Vauxhall ASTRA CONVERTIBLE (2001 TO DATE)
MODELS COVERED: Third generation Astra Convertible 2001 to date (1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.
2 petrol [Turbo, Edition 100])
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
Theres something about a convertible car that sparks off all sorts of glamorous images: of blatting along the Cote dAzur with a sophisticated brunette clad in Chanel headscarf and shades. The reality is frequently of wrestling with a recalcitrant roof at the side of some windswept bypass before being saturated by the British summer. While the
Vauxhall Astra Cabriolet cant guarantee the first scenario, it does a great job of avoiding the second. With an electrically powered roof and an almost total absence of convertible caveats its the open-topped car for those who felt that such a car was beyond their budget.
As a used prospect it makes a surprising amount of sense, offering a modern soft top at a decent saving over new.
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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. 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.
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).
Book values for the Astra Convertible open at £9,400 for a 1.6i on an Y plate with the 1.8i car costing around £600 extra. The 2.
2-litre car kicks off at £11,000 with the strapping Turbo commanding £12,500. Insurance ranges between Group 9 for the 1.6i up to a still reasonable Group 13 for the Turbo.
The Astra Convertible has yet to suffer any significant faults. Build quality is leagues ahead of its predecessors, as is the technical excellence of the new engines. Check the sporty Turbo models for the usual tyre wear problems. Aside from obvious body damage, just ensure that the car has been well looked after, insist on a service history and buy with confidence.
As with any soft top car, check the roof for signs of rips, wear and discolouration and ensure that the electric motors havnt been damaged by someone trying to gorilla the lid down manually.
(approx based on a 2001 1.8i Convertible) The usual Vauxhall bargains in this instance. A new clutch assembly is £165, whilst front brake pads can be found for around £40. Rears are nearer £35, whilst a radiator will cost around £175.
Alternators are slightly pricier, nudging the £300 mark, so make sure your prospective purchase is generating a healthy current to its battery.
Neither of the three normally aspirated 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 192bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine to open-top customers.
Its price may well deter some customers 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 Golf or a Megane and, as a result, the Astra feels far more fun to drive quickly. The Turbo model seems an odd choice.
Do the sort of suburbanites who flock to the Astra convertible really want 151mph performance? Its difficult to look the part when your coif is being torn out by the roots but that is probably beside the point. Like elderly
Kia owners opting for an extended warranty theyll probably never live to benefit from, Astra Convertible Turbo buyers are buying a certain peace of mind. Theyre buying the sort of self satisfaction that comes with the knowledge that their ride will easily chew up and spit out a
BMW 325CI Sport Convertible. That has to be worth the badge handicap.
Make no mistake, the Astra Convertible Turbo is supremely swift. The 192bhp engine that weve become accustomed to, first in the Astra Coupe and then in the SRi Turbo hatch, is a suitably exciting old-school installation, with great gales of adrenaline-pumping turbo boost that can occasionally overwhelm the traction at the front wheels, but nevertheless always feels outrageously muscular. Vauxhall insiders claim that the 192bhp power output usually errs on the conservative side, and its not difficult to imagine 200bhp being generated. Capable of a sprint to sixty of 7.
5 seconds, the Astra Convertible Turbo is something of a handful. Traction is reminiscent of more powerful
Saab models insofar as the sudden onset of turbocharged power can occasionally flummox the electronic control system. Whereas wed previously regarded the Astra Convertible as a delightfully benign car, the Turbo has a darker side. The combination of the cars beautiful 17-inch wheels and that glut of power creates a slightly harsh ride which requires some concentration, especially over typically bumpy UK B-roads, if one is not to continually fight torque steer when pressing on.
Not the sort of problem the BMW driver would have to contend with.
Given that
Ford never came up with a Focus convertible, its easy to see how the Astra has done so well. With a clear run at the market, it mopped up sales, helped by the fact that it was good looking, well equipped and reasonably good to drive. Used cars are now appearing on the market but you may have to search for the exact specification youre after. Bertone did a fine job in making an Astra seem glamorous and this is one convertible that does all thats asked of it.
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