Opel Astra OPC - Would You Buy One?

Time2GetFit

Hi All,

Last number of weeks I have been looking at changing cars and leaning towards an Astra OPC. Trading in a 2004 Seat Ibiza so cash and car wise I'm looking at cars in the region of €13k.

The reason I'm lenaing towards the Astra is it's kind of differentr and you don't see many around (maybe that should be as much a negative as a positive!).

I want a fun hatchback to drive. Golfs don't do it for me in general but I do like the look of the GT Sport model although haven't seen many that tick all the boxes. A3s look dull IMO so tending to avaoid them.

Anyone got any views on the Atsra or an alternative? Don't want to go above 2 litre for tax etc.

Anyway I'd be intersted to hear peoples thouhgts - thanks.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I like the the Astra OPC, but the dash and centre console look very boring and plasticy for my liking. Have you had a looks at Civic Type R's? I had been considering a Golf GTi, drove one or 2 of them and liked them, but I didn't like how common they were. And while I thought they were a nice car to drive, they were just a little bit boring. I test drove a Civic Type R and loved it and definitely made the right choice. However, I'm slightly biased as I'm a big Honda fan and always have been

Time2GetFit

BDJW wrote: »

I like the the Astra OPC, but the dash and centre console look very boring and plasticy for my liking. Have you had a looks at Civic Type R's? I had been considering a Golf GTi, drove one or 2 of them and liked them, but I didn't like how common they were. And while I thought they were a nice car to drive, they were just a little bit boring. I test drove a Civic Type R and loved it and definitely made the right choice. However, I'm slightly biased as I'm a big Honda fan and always have been

Cheers Man - I have seen some lovely Type R Civics but I detest the red seats and that keeps putting me off! Just can't get passed that!

A chap I work with actually has a lovely Type R but those seats..........

I have heard a few say the 'plasticy' thing is off putting in the Astra but I love the look of them from the outside.

I also think I could get decent value in the 2008 Model (in Blue) although it's proving difficult to find a dealer with one as I don't want the hassle of selling the Seat privately.

tossy

Opel Astra OPC - Would You Buy One?

No.I'd buy a Corsa OPC in a heartbeat ,but if i was looking for a 2.0T hatchback it's an S3 all the way.I love GTI's but the back wheels don't work right

Ardennes1944

id probably get an opc corsa ahead of it too.

cojomo2

OP, I'm in the same position as you..sold my gti and now looking for something different, and cheaper! The Astra is very dull inside , and the seats aren't great. It's got plenty of poke though but be aware in devours the juice. Some good value to be had though, some low mileage 08 ones can be had for about 10 grand.

I'm am leaning towards a corsa OPC myself..don't really like it looks wise( young boy racer looks) but I took a test drive in one the other day. Interior is very nice, the seats are the business(way nicer than the astra ones)..it's not too bad on juice ..performance wise I expected more..my remapped gti felt a lot faster..didn't think there would be that big a difference.

If I find one at the rite price I'll prob go for the corsa.

Time2GetFit

tossy wrote: »

No.I'd buy a Corsa OPC in a heartbeat ,but if i was looking for a 2.0T hatchback it's an S3 all the way.I love GTI's but the back wheels don't work right

Ha well I wouldn't mind an S3 now but think I might have to double my budget to even be looking in that market!

Corsa OPC...........think it's a bit too boy racer in looks for me.

Probably the last opporutnity to buy a fun hatchback car...........didn't think it would be this hard!:rolleyes:

cojomo2

can can the astra/corsa OPC be remapped? I think I remember hearing that they couldn't for some reason?

Ardennes1944

vrs tfsi? leon cupra? (up north) 3.0 z4. s2000. i realise the cupra is the only one that meets your criteria really but the others would be fun and along similar lines and also under budget

Time2GetFit

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

vrs tfsi? leon cupra? (up north) 3.0 z4. s2000. i realise the cupra is the only one that meets your criteria really but the others would be fun and along similar lines and also under budget

Yeah didn't enjoy thw whoele seat experience over the last number of years so planning to stay away from them alothough the Cupra does look nice.........maybe the Type R Honda is worth another look.............

Ardennes1944

could you not remove or even dye the seats?

Time2GetFit

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

could you not remove or even dye the seats?

Not sure - I'd say you could be talking cosidearble cash to do that professionally without it looking sh!t!

MetzgerMeister

Would you stretch to 2.3? A Mazda3 MPS would be a good option if you could.

HERE is one for €9250, from a dealer with only 40,000km on it.

I know it's a cliché here to say buy this and pay for the extra tax with the savings within budget but this is a more plausible option when it comes to doing that.

