Astra GSi - Mk4

[Cookson]

Anyone ever owned one of these? There's something about them that I've always loved. Chavvy yes, appealing, very. Obviously Arden Blue is the most popular choice over black or silver.

Are they a strong lump? Do they respond well to fettling? Are the gearboxes made by Cadbury?

 

[Crybert]

I think they look great. Very rare too. I believe they can take a lot more power aswell

 

[MarkCup]

All I can add is that, from what I've seen of them, they appear to be 100% driven by cnuts.

 

[_Tom]

I love them. They're a guilty pleasure of mine. A great car to drive they are not though.

My mate had a red one back in the day. Easily tuned to 300bhp.

 

[JB21]

Easily tuned to 300hp and very quick in a straight line. To drive they are very poor though, let down most by the steering which has zero feedback through the wheel, just like all Vauxhalls really!

Come across many on track and on the straights they fly, but as soon as a corner comes up they just get all out of shape.

 

[BaileyWolves]

I nearly swapped my ep3 for one of these a decent one really appeals to me old school type turbo really like them

 

[gez 172]

They’re a good car - suspension will sort out the handling, they’re a bit front end heavy, but they can still be driven really well!

Easy to make into a VXR spec engine really.
My mate had one on a standard engine and bolted an Owens Gt2860r on and a few VXR bits like injectors then a map. No idea how, but it ran 330hp with no issues!

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

I really like them. Yes they're chavvy, but who cares. I think they're a great looking car and I would have one over an Astra H VXR all day long.

I don't know how good the gearbox is - are they five or six speed? The six speed boxes in the VXR vauxhalls are pretty shonky by all accounts. My daily beater/rally van Vectra wagon has the same gearbox and it's blinkin' awful. I think the older skool five speed boxes are stronger.

I have a feeling you need to forge these to go much beyond 300-320bhp but, in fairness, one with 300bhp is going to be rapid. While it's never going to be a Megane/Clio, I'm sure it could be made to handle OK too.

I'd have one.

 

[gez 172]

Its been a while, but I believe they’re a 5 speed F28 or something. Not the 6 speed M32.

Nice old school long gears.

 

[leeds_182]

Great looking cars. They all seem to smoke though that I’ve seen. I’d have one and I think values for good ones appear to be on the up.

 

[william84]

Anyone ever owned one of these? There's something about them that I've always loved. Chavvy yes, appealing, very. Obviously Arden Blue is the most popular choice over black or silver.

View attachment 1422993

Are they a strong lump? Do they respond well to fettling? Are the gearboxes made by Cadbury?

best fitting b204 engine out the Saab.
vx engines are weak....
If had 2 of them and I would take the 182 any day.

 

[william84]

I love them. They're a guilty pleasure of mine. A great car to drive they are not though.

My mate had a red one back in the day. Easily tuned to 300bhp.

red seems to be the most rare colour.

 

[william84]

I think they look great. Very rare too. I believe they can take a lot more power aswell

they can take more power but and I say but they don't last long. My opinion steer clear. Megane 225 much better car granted in some people's eyes it doesn't look as good as the gsi.
So the question is is it the drive over looks or is it looks over drive?
I know what I would rather spend my cash on.

 

[R3k1355]

People think that car looks good??

Honestly what the f**k is wrong with all of you??

 

[Cookie]

People think that car looks good??

Honestly what the f**k is wrong with all of you??

I'm with you. Shite.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Great looking cars. They all seem to smoke though that I’ve seen. I’d have one and I think values for good ones appear to be on the up.

Think they suffer from valve stem seal issues which causes the smoke. My friend had a Z20LET in a Corsa C and it smoked cos of the seals. Wasn't a hard fix though I don't think.

they can take more power but and I say but they don't last long. My opinion steer clear. Megane 225 much better car granted in some people's eyes it doesn't look as good as the gsi.
So the question is is it the drive over looks or is it looks over drive?
I know what I would rather spend my cash on.

I know someone with one that's going to be pushing 700bhp, so I think they can take plenty of power. As with anything, it's about doing it properly. You're right though, the Megane is probably a better car overall, though the engine is probably weaker than the one in the Astra!

People think that car looks good??

Honestly what the f**k is wrong with all of you??

We have taste and you don't?

 

[cat171]

I liked the coupe turbo version, always though they looked ace!

 

[Ian_182]

Horrible looking chav chariot. If I see one on the road I immediately try and look how stoned the driver is.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Horrible looking chav chariot. If I see one on the road I immediately try and look how stoned the driver is.

It's a good job you're not judgmental isn't it? ?

 

[gez 172]

they can take more power but and I say but they don't last long. My opinion steer clear. Megane 225 much better car granted in some people's eyes it doesn't look as good as the gsi.
So the question is is it the drive over looks or is it looks over drive?
I know what I would rather spend my cash on.

Definitely not a weak engine. As said above, if it’s been done properly, then they’re stronger than most in that range.

