Opel Astra 2.0 opc

nandonine

Hi,
Am looking at one of these with a view to buying. Anyone had any in the past - recommendations or otherwise?
It's a 3-dr hatchback, petrol, 06, 30000 miles. Priced at 12k, but the guy cut it to 11k without any haggling, so imagine I could get it to 10k, but get the feeling that even this is probably too expensive given tax, etc.

Any advice appreciated.
Have sold a 1.6 Almera, and looking for something nippier in and around 10k. No family so hatchback no problem.
Any particular bad faults with the Astra - assume fuel consumption isn't great given it's a two litre - as I can't find much on the web (maybe I'm not looking correctly)
Cheers

Drummerboy08

The cheapest one on the web is 14k - I'd say 11k is priced well, so I'd doubt the seller has too much room for manouver.

TestTransmission

Got a link to the sale?Ive a mate with a 06,very nice car,it likes the petrol though.
He's had no issues as far as I know.

I dont see the big issue with paying the tax,it's only a 2 litre after all.

smash

Tax is not expensive... The performance is unreal, I was very surprised by it and would have one in a shot!

.Longshanks.

Answers from owners to any of your questions here
http://www.vxronline.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=15

nandonine

Here's the link

http://www.airportusedcarcentre.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=492686

Drummerboy08

nandonine wrote: »

Here's the link

http://www.airportusedcarcentre.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=492686

Ah, Mr Corless.

nandonine

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Ah, Mr Corless.

??

smash

http://www.irishconsumer.ie/eng/News_+_Research/Press%20Releases/NCA_investigates_car_clocking.html

nandonine

steve06 wrote: »

http://www.irishconsumer.ie/eng/News_+_Research/Press%20Releases/NCA_investigates_car_clocking.html

Ah, I see. Thanks for the heads up.
I called them about the number of owners - 4 - in less than four years. And they said that there was the original owner, then garage, then new guy who failed with finance package, then garage again.
But the mileage I'd taken as pretty credible.

furtzy

nandonine wrote: »

Ah, I see. Thanks for the heads up.
I called them about the number of owners - 4 - in less than four years. And they said that there was the original owner, then garage, then new guy who failed with finance package, then garage again.
But the mileage I'd taken as pretty credible.

The garage is never listed as the owner of a traded in car.

Drummerboy08

furtzy wrote: »

The garage is never listed as the owner of a traded in car.

Yep - the 4 owners will have been different individuals.

Neilw

nandonine wrote: »

But the mileage I'd taken as pretty credible.

I would be triple checking the milage and the complete car buying from that place.

furtzy

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Yep - the 4 owners will have been different individuals.

I especially like one of the owners being "then new guy who failed with finance package"....brilliant they want you to belive they registered a car to a guy who didn't actually buy it...

They sound like some bunch of gangsters....theres no way I'd believe the mileage with an answer like that

willier

Drove one of these 2 years ago and would have one in a heart beat if funds allowed. Gorgeous car with loads of spec. Massive power and great handling! I'd do every check you can on it first though.

Drummerboy08

furtzy wrote: »

I especially like one of the owners being "then new guy who failed with finance package"....brilliant they want you to belive they registered a car to a guy who didn't actually buy it...

They sound like some bunch of gangsters....theres no way I'd believe the mileage with an answer like that

It just doesnt add up does it?

thebiglad

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Yep - the 4 owners will have been different individuals.

Is there anyway to get the owner history from Shannon and call the last 2 owners to ask how the car was, when they sold it (and why) and also the mileage.

Also would be worth an AA Inspection - tell the garage if it passes you buy, if it doesn't he pays all or 50% of cost. If he refuses then combined with all else, walk away.

Lovely car though.

stealthyspeeder

If you are serious about buying it at that price, do the deal but add in that it has to checked and serviced by an Opel main dealer, if its fine, you pay and add the cost to the deal, if its not, he pays and the deal is off!

smash

thebiglad wrote: »

Is there anyway to get the owner history from Shannon and call the last 2 owners to ask how the car was, when they sold it (and why) and also the mileage.

