Is it worth buying a used Opel Astra. Opel Astra J with mileage: almost perfect body and obscenely expensive steering rack

01.09.2019

The used car market in Russia is a fairly developed and complex system. If in European countries you can find dozens and hundreds of beautiful sites, and the sale of 90% of equipment goes through car dealerships, then in the Russian Federation almost everything is bought directly. This has its advantages - you can bargain, find out more about the history of the car. But for the most part, there are only drawbacks to this. For example, you can easily fall for a scammer who wants to get money out of your pocket. You can also buy a car with forged documents, illegal registration, broken numbers and other troubles. And yet, it is the used market that remains the place where 70% of Russian residents turn to buy a car. Today we will consider the purchase of the once quite popular German Opel Astra G sedan. This generation was the forerunner of the even more interesting generation H.

The machine is incredibly simple and quite reliable. That is why even representatives of 2004-2007 years of production are still in demand in the secondary market. Despite the outdated appearance, the machine pleases with its pleasant decisions in production. When buying, you should pay special attention to the engine, gearbox, as well as the condition of the interior. Below we will take a closer look at all the features of choosing an Opel in the car market or in a used car dealership. Most likely, you did not even think about some of his childhood illnesses. Mileage is key to the acquisition, as you will not find the most powerful engines under the hood. But in general, the car turns out to be a rather interesting choice. Even with its age of 10 years or more, the traditional German retains excellent reliability and continues to be operated without any special difficulties and problems.

The main facts about the Opel Astra that you did not know

The car was designed back in 1998, and then this design seemed just great. Officially, the machine was produced at the GM plant in Germany until 2004, after which active work began on the H series. But the model turned out to be so successful that they decided not to stop its production. Production continued under license at a plant in Poland, and then on the ZAZ assembly line in Ukraine. The car was produced here until 2009. The main facts from the opinions of the owners are as follows:

engines for the most part are not the most successful, there are practically no powerful units in the lineup, and 1.4-liter aspirated engines are suitable only for a city trip;
all equipment is very reliable - gearboxes and motors do not cause problems in operation and maintenance, there are no difficulties in selecting components and consumables for maintenance;
the machine is perfectly assembled, even on Ukrainian and Polish conveyors, the car has a McPherson front suspension and a rear semi-independent beam with excellent characteristics;
the comfort of the trip is provided by a rather large body weight, this is a real European car from those wonderful times when cars served more than 500-700 thousand kilometers;
everything is very practical and simply done, there are no overly expensive or overly cheap solutions in the interior, every button works properly and does not cause any problems.

In the configurations, not everything is clear. Given the huge amount of assembly space, you can buy a German, Polish, Ukrainian or even Russian version of the Opel assembly. And this will greatly affect your opinion about the car. It's not the build quality, the car has no problems with this. But the equipment was only worthy of the Germans. In other situations, you will have to look for better versions, where there is at least air conditioning and power windows.

What childhood diseases of Astra should be considered when buying?

Opel of this model is known for its galvanized body. But it is worth recognizing that galvanizing was not carried out in the best way at factories in Poland and Ukraine. Therefore, after 10-12 years of operation, cars got corrosion on quite important parts. In particular, the arches and load-bearing parts of the body, spars and sills rot quite imperceptibly. It is worth examining the body carefully to make sure that there is no corrosive effect.

Also pay attention to such possible childhood diseases:

bottom - galvanizing does not help here, the bottom rusts beautifully even under a layer of second-rate anticorrosive, so when buying a good anticorrosive, it is better to do it again to be sure;
rear beam mounts - this is one of the few European cars that may have problems with this unit, it is worth carefully inspecting it at each MOT;
air conditioning and heater system - there are often problems here, again due to not very good assembly, the machine will have to be well examined before giving money away;
the driver's seat lift can also break, and this is a good sign to refuse a purchase, since the service life of this part is about 300,000 km or even a little more;
the central lock and a number of other electronic items may fail - their work should be checked carefully and make sure of the proper response to all driver actions.

