Holden Astra Facelift and 103Kw 1.8

[Black AH CDX]

http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=26&navid=1


Facelifted Astra, the 1.8 now has 103kw instead of 90. Should go alright.

Also a slight facelift with chrome bezzel headlights instead of black on the base models and new front bumper and grilles.

[SM196]

looks good, i'm currently hunting for a black manual AH hatch so looks like i wont be left with something that looks too different

[Marco]

Should be useful - my TS went allright with the 92kW engine but the AH is a fair bit heavier and definitely felt slower when I drove one. 103kW might just do the trick.

[COSMOS]

I bought my missus a CDX auto wagon in Aug 05 - great car but very gutless. Its her mummy-mobile but I worry about the complete lack of power in certain situations.

Crappy fuel economy, auto is harsh and felt seats are a nightmare to keep clean. Only has 16500klms on the clock after 19mths.

Was, still am, taking it to Sonny's this week to look at making it run a bit better but I may just take it to holden instead and get a changeover price on this new model with the more powerful engine.

Any idea what the new engine under an auto is like - better torque or still custard skin (as in it couldnt separate the two) like levels of power?

Wish they made the diesel in the wagon. For toting the kid and his stuff and running to the shops and her parents down the road its a top little car, just gutless.

[SM196]

I havent heard great things about these in an auto, hence my search for a manual

[Pickles]

Well, any increase is welcome, but IMHO 103kw & 1.8 litres is still not enough in my book--you'd be better off going for the 110kw 2.2 litre SRI 5 door hatch.
Astra needs a much better mechanical upgrade if it is to successfully compete against the up to date offerings of Peugot, Renault, VW, etc, all of whom offer more powerful engines, & better transmissions than Astra.-A 2.2 litre 110-120kw petrol engine with a 6 speed auto would be a start, together with a more powerful diesel in front of the auto, would be a good start.
And yes, we do like Astras,-- we have an '05 TS Classic, which is a great little car--better than the AH I reckon, because the heavier AH needs more grunt-can't understand why GM don't fix the problem.
Cheers, Pickles.

[COSMOS]

Well, any increase is welcome, but IMHO 103kw & 1.8 litres is still not enough in my book--you'd be better off going for the 110kw 2.2 litre SRI 5 door hatch.
Astra needs a much better mechanical upgrade if it is to successfully compete against the up to date offerings of Peugot, Renault, VW, etc, all of whom offer more powerful engines, & better transmissions than Astra.-A 2.2 litre 110-120kw petrol engine with a 6 speed auto would be a start, together with a more powerful diesel in front of the auto, would be a good start.
And yes, we do like Astras,-- we have an '05 TS Classic, which is a great little car--better than the AH I reckon, because the heavier AH needs more grunt-can't understand why GM don't fix the problem.
Cheers, Pickles.


we too had a TS Astra CD in manual - was a top little goer and a great car but when we had our son I didnt want him in such a small car, actually I didnt want him in the back seat of a small sedan as my wife's previous car (charade) was written off by a stolen Nissan Patrol being pursued by the cops.

I resolved never to have my kids sitting that close to the back of the car after seeing the damage - hence an astra wagon this time around. Wife wanted auto with the boy on board. I am still certain I dont want my kid and soon to be kids so close to the back of the car, hence we cant get the SRi or the CDTi unless they offer em both in the wagon which they wont.

She doesnt want a manual and looking at the torque figures for the auto of 165nm (old) to 170nm its hardly worth the friggin around to change em over. So I will let Sonny do what he can and when the next kid arrives we will get a Mazda 6 or Liberty I think. Shame - Astra's are a nice car but gutless now in an auto.

[chevypower]

I think the Corolla will steal the thunder in that segment when the new shape becomes available in sedan and hatch in Australia. The interior kills the Astra, Astra wont be available in sedan here, the Corolla really looks like it has been benchmarked against the Golf and Jetta, and the Corolla will be available with a 2.2L diesel with 130kw/400Nm through a six speed.

[AussieTone]

I think the Corolla will steal the thunder in that segment when the new shape becomes available in sedan and hatch in Australia. The interior kills the Astra, Astra wont be available in sedan here, the Corolla really looks like it has been benchmarked against the Golf and Jetta, and the Corolla will be available with a 2.2L diesel with 130kw/400Nm through a six speed.

What time frame are we looking at here

[Marco]

I bought my missus a CDX auto wagon in Aug 05 - great car but very gutless. Its her mummy-mobile but I worry about the complete lack of power in certain situations.

The automatic Astra - both TS and AH - is one of the most unpleasant cars I've ever driven, simply because it is so phenomenally gutless. Manual transmission completely transforms it, but you couldn't get me to drive another auto one ever again.


