Astra SRi diesel 150bhp or not 150bhp

[brian chim]

My misses has got a VW polo 56 plate and is thinking of selling up and buying an astra diesel. Ive told her to get the Sri as they are good looking cars but would you guys recommend the 150bhp or the 120bhp. Got around £6000 to spend. Would we sacrifice optional extras if we bought the 120bhp? i.e auto headlights and auto wipers etc or were they optional extras anyway on all models. She is alos thinking of getting a 1.7 diesel instead. Any advice would be great.

Cheers Brian

[dannytherev]

The choice between the 120/150hp the 150 is the one to go forsimilar mpg both in the same tax band, with the SRi spec cars there is no difference in spec (120/150)
The SRi cars are fairly basic no cruise,auto lights/wipers but are all standard on the Design models (which is available with the 150hp engine also) you also get a nicer interior and half leather on the Design models
The SRi models are more popular than the Design models but you may be able pick up an SRi with the above extras fitted from new, also a lot of the SRi for sale have the optional exterior pack (or XP) which gives 18" alloys and VXR bodystyling don't bother with the 1.7CDTi engine it's slow and nasty hth

Edited by dannytherev on Thursday 13th May 21:05

[brian chim]

Thats what i was thinking but just wanted someone to confirm it for me and prove to my GF that i wasnt just thinking 150bhp. The SRi is a much better car to look at than the design though? I will look out for the XP pack though definatly.

Cheers for advice

Brian

[parapaul]

Very little visually between them TBH.

The SRi and Design both have sports suspension, dark headlights and tinted rear glass. I think the choice of OE alloys may have been different.

The Design has half leather seats, the SRi has cloth.

My money would be on a 150PS Design.

[HellDiver]

parapaul said:

My money would be on a 150PS Design.

I had one, was an awesome motor. All the toys, added Bilstein suspension, VXR brakes, remap to 200hp, rear ARB. SERIOUS wolf in sheep's clothing.

Edited by HellDiver on Tuesday 1st June 20:46

[nomisesor]

Have the swirl valve problems been solved on 150hp CDTi engines of the age you are looking at? Mine (Zafira SRi) 55 plate is going in tomorrow for >£850 of work to replace failed swirl valve mechanism (at 31000 miles). There was a design fault on these that mean that they fail (and put you into limp-home mode). Google for CDTi 150 / swirl valve / vauxhall Error code 1109 etc. Same engine in various vauxhalls, saabs and others. Lots of anguished owners realising that there is a near thousand pound bill signalled by this fault... which would be a nuisance on a £6k car!

One example (apart from mine, above).

http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/archive/ind...

[HellDiver]

No Vauxhall supplied versions of the 1.9 16v engine had the new inlet manifold fitted - they're still shipping the faulty engines. The replacement manifolds bought from Vx are the new design, though.

[nomisesor]

HellDiver said:

No Vauxhall supplied versions of the 1.9 16v engine had the new inlet manifold fitted - they're still shipping the faulty engines. The replacement manifolds bought from Vx are the new design, though.

Interesting, though this is a bit of a zombie thread and the OP may have made his decision / purchase by now! Strange that Vx would still ship the engine with the badly designed manifold / swirl mechanism as, for the price of substituting a better design during the engine assembly process they'd surely save on bad press and some warranty work in the future?

Update - my VX dealer said today that yes, the fault was what (thanks internet / fora for info about how to find error codes & pics of visible damage etc.) I'd sussed out was the problem. Silver lining; in view of 1) low mileage 2) my VX main dealer service history, [and, 3) though they didn't say it, design fault] VX would meet 50% of the cost despite being out of warranty.

Edited by nomisesor on Tuesday 6th July 21:21

Edited by nomisesor on Wednesday 7th July 08:40