In general, Astra has very few diseases. The car is distinguished by German thoughtfulness and precision. Of course, the ergonomics of the car does not reach the more expensive counterparts. This is a simple and very practical transport, which is designed to operate in almost any conditions. The only cause of most technical breakdowns is poor maintenance. And the failure of interior parts is possible with too careless operation.

How to choose engine and gearbox for Opel Astra G?

The car has a fairly large range of engines in official trim levels. There are even 200-horsepower sports engines with amazing dynamics. But in most of the cars sold, there are traditional 1.4-liter units with 90 horses or more powerful versions of this engine. The 1.6 liter version is also good with excellent properties and longer life. You can also choose a rarer 1.8-liter engine with good traction and power.

In terms of the selection of equipment, there are several important tips:

give preference to mechanics and basic not too powerful engines, exotic cars with diesels and turbocharged gasoline engines are very difficult to maintain;
fuel consumption will be minimal on Twinport engines with a volume of 1.4 liters and low power, but even at such power the machine takes its resource perfectly;
automatic transmissions are also not bad, but problems with them occur much more often than with manual transmissions, and repairs are many times more expensive, which often causes huge costs;
all equipment in Astra G needs very high-quality and timely maintenance, otherwise after a few years of operation, a lot of components and parts will be asked for replacement;
when choosing service parts and technical fluids, pay attention only to original or recommended options, do not experiment with regular maintenance.

With proper quality of service and normal operation, Opel Astra equipment can last more than 300,000 km without any special difficulties and problems. So you will not have significant problems in operation if you pick up a car with low mileage. Astra G is a technically remarkable car that creates its advantages on very important factors for every driver. This is comfort, reliability, ease of operation and a very high resource.

Price and competitors in the secondary market - the main features

A 2004 typewriter can be found in excellent condition for 200-220 thousand rubles. Cars produced in 2007 sell for 320,000 - 350,000 rubles. Within this cost, there are other interesting offers that you should think about when buying. It is difficult to say which car of the presented options is optimal. But all these models compete with Astra G. Among them, it is worth noting the following models:

OpelAstraH. This is just a wonderful car, perfectly modified, with a German assembly, more powerful units and other important pluses. At the cost of a car in 2007, it will cost 330-360 thousand rubles.
SkodaFabia. The Czech hatchback has good units of 1.4 and 1.6 liters (do not consider 1.2), excellent boxes and comfortable movement. There is a machine of 2007 of release about 270-300 thousand rubles.
KIARio. The Korean representative of the class serves well and is well protected from problems even after 10 years of operation. The technique is simple, the comfort is quite noticeable. For a car in 2007, you will have to pay 250-280 thousand rubles.
FordFocus. This car is even more comfortable, representative and large with a price tag only slightly higher than Astra G. In its arsenal, the car has excellent equipment and a price for 2007 of about 330-360 thousand rubles.

Here are some unusual competitors for the Opel car. It is difficult to say how Opel is the best solution in this situation. Most likely, in the secondary market, you will have to take the car that will be the most attractive to you. This will be determined on a test drive and during the inspection of a car at a service station before purchase. It is worth buying only that Astra variant in which you are 100% sure.

We offer you to watch a video review of the car to get more information about it:

Summing up

You can argue that the Japanese are better than Europeans, as well as give examples of very worthy competitors in the Astra market. But Opel remains pretty reliable, easy to operate, hardy and quite a wonderful choice. Moreover, within 350,000 rubles it is extremely difficult to find something more practical and convenient. For Russian roads, this car is suitable in all respects. Of course, there are also disadvantages, both in terms of bodywork and technology. But they are not so visible and significant. In general, the car demonstrates excellent operating characteristics and does not violate the idea of \u200b\u200ba good brand image.

