Astra

Opel Astra F becomes an oldtimer

Posted 15/05/2021 by Terje Bjørnstad

The world's best-selling Opel turns 30 this year. In the period 1991 to 1997, an incredible 4,13 million Astras were sold. No other Opel model has been more popular - ever.

It is referred to as the Astra F despite being the first model with the Astra name. The model series began under the name "Kadett" as far back as the 30s. The model designations with letters did not begin until the 60s when the Kadett A appeared in 1962. The name "Kadett" was retained until 1991 when Opel chose to replace the outgoing Kadett E with the Astra F.

The story of Astra began with Kadett D

The Opel Kadett D appeared as a 1980 model. It was the first Kadett with a transverse engine with front-wheel drive and 3/5 door hatchback as standard. This was necessary for Opel to be able to compete with the Volkswagen Golf. After that, Golf and Kadett/Astra have figured at the top of the sales lists. When the Golf II arrived as a 1984 model, the Kadett E was launched. Similarly, in 1991 when the Golf III appeared, the new Astra F hit the market just a couple of months later. It is still like that.

The Eternal Two

In Norway, sales figures for the Golf have always been higher than the competitor from Opel. The Opel Kadett E was no worse car than the Golf II. They were different in several areas, but still very equal. The same can be said about the Astra F in relation to the Golf III. Golf and Astra have never been more equal. Nevertheless, the Golf retained the upper hand on the sales charts.

Safer

One of Astra's big advantages compared to its predecessor Kadett E and other contemporary competitors was high passive safety. From the outset, the Astra came with belt tensioners as standard. From 1993, you could choose an airbag on the driver's side as an option. From 1994, airbags on both front sides came as standard. Neck pillows in the back seat were also standard. The seats had a rail that prevented people from sliding under the belts in the event of a collision. 30 years ago, steel beams in the doors were a major safety advantage. Astra got 2 steel beams in each door.

astra f interior — Standard interior in the 1992 model without airbag

Bigger

By moving the A-pillars further forward, the Astra gained both a more spacious feeling and better space than its predecessor. The Astra showed that cars in the compact class were suitable as full-fledged family cars. The Astra estate rivaled mid-range models in terms of space despite being only 4,28 meters long.

astra f caravan — Opel Astra F Caravan after facelift

More recyclable

The Opel Kadett E (1984-1991) was an early adopter of using recyclable materials in the interior and exterior plastic – including in the bumpers. The disadvantages were that part of the interior could feel like papier-mâché and that the exterior plastic became discolored after a short time. The Opel Astra was to be even more recyclable. Fortunately, the interior felt more solid than in its predecessor. In the early 1990s, recyclability was one of the most important arguments for wooing environmentally conscious customers.

Astra F compared to Kadett E

I remember well my first drive with the Opel Astra. It was a test drive of a new station wagon with a 1,6 liter engine. I liked the feeling of a solid car - a kind of security feeling. It seemed heavier than the Kadett (E) I had previously owned. The soundscape seemed harsh during acceleration, and the drivetrain sent vibrations into the cabin. Compared to the Kadett E and Nissan Sunny - which I drove at the time - the steering in the Astra seemed lifeless. Plus for power steering. My conclusion was that this was no vehicle for "keen drivers". Nevertheless, we ordered a black metallic Astra 1,6 sedan with the "Young" equipment package. It consisted of a manual sunroof, upgraded seat covers, green stripes and separate wheel covers. With a new house and a family increase on the way, space and safety became decisive. Besides, it was a very beautiful car. More beautiful than the Golf III. Like the Opel, I felt that the Volkswagen Golf III had become heavier, less dynamic and less fun to drive than its predecessor the Golf II.

cadet e — My Opel Kadett E new in 1985. Ran for almost 30 years before it was scrapped.

Veteran status?

At German car exchanges, Astra Fs have started to be advertised as collectors' cars. In Germany, cars first registered in 1991 can be registered as "vintage cars" with an "H" at the back of the plate. It provides tax and insurance benefits. Like other volume models, it may take time before the Astra F becomes a collector's car. If you post a rust-free Astra with low mileage today, you run the risk of it being bought as a used car. It is difficult to imagine the Astra F as worthy of preservation. At the same time, dealers of classic cars all over the world are now buying well-maintained examples of the Golf III. It has already become a classic.

Once again, it looks like the Astra will be a runner-up. But another Opel model is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It's the Opel Calibra . Undoubtedly a classic.

