Vauxhall Astra 1.7 Diesel Estate

[Rogerout]

Sister in law has been gifted a new car and offered me hers. It’s a 2012 1.7 diesel estate- with 148k on the clock..

It’s due an MOT in two weeks, she’s had it 3 years and it’s never let her down, although she’s had some repairs done on it.

Not got a full service history, but she’s had it serviced every year since she’s owned it.

My work is 29 miles each way , so a 58 mile round trip. I have an old 1.8 petrol Astra hatchback which I use as a work horse.

I’m happy she’s offered me to just have hers , but will this car last me a few years does anyone think ? Should I expect problems?

Should I be concerned the mileage is almost 150k ? I

[blue_haddock]

The old Isuzu 1.7 is a reliable old workhorse so the engine should be ok.

And then it's just general things on an older car like wearing and tear on suspension etc.

[I-am-the-reverend]

They're good workhorses. The odd gearbox drama and standard Vauxhall EGR valve but they're okay. 2012 is the Astra J which isn't quite as tough as the previous H but they aren't bad. The 1.7 CDTi is the Isuzu unit which just needs oil changes and the cambelt when needed.

[Rogerout]

So realistically, can this car get to 200k miles ? I’m doing about 13 a year, so would like it to last a few years..

[FHCNICK]

I had a 2001 astra 1.7d with the Isuzu engine and the head gasket finally went 300 miles short of 250k. I knew it was the head gasket when the heater would only give out cold air, knowing I wasn't going to spend any money on fixing it I carried on driving the remaining 20 miles home. When I checked it in daylight the next day the water expansion tank was black with oil but it still started and drove ok on it's final trip to the scrap yard.

I had paid the royal sum of £1650 for the car when it had done 79k miles and in my ownership it needed new rear springs and an exhaust back box over & above servicing items (disks, pads etc).

[Condi]

Rogerout said:

So realistically, can this car get to 200k miles ? I’m doing about 13 a year, so would like it to last a few years..

Can it? Yes.
Will it? Who knows.

Cost to you appears minimal so if it breaks after 12 or 18m does it really matter? Like any old car it will likely need some upkeep and could throw a bill which will cost more than the car is worth, but nobody can say whether it will or wont.

[Rogerout]

Is it worth servicing a car like this ? Or just change the oil?

[MrGTI6]

If you're relying on the car to get you from A to B, then getting it serviced, keeping on top of timing belt changes, etc. is worth it for peace of mind alone.

[Condi]

Rogerout said:

Is it worth servicing a car like this ? Or just change the oil?

What can you do yourself? An oil change is really cheap to do on your drive if possible, and when timing belts come up it's worth paying to get them done, but I wouldn't be paying a garage for a "service" per say. It's mainly just a check round the car.

[Dog Biscuit]

Rogerout said:

Sister in law has been gifted a new car and offered me hers. It’s a 2012 1.7 diesel estate- with 148k on the clock..

It’s due an MOT in two weeks, she’s had it 3 years and it’s never let her down, although she’s had some repairs done on it.

Not got a full service history, but she’s had it serviced every year since she’s owned it.

My work is 29 miles each way , so a 58 mile round trip. I have an old 1.8 petrol Astra hatchback which I use as a work horse.

I’m happy she’s offered me to just have hers , but will this car last me a few years does anyone think ? Should I expect problems?

Should I be concerned the mileage is almost 150k ? I

See how it fares in the MOT in a few weeks and go from there?

[66HFM]

Dog Biscuit said:

See how it fares in the MOT in a few weeks and go from there?

As per DogBiscuit, book it in for an MOT now and see what it comes up with.

They are workshorses, so as long as ok with the MOT, have a service done on it, for peace of mind, and then just enjoy until it either dies or your sister-in-law is gifted another replacement...

[Summit_Detailing]

As above, get it in for an MOT and see how it fares.

They're reliable old workhorses and arguably more reliable than the later model.

[Rogerout]

So got it MOT’d yesterday by Kwik Fit ( yes I know they have bad press in forums ) but they could do it when I wanted it and I wanted to have a grace period incase it failed.
It passed all ok.

Sister in law got a friend to do some basics when it needed and I noticed she’s spent quite a lot of money on getting it through previous MOT’s. She had it three years. But she said she never changed get brake fluid or antifreeze, although I noticed it looks ok.

Should I spent a couple of hundred quid on a service or just change the oil, antifreeze, brake fluid?

Vauxhall dealer near me charges £280 for a main service , most independents are similar prices I’ve noticed.

I’ve also noticed lots of main dealers let you pay over 6 months now for work that needs doing aswell as service plans.

If you get a big bill from an independent, they would want the full amount straight away. Just get Vauxhall to service it? Or try a decent independent?

Edited by Rogerout on Sunday 3rd November 23:30

[Belle427]

I wouldnt let it near a main dealers personally, find a decent local mechanic to service it for you for half the price.
Brake fluid and antifreeze refresh would be a good idea really.

[Lincsls1]

Chances are, you've just been offered a brilliant car!
Sure, you'll have to spend a bit here and there to help it along, but that applies to ANY car of ANY mileage.
Those Astras, has others have said, are a work horse. They also happen to be a fairly decent steer too.
I had an 04 diesel Estate for several years and several 000's of miles. I'm now 18 months and 12,000 miles in on a 15 plate diesel Estate, and very happy with it.

[Giantt]

Rogerout said:

Is it worth servicing a car like this ? Or just change the oil?

Keep an eye on egr cooler hoses, admittedly older vehicles but both 1.7cdti I had developed pin hope leaks that only opened at working temperature easy enough to change but catastrophic to first engine at 180 I miles, caught second at 110k miles
Used to change oil on both at 20k intervals fully synthetic often doing 1k miles a week
Other thing to check is poor starting when hot,can be vacuum pipe...or ECU

[Bobupndown]

Had fleets of these 1.7 diesel Astras in work. Not very exciting but went all right when wound up. Handled well with decent mpg.

[Rogerout]

A Vauxhall dealer will probably do the bare minimum and go by the schedule. Change the oil , do a few checks. Then a technician will go under the car with a torch and make a short video showing defects. They’ll then get a guy on minimum wage to do a very quick wash and vac.
Vauxhall will then kindly give a 3 page print out coloured red and amber to show how much work they want you to do. They like doing their health checks which they say they are doing for free , even though you are paying them for a service?..