By the way, in Europe this is the only Opel car that stands out from the idea of the low quality of this brand. It was Astra G that beat all sales records in Germany at the time. This car has excellent reliability and is one of the gray cardinals of the secondary market. Although there are not so many offers, it is worth paying special attention to this car. With all its outdated design details, this machine can show you a whole new level of quality. Moreover, in this budget it is almost impossible to buy something more interesting. What do you think of the legendary Opel Astra G?

Main naturally aspirated engines 1.6 A16XER 115 hp and 1.8 A18XER 140 hp they are extremely phlegmatic in nature (thanks to the environmentally friendly firmware), and the thermostat is leaking and set to too high an operating temperature (if you are going to drive for a long time - replace it with a colder one), plus after 100 thousand phase shifters may start knocking. The rest is an excellent piston, designed for 250+ thousand mileage before overhaul and a predictable timing belt drive.
- There are no hydraulic compensators on the A16XER and A18XER motors, do not forget about the need to adjust the thermal gap every 80-90 thousand km.
- Another generic sore A16XER and A18XER - oil cooler (heat exchanger) leaks. It is treated by replacing the gasket, but the most unpleasant thing is that you usually also need to flush the cooling system and change the engine oil.
- A14NET turbo engines turned out to be surprisingly good. There is a timing chain drive, which takes care of at least 120, and in good situations even under 200 thousand (and yet phase measurement is required when buying), again, a good piston with a resource of under 200 and a relatively inexpensive and strong turbine. At a great age, they will be a little more expensive than aspirated, but not critical. Valves, by the way, do not need to be regulated here - there are hydraulic lifters. The main thing is not to increase the power with the firmware - and everything will be fine.
- The problem of 1.4-liter engines before restyling is a breakdown of the crankcase ventilation mushroom valve in the intake manifold (it is open at low speeds, at high speeds it lets gases into the turbine). The breakdown is unpleasant, since the valve is not sold separately, it changes as an assembly with the manifold, but you can redo the system so that gases will always be supplied to the turbine, which will slightly increase its pollution with deposits.
- In general, the 1.6 A16LET (180 hp) also turned out to be successful. They are very different from 1.4 in design, have a belt drive. The injection is distributed, the turbine is reliable and inexpensive, the piston is strong. Generally recommended.
- Motors 1.6 SIDI (A16XHT, 170 hp) in the first years of production were distinguished by a number of significant problems: the electrodes of the candles fell off and the pistons cracked. The cars went through revocable campaigns, the firmware changed, but the problem was radically solved by 2015, when Opel was about to leave Russia. When buying, it is recommended to measure the compression in the cylinders, and it is even better to replace the piston one, since there are good tuning options that are relatively inexpensive. There were no problems with the high-pressure fuel pump, early stretching of the timing chain and turbine wear up to 100 thousand in this engine.
- Leaks from under the valve cover due to the not very high quality of the seals - a family malfunction of Opel motors, often found on. A good reason to drop a little off the price.
- Pumps (and on all engines) also do not differ in survivability - on average, the service life is about 70-80 thousand, sometimes more.
- Diesels 1.3 A13DTE - old strong engines jointly developed by GM / Fiat. 2.0 A20DTH - from the same German-Italian opera, but fresher. 1.7 A17DTC / DTR - also quite old, already the fruit of the union between GM and Isuzu. The problems are "general diesel": the risk of screwing up the fuel system with bad diesel fuel, the need to clean the EGR valve, change the turbine on a run after 150 thousand and remove / change the particulate filter.

The move from the Russian market for all budget GM models was interrupted by a very good start of the Astra J. Despite internal competition with the very successful Chevrolet Cruze and the Astra H predecessor, which continued to be produced, the car, as they say, “went”. The combination of modern appearance, excellent driving performance, modern turbo engines and a very high-quality interior attracted both fans of the brand and people who had previously avoided Opel.