Facts about the Opel Astra F

About the model
Year of production: 1991-1996
Model year: 1992-1997
Place of production (Norwegian cars): Bochum, Germany
Facelift: 1994 with new grill and rear, painted bumpers and upgraded Ecotec engines. Airbag driver and passenger side standard.
Vauxhall: In Storbitannia, the name "Astra" was already used from 1980 when cars with front-wheel drive were introduced. The predecessor to British Astras was the Vauxhall Viva. The Astras for the British market are manufactured at Ellesmere Port near Liverpool.

Measurements and dimensions
Length height width
– 3/5 doors: 405 x 169 x 141 cm
– Sedan: 424 x 169 x 141 cm
– Station wagon w/roof rails: 428 x 169 x 153 cm
Wheelbase: 252 cm
Luggage compartment
– 3/5 doors: 360 litres
– Saloon: 500 litres
– Station wagon: 500 litres

Motorisation/performance
1,4 Ecotec 90 HP
– Top speed: 178 km/h
– 0-100: 13 seconds
1,6 Ecotec 101 HP
– Top speed: 190 km/h
– 0-100: 11,5 seconds
1,8 Ecotec 116 HP
– Top speed: 200 km/h
– 0-100: 9,5 seconds

Source: ultimatespecs.com

See

Astra without turbo

Posted 23/04/2014 by Terje Bjørnstad

astra16b — It looks good in snow white paint with 17" alloy wheels.

It's been a while since I drove a new car in this class without a turbo. A mature engine that requires high revs, and which delivers poor performance, high noise levels and high fuel consumption, brings thoughts back to the 90s. If we look through the fingers at the engine, we actually find a pretty alright car.

Look and feel

Astra looks good in white - Summit White or Snow White. 17 inch light alloy rims adorn the car. Together with digital driving lights and fog lights, we anticipate a campaign model. The Astra bears the stamp of being a German car, both from the outside and behind the wheel. The car seems solid and safe. However, the premium feeling disappeared as soon as we sat down. Two glaring orange displays scream at you that this is cheap. Missing armrests and flat standard seats also drag down the look-and-feel category. I also draw for the jumble of buttons on the middle part of the dashboard. They require getting used to.

astrad — Facelifted model with wider smile

Driving pleasure

The engine detracts from driving pleasure. It must have enough revs to pull. It makes noise. I engage fifth gear already at 60 km/h. When I get to 80 km/h, I get an intense desire to upshift - but there are no more gears! With this engine, you get the best traction when the revs are around 4000. Then the engine noise is intrusive. Further down the rev curve there is sadly little to gain. I experience the engine as particularly "surly" to use a Swedish expression. But the reality is still not so bad. After all, at 3000 revs in top gear we are driving at 109 km/h. I also get a better impression of the engine at speeds from 120. The car feels very safe at motorway speeds - and there it actually gives some driving pleasure.

Apart from the engine, the car is good to drive. Suspension, steering and brakes are what I expect in a German car.

A few words about the engine in the test car. The EcoTec engine produces 115 horsepower and has VVT (variable valve opening) technology. In Norway, this engine has been removed from the price lists. In contrast, it is the motorization in the entry-level models in Sweden and on the continent. In Norway, only a very limited range of engines is currently offered. Personally, I would choose the turbocharged 1,4 liter petrol engines of either 120 or 140 horsepower.

astra16c — No engine designations on the tailgate as this has the step-in engine

Comfort

On the comfort side, the Astra scores well. It offers a good balance between driving pleasure and comfort. The seats in the test car are not as good as the sports seats, but do fine for me. A large back seat passenger complained about the sitting position in the back seat. The Active model line is supplied with standard seat profiles, but with a thicker seat cover that seemed very durable. I recommend spending a few kroner extra to upgrade to sports seats. In the same vein, I would recommend upgrading the infotainment department. However, the dual zone air conditioning works well.

The mentioned engine noise at Norwegian speeds detracts the points somewhat.

Place

Due to the Astra's long wheelbase, the length of the cabin is very good. At the level of a class above. Inside, it feels as if you are in a mid-range car. However, the trunk is average for the class. It has a double bottom where a cover can be folded in, or possibly taken out completely. Astra as station wagon or 4-door sedan version offers luggage space for families with children.

Safety

The A-pillars are, in typical Opel fashion, powerful and dominant. At no time have I felt that they reduce visibility. I think it is important to adjust the sitting height so that you do not sit too low. The thick bars, however, give a feeling of sitting in a solid cage - i.e. a sense of security. All relevant safety equipment is in place. For increased safety, it is possible to order intelligent lighting that adapts to driving conditions and adaptive cruise control.

astra16a — Indelicate info screens and a jumble of buttons.

