Test drive Opel Astra sedan 1998 - 2008 sedan

Astral body

A good car will not be called Olesham - German jokers say. Let. We will get more. In Moscow, for example, Opel Astra is a shortage. What is not a reason to take the Astra for a long -term test?
 
Astra is the most popular product of General Motors in Russia. A real German car at a good price. To blame Opel that he is not a purebred German can only Snob, looking at the world through the sight of a three -beam star. But he probably does not know that there are no more ethnic Germans in Germany’s automobile plants than at the capital's construction sites - Muscovites.
Astra has a traditionally good equipment. The machine that got to our test has a designation N-Joy.
Pleasure-this is how N-Joy can be deciphered-this is a special summer sentence formulated in advertising as an air conditioning as a gift. At the same time, we note that without air conditioners, asters are not imported to us. Well, except for a special client order. So it turns out that N-Joy is one of the possible sets, Comfort minus the cost of the air conditioner ($ 540) plus several designer mulek: a little chromium on the radiator grille, thin rims covered with the same metal on the instruments, graphite color of plastics at the central console And additional colors of the upholstery of the cabin. The release of Anglo is actually terminated, but so far they are on sale.
At a very attractive price, Astra does not have completely weak engines. The cheapest is eight -clad 1.6 (84 hp). And we got more than sufficient-16-valve, with a volume of 1.8 liters and a capacity of 125 hp. It turns out quite incendiary, although so far we tried to adhere to the requirements of the instructions: for the first thousand kilometers, squeeze the accelerator pedal by a maximum of 3/4 strokes and not ride at a speed of higher than 3/4 of the maximum. And the maximum speed of Astra is 1.8 with a five -speed manual gearbox - 205 km/h.
Honestly, the 1.8 liter engine is not the most popular. The body - yes, a five -door hatchback in the leaders, but the engine 1.8 is not. Because with it, the car costs a thousand dollars more than with a 16-valve 1.6 liters, but has not only an additional 25 hp, but also the rear disc brakes, track and cruise control. It’s not bad for a new German car for $ 15,200.
+ Good equipment: ABS, driver’s airbag, steering wheel electro -hydraulic power (the steering wheel itself - with adjustment in two planes), heated electric -risk, central locking, remotely controlled from the key, audio training with two speakers. In Russia supplied to Russia, the suspension (springs and shock absorbers) is configured for bad roads, additional door seals are made, and the crankcase and mudguards are added.
+ The first is that - 15,000 km of run or after a year of operation. Until this moment, the owner is charged only to monitor the general condition of the car and the level of oil.
+ Even a tall driver does not feel constrained. In the extreme position of the chair, a person 190 cm tall will squeeze the clutch with almost an toe. At the same time, not only the child, but also a completely adult citizen will fit behind.

   
 
-/+ seats of the car, like the suspension, hard, and, as dealers joke, when selling asters outside of large cities and normal roads, the driver can be given a helmet. You will stop noticing the stiffness of the seats in a few days (addiction to orthopedic mattresses is required), and the invigorating suspension contributes to better handling.
- The clutch pedal is soft - as if it were equipped with a hydraulic wrap, while the engine at the very bottom has far from steam traction. So when touched, gas should be added a little more than you can expect. Plus, the clutch pedal is large, and to switch the transmission of it has to be squeezed into the floor. I was too lazy to squeeze it to the end - the gearbox will snapped. But this could be considered a disadvantage of a car, rented for a day. And with his own-he will suffer, love. Matter of habit.
 
+/- The power of the motor is enough in order to worthy to leave the traffic light. True, with a sharp press on the gas pedal, the steering wheel must be kept stronger - the leaning into the strip (to the right) characteristic of some front -wheel drive machines is felt.
-/+ in the aster is a large and comfortable glove box with two shelves. In the doorway - front and rear - pockets for storing small things with stamping under the bottles (tin 0.33 or plastic 0.5 l.; Beer sample fit with difficulty). But to place a fire extinguisher in the trunk, a liter jar of motor oil, and even more so a five -liter canister with a liquid for the washer. The niche in the trunk is one and small, and for some reason elastic nets are not provided.
Text and photo Sergey Sherestnikov

Costs May 28 - June 20
Mileage - city/highway 1,500 km. Gasoline consumption - 180 liters
Complete insurance for 1/2 years $ 493
AI-95 gasoline $ 60
A set of rugs $ 21
PHILIPS car radio (switched with a display on a dashboard) $ 199
Auto signaling $ 275
Moika $ 20
Only $ 1068

Model/Modification Opel Astra 1.8
Manufacturer/country Adam Opel AG/Germany
BODY
Type hatchback
Number of doors/places 5/5
ENGINE
Type gasoline, with multi -point electronic injection
The location of the engine is transversely
Working volume (cubic cub) 1796
Number/location of cylinders 4/row
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 92 (125) at 5600
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 170 at 3800
TRANSMISSION
The front drive
Mechanical gearbox 5-speed
SUSPENSION
Front/rear independent spring type Mcpherson, with a reptile stability stabilizer, on a subframe
STEERING
Type gear-rake, electro-hydraulic power with varying effort
Brakes
Front/rear circular ventilated/disk
ABS 4-channel
Dimensions/volumes/weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4110/1709/1425
Wheel base (mm) 2606
Equipped mass (kg) 1200
Tires 195/60 R15
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 205
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 10
Economy
Fuel consumption (l/100 km, city/highway) 11/6.0
Fuel tank capacity, l 52
AI-95 gasoline
The price in Moscow is $ 15.2 thousand.

 

Source: "Autopilot"