Vauxhall ASTRA CONVERTIBLE RANGE
Vauxhalls Astra Convertible Aims To Offer Class With Affordability. Jonathan Crouch Checks It Out
Unless you win the lottery some time soon, there are probably only two types of convertible youll ever own. One is based on a family hatchback maybe a
Renault Megane or a
Peugeot 307. You get the fresh air all right, but theres a price to pay, be it scuttle shake, chassis flex or blunted performance (due to the extra weight). The other kind costs twice as much but feels more solid, powerful and upmarket BMWs 3 Series or Mercedes CLK for example.
But what if you want the best of both? Can Vauxhalls Astra Convertible provide it?
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On paper, the portents look good. All right, so to keep the price down, its based on an old version of the same kind of bread and butter family hatchback mum uses to drop the kids off at school but only loosely. Italian styling house Bertone worked with
Vauxhall to create something altogether more sophisticated and proudly announce the fact with badges on both flanks so youll have something to point at in the golf club carpark. In developing a new kind of up market-feeling affordable convertible, the Bertone people clearly used upmarket BMWs and Mercs as benchmarks.
Of course, you dont get quite the same feeling sitting behind the three-spoke Astra wheel with its familiar Vauxhall emblem. Still, this is as close as its possible to get without seriously upsetting your bank manager. The Astra cabin in this guise feels sharp and classy, particularly with the optional leather trim in place. More importantly, from the outside, the car looks even better.
Unlike the old Astra Convertible, theres no ugly roll-over bar to spoil the pretty lines, nor is there any need for a fiddly tonneau cover. Instead, the hood is properly concealed beneath a metal cover behind the rear bulkhead. This hydraulically opens and closes to swallow both the roof and the glass rear window plus the whole process is completely automated with no clips, catches or poppers to worry about. Just as youd find in only of those prestigiously-badged soft-tops.
In fact, Vauxhall has even stolen a march on some of those rivals by offering the owner the option of raising and lowering the roof without being in the car at all.
"This is a generation on from anything else in its class."
Picture it. Youre seated beneath a canopy at your favourite roadside café and it begins to rain. But theres no need to get up and leave your coffee. You simply press one of the two central locking buttons on your remote control keyfob for more than two seconds and the roof will close automatically in just 30 seconds. The same time it will take to open if youve parked in the rain only to find that the sun has now come out.
In addition, you can lower all four windows electrically using the same remote control unit and of course, there are also switches in the car itself to perform the same functions. The roof itself is a three-layer affair and the rear window glass is heated and scratch-resistant. Unfortunately, the must-have windbreaker (that slots behind the front seats to keep interior buffeting to a minimum at speed) costs extra. At least it slots neatly away on rails when not needed.
At present, you can order one of four engines for your Convertible model, most going for the 1.8 and 2.2-litre units borrowed from the old Astra Coupe on which this car is based. A £18,395 1.
6-litre version apparently heads up the range, but many buyers understandably choose the 1.8-litre Exclusiv version with its 112bhp 1.8-litre powerplant and price tag of £16,995. Near the top of the range for £20,645, theres a 2.
2-litre 145bhp variant. Neither of the three engines, in truth, have the guts to make this car feel really rapid. The extra 120kg added to the Coupes 1283kg kerb weight takes its toll here. Which is why Vauxhall also offer the top Astra Coupes 190bhp 2.
0-litre turbo engine to open-top customers. It costs £22,145 however, so for many, the performance of the 2.2-litre model will have to do. Certainly, if like most convertible customers, your only wish is for smooth yet purposeful progress around the lanes, then rest to sixty in 9.
0s on the way to 135mph will be quite sufficient. Youll notice the thirst around town mind you (its rather un-Astra-like to be returning urban fuel figures of under 24mpg), though on the open road, the figure rises substantially, meaning you should return over 30mpg on a regular basis. As for those questions of chassis flex and scuttle shake, well youd have to be pushing on pretty darn hard over pretty bad roads to notice any. In terms of total body control, this is a world away from a 307 or a Megane and, as a result, the Astra feels far more fun to drive quickly.
As previously mentioned, Vauxhall have worked hard to make this car the first true full four-seater in the class and, thanks to a long 102-inch wheelbase, theyve largely succeeded for all but the particularly long-legged. The car will easily swallow a weekends luggage too, thanks to a 330-litre boot (big enough for two sets of golf clubs). It would have been even better if the two rear seats could have folded forward to increase this but instead, buyers will have to make do with a standard load-through facility apparently big enough for two pairs of skis and one snowboard. Standard equipment levels are pretty good, running to air conditioning, electric windows, sports seats, twin front airbags, a CD player and alloy wheels.
Side bags are only optional but you do get anti-whiplash head restraints and Vauxhalls patented pedal release system (to improve leg protection in a front-end accident). In summary, a car that largely succeeds in bringing lottery-winning values to the affordable cabriolet sector. Buy one, close your eyes and you can almost imagine that winning ticket
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Vauxhall Astra Convertible range
PRICES: £16,995-£22,145 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 9E -13E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 195-219g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.2] 0-60mph 9.0s / Max Speed 135mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.2] (urban) 23.0mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 32.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin Front airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4267/1709/1390mm
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