The undoubted advantages of the model include a wide model range of sufficiently powerful atmospheric motors. Some people “pecked” at the appearance of new six-speed automatic transmissions and excellent fuel efficiency ratings. In general, it was definitely a breakthrough in the world where the VW concern was firmly entrenched with its cars of this class. Opel made a relatively cheap, comfortable and advanced car.

In this generation of Asters, configurations with "downsize" 1.4-liter turbo engines and automatic transmissions received a clear advantage. This time, the brand's conservatism gave way to the latest trends. All these factors, as well as traditionally adequate prices for new cars, a wide selection of bodies and the fame of inexpensive cars to operate, allowed Astra J to keep the company's cash register even after the market was attacked by B ++ class sedans. But after 2014, sales ceased, and the next generation of the Astra K model was not officially presented to us.

In the photo: Opel Astra (K) "2015–present

In the world, a happy future for the model was practically guaranteed. An almost exact copy of the European Astra was sold in the USA as the Buick Verano, and there it was with a naturally aspirated 2.4 liter engine (182 hp) and a turbocharged two-liter engine with 253 hp. And in China, the Buick Excelle XT / GT showed excellent sales with more familiar European atmospheric engines of 1.6 and 1.8 liters and a supercharged 1.6. There he repeatedly won first place in sales among foreign manufacturers.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2009–present

The total circulation of the model over the years of production is more difficult to calculate, but together with the Chevrolet Cruze platform, it is estimated at millions of cars. So, given all the clones and "relatives", this model is one of the most common cars in its class. At least this fact suggests that it was well received not only by us. And knowledgeable people will be told that for Astra J there should be a rich selection of spare parts from various suppliers in different markets and an extensive market for “used” components around the world.

Body

Like most relatively "young" cars, you can not be afraid of serious "natural" corrosion. Relatively rare cases of peeling of the paintwork are typical for the first installation batches of cars assembled in St. Petersburg and very early cars. For some reason, the problem mostly affected three-door hatchbacks. Sometimes a defect happens on later cars in other bodies, but you should not look for some kind of system in this. It is rather a marriage that was eliminated precisely as a marriage. It was lucky that the body was well galvanized and easily endured a couple of months in a “bare” state.

Front wing

8 874 rubles

As a standard, paint peels off on the front fenders and in the front part of the threshold due to “sandblasting”, and this happens with a run of less than a hundred thousand kilometers. In general, paint on galvanized panels holds worse than on ordinary steel sheet, and a similar defect can be found even on very well-painted cars, like the Audi A6 in the C5-C6 body, which are difficult to suspect of cheapness and poor assembly. Be that as it may, checking the paintwork for thickness and repainting, as well as body seams for originality, is highly recommended, because the paint layer as a whole is quite thin and is easily damaged by “contacts”. And touch-ups mask more serious accidents.

Features of the geography of the production of the car at one time provided her with a rich selection of Chinese body elements. Now the situation with the availability of body parts has changed to the opposite, the original is greatly lacking. Sometimes it's easier to order imported parts from Buick than from Opel. There are almost no non-original spare parts, and you can not count on cheap body repairs. Used components are still quite expensive, and damaged items will need to be refurbished whenever possible.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2012–15

Please note that the anti-corrosion protection of the bottom is poorly made: the surface is only partially covered with impact-resistant mastic, and therefore paintwork defects are found there. Including with already quite extensive under-film corrosion and even in places with loose rust. And if on flat surfaces below they are easily removable, then on the rear arches or at the bottom of the doors it will be noticeably more expensive to remove it. Unfortunately, there are already cars with the initial stage of such a disaster. So it is recommended to carry out anti-corrosion protection measures and not to forget about prevention in the future. Even the best bodywork does not guarantee the absence of corrosion problems after five or six years of operation.

The rest of the body is almost perfect. The locks are strong, even on the back door function perfectly. Doors even on three-door GTC do not require adjustment, the seals work perfectly.

In the photo: Opel Astra GTC (J) "2011–present

The headlights, however, are overwritten quite easily, it is better to stick a film on them. The headlight washer nozzle covers also fall off and the wipers peel off, but these problems are typical for most cars.