I think the Corolla will steal the thunder in that segment when the new shape becomes available in sedan and hatch in Australia. The interior kills the Astra, Astra wont be available in sedan here, the Corolla really looks like it has been benchmarked against the Golf and Jetta, and the Corolla will be available with a 2.2L diesel with 130kw/400Nm through a six speed.

Wouldn't get too excited about a new Corolla...if it's anything like Toyota's other recent efforts it will look weird in the metal (bad enough in the photos as is), will have an out of date looking interior made of cheap materials (have you seen how bad the current model is inside?), and will have terrible on road manners. Unless Toyota's entire carmaking philosophy has been revolutionised with the new model, the smart small car buyer would be well advised to make a decision between the Astra, Golf, 3 and Focus IMHO.

[planetdavo]

The automatic Astra - both TS and AH - is one of the most unpleasant cars I've ever driven, simply because it is so phenomenally gutless. Manual transmission completely transforms it, but you couldn't get me to drive another auto one ever again.

I find it interesting that the only places that I've almost universally read of the AH 1.8 being gutless is in motoring magazines (that tend to rate high hp cars highly) and on performance forums......
Wonder why...?

[lowriding]

I find it interesting that the only places that I've almost universally read of the AH 1.8 being gutless is in motoring magazines (that tend to rate high hp cars highly) and on performance forums......
Wonder why...?

because we are more informed ;)

[planetdavo]

because we are more informed ;)

Now where's that thread about the LS1 Astra when you need it.....:yahoo:
That would REALLY get the regular Astra driver cranking (and shut up the magazine and forum "testers").

[chevypower]

What time frame are we looking at here

Mid year, the hatch is already onsale in other places as the Auris, and it's on the UK website. They were on display at the Melbourne Motorshow but the only technical spec they mentioned was the 1.8L petrol 4 would be most powerful in it's class. The high performance diesel model is called the T180 (180 horsepower).


Wouldn't get too excited about a new Corolla...if it's anything like Toyota's other recent efforts it will look weird in the metal (bad enough in the photos as is), will have an out of date looking interior made of cheap materials (have you seen how bad the current model is inside?)

Seen the interior photos, to be honest I was definately one who recognized Toyotas bland exteriors and interiors... I think this is why Toyota global wanted to rename the car for a new image. Toyota Australia is the only place keeping it as the Corolla i believe. Anyway back to the car
Sedan: http://digiads.com.au/car-news/latest-TOYOTA-news/2007_Toyota_Corolla_200611.html

Info on the T180 diesel with pics of the hatch (its 0-100 is 8 seconds not 7 as i said before) http://car.kak.net/Article5718.html

can't find any interior pics, but the whole dash runs smoothly down to the centre console, looking like it is one with a continuous curve, while the gear shifter still being in the right place (very sporty) and overall appearance looking very modern, full of features.

[KingClifton]

Not sure about the AH Astra. Looks good on the outside, but the newer (06 onwards, I believe) models have the crappiest seats in Holden's range, Viva/Barina included. The SRi gets nice sports seats, but the povvo ones get horribly flat and unsupportive seats.

If the GF was replacing her TS CDX I'd be pushing her towards a Focus Zetec or Mazda3 SP23. The latter is a brilliant car for the money. A mate just drove his to Melbourne and back and said it was brilliant. Gets good fuel economy round town, and the servicing is cheap.

[Carby650]

If the GF was replacing her TS CDX I'd be pushing her towards a Focus Zetec or Mazda3 SP23. The latter is a brilliant car for the money. A mate just drove his to Melbourne and back and said it was brilliant. Gets good fuel economy round town, and the servicing is cheap.

Servicing cheap on a mazda??
Mazda have been up there with the Eruos when it comes to parts/servicing. Has something recently changed in Mazda land?

[KingClifton]

Servicing cheap on a mazda??
Mazda have been up there with the Eruos when it comes to parts/servicing. Has something recently changed in Mazda land?

Mazda3 - 1st service at 20K - $200
TS Astra - 2 services in that time - total cost $500+

[Carby650]

Mazda3 - 1st service at 20K - $200
TS Astra - 2 services in that time - total cost $500+

Cheers for that.
I've been told that the new Astras servicing is now 12m/15,000km.
Service costs approx $250.
There is a 60,000km service on the Astra which is expensive being belts ect.
Mazda web site shows servicing at 6m/10,000kms.

[diabolic]

That 6spd 2.0L turbo coupe looks nice..

35k though

[BRISVX]

I checked out the Holden website mentioned in the first post, but not sure that it has been fully updated yet (at least not for the complete Astra range).....if you have a look at the following website on the 2007 Opels (http://www.topspeed.com/cars/opel/opel-astra-ar17269.html), the enhancements seem far more comprehensive than the Holden website suggests.....new up-market interiors, new engines & transmissions, better looking wheels etc. The Opel gets two new versions of the turbo diesel (1.7litre), which look interesting. Assuming we get these updates as well, it would be worth waiting for (wife needs a new car).