No, but a service history should have owners names on the receipts.

bf

Certainly good value at that price. The OPC suffers heavily from torque steer given the power running to the front wheels. Fuel consumption will be heavy coming from a Nissan.

Given the deal seems to be good he is offering you should have no hesitation paying to get a full background & mechanical check done on the car

Drummerboy08

steve06 wrote: »

No, but a service history should have owners names on the receipts.

IF the receipts have been kept. Which I doubt.

R.O.R

OP (C - what I did there ), have you checked insurance quotes for the car? Has it a decent alarm? Do you have somewhere very secure to park it?

One of the guys I work with has one (06). Towards the end of last year, two men broke in to his house in the middle of the night to steal the keys for it. He disturbed them, but not as much as they disturbed his wife. The car ended up parked in the work garage for 2-3 months while his driveway was remodled to include security posts, as she wouldn't let him bring it home until they were in.

smash

he should have told her to move out!

nandonine

Thanks for all the advice guys.
I was going to get the AA to do full checks on it - still waiting to hear back on a quote from them.
Am very wary about the whole thing now, but I'll give him a call over the next couple of days and see what he says about the owners.

teelinboy

These OPC's are very nice cars - real animals to drive and therefore penalty point magnets. They are often driven hard by their owners (I know one), they can be extremely hard to sell second-hand because of hefty insurance and they are very thirsty to run. I have seen several of these cars driving around with for sale signs in their windows.

If this car has had four owners in a short space of time there is a reason for it and I doubt if its good - the country is full of second hand cars - shop around a bit more and check out the UK while your at it.

smash

teelinboy wrote: »

shop around a bit more and check out the UK while your at it.

He's been offered it for 11k - a 06 OPC in the uk retails between 9-10k sterling. With exchange rate and VRT he wont get one cheaper. You might however get one here in and around the 14k bracket.

STForSale

OP, Considering what you now know about this garage, are you actually still considering buying this car?

furtzy

STForSale wrote: »

OP, Considering what you now know about this garage, are you actually still considering buying this car?

Exactly what I was thinking......his explaination of the number of owners was enough for me

nandonine

STForSale wrote: »

OP, Considering what you now know about this garage, are you actually still considering buying this car?

Haven't ruled it out completely - if I did I'd be getting every background test on it, etc. Will have a think about it over the weekend, and have a chat with the guy next week and see if he's come up with a better story :rolleyes:
But I've cooled my jets considerably on it.

nandonine

R.O.R wrote: »

OP (C - what I did there ), have you checked insurance quotes for the car? Has it a decent alarm? Do you have somewhere very secure to park it?

One of the guys I work with has one (06). Towards the end of last year, two men broke in to his house in the middle of the night to steal the keys for it. He disturbed them, but not as much as they disturbed his wife. The car ended up parked in the work garage for 2-3 months while his driveway was remodled to include security posts, as she wouldn't let him bring it home until they were in.

I have a garage lock up. I dunno if it has an alarm. Any question to ask him. Cheers.

Rough insurance quotes so far about €650, but I haven't shopped around.

Fizman

nandonine wrote: »

I have a garage lock up. I dunno if it has an alarm. Any question to ask him. Cheers.

Rough insurance quotes so far about €650, but I haven't shopped around.

That's pretty good re insurance tbh. My mate has his 06 OPC from new and has just turned 28. Think he is paying 700 and that's with 7/8 years NCB.

.Longshanks.

nandonine wrote: »

I have a garage lock up. I dunno if it has an alarm. Any question to ask him. Cheers.

Rough insurance quotes so far about €650, but I haven't shopped around.

AFAIK the astra as a CAT 1 factory alarm with tilt sensor fitted so if they try and tow the car the alarm will go off. I also think it has button you can press to leave kids etc inside without setting off the sensors

At least the UK VXR's do

I've had the 1.6 corsa opc since i was 28 and thankfully my insurance has been ~€550-600. €650 for the 2.0 astra seens a good deal. Double check your not getting screwed on excess

nandonine

Update

Have decided it's a no for this one, despite the competitive price. There are a few gaps in the story that I don't think add up, so I'm walking away.