 

[william84]

I know someone with one that's going to be pushing 700bhp, so I think they can take plenty of power. As with anything, it's about doing it properly. You're right though, the Megane is probably a better car overall, though the engine is probably weaker than the one in the Astra

Agree to disagree then.
hence the reason they take the ecojunk/tec out and fit b204. ?
I know a guy that has a 500hp c20let Nova 4x4 pure machine so it is.
mk4 gsi was a big let down. My old GTE was much better than my 2 gsi's.

The Clio reminds my of my old GTE.

different strokes for different folks ?

 

[adamlstr]

I used to quite like these when they were new, I reckon a black one wouldn't be a bad daily. The VXR was basically the same car underneath AFAIK, with a bit of work on the engine and turbo bits and pieces.

I do tend to have rose-tinted specs for hot-Vauxhalls though, mostly late 80's early 90's though.

 

[william84]

80s an 90s was the best in my eyes to.
wish I still had my astra GTE valve.
Few subtle engine mods ? ?.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

I used to quite like these when they were new, I reckon a black one wouldn't be a bad daily. The VXR was basically the same car underneath AFAIK, with a bit of work on the engine and turbo bits and pieces.

I do tend to have rose-tinted specs for hot-Vauxhalls though, mostly late 80's early 90's though.

Black would probably be my preference to be honest. Arden is nice, but a bit obvious somehow.

 

[adamlstr]

80s an 90s was the best in my eyes to.
wish I still had my astra GTE valve.
Few subtle engine mods ? ?.

I blame my old man, countless 8v and red-top Astra GTE's, GSI3000 and Lotus Carlton's, etc when I was a youngster. Good times.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

My dad had two GSI 16v company cars when I was a kid. And a Belmont SRI

 

[adamlstr]

My dad had two GSI 16v company cars when I was a kid. And a Belmont SRI

Haha our driveway looked like a Luton production line too.

 

[Rojer]

Would prefer an SRI turbo as it's more stealthy and pretty similar.

 

[R3k1355]

We have taste and you don't?

@massivewangers Starter pack:

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

I don't know if these fall into that category, as there aren't that many of them about anymore. The chap above is probably more likely to go for a MK2 Focus ST in asbo orange I would think.

Besides, I've long since decided that I don't care what other people think of the car I drive. no doubt a result of driving a Vectra daily.

 

[Cookie]

I don't know if these fall into that category, as there aren't that many of them about anymore. The chap above is probably more likely to go for a MK2 Focus ST in asbo orange I would think.

Besides, I've long since decided that I don't care what other people think of the car I drive. no doubt a result of driving a Vectra daily.

Sounds like a cry for help.. voluntarily driving a Vectra is self harm

 

[Ian_182]

How can you drive the most soul destroying brand of car ever daily.
As said that is some kind of self abuse.

 

[gez 172]

That’s such a vague statement...

 

[JB21]

I like the look of Vauxhall's, just everyone I've driven the lack of steering feel and lightness of them just makes them numb to drive.

I had a Vectra SRI 150 and traded it after a few weeks it was that bad.

 

[welshname]

I love them but they are VERY dated inside. It hasn't aged well on the interior at all.

 

[ChrisR]

Used to like the look of these a long time ago, not too long after getting my phase 1 172 I went and had a drive in one I'd seen for sale in a garage on my way home from work one day.

Sadly that killed it for me, it drove like utter crap, other than having some boost it was rubbish.

The gearbox was amazingly terrible from what I remember (this was 15 or so years ago).

 

[Marc.]

I had an Astra G.

Writing that thing off was the best thing I ever did. Hateful, hateful cars. Hateful brand.

Vauxhall’s (round here anyway) seem to be exclusively driven by oxygen stealing mongoloids, usually careering around 30mph zones at 40-50.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Sounds like a cry for help.. voluntarily driving a Vectra is self harm

How can you drive the most soul destroying brand of car ever daily.
As said that is some kind of self abuse.

There is no doubting that it is s**t in many, many ways. However, my daily got written off so I needed a car in a hurry. This was local, cheap, had a tow bar and I can fit about 15 wheels in the back of it. The engine is rubbish, as are the gearbox, brakes and handling. However, for what it cost, it's relatively quiet and comfortable when sitting on dual carriageways and A-roads, which is all it does most of the time.

If I didn't have any other cars to play with, I probably would have topped myself by now though to be fair.

I like the look of Vauxhall's, just everyone I've driven the lack of steering feel and lightness of them just makes them numb to drive.

I had a Vectra SRI 150 and traded it after a few weeks it was that bad.

The Corsa Nurburgring is supposed to be ok. Not driven one though. I did drive an Astra J VXR a few years ago. I expected to hate it, but it was surprisingly good.

 

[william84]

watching is your car safe ?
typical of Vauxhall.
Sad people have lost thier life's and others injured.

 

[JB21]

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