Test Drive Opel Astra Sedan 1998 - 2008 Sedan

Astraldogia

Astraldogy. // Opel Astra.
 
The first time Astra-2 was shown to the public in September last year in Frankfurt. The premiere of the serial model took place in this spring in Geneva. In Russia, the new Opel will officially appear only at the end of summer. Introducing this event, we decided to check the car in the case, comparing it with the old Astra ...
 
Judging by the views on the streets of this car, the appearance of the new Astra turned out not just memorable, but very individual. In any case, other Opel did not attract such attention.
 
In Europe, Opel is the third in popularity of the car brand, by the number of sales, it is inferior only to Volkswagen and Fiat. As for Astra, after VW Golf, this is the most popular European model in its class (annual sales - up to 750,000 copies). So the change of generations Astra is not just a premiere, but the event of the continent's scale.
 
Opel AG has always released moderately calm cars, which, at a reasonable price, possessed traditional German qualities. And although the brand belongs to the General Motors concern, the American dream is never like, the Opel model is usually just good workhorses. In principle, they must really like spies: as they say, you want to stay invisible - buy Opel. And Opel bought. Logical.
 
The same proper machine was (and there) Astra-1, who has changed the long-playing (1938-1991) Kadett. In order for the model to have a stable marketing for 8 years, it should not be extravagant, affordable, quite comfortable and economical. By the way, even VW Golf IV is perceived only as an improved version of Golf III. True, improved by all articles. But - no radicalism!
 
New Astra crashes this concept of sufficiency. It is worth just look at it and compare with old. Little common, isn't it? The new design first takes what no one has it. Or yet no one. Unlike, for example, Volkswagen, Fiat or Renault, which are looking for harmony in smooth outlines, Opel resorted to flat surfaces and strict lines. In the sun, the car looks especially spectacular - the body sparkles each of his face. Apparently, it's time to come - the designers decided that the style of a mass car could be catchy. So there are other examples, take at least Ford Focus.
 
So, two asters are new and old. External similarity - only in lightning emblems. What's inside?
 
New salon. Gray panel with plastic under the tree. Made - tasteful. Looks - expensive. Although Opel Astra is addressed to those who have to save, the firm in the development of the model did not save - neither on design, nor on materials or on equipment. We first saw in a compact hatchback what is usually found in the machines is much more expensive - for example, in Mercedes or Saab.
 
Four airbags (two front and two lateral in the front doors), Blaupunkt audio system, air conditioning, a digital multifunctional display with a clock, a thermometer and a tape recorder ... The coasters are originally located - one in each door. In the cabin with comfort, four adults will spread. In the back of the rear sofa - a folding armrest, behind it - a hatch in the trunk: the pet will not be dark and stuffy. If you leake part of the back, you can transport long items. The internal handles of the rear doors also serve as armrests.
 
The driver's chair has three standard mechanical adjustments - yes - yes, it is three: now adjusting the seat cushion in height - the usual case for Europeans. The back of the chair - with developed lateral support. True, somewhat unusual - it takes not by the shoulders, but under the blades. However, such support quickly get used to.
 
The steering column is adjustable both along the angle of inclination and at the distance from the pedal block. A briefly planted lever box with a smooth embodious man has stingy and clear moves. There are no complaints here.
 
With visibility, everything is in order. Including with a review back: despite the fact that this five-door Opolev Hatchback has (for the first time) only four (and not six) side windows and a solid wide rear roof rack. Even the high head restraints of the rear sofa do not interfere. Small inconveniences may occur only when parking reversed: due to the high lower edge of the glass, there are 3-4 meters of the dead zone. But, as always on German cars, outer mirrors have a wide angle of coverage - to navigate them very conveniently.
 
As for the Salon of the Old Astra, he is simple and traditional. Although everything is very competent here and logical. Testing Astra-1 had air conditioning. It would seem that here is special? But in the punk wall we found a damper through which the cooled air is served. Thus, the glove box can serve as a primitive refrigerator. After having experienced its effectiveness on two bottles of mineral water, we came to the conclusion that only air conditioning can be better in the 30-degree heat with a refrigerator. Do you chose holes in the glove compartments of your own cars? By the way, such a refrigerator in the new Astra did not turn out. Why - not clear.
 
