Opel Astra 1.3 or 1.7 diesel

AFK123

Hi Guys,

I keep changing my minds on what car to get but im back to an Opel astra estate again. It will be a diesel car and the 2 main options seem to be the 1.3 and 1.7 engines.

Examples would be http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3341907 for the 1.7 and http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3515471 for the 1.3.

Have people experience of driving either and which would be better. from reading reviews, the 1.7 seems better but nt as many of them for sale second hand over here

Thanks

L1011

I've had an Astra with the 1.7 and another car with the 1.3. I would consider the 1.3 woefully underpowered to pull an estate - the car I had it in was tiny (and it was fine in that, mind).

1.7 never caused me any real problems in 100,000km; went in to limp mode in the pissing rain once in Cork for about two miles and then never did it again and that was it.

bazz26

1.7 CDTi is an Isuzu based unit. 1.3 CDTi is a Fiat based unit. In that model Astra the 1.7 had 100bhp and the 1.3 had 90bhp. The 1.3 was 6 speed also, not sure about the 1.7 though.

L1011

Mine was 6 speed anyway.

colm_mcm

Drove the 1.3, a bit slow.

lifer_sean

bazz26 wrote: »

1.7 CDTi is an Isuzu based unit. 1.3 CDTi is a Fiat based unit. In that model Astra the 1.7 had 100bhp and the 1.3 had 90bhp. The 1.3 was 6 speed also, not sure about the 1.7 though.

The 1.7 came in two power levels, 80bhp (engine code DTL) and 100bhp (engine code DTH). All 5-speed as far as I know (any I had were 5-speed, and I never saw a 6-speed one). Very good engine but bits would be expensive if you needed them. Also these engines are impossible to get secondhand - I had one off the road for a year before when trying to source an engine.

Have had the 1.3 diesel also. I thought very impressive power for a 1248cc diesel. Very dead until the turbo kicks in, then okay to drive. Good on diesel. Wouldn't be keen on a high mileage one.

For Forks Sake

colm_mcm wrote: »

Drove the 1.3, a bit slow.

Had the 1.3 for 2 years as a company car. Bit slow is putting it mildly, woefully underpowered would be closer to the mark.

I don't think I can stress how much I hated that car. The interior is horrible, there is no storage room in the cabin. Those seats have no support either to the back or sides, think of them as upholstered planks of wood. It rolls all over the place in corners compared to likes of a Focus or even a Golf. Mine also had a succession of really really stupid electrical faults. And needed a new gearbox after 25k km.

If you want a compact estate, go for something like a Focus with the 1.6TDCi, nicer place to be, far better chassis. And any Focus I've had has never thrown up any serious issues.

AFK123

Thanks for all the reply's. The 1.7 seems the better option but it will mean heading over to England to get a good model with low mileage. i had never considered the difficulty getting second hand parts if the car was scarce. i had presumed that the same parts would be in both cars with the exception of the engine

bazz26

If you are going to the UK then might as well seek out the 1.9 CDTi model. They are alot more common there than over here, on a 08 plate motor tax should be around the same rate and it will have alot more grunt. 1.9 CDTi is a Fiat engine too, available in 120bhp and 150bhp.

30rob

looking at a 2010 astra 5 door hatchback 1.7 cdti se model(110 bhp)6 speed.(29k on the clock)really like this car. hoping to keep it for the next several years. will this 1.7 engine give me problems in the future.anyone driven these?? any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Bpmull

I had a 1.3 cdti astra and its an ok engine. But it is underpowered there is no point pretending its not. Very slow taking of at lights roundabouts etc. the 1.7 should be alot more reliable as well as being nicer to drive. Also remember my astra absolutely hated hills. There was one hill in new Ross which granted is very step. But the astra would only go up in first gear no joke I mean empty 4k rpm in first drop to second quickly and it would loose all power and unless you dropped back to first it would stall. My focus 1.6 goes up the hill in 3rd no issue and accelerates up the hill the whole way that's where I seen the big difference. I do think the 6 speed box helped though. I'd go for the 1.7 if you have the choice.

30rob

is there a problem with turbo lag in the 1.7 cdti engines?? im comming from a 1.4 petrol corolla so not up to date with diesels? really like the new astra so if engine performs well and i would have no issues?? i would purchase the 2010 moel that looked at

Bpmull

30rob wrote: »

is there a problem with turbo lag in the 1.7 cdti engines?? im comming from a 1.4 petrol corolla so not up to date with diesels? really like the new astra so if engine performs well and i would have no issues?? i would purchase the 2010 moel that looked at

No the 1.7 should be a good bit quicker and will certainly feel quick to drive comparing it to 1.4 petrol corolla. As I said there is nothing wrong with the 1.3 and will probably still have similar power to your 1.4. The 1.7 just tends to be more reliable and more powerful.

30rob

i also looked at a 2011 ford focus 1.6 tdci hatchback and a renault megane coupe 2011 1.5 dci. any knowledge of what these are like?? are any of these better than the opel??

Bpmull

30rob wrote: »

i also looked at a 2011 ford focus 1.6 tdci hatchback and a renault megane coupe 2011 1.5 dci. any knowledge of what these are like?? are any of these better than the opel??

You would get a better response if you started a new thread. But since I have a 1.6tdci focus ill tell you about them. They are considered a soft engine they need to be well minded serviced every 15k km at least. If your knowledge of cars is limited best to avoid them as you would want to be checking the engine over every week or so. The 1.7 astra would be a better car in terms of reliability. I personally like the newer megane a but have know experience with the newer types so can't really comment on there reliability. If your biggest interest is reliability out of all those a 1.7 astra would probably be the choice IMO.

30rob

ya my car knowledge is very limited. great help.cheers for the advice