Opel astra h description. Archival model Opel Astra Sedan
For the first time, the Opel Astra N car with a three-door hatchback body was introduced in 2003 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The presentation of the Opel Astra N car took place in the spring of 2004 in Andalusia (Spain). Since March 2004, a five-door hatchback has appeared on the market, in the fall of the same year, the production of the Opel Astra N car with a station wagon began, in March 2005, the release of the Opel Astra GTC sports three-door hatchback, and in September 2005, the Cabrio.
In the fall of 2006, the family was restyled, and a year later, the production of the Opel Astra N car with a sedan body began.
For the Russian market, Opel Astra N cars are equipped with the following engines: 1.4 liter Z14XEP (90 hp); 1.6 L Z16XEP (105 hp); 1.8 L Z18XEP (140hp); 2.0 L Z20 LER (200 HP) and 2.0 L Z20LEH (240 HP). The Z14XER engine, equipped with the Twinport system, is installed only on a five-door hatchback, the Z16XER and Z18XER engines with variable valve timing are equipped with all Opel Astra H cars, except for the three-door hatchback sports equipment. The turbocharged Z20LER and Z20LEH engines are only fitted to the three-door hatchback in sport trims.
On Opel Astra H cars, a 5-speed manual gearbox can be installed (Opel Astra H cars with Z14XER, Z16XER and Z18XER engines), a 6-speed manual gearbox (only on Opel Astra H cars with Z20LER and Z20LEH engines), 4- a speed automatic transmission (only on Opel Astra N cars with Z18XER engines) or an Easytronic robotic manual transmission (only aggregated with Z16XER engines).
In Russia, Opel Astra N cars are offered in three basic trim levels: Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmo. For the three-door hatchback, Sport and OPC trims are additionally provided.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS), immobilizer, airbags for the driver, front passenger and two side airbags, central locking with remote control, electric power steering, heating and air conditioning system with equipment packages for cold climates and with an anti-dust filter are installed on all configurations. , tilt and reach steering column, power windows on the front doors, information display on the instrument panel, front and rear ashtrays.
Depending on the equipment of the Opel Astra N car, the list of additional equipment includes the following: ESP electronic stability control system (OPS equipment), anti-theft alarm (Enjoy and Cosmo equipment), front active head restraints (OPS equipment), front passenger presence sensor (Sport equipment), two-tone horn (Cosmo, Sport, OPC), sport suspension with reduced ground clearance (Sport), manual air conditioning (Essentia, Sport, OPC), climate control (Enjoy and Cosmo), automatic recirculation air (all configurations, except for Essentia), ceiling lamps for interior lighting and local lighting
(Enjoy and Cosmo equipment, on request can be installed on Essentia equipment), Comfort front seats (Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmo equipment), Sport (Sport equipment), Recaro (ORC equipment, on request can be installed on Enjoy, Cosmo and Sport), height-adjustable driver's seat (Essentia, Enjoy, Cosmo and Sport trim levels); electrically heated driver's and front passenger's seats (Enjoy and Cosmo, optional on Sport), six-way adjustable driver's seat (OPC, optional on Enjoy, Cosmo and Sport), adjustable lumbar support for the driver's seat (Cosmo equipment), three-spoke steering wheel, covered
leather (Cosmo equipment, on request can be installed on Essentia and Enjoy equipment); three-spoke steering wheel with two dark gray inserts (Enjoy equipment, on request for the Essentia equipment); leather-wrapped OPC-line steering wheel (OPC equipment, optional for all equipment); leather-wrapped Sport steering wheel (Sport equipment); full-size spare wheel (all trim levels except OPC), tire repair kit (OPC trim), illuminated sun visors with mirrors (Cosmo, Sport and OPC trims, can be installed on Essentia and Enjoy trims on request), light-alloy sports pedals (equipment Sport and OPC), interior upholstery XXVQ Alpha silver / Elbacharcoal (Sport package, on request can be installed on the Enjoy package),
Fog lights (Cosmo and OPC trim levels, can be installed on all other trim levels on request), side moldings painted in body color (all trim levels except Essentia), railings on the roof of a station wagon (Enjoy trim level), silver railings on the roof of an Opel Astra N car with a station wagon body (Cosmo equipment, on request can be installed on the Enjoy package), Sport front bumper (OPC equipment), rear spoiler (OPC equipment, on request can be installed on the Enjoy, Cosmo and Sport equipment), wheel rims R15 (Essentia equipment); R16 wheel rims (Enjoy package), R16 wheel rims with five double spokes (Cosmo and Sport package),
alloy wheels R16 Elegance II with seven double-spokes (Cosmo equipment), alloy wheels R18 OPC with five flat spokes (OPC equipment), three-line information display (Essentia equipment), audio preparation - two speakers and antenna (Essentia equipment), control units audio system on the steering wheel (Enjoy, Cosmo and OPC trim levels, can be installed on all other trim levels on request), CD30 audio system with an information display (Sport and OPC trim levels, can be installed on Essentia trim levels on request), CD30 MP3 audio system with control units on the steering wheel (Enjoy and Cosmo trim levels, on request can be installed on all other trim levels); for the Opel Astra N car with a station wagon body - rear tinted windows, black pillars, silver roof rails (Cosmo equipment, on request can be installed on the Enjoy package), Sport & Chassis ZQ8 option package (OPC equipment, on request can be installed on all other configurations except Essentia).