By the way, about optics. For Astra, front adaptive AFL optics was offered, and it is an order of magnitude better than regular standard headlights. But it was also marked by both the high price of the headlight itself, and the wear of the lens drives themselves and the failure of control systems. The main consumables are body level position sensors, but the lens motors also “get tired” over time, often freezing in extreme positions. Repair, of course, is not provided, but the headlight can be disassembled. Craftsmen will be able to sort it out, there is nothing super complicated in it, but there are problems with spare parts.

In the photo: Opel Astra OPC "2013

Windshield

13 047 rubles

There have been cases of failure of the fuel tank flap drive.

The windshield of Pilkington is frankly unsuccessful, it cracks easily and rubs rather quickly. Especially if you rarely change the brushes and stay without a “washer”. And it also cracks from temperature changes - sometimes you don’t even need airflow from the stove, a bright sun is enough.

Replacing or checking the brushes here requires transferring them to the service mode: after turning off the ignition, you need to move the lever down without removing the key, and the wipers will rise to the service vertical position. By the way, be careful with the trapezoid, it is not cheap and does not differ in strength.

Salon

Salon will appreciate the excellent work of all systems. But there are also disadvantages to be found.

The seats are somewhat weak, compared to premium brands, their wear will be more noticeable. By a run of a hundred thousand, the combined seat trim is already beginning to give out the age of the car with a small cushion drawdown. But the serious wear of the seats and steering wheel speaks, rather, of a mileage of more than 200 thousand kilometers, wound up to a “reasonable” value.

In the photo: Salon Opel Astra J "2009

Buttons and decorative elements may be worn even earlier: plastic does not withstand rough handling. In general, the interior is also characterized by small crickets of the panel, overhead console and skins. They are random in nature, and in most cases were not fixed under warranty (GM service was not particularly friendly).

In the photo: Torpedo Opel Astra (J) "2012–15

The resource of the air conditioning fan is far beyond 200 thousand. The automatic climate control control unit itself is somewhat unsuccessfully implemented: if handled carelessly, the handles can fail.

Power windows can only creak, and distortions and their other problems are rare.

Versions with a heated steering wheel are characterized by an increased load on the “snail” of the steering wheel and have a slightly shorter coating life, this is quite normal. But in winter, this option significantly improves the perception of the car, even if sometimes there are complaints about random failures of the seat heating system.

In the photo: Torpedo Opel Astra Sedan (J) "2012–present

On cars with manual transmission, the gear lever becomes very loose over time, usually this indicates a mileage of over 200 thousand, but sometimes the problem occurs much earlier. In general, everything is pretty predictable and boring.

Brakes, suspension and steering

The braking system is far from perfect. Squeaky pads are not so bad, this is a traditional problem of GM cars. But the souring of the fingers of the rear calipers is already an unpleasant thing. If the hand brake has the AutoHold function, then the probability of failure of the drive after four to five years of operation is quite high. And if you do not use the handbrake at all, then its mechanisms turn sour.

I draw your attention to the fact that on the GTC and when choosing the optional 17-inch wheels on the sedan and station wagon, a braking system was installed that would not allow you to put 15 and 16-inch wheels. So only anything larger than 16 inches will do. At the same time, the brakes in such cases squeak more and more often than standard ones. True, and slow down much better.

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The suspension of the car as a whole is simple and has a good resource, but there are several nuances.

The rear semi-independent suspension is equipped with a Watt mechanism for better handling. And in the case of operation in Moscow, it is prone to souring, as a result of which the traction can bend, and the car will become unnecessarily rigid. The beam itself keeps perfectly up to 150-200 thousand mileage around the city, then inexpensive silent blocks usually do not withstand further. She does not like only overloads and dirt roads, and even more so - their combination in one trip.