Our Astra-2 had a comprehensive 1.6 l motor motor only 75 hp (In the range - eight power units, two of which are diesel; the power of the modest gasoline (1.2 l) is 65 hp, and the 2-liter top motor - 136 hp). Seventy-five forces - is there a lot or a little for the modern Golf class machine? It is clear one thing - superdinamics here will not wait. Probably, those who drive on such versions - have already experienced the dynamic years of their lives in the Austin Healey type machines or, at worst, Karmann Ghia.
 
To move normally in the urban stream, you have to keep three or four thousand revolutions using the first three transmissions (in the usual mode 2000 rpm / min. The car is reluctant). Because of this we switched much later. Good acceleration can be achieved, only the tachometer arrow for the mark 5000, the good motor is quickly and easily spinning. So go all the way in the middle of the scale. In short, this power unit clearly does not correspond to the overall originality of the new Astra. The only excuse is that the engine here is a sample of 1991. Nevertheless, I would like to note the low noise of its work, as well as the excellent sound insulation of the engine compartment and the cabin as a whole.
 
In the course of the movement, the signs of the engine workload do not appear. All quietly and calmly. And yet we would not be so nervous, when there were at least a hundred horses under the hood.
 
Not lucky and with the dynamics of the old Astra. With 1.4 l motor machine does not go. We have tormented for a long time with him, considering the trunks of removing nine, until, finally, our pride finally did not extort the guy on the Volga, who stained us from the left row. Well, even though you are crazy - does not go!
 
Very hot. The efficiency of the air conditioner and the fan leaves much to be desired, and noise too much. When the fan operates at maximum speed, it is necessary to almost scream - otherwise you will not be heard. Yes, the old Opel Astra is full of surprises. And how he, he asks, could compete with VW Golf II themselves for many years?
 
In the new Astra - everything is different. Sound comfort here at the height. With closed glasses, only howl trucks is heard. Noise from tires and incoming air flow are minimized - they are practically not heard. Not surprisingly - the coefficient of aerodynamic resistance from new hatchback is the lowest among classmates: 0.29. The fan even at the maximum noise is not very strong. Climatic installation works very effectively. However, the dependence of the car dynamics from the air conditioner turned on is quite large.

 
Controllability. Both Astra are perfectly followed by the selected trajectory. We did not find any shortcomings in the behavior of the machines. I especially want to highlight a new Astra. Steering on all its modifications has a hydraulic switch with an electrical drive of the pump. When moving in a straight line, the electric motor is spinning with a frequency of 2300 rpm., When turning - when the need arises in the amplifier - the frequency increases to 3300 rpm. The main advantage of this scheme is economy: less power is selected from the engine. The reactive force on the steering wheel in the rotation is almost constant: that when the gas is discharged, which is sharply accelerated. And when we tried to let the car in the skid, it hung greatly. Feeling that the car was tamed, choose the steering wheel, wait for a sharp change in resistance - and the force on the steering wheel is practically not changed. So the car came out of turns on all wheels and strictly along the trajectory.
 
No need to think that the steering wheel of the new Astra is a panacea from all drifts: after all, this is not a stabilization system. It is not necessary to lose sight of the insufficient power of the engine, and preheated asphalt, and good coupling properties of tires 195/60R15. How more powerful asters will behave - we will see.
 
The front suspension ASTRA-2 is installed on the subframe. It is quite rigid, but there were no breakdowns - neither on the potholes or on the tramways, nor on the wells. Obviously, the Germans worked well over the elastic elements of the suspension.
 
Brakes work perfectly. The short-terrestrial hard pedal provides early response. Slowness - with strong progress. But it is easy to control the process - it is necessary just not to stir through the pedal, but to smoothly increase the effort. However, with such features of the new Astra management, you are developing quickly.
 
In general, Astra-2 impress a well-balanced car with interesting appearance and filling. The care of the study of small details of the interior and high quality assembly deserves attention. There is no reason to doubt the practicality of this car. As for the sluggish dynamics, let's wait for the Russian presentation and, accordingly, the gamma of new 16-valve engines. It seems to us that they change a lot.
 
Ivan Paderin
 
 

A source: Magazine Motor [№7 / 1998]