Economy

In general, it is good economics to own an Astra. Expect a somewhat higher loss of value than the bestsellers from Volkswagen and Toyota. The relatively low score is due to the high fuel consumption of the test model. On paper it should be 0,63 liters per km with mixed driving, but experienced consumption on mainly highways was higher. Much higher. That is why I have checked with Astra owners' user experiences online. The same conclusion is drawn there. If I compare with the 1,4T/140 ( previously tested on the same stages ), you can roughly expect 50% higher consumption.

Length in the compartment

Noisy and low traction engine
High fuel consumption
Unusually tasteless information displays in the dashboard
Far too many buttons on the middle part of the dashboard

Destination: Purpose – lunch

New Astra

Posted 04/08/2013 by Terje Bjørnstad

Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo — Opel Astra 1,4 Turbo

The new Opel Astra is characterized by the fact that the chrome-plated part of the grill has been given a wider smile, and with a turbocharged petrol engine of 140 horses, the Astra really offers a smile.

2013 Opel Astra 1.4/140 Turbo Excellence 5 doors

Look and feel

The latest facelift adds more elegance. Although the Astra is both modern and stylish, I think it lacks distinctiveness compared to competitors such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. I still can't put my finger on anything concrete.

When I open the door, get behind the wheel and close the door, I get the quality impression I expect in a German car. The equipment level in the test car includes, among other things, Opel's stylish, sporty seats made of partial leather and checked fabric. The leather steering wheel is good to hold.

Stylish button clusters, but difficult to use for us over 50.

When I turn on the ignition, however, I notice the glaring information displays in the dashboard. Red, bulky letters on an orange background are neither informative nor elegant. It is possible that it is possible to tone down the brightness of the displays, but jeg would opt for an upgraded infotainment system to ditch these hideous displays.

I also don't like the many, small buttons on the middle part of the dashboard. It looks stylish with lots of small buttons, especially in the dark - but with the level of functionality in new cars today, a more modern user interface is required. It should be possible to operate the radio and air conditioning without having to pull in to the side and put on reading glasses!

Driving pleasure

The chassis is thought to be sporty and works extremely well on the motorway. The steering and chassis give the driver plenty of driving pleasure and work equally well on both city streets and country roads.

The new 1.4 liter petrol turbo engine with 140 horsepower contributes to the great driving pleasure. My test car was brand new and I felt it sagged a bit when I tried to push it. On the other hand, I don't like to push engines hard in the very first few miles. I checked the carriage card to check that I had really received the 140 horse.

New petrol turbo engines have the same characteristics as turbodiesel engines with the same solid bottom line and the same sound profile. With an increasing focus on particulate matter and a possible winter ban on diesel cars, this is an excellent engine for Norwegian big cities.

Comfort

I sit well in the sporty seats. The first time I sat down, I felt that they pinched my butt, but this is typical for such seats. After two hours, I sat just as well.

Although the car seems a bit sporty, it is experienced as comfortable, especially on the motorway. With the 6-speed gearbox, the soundscape is very pleasant on high-speed motorways.

The "Excellence" package (equivalent to "Cosmo") includes all comfort equipment such as automatic lighting, rain sensor, automatic two-zone climate control, trip computer and more.

Place

With my height of 1,88, I sit royally in the back seat after adjusting the driver's seat to suit myself. Three adults fit fine in the back seat. Inside, it feels as if you are in a large mid-range car. But in the trunk I am brought back to small middle class (C-class). The luggage compartment has a double bottom where the cover can be folded in, or possibly taken out completely. In any case, the trunk is at least designed to function as a full-fledged family car, but as a station wagon or 4-door sedan version you get plenty of space. I give a five for the royal legroom.

Safety

The Opel Astra has all relevant safety equipment in place. The new Astra can be delivered with intelligent lighting that adapts to driving conditions. You can also order adaptive cruise control. This was not installed on the car I test drove.

Economy

Very favorable fuel consumption in relation to engine power and car size. The purchase price of this car is under 300, which is very favorable. If you choose a station wagon, you get a full-sized family car. The only thing that gives some uncertainty in terms of finances is the assumed trade-in value. As Opel's popularity has fallen - and is falling, Opel may not be in much demand as a used car.

Engine/driveline
Space in the compartment

Bright display in the dashboard
Far too many small buttons on the middle part of the dashboard