Test drive Opel Astra Sedan 1998 - 2008 Sedan

"Paradise" Astra

Astra Twintop offers to enjoy the sun, but has a roof in reserve
 
On Sardinia, where a test drive took place, I thought about global warming. In the sense that if it takes place, then in Moscow it will be possible to ride a convertible for more than three months a year. True, several countries will go under water, and the inhabitants of the equatorial areas will be fried, but the inhabitants of the northern latitudes will finally taste subtropical joys. However, seriously, then Europeans, and including Scandinavians and residents of foggy albion, are increasingly preferred by the coupe-cabilets to ordinary machines. According to Opel marketers, already by 2010 the volume of the market for coupe and convertibles combined, in Europe alone will reach 430 thousand units. Among them are convertibles with a hard roof at least 300 thousand. Such forecasts are partly confirmed by official statistics. For example, in Germany, according to the results of 2005, the share of convertibles among all registered vehicles (that is, in the country's fleet) amounted to 2.8%, reaching 1.3 million copies. Growth compared to 2004 amounted to 10.5%. But this is on the Rhine. On the shores of the Moscow River are such a smaller car. But the demand for them, imagine, and we are growing, despite the lack of objective testimonies for warming. Most often, ladies acquire them, by definition more than men who appreciate all sorts of delights and affectionate sun above their heads. Now their services are Astra Twintop. Although the running qualities of this car are not able to disappoint the hottest man.
 
 
Beauty and tin
 
No one argues, the coupe-batteries are most appropriate in heavenly corners, like Sardinian Olbia. Although, I must report, in early April, the temperature here in the morning dropped to two degrees (heat, of course). True, somehow very quickly the thermometer was crawled to the mark of +17 degrees Celsius. It became very good for me, I put on a cap prudently proposed by the organizers, and pressed the roof on the coveted button. Five electric motors, eight hydraulic cylinders, 13 sensors immediately entered the work, and after 30 seconds a three -section top lay in the luggage compartment, opening the blue sky and allowing him to admire the surrounding landscapes no longer through the glass.
 
And to admire, let me notice, there is something. On top, from the mountains, amazing views of bays, bays and bays are opened; On the villas of Andriano Chelentano and Denis Hopper, Madonna and other celebrities. But if I did not know that they had chosen the northern part of the island where the sun shines 200 days a year, and the climate is soft, like cat hair, this would not spoil the impression.
 
Italians, sorry - Sardy, as they call themselves, introduced additional diversity to the test drive program, and completely free. You are approaching, for example, to ahead of the car, and you know for sure - at first it will never give way, but will increase the speed. Whatever car he rode. But after a short sparring, you see in the rear view mirror not frowning, but a smiling face, and often you notice a welcome gesture. Nice, you know. Well, on the most mighty version with a 2-liter gasoline engine, in addition to turbocharged, such episodic competitions generally turned into a funny game at the beginning of the test.
 
Two hundred forces per front axle? Fine! Unless, of course, the pendants, but also the body correspond to them. For convertibles, even those with a tin roof, the issue of body rigidity is especially relevant. Say, on some French models, I noticed how, at the entrance to the turn at decent speed, the body is as if lagging behind the wheels. Tearing is an unpleasant thing for such cars. But to achieve what Porsche or Mercedes does is not very simple, and expensive. Astra Twintop coped with the problem in its own way. To increase the hardness of the body, Opel engineers used a design consisting of steel V -shaped beams screwed to the floor of the luggage compartment - from thresholds to the middle, and a massive transverse spacer in front. There are also beams in the doorway that go into reinforced thresholds. As a result, the weight increased by 67 kg, the hardness of the body by 30% compared to the previous model - Astra Cabrio. And 70% of the body details, even for comparison with the Astra GTC compartment, are new. The result is noticeable.
 
Everything for the drive
 
After the first 10 kilometers of the journey, it became clear that the car was not able to present surprises - this is almost the same new Astra - predictable, fast, with an excellent reaction to the movement of the lamb. Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether the roof is installed or not. Moreover, with a raised top, even at high speeds, neither the extra sounds nor the slightest douses of the breeze penetrated the salon, which indicates the accuracy of fitting the details and reliability of the seals.
 
