Members, Get Your Asstra in Gear

[amartin003]

Originally Posted by nicolas_p

192k KM and now slowly rising. I am the original owner since november 2009, driven from toronto, Ontario to charlottetown, PEI as the longest trip followed by Toronto to Bangor, Maine to visit Phatfire6 when he was still on the forums.

My astra is now parked every winter and will be preserved for a long long time, I've been doing research into making it a real vxr with a 2.0T engine swap.

The only reason I would ever get rid of the astra is if it was in a accident and I couldn't get her fixed.

There she is in the hibernation space!!

Nice! Not too many of us original owners left. I bought mine new in '08 and still my daily driver. Just passed 265K km's and going strong.

[wisconsinfan]

Just wanted to say that my 3dr just rolled over 195k, still going strong. Replaced the alternator twice, and have done the catalytic converter. Overall very reliable car.

[amartin003]

Originally Posted by wisconsinfan

Just wanted to say that my 3dr just rolled over 195k, still going strong. Replaced the alternator twice, and have done the catalytic converter. Overall very reliable car.

I think you may be the leader for mileage! I agree, very reliable. Besides normal wear items, I've had to change the water pump twice, fix a small hole in the exhaust, minor transmission fix (shifter cable) and I'm going to need a new oxygen sensor before I get my next emission test in the winter. Not too bad for 10 years of use.

My goal is 300K.

[C152]

My 5dr XE, purchased new, is at 214K km. Due for a second timing belt. Only issues have been sticky rear calipers and a coil pack, the latter is odd since I change spark plugs every 50K km. Other than that, regular stuff, thank goodness. Very happy.

Recently upsized my tires to 225/45R17. Perhaps I'm nutty, but I feel the ride is now choppy and no longer confidence inspiring. Grip is good, but crappy roads toss the car around in curves. Is there something wrong with the suspension? This concerns me since stellar handling was a major selling point for me.

My 3dr is at 175K km. Bought used. This one needs some work, rear brakes, exhaust, tires and suspension, rear coils likely. Shod on 18" tires, this one has a very choppy ride, but must be due to expected suspension repairs.

Plan on keeping both as long as possible.

[AstraFasta]

If car does not feel stable on the road at that mileage, I think that you should have a mechanic do a full inspection for health & safety purposes. ASAP.

The shocks and springs may be in need of replacement.

There are plenty of other wear items also.

[XRLad]

Good to see after my really long time away from this sit there is still plenty going on . I still have my Astra XR since i bought it new in March 2009. Up until 3 years ago i had a company van with work so the car never got driven hardly at all. As i type this post it only has just under 54000 km on it. She is lightly used :P . Been a awesome ride thus far. Replace a broken drivers side spring, thank you gm for discontinuing them btw , had to source a strut from a salvage yard. Brakes all around were done as a well and end links replaced to . Add a warranty fix on a sensor , drivers side window rail/frame repair and replacement of the black roof trim and that is about it. The factory 17 inch tires have worn out finally so next summer its time for a pair of summer tires. Thats about all that has happen with it to date. I plan on keeping it right up until and if it becomes a money pit.

[NJastra]

This is my 2008 Astra and I'm the original owner, 127,000 miles. I just took these pics today.

[FreedomSoftware]

Originally Posted by NJastra

This is my 2008 Astra and I'm the original owner, 127,000 miles. I just took these pics today.

Man, the blue looks awesome. I wish my Astra was that blue or black. Bought mine second hand so its Red. Not my favorite color but I loved the looks of the car regardless of the color

[JFS]

Originally Posted by NJastra

This is my 2008 Astra and I'm the original owner, 127,000 miles. I just took these pics today.

Looks awesome. I'm pleased with the paint quality on our cars. They are holding up well, from the ones I have seen.

Of all the colors, I'd have preferred silver or white, but like you, I have the 'Hey-Look-At-Me Coppers" Salsa Red. I have yet to see any salsa this color, but in the end, I'm pleased with it if only because I think the red made it sit on the car lot from Thanksgiving week 2014 until the first week of Jan. 2015 as the price fell. I had a problem with recovering funds from USAA for a totalled Subi, the only customer of theirs I've heard have this problem, but sela vie.

In the first post of the thread, I asked for "proof of life" of everybody's car. Here is one of mine. Curious if anyone out there knows what the hourglass represents.

https://goo.gl/xygwug

[kikastra]

Originally Posted by NJastra

This is my 2008 Astra and I'm the original owner, 127,000 miles. I just took these pics today.

That's a spitting image of my Astra. Minus the NJ plates of course! A bit shinier than mine too, since I haven't been able to wash it as much as I'd like.

*edit* The only difference is that my Astra and XR badge are not on the trim on the back. I have a 2009, only sold in Canada, where for some reason they moved those above the trim. You can see that in my avatar.

[8675309’sXR]

Hi All!
New member here. I’ve used this forum a few times to try to find solutions to issues here and there. Figured I might as well make myself official. I bought my Black Sapphire in 2009. It’s my daily. I have 122k+ miles on it. I love this car! It’s still fun to drive even though it’s an automatic.
Currently researching tire options as it’s time again for new shoes.

[marcmag]

Aside from a frustrating Mass Air Flow sensor experience at the nearby Chevy dealer, which blamed the K&N intake, my XR has been without trouble for 125,000 miles. K&N reimbursed me for some of the cost, but the dealer gouged me for a MAF that it might not have needed. Original owner, all miles mine.

Did the timing/serpentine belt at 95k and just did the ignition coil and one of the 02 sensors. No plans to trade a car that brings me smiles when I drive it and lots of questions about the Opel badges.

A driver stopped me this morning to say my reverse lights have been going off and on while driving forward. Will check the General and Tech forums about that issue and thank all who participate here.

[XRLad]

@NJastra

Awesome. If i had to redo my Astra purchase it would have been like yours exactly.
I do like my Star Silver over all and can live with it but i really really want a set of the 18" pen stars over my 17s big time though.

[eric08]

I recently picked up an XR at auction with 80K miles on it. It's generally in good shape but needs a little love to get up an running properly again. I have appreciated the information found here and wanted to give a quick shout out and say thank you. I'll post along the way with anything new or possibly interesting. Oh, and the Astra will be my daughter's primarily, although she doesn't drive a lot at present.

[C152]

Hi all,

Happy New Year!

Nice car of a lifetime (COAL) on Curbside Classic:
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-...german-orphan/
There's a pic of my two Astras in the comments section.

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by JFS

Looks awesome. I'm pleased with the paint quality on our cars. They are holding up well, from the ones I have seen.

Of all the colors, I'd have preferred silver or white, but like you, I have the 'Hey-Look-At-Me Coppers" Salsa Red. I have yet to see any salsa this color, but in the end, I'm pleased with it if only because I think the red made it sit on the car lot from Thanksgiving week 2014 until the first week of Jan. 2015 as the price fell. I had a problem with recovering funds from USAA for a totalled Subi, the only customer of theirs I've heard have this problem, but sela vie.

In the first post of the thread, I asked for "proof of life" of everybody's car. Here is one of mine. Curious if anyone out there knows what the hourglass represents.

https://goo.gl/xygwug

The "hourglass" is the U.S. Army Seventh Infantry Division insignia or unit patch. Me, being a former Army "puke", it looked familiar. The previous owner may have been in the Army too.