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The Astra discussed here
is a 1.7 CDTi. Now, I've never
driven a turbo diesel before,
and I was half looking forward
to it, half not. I knew from
diesel evangelists that it
would be quick, and economical.
But I also knew that it would
sound like a tractor and wouldn't
rev. In all respects I was
proved correct, but I was
surprised just how much these
expectations were true.
When the turbo kicks in this
thing flies. Despite having
driven many sports cars, I
cannot recall a car with so
much poke from 40 to 70 MPH.
My young son calls it 'silly
speed' not being able to differentiate
between speed and acceleration.
"Engage silly speed!"
he shouts from the rear, and
I put my foot down and you
do feel that push in the back
as the car pulls away.
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But it does sound like a tractor
at slow speeds. I had thought that
maybe with all the technology that
has no doubt gone into this engine,
they might have been able to avoid
that clatter, but no. I suppose
you do get used to it, but driving
slowly is not great fun for a driver
who cares about these things, which
I admit I do. Once you're up and
running things naturally improve,
but it's still a bit rough compared
to a petrol.
The payoff therefore must be fuel
economy? Well yes... so far the
car has averaged 50 MPG. My previous
car of a similar size managed 40,
so it is a significant improvement,
but not a massive one. Maybe I "engage
silly speed" too often.
So, it accelerates well, but, and
it's a big but, it's really hard
to accelerate smoothly. From a standing
start the turbo effect is hard to
get used to. Nothing much happens,
then it kicks in at a certain level
of revs, you shoot forward, change
gear and the whole thing slows up
until that rev level is reached
again. I admit I have not as yet
mastered the art of keeping it 'on
the plane' and achieving a lurch
free journey. Drive it less aggressively
and it's fine. Maybe I'm expecting
too much.
The outside. Nothing to complain
about there, it's a nice looking
car. Somehow it looks like an Astra,
but looks new too, which is good.
It certainly looks better than the
old Astra, and for me the new Focus
manages the opposite compared with
it's predecessor. The alloy wheels
are a faff to clean, too many spokes.
The inside. It feels very, very
solid. It's low on cup holders and
places to keep "stuff",
but the glove box is big and the
dash quality is good. No rattles.
The CD/radio is excellent, in fact
this car has the loudest distortion
free sound system I've ever experienced,
put on "The Darkness"
and go deaf.
The headlights, which on this particular
car don't look-around-corners as
on the adverts, don't seem that
great on main beam. And they do
look like a bunch of cheap plastic
torches. The brakes are fantastic,
disks all around with ABS, really
good. Handling in normal circumstances
is fine, I haven't thrashed it around
a track, and it hasn't got low profile
tyres, but for every day it's good.
The boot is ample, rear seat legroom
is adequate. Seats are comfy, certainly
a little firm at first and slightly
slippery, but they have caused no
problems on long journeys. Parking
is easy, visibility is reasonable
to the rear.
The handbook is appalling. It's
so full of stuff about things you
haven't got that it's of little
use. Everywhere they tell you interesting
features, but then you discover
that you haven't got that option.
As this car was already quite pricey
I wonder just how much it could
have cost if all the gubbins mentioned
was actually installed.
Overall I like it, though I think
I'd like a good big engined petrol
version more, and I'd live with
the inferior fuel consumption. The
coupé version, when it arrives,
will certainly be worth a look.
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