, a sedan, a station wagon, two hatchbacks and a convertible, 3 configurations.
Opel Astra H - specifications for the whole family
The technical characteristics of the Opel Astra H cannot be described in one paragraph. Because the Astra H is not just one car, it's a whole family. A line of at least 5 cars. Identical at first glance, but different in essence, in their driving performance, appearance and size.
Astra H began to be produced in 2004. In 2007, experienced a slight restyling. The technical characteristics of the engines have undergone changes. They have become more powerful, economical and environmentally friendly. The front bumper, mirrors, and some trim elements have also changed. Astra H is still being produced, in a station wagon, sedan or 5-door hatchback, but already under the name Astra Family.