The front suspension is almost eternal, but there are also nuances. With frequent movement on unpaved and simply dirty roads and a rare washing of arches, the support bearing of the strut suffers. The rear arm support does not like shock loads on rails and tires larger than 18 inches. And if you have a GTC with a steering knuckle, then there are more vulnerabilities, and suspension elements are more expensive.

Front shock absorber

6 120 / 19 621 (adjustable) rubles

Not happy with the resource of shock absorbers. After 50-60 thousand runs on most cars, their efficiency decreases markedly, but they rarely leak, and a complete failure usually occurs after a hundred or more thousand runs. But with a full load on rough roads in older cars, driving is frankly unpleasant.

Adjustable FlexRide, in addition to the same resource features, are characterized by increased sensitivity to shock and a very high price. And repairing the suspension of a simple Astra can be more expensive than repairing the pneumatics of some W220 from the beginning of the century.

The steering is very good. Especially on new motors with which an electric booster is installed. The main thing is not to drive through deep puddles, not to force fords and not to neglect the prevention of contacts at least once every few years. Because the price of a new rail with a gearbox is 160 thousand rubles. The drive itself is noticeably cheaper, about 15-30.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2009–12

There are rare cases of steering shaft bearing failure, but mostly on the very first cars. EGUR on machines with atmospheric engines, unfortunately, has a not very successful electric pump. The officially non-replaceable fluid in the amplifier after 60-100 thousand runs is an unpleasant black goo. No wonder pumps fail and racks leak. An oil change at least at 50 thousand miles can significantly extend the life of this expensive unit, and when buying a used Astra J, it is worth checking the condition of the fluid.

Astra J is a boring car, but in the best sense of the word. He does not present any surprises, everything is predictable and expected. At least for now. Let's see what the motors and gearboxes say. But this is in the next part of our review.

At the moment, Opel is not represented on the Russian market, but the secondary market is simply inundated with offers to sell Opel. One of the most common models is Astra, namely Astra with the H index. Not surprising, because this model was produced from 2004 to 2014, and this is a rather significant moment.

Indeed, this model has earned its popularity (it has been in the TOP 10 in Russia for a long time) due to its reliability, variety of body types and adaptability to our roads.

Which package to choose

In Russia, cars with gasoline engines were officially sold. In terms of popularity, the first place is occupied by 1.6 with 105 horsepower. You can also find options such as 1.3 and 1.8, and even with 2 liters.

Diesel vehicles are quite rare. The reason is that they were not officially presented on our market, and if the car is with a diesel engine, then this means that it was brought from Europe.

The gearbox can be selected as a mechanical or automated robot or a conventional automatic. Only 1.8-liter engines were equipped with an automatic transmission. Looking ahead, I will say that this model is a rare representative when the machine is inferior in comfort and reliability to the robot.

The most trouble-free options are considered to be with a manual gearbox and an engine with a volume of 1.6 liters.

As for the body style. Astra H was represented by a wide variety of bodies. From sedan to convertible. So of course, it's up to you to decide, as they say, to your taste and your tasks.

We look at the engine

I will say right away, pick up only with Ecotech 1.6 and 1.8 engines, everything else is a big risk and it’s quite difficult to find them. For these two engines, the main problem is related to the quality of fuel in Russia and the manufacturer's desire to reduce air pollution. Opel has installed an EGR system on its engines, and it is its presence that leads to plaque on the valves, which begin to close incompletely. As a result, the catalyst is covered. The cost of the catalyst itself is very significant. However, there is the option of “surgical intervention” and the removal of a clogged catalyst.

After buying, be sure to immediately change the timing belt, it makes no sense to look at its condition, and trust the seller too. Be sure to change in combination with the roller and it is advisable to check the condition of the pump.

If, when inspecting the car, you feel vibrations in the body and interior when driving or when starting off, then check the engine mounts, a very common problem, they change every 80,000 km.
Every owner of the Opel Astra H knows about the ignition module. The problem is really massive, but officially it was never recognized as a factory defect and the dealer simply gave recommendations to change the spark plugs more often.