MetzgerMeister

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

could you not remove or even dye the seats?

With regards to dying seats, I think it only works if you're either dying them the same colour or going from a lighter colour e.g. white to a darker colour e.g. black without it looking sh!t.

Time2GetFit

Yeah the 'dying' thing is a non-runner...........VW Golf GT Sport looks decent and not a huge amount of them around so lenaing that way ahead of a GTI.

gizabeer

You could get the seats recovered for around 2 or 300 quid , There's a place on the quays beside scooter island that does it , really good and wont fleece you ,

And mazda 3mps look ****e , dont care how quick they are

Ardennes1944

i think the 3mps and the 6mps look very nice. especially in that bright red colour on the 3

shankespony

what about civic h/b 2.2CTDI fuel economy and plenty of poke, post 2008 shouldnt be too bad for tax

I know of someone who had an Astra OPC and it was stolen on him twice. The first time, he went on Gerry Ryan's show and made an appeal, he got it back and some company offered to fit a tracking device to it. It was stolen a second time and the tracking device was used to get it back again.

He had to sell it as he was receiving threats that it would be stolen again. This was in Enfield btw.

tossy

Time2GetFit wrote: »

Yeah the 'dying' thing is a non-runner...........VW Golf GT Sport looks decent and not a huge amount of them around so lenaing that way ahead of a GTI.

You are joking right?

You were originally considering an Astra OPC so i'm guessing 2.0T running costs are not an issue,with that in mind why would you pick the golf GTI's poorer,slower,less impressive cousin over either a golf GTI or Astra OPC.

MetzgerMeister

tossy wrote: »

You are joking right?

You were originally considering an Astra OPC so i'm guessing 2.0T running costs are not an issue,with that in mind why would you pick the golf GTI's poorer,slower,less impressive cousin over either a golf GTI or Astra OPC.

JerCotter7

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

With regards to dying seats, I think it only works if you're either dying them the same colour or going from a lighter colour e.g. white to a darker colour e.g. black without it looking sh!t.

If you are talking about leather dye you can go from any colour to any colour. It would just require more coats and look like **** when it starts to wear so you would have to dye again. Also dying in the same colour is already a pain in the ass. I can at least ignore the parts that aren't really seen. Like the sides of the back seats and parts covered in plastic. But you would have to do it all with a colour change.

If you are on about cloth redye. I have heard people doing it but it makes the cloth very stiff.

On topic, I would buy and OPC. Not for the interior though:D

stealthyspeeder

My mate has an Astra OPC (VXR actually) and after driving that, I was convinced I needed a performance hatch. I got the Mazda 3 MPS, I loved it, had absolutely no regrets about it. I will own another one again, possibly next year. The Astra OPC is very underrated though, they are ball tighteningly quick! I would go for the MPS though!

TURRICAN

bit girly looking imo:)

Time2GetFit

tossy wrote: »

You are joking right?

You were originally considering an Astra OPC so i'm guessing 2.0T running costs are not an issue,with that in mind why would you pick the golf GTI's poorer,slower,less impressive cousin over either a golf GTI or Astra OPC.

Well my only thinking behind this was there are less of the GTs around rather than GTI.........I understand performance wise it just couldn't compare though. Hate the idea of everyone having the car so thought the GT would be less common although maybe for good reason! The GTD does look good but out of my price range!

I think the Astra is the way forward although finding a 2008 model from a dealer is going to tricky..............if I am lucky I'll just have to put up with the crappy interior!!

dar83

The Astra would be my last choice out of any of the hot hatches.

As mentioned previously, the Cupra R, 3MPS, or even a GTi would be a better choice.

I'd even go for this over an Astra...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Megane/2-COUPE-/201147205742660/advert?channel=CARS

Jimbob 83

Ewwww it's French

dar83

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Ewwww it's French

I'd have that sooner than an Opel/Vauxhall...

MuppetCheck

dar83 wrote: »

The Astra would be my last choice out of any of the hot hatches.

As mentioned previously, the Cupra R, 3MPS, or even a GTi would be a better choice.

I'd even go for this over an Astra...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Megane/2-COUPE-/201147205742660/advert?channel=CARS

That is ridiculously overpriced. It's worth a fraction of that asking price. There has been cheaper, newer ones sold for less some time ago.

dar83

MuppetCheck wrote: »

That is ridiculously overpriced. It's worth a fraction of that asking price. There has been cheaper, newer ones sold for less some time ago.

I never said it was good value, I linked to the first one I found on CarZone.

Realistially it's probably worth half of that price, 2/3's at a big push...