Test drive Opel Astra Sedan 1998 - 2008 Sedan

Express from Turin

Express from Turin // Opel Astra
 
Two years ago, in the famous Bertone studio, not far from Turin, Opel Astra Coupe was born. In Europe, we have repeatedly seen this stylish car, and now it is sold in Russia.
 
You can’t say anything, a noble car turned out. Of course, this Astra is elusively similar to its neighbors in the flowerbed, but the appearance has a peculiar one. It would seem that only the roof line was changed, and in the end, there was no trace of German conservatism.
 
Speed \u200b\u200band style - these words are seemed to be written on a car body. They constantly overthrow in the brain, prompting to take the pilot's place more likely. What happened for, for that they gathered! We will discuss the cleanliness of the lines somehow later, and now - on the road.
 
The door handle is supported, squats, freed from the upper seal, the door glass and immediately returns back - as soon as the door slamms. The right hand sticks the tip of the key into the keyhole, turn, and the electric discharge awakens the heart of the car. On the white dials, the arrows have worried the arrows, only one of them retains endurance. Now all the attention is to her.
 
The clutch is squeezed, the program is enabled. Having checked on the wet asphalt, the drive wheels forced the speedometer arrow to dart to 40 km/h in the first second. Recoller, we measured the ardor and redistributed the engine power: we need not special effects, but the progressive movement of the car. This was not at all embarrassed by our Opel - starting from scratch, after nine seconds the compartment accelerated to a hundred. We take him a little more time, would get all possible 218 km/h.
 
Having satisfied the first desire, we allow ourselves and the car to rest a little. At the same time, we look at the interior. Nothing special, everything is like an ordinary Astra. Unless the white inserts slightly overdone the familiar interior. Ah, yes - also sports seats. They not only look good, but also cope with their duties well: medium developed lateral support allows you to sit even in corners without straining. Although, of course, on steep turns, the support would not have prevented the support more powerful.
 
Calmly driving along the city streets, we note that the heavily tilted rear racks do not interfere with the review at all, which can not be said about the rear shelf covering part of the trunk. For a long time we could not understand why, if you look into the rear through a salon mirror, everything that is outside the car, as if in a fog. You look into the outer mirrors - the sharpness is normal, in the salon - again some albion. Mystic! It was still possible to figure out this phenomenon - phonit the light upholstery of the seats and the rear shelf. But if the seats can be folded, thereby increasing the volume of the trunk, then it will not be possible to part with the shelf. But by the way, what to look at the lagging!
 
From a relaxed state, we are taken away by a non -blessed shake. Yes, whatever you say, Astra Coupe is designed to move only on good roads. Even minor irregularities are able to take out their souls from passengers, and large potholes - to fill the bumps sitting from behind: there is not so much space, especially above the head. There is nothing to be done, this is the concept of the car.
 
As for the suspension, such a result should be expected. On the compartment are installed more stringent springs and shock absorbers more than on ordinary asters. In addition, to speed up the reaction to the rotation of the steering wheel - other silent blocks are used here that provide a firm connection of the suspension elements with the body. The body itself has become much stronger - its rigidity for twisting is 18,000 nm/city, and not 12,000, like a sedan.
 
But here is a broken area behind, and we again spur the horse. The car is equipped with a new 2.2-liter 147-horsepower engine. Created by General Motors engineers, it will subsequently be put on almost all concern cars. The engine turned out to be good - painful, elastic, light (aluminum unit) and compact, and due to the return to the chain drive of the gas distribution mechanism - also more reliable.
 
In general, future citizens passengers, if you have 23 thousand dollars, you can safely pay them a travel in a compartment wagon of corporate express with an Opel logo on curtains. A pleasant journey awaits you.
  
Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [11/2001]