[AussieTone]

Unfortunately for Holden, now that they have reduced the Holden Card rebate for cars like the Astra I will probably be doing brand comparisons when it is time for the other half's car.

I wonder how many sales this will cost Holden over the years

[COSMOS]

Unfortunately for Holden, now that they have reduced the Holden Card rebate for cars like the Astra I will probably be doing brand comparisons when it is time for the other half's car.

I wonder how many sales this will cost Holden over the years

i bought 4 astras and 7 holdens in 3 yrs using the rebate.... hmmm let me see I will only buy one holden in the next 3yrs using the current rebates which will be for my next commy maybe

but I suppose making a small profit on few cars is better than a loss on many - even though they were likely recouping the 3k discount in the form of application fees, merchant fees, credit charges etc.

[Marco]

Mazda3 - 1st service at 20K - $200
TS Astra - 2 services in that time - total cost $500+

Eh? The first service on my TS was at 15k!

[KingClifton]

Eh? The first service on my TS was at 15k!

GF's was an early 03 (one of the first CDXs) and hers are every 10K and aren't cheap (even with shopping around).

[chevypower]

I checked out the Holden website mentioned in the first post, but not sure that it has been fully updated yet (at least not for the complete Astra range).....if you have a look at the following website on the 2007 Opels (http://www.topspeed.com/cars/opel/opel-astra-ar17269.html), the enhancements seem far more comprehensive than the Holden website suggests.....new up-market interiors, new engines & transmissions, better looking wheels etc. The Opel gets two new versions of the turbo diesel (1.7litre), which look interesting. Assuming we get these updates as well, it would be worth waiting for (wife needs a new car).

Yeah, Australia doesnt have the complete Astra range, eg the whole sedan series, the 1.3CDTi, 1.7CDTis, 1.4L petrol 4 cyl and not sure if we will get the 1.6 Turbo 4 petrol. Some articles say the 1.7 replaces the 1.9CDTi, but its not the 1.9 we get, it's the 1.9s that put out less power. The other thing we are missing is the Sat-Nav. Holden are obviously not making that available to us yet. But what you see is the complete face-lift. Apparently the Saturn versions for the US have decent cup holders. Why can't Holden do the same for here?

[COSMOS]

from the topspeed site...

"Unlike contemporary glass roof designs, there is no crossbeam to obstruct the view, enabling driver, front and rear passengers to enjoy an unrestricted view similar to that in the cockpit of a sport airplane. "

I've heard of a sports car, a sports shoe, a sports store but never a sport airplane.... bloddy marketing coke fiends.

[jneil]

... felt seats are a nightmare to keep clean.

YES THEY ARE!!!

How do you do it other than spending bloody ages with a lint brush and vacuum cleaner?? Other than the cleaning, the seats are OK. We've been in it for 6 hours staight and no real issues...the SS is MUCH better though :D

We find the auto quite smooth, other than the initial launch from a standstill, as the auto goes into hibernation when stationary with the brakes applied (which we both HATE!!). If you let off the brake and casually apply the throttle its fine, but if you are off the brake and on the throttle too quickly (I use 2 feet) then it will jerk and carry on as it hasn't put itself back into drive yet...somewhat similar to having around 1500rpm in a standard auto when in neutral then just dropping it into drive with no backoff on the revs.

The 1.8 is lacking a bunch of torque/power, in manual form it would have been much better OK(ish) I suppose, but the wife didn't want a manual so the new power would be a welcome relief.

Also the CDX MFD (Multi-Function Display) looks to be HEAPS better than the SRi unit. SRi is all blocky and looks pretty cheap and only has like 4 lines. Our CDX has no lines (text can be anywhere) and generally has a much easier to read font and display with about 8 lines.

[BRISVX]

For those interested, here is a write-up on the local changes, announced yesterday Holden Astra 2007 Update (http://www.editorial.discountnewcars.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/F21B902585694988CA2572C30016898B) Looks like we only get the real basics, considering what Opel have on offer.......apparently due to the strong Euro making it more expensive to import here.

[VZSS_Freak]

Is Holden down the track going to import the GTC model, that the one with the panorama windscreen?

[CharlieDontSurf]

Does anyone know if you can get aftermarket products or parts from the saturn USA astra for a cupholder? It is a big issue i reckon. Pics or links would be appreciated

[falcom]

Does anybody know if the new model requires the Timing belt change at 60,000 km?

NB: Without the Holden Card Rebate the Astra is now off my shopping list as well.

[mac06]

NB: Without the Holden Card Rebate the Astra is now off my shopping list as well.

It is a pain the rebate has dropped, but at least you still get a rebate. Don't get anything with other manufacturers.