Any suggestions for others to look at in and around the 10k mark? Looking for something 3-door, sports hatch, bit of fun. Ideally want a Focus ST but out of my price range.

Drummerboy08

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200945195731889

Its a bit down in the years, but they are good fun.

Fizman

Are you capped at 10k?

You'd get a nice Mazda RX8 for that money.Any thoughts on them?

There are a few Mk5 GTI's you may be able to get close to that mind.
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201003196602866
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201004196708854

An ST could be got for about 12.5k going by the cheaper ones on Carzone.

The older model Audi S3 is also around your budget.
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201004196730971

Omega28

Regarding the OPC I sent u an pm OP.

If your going back to buy it, check the front bumper, it got a repray and theres a knocking noise off her when u turn the wheel

STForSale

Tax / insurance on the Mk2 Focus St is heavy, it's 2.5 now.
Was looking at trading up to one myself (have a MK1 St at the minute).
Decided against it on the basis of running cost and resale.

Mk1 Focus RS would be nice if you're not to bothered by age.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus-RS/Number%3B-/201006196851508/advert?channel=CARS

smash

Dylanmc111 wrote: »

Regarding the OPC I sent u an pm OP.

If your going back to buy it, check the front bumper, it got a repray and theres a knocking noise off her when u turn the wheel

so it's crashed repaired then?

walshy123

STForSale wrote: »

Tax / insurance on the Mk2 Focus St is heavy, it's 2.5 now.
Was looking at trading up to one myself (have a MK1 St at the minute).
Decided against it on the basis of running cost and resale.

Mk1 Focus RS would be nice if you're not to bothered by age.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus-RS/Number%3B-/201006196851508/advert?channel=CARS

its 2522cc so tax as 2.6. thats 1210 a year. Its painful!

STForSale

Fairs slilghtly better on the emissions based system for '08-.
Sneaks in just under the the max band so is €1050.
Still too much money to find every year for road tax.

MetzgerMeister

As Fizman said, you'd get a nice Mazda RX8 within your budget.

PM me if you need to know anything about it.

Best of luck!

smash

einheisserschre wrote: »

As Fizman said, you'd get a nice Mazda RX8 within your budget.

a 231 though?

MetzgerMeister

I don't know actually, it doesn't say what bhp it is or whether it's a 5 speed or 6. There's a beautiful VR one on carzone for €11,500. Granted it's not under €10,000 but close to it!

smash

This is 231 http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/RX-8/201003196600824/advert?channel=CARS

MetzgerMeister

How can you be sure? Those seats are normally in the 231, yes but they could have been taken from a different car altogether and put into this one

gorfield

nandonine wrote: »

Update

Have decided it's a no for this one, despite the competitive price. There are a few gaps in the story that I don't think add up, so I'm walking away.

Any suggestions for others to look at in and around the 10k mark? Looking for something 3-door, sports hatch, bit of fun. Ideally want a Focus ST but out of my price range.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1127588

smash

einheisserschre wrote: »

How can you be sure? Those seats are normally in the 231, yes but they could have been taken from a different car altogether and put into this one

mywheels.ie - it has the variant.

MetzgerMeister

I stand corrected! But anyway, yeah....a 231 for that price eh? Not bad! And it's got fairly low milage...

smash

einheisserschre wrote: »

I stand corrected! But anyway, yeah....a 231 for that price eh? Not bad! And it's got fairly low milage...

4 owners in 6 years, but low mileage? Do people just get bored of the high fuel & oil consumption vs lack of low rev power?

MetzgerMeister

I'd say so! A few people I know bought one and sold them because they found out what they got themselves into as they weren't driving them very often so they never got to know what they really are like when driven hard.

I've had mine for 2 years and I have no intention of selling it

The Recliner

steve06 wrote: »

4 owners in 6 years, but low mileage? Do people just get bored of the high fuel & oil consumption vs lack of low rev power?

I certainly am not bored of mine, it is a hoot to drive and I love it to bits, my reason for selling is a bit more practical and boring