About diesel engines, it is worth mentioning the two most popular problems - leaking fuel pipes and frequent replacement of the particulate filter. But I think those who decided to buy a diesel Astra and they themselves know about the difficulties that may be encountered and how to solve them.

Transmission problems

The mechanics in Astra is a very reliable unit that does not cause problems for the owners. I changed the clutch on a run in the region of 100 thousand km and ride on.

But the robotic boxes Easytronic are not without pitfalls. Here, of course, much depends on the previous owner. If there was care behind the box, the clutch was adjusted, the oil was changed. But even with such careful care, Easytronic can be capricious on a run of 100,000 km, the breakdown of the transmission control unit, the replacement of which is expensive, is especially popular.

As mentioned earlier, the classic machine was equipped only with a 1.8 engine. There are no massive problems with the box itself, but the fact that it cools has ruffled a lot of nerves for all Astravodams with the Aisin box. The fact is that tubes often leaked, after which the oil from the tubes mixed with the coolant and the end came. The machine itself and the radiator cooling it were covered.

Fortunately, it is possible to identify this problem by eye. When inspecting a car with an automatic (especially 2005-2007), pay attention to antifreeze, if it is cloudy or brown, discard this option. At a minimum, you will get to replace the radiator, oil pipes and the oil itself in the automatic transmission.

Suspension problems

First of all, pay attention to squeaks when turning the steering wheel and an extraneous knock in the area of \u200b\u200bthe racks. If there are signs - support bearings for replacement, and it is better to do this as soon as possible, the cost of work is not expensive, but if started, it can lead to rapid wear of all elements of the front suspension. The problem is massive, and if the previous owner has not changed them yet, then most likely rot awaits you instead of thrust bearings. This happens due to depressurization of the upper supports, subsequently dirt and moisture.

The rail “flew” for many almost immediately after the purchase (there were cases of problems with the rail already at 25,000 km). But often the problem was solved by replacing the tie rod ends.
Shock absorbers last quite a long time, replacing front amors is a rather rare occurrence, but the rear ones are usually changed at 70,000 mileage.

If the yellow ABS sensor is on. The sensor itself flies, it would seem a trifle, but the fact is that on this model the sensor is sold assembled with a hub, and the price of the kit is not small. There is an option to fix the problem by cleaning the sensor and installing it in place. But keep in mind, if you don’t want to dig with the sensor, look for another option or feel free to bargain for 8000-10000 rubles.

Minor problems on the body and interior

The thresholds and the rear trunk lid of hatches of the first releases often rot. According to the thresholds, it is recommended to drain the water through the plug in the area of the arches, if the former owners did this periodically, then everything is in order with the thresholds.

There were no special problems in the cabin, but with combined upholstery, the driver's seat can get scuffed already at 100,000 runs (especially if the driver is large). For some reason, it’s rather humid in the cabin, the problem is known, but no universal solution has been found, as an option, put a stack of papers or newspapers on the back seat.

Electrical problems

When buying, check each button, there are a lot of buttons, but it will take no more than 20 minutes to check. Pay special attention to the multi-wheel. If you find that the car reacts to pressing the steering wheel every other time, replace the control unit with buttons.

Is it worth buying used Astra H

In general, according to the reliability rating, this model occupies a high position. Ideally, if you find an option in a 1.6 engine on mechanics and older than 2006, it was then that all childhood diseases had already been eliminated. Ashka is really just a wonderful car.

When choosing an Opel Astra H in a car, you are attracted by a nice design that still does not seem outdated, a spacious interior, excellent driving performance and not too expensive maintenance and repairs. But is it worth buying this Astra modification, how to choose it correctly and how often will Opel Astra H make you do repairs?