The chassis of the IDS Plus chassis also plays an important role in terms of excellent controllability, which I have repeatedly talked about more than once. Its work is perfectly noticeable on Twintop - with a quick assault on the bends, you feel how shock absorbers from the external, most loaded side become tougher. That is why it is not much difficult to implement two hundred horses, especially on dry asphalt, and more pleasant. The car for habits is typically front -wheel drive. In addition, the ESP electronic stabilization system is always guarded, which is standard equipment with turbo motors. This system, by the way, can be turned off by pressing and holding for more than three or five seconds the Sport button on the central panel.
 
But even if you just press the Sport button, the electronic collar instantly weakens, the steering wheel will pour pleasant weight, the pedals will become more sensitive, and the pendants - more tough. In this mode, the 200-horsepower Twintop is capable of a lot. But GTC from a driver point of view nevertheless gives more acute sensations, it has more clarity in it, or something. Although the acceleration is almost the same, and the lever of the 6-speed manual, albeit slightly blank, but rather selective. The clutch is informative, which allows you to quickly move from one program to another.
 
If we talk about the most power unit, then its characteristics delight. Most of the moment is already available from the bottom, which is important for the convertible, which will have frequent defiles. But the greatest return on the engine can be achieved by supporting the tachometer arrow above 3500-4000 rpm. However, for Twintop this is not so important. And therefore, there remains the brakes, which, like most cars from Germany, work excellently.
 
Not like everyone else
 
Whatever the motor stands under the hood, and for racing such cars rarely buy. They most often ride on avenues and boulevards, slowly and proudly, moving from a restaurant to a night club or where else. Therefore, at least in Russia, girls are preferred by girls. And Astra Twintop is quite capable of emphasizing the emergency's eccentricity.
 
If the front part is an almost accurate copy of the GTC compartment, then the feed is very original. And beautiful. You will not meet such stylistically, perhaps impeccable lights and lines. What else? Ah, yes, salon.
 
Planting in the car, despite the slightly grown thresholds, is convenient. Seats have a successful profile and rather developed lateral support. It is also noteworthy that the space is no less than in the usual Astra is an important achievement of Opel. In general, the interior is the same as the GTC compartment, plus the buttons of the roof electric drive. They are located near the windshield, next to the intra -sulfate mirror. It, by the way, is not small, and sometimes interferes with the review. In addition, through the rear window, when the roof is installed, not much can be seen. But the trunk is simply surprising. Even if the roof is folded, its volume is nearly 205 liters. It is easy to lay things using the Easy Load system. You click on the button, and the roof folded in the trunk lifts by 25 cm. And if you establish the roof that, by the way, you can do at a speed of up to 30 km/h, then the lugger volume will increase to 440 liters. In a word, the car, for everything else, is also quite functional.
 
How much is Twintop for the people
 
Astra Twintop from day to day will appear in the salons of official dealers. But at the time of preparation of the material, prices were still being specified, but we can safely assume that the Opel Capriolet compartment will be cheaper than similar models of competitors.
 
It is important that the gamma of Twintop power units is the same as the usual Astra. And this means that you can purchase a version, say, with a 1.6 or 1.8 engine. The latter, by the way, was recently modified and now develops 140 hp, instead of the previous 125. I happened to try out this version, and I can only say that, although it became more powerful, it does not pull from the lower classes. In other words, until the arrow of the tachometer crosses the mark of 3000 rpm, you feel briskness in its character.
 
However, I will return to prices. In Germany, they begin with a mark of 23,650 euros, for a car with air conditioning, a CD player, electric windows, an on-board computer, a central lock, a cruise control, side mirrors with heating, fog lights and a steering wheel sheathed with genuine skin. As you can see, the list of basic Twintop equipment is much wider than offered not only for Astra, but also for the GTC compartment. One thing can upset the ladies: even for an additional fee, you can not buy a version with automatic transmission.
 
Text: Andrey Osipov
 
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 8 (98), 2006]