Opel Astra Sports Tourer

Yes! I should have gotten the 1.4T instead of the 999cc. Of course the cost of ownership will go up, but some issues with this car will have been solved namely, the smoothness of a 4 cyl engine, more power, no transmission lag during gear change and no stupid crazy vibration during idling. Issues aside, the engine still gives a rather punchy performance from 2k till 5k rpm even with the ST variant. Mods to improve the power is not widely available like VW which is a shame. Handling is rather accurate and responsive although some body roll is there. There are people commenting on the hard ride but that is due to the factory recommended tyre pressure of 270kPa. It's actually comfy once you lower the pressure. Looks wise, I think it's one of the better looking mid-size wagons out there. Inside the car, I did raise a question mark about the seats looking quite small but so far it's been good even on long journeys. The dash is really quality. Well-built, Soft plastics at common places but the screen could have been larger since there's still lots of space. Cubby holes are big and friendly which is a big plus. Shame the rear armrest doesn't have cup holders though. The boot and the 40:20:40 folding seats together with auto tailgate is a unbeatable combination for utility. The spare wheel well also has loads of space for storage which I had used for my tools and cleaning kit.... Read More

Driving a 1.0L Turbo petrol Intellilux model for over 14 months and I am quite surprised with the bang it gives me for the bucks spent. The space and luxury features are unbeatable at this price point and although it has the form factor of a MUV it drives like a sedan. Add to it the low road tax and fuel consumption and it makes for a compelling proposition. The output from the speakers is phenomenally high and you will mostly use just 10% Of their max power output. Once the rear seats are lowered (which is breeze btw), you get a cavernous cabin large and long enough to accommodate even your furniture! You dont get this kind of space in any of the BMWs (B series) or other SUV/MUVs. Android Auto is a boon. The Intellilux lamps (higher versions) make the car look slick and sophisticated especially at night. Engine is never short of power although the transmission isnt in the same league as other continental makers like BMWs and Mercs. One of the rare cars which has one pinch windows on all 4 sides. Hands free tail gate works well.Power mirrors, configurable power boot.... Read More