As for body repair, sooner or later they will have to do. The weak points on the body of the Astra H are the thresholds, or rather the part of them that is covered by the door. Due to contact with the heels of the driver and passengers, the paintwork on them quickly loses its original appearance. Another weak point is the trunk lid. The fact is that a nice chrome bar is fixed on it, which eventually begins to rub against the body, as a result of which rust forms in places of abrasions. So when inspecting the body of the car you like, pay special attention to this place. Otherwise, everything is not so bad. The Astra of the third generation has nothing to do with the too quickly rusting Opel of the early nineties of the last century.

The salon of most cars still has not lost its former attractiveness. But since we looked into it, do not be too lazy to check the operation of all electrical systems. Their reliability in Astra H is average. On many cars, the same air conditioner no longer works. Quite often, the owners of a German car have to solve problems with cruise control, audio system, power windows that suddenly refused to work.

There were a lot of engines for the Opel Astra H, but in our market the 1.6-liter power unit was most widely used, which, depending on the modification, could develop 105 and 115 horsepower. It is this engine that can be called optimal for the Astra H. Do not forget, except that every 60 thousand kilometers it is necessary to change the timing belt in it. Sometimes on the market you can find Astra H with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine. Its main disadvantages are excessive oil consumption and insufficient power for a relatively heavy car. Suffers from oil gluttony and a power unit with a volume of 1.8 liters.

In the European market, the Astra H with a 1.3 CDTI diesel engine, which was developed jointly with the engineers of the Italian Fiat, was very popular at one time. The advantages of this engine include low fuel consumption and sufficiently high power for its volume. But it was not without its downsides. The main ones are relatively fast wear and the need for constant monitoring of the oil level. If it is not enough, then this can lead to a jump in the camshaft drive circuit.

The 1.9 CDTI turbodiesel looks even more preferable in terms of power characteristics, but there are more problems with it. The 150 horsepower version, for example, has issues with the flaps in the intake manifold. And if the repair in this case is even more or less available, then replacing the collector itself will cost a pretty penny. There are also complaints about the exhaust gas recirculation valve. In addition, the 1.9 CDTI is famous for its not the most durable dual-mass flywheel. But that's not all. The turbine, which allows this power unit to develop such high power, is also far from eternal. And replacing it is by no means cheap. So Opel Astra with 1.9 CDTI can hardly be recommended for purchase.

And if you really want to drive a diesel car, then it’s better to throw all your strength into looking for an Astra H with a 1.7 CDTI engine. This power unit does not have a turbocharger and a dual mass flywheel, which had a positive effect on its reliability. However, it was not without its shortcomings. The reliability of the oil pump and turbocharger in the 1.7 CDTI leaves much to be desired.

The manual gearbox on the Opel Astra H is quite reliable. Unless the crankshaft oil seals begin to fog up a little over time. The classic "automatic" has also proven itself well. For most, its maintenance will come down to oil change, which must be done every 60 thousand kilometers. But it is better to refuse the Easytronic robotic gearbox. The clutch in it can wear out after 100 thousand kilometers.

The suspension of the Opel Astra H is strong enough. Claims can only be made against the rear springs, which can break, for example, when they fall into a deep hole. Moreover, this problem is typical not only for station wagons, which are often corny overload, but also for hatchbacks. Of the rest of the “consumables”, the most complaints are about the front stabilizer struts, which start knocking too early. Sometimes on the Opel Astra H you can also find the IDS + electronically adjustable suspension. It is better to refuse it immediately, since the cost of its repair is incommensurable with the cost of the used car itself.

The braking system and steering on the Astra of the third generation do not cause problems. Unless, before buying, do not be too lazy to examine the steering rack for leaks.

A strong middle peasant - this is the definition that was assigned to the Opel Astra H during the years of its production. It is also true in terms of reliability. There are no frankly weak nodes in the German car, but from time to time it will still annoy with minor troubles. So after all, competitors in this regard are no better. And most are even worse. So Opel Astra H with a gasoline engine and a manual gearbox can be recommended for purchase. With due attention, the car will not let you down. And even more so it will not ruin with a possible repair.