By order for various equipment of the Opel Astra N car, an interactive control system with the Sport & Chassis ZQ8 option package, side curtain airbags (except for Opel Astra N cars with a sedan body), bi-xenon headlights, an ISOFIX child seat attachment system, and an adaptive head light system can be installed headlights, automatic ride height adjustment system (only for Opel Astra N station wagons), low tire pressure indicator, automatic air conditioning, cruise control, electric and heated exterior mirrors, folding automatically; rear power windows, 6-way adjustable front passenger seat, folding front passenger seat (wagon only), quick warm-up system, thermal windshield, lower engine protection, power sunroof, panoramic sunroof (vehicles only) Opel Astra N with a three-door hatchback body), engine start system, door and trunk opening without a key, front armrest, rear seat with a three-part backrest, additional socket in the trunk (only for Opel Astra N cars with a station wagon body), safety net in the trunk (only for Opel Astra N cars with a station wagon body), a system of rails for securing luggage,
leather upholstery, removable tow hitch, rear parking sensors (except for Opel Astra N sedan cars), metallic and diamond body paint, R16 alloy wheels, R17 Sport and Dynamic alloy wheels, R18 alloy wheels , alloy wheels R19, color information display, audio systems of various modifications, Bluetooth mobile phone control package, rain sensor, dimming rear-view mirror, automatic headlights, headlight washers, air ducts for the heating system for rear passengers.
The bodies of all modifications of Opel Astra N cars are load-bearing, all-metal, welded construction with hinged front fenders, doors, hood and trunk lid (tailgate). Windscreen and rear window (tailgate glass) glued. The driver's seat is adjustable in the longitudinal direction, in terms of backrest inclination and height, and on request - in terms of lumbar support. The front passenger seat is adjustable in the longitudinal direction and inclination of the back, on request, a six-way adjustable or folding seat (for station wagons) can be installed. The front and rear seats are equipped with height-adjustable headrests. The backrest of the rear seat can be folded forward in parts in a ratio of 60:40, and installed on request - in a ratio of 40:20:40.
The transmission is made according to the front-wheel drive scheme with front wheel drives equipped with constant velocity joints. In basic configurations, Opel Astra N cars are equipped with a 5-speed or 6-speed manual gearbox. By order, a robotic gearbox can be installed on Opel Astra N cars with a 1.6-liter engine, and an automatic 4-speed gearbox can be installed on Opel Astra N cars with a 1.8-liter engine.
MacPherson type front suspension, independent, spring, with anti-roll bar, with hydraulic shock absorber struts. The rear suspension is semi-independent, spring, with hydraulic shock absorbers.
The brake mechanisms of all wheels are disc with a floating caliper, and the front brake discs are ventilated. The parking brake drive mechanisms are built into the brake mechanisms of the rear wheels. All Opel Astra N cars are equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with a road stability subsystem (ESP), which is standardly installed on the OPC package (for other configurations - on request).
The steering is safety, with a rack and pinion type steering mechanism, equipped with an electro-hydraulic booster. The steering column is tilt and reach adjustable. A frontal airbag is installed in the steering wheel hub (as well as in front of the front passenger). Additionally, side airbags are installed for the driver and front passenger, and, on request, inflatable curtains located on both sides of the ceiling above the front and rear doors.
Opel Astra N cars are equipped with a centralized control system for locking all doors with locking all doors with a button on the key fob.
All Opel Astra N cars are equipped with seat belts for the driver, front passenger and rear seat passengers.
The overall dimensions of the Opel Astra N with a five-door hatchback body are shown in fig. 1.1, with bodies of a three-door hatchback, sedan and station wagon are given in Appendix 2. The technical characteristics of Opel Astra N cars are given in Table. 1.1. The elements of the Opel Astra N car with a 1.6 liter Z16XER engine, located in the engine compartment, and the main units are shown in fig. 1.2, 1.4, 1.5.
Opel Astra H (5-door hatchback restyled) - fuel consumption data
The graphs show the fuel consumption of the Opel Astra H in three modes: in the city, on the highway and in mixed mode. Shown are consumption data for all known modifications.
City fuel consumption per 100 km0 l5 l10 l15 l1.3d AT, 2005-20101.3d MT, 2005-20101.7d MT, 2007-20101.7d MT, 2007-20101.9d MT, 2006-20101.9d MT, 2007-2010 2007-20101.4 MT, 2007-20101.6 AT, 2006-20141.6 MT, 2006-20171.8 MT, 2006-20171.6 MT, 2007-20101.8 AT, 2006-20171.6 AT, 2007-20102.0 MT, 2007-20106.46.56.56.67.47.77.78. 28.58.79.910.510.511.613.1
Watch an interesting video on this topic
To answer this question, we decided to ride the Astra-N, which they continue to sell along with the new one, the one under the letter J. Moreover, we entrusted this to the tallest employee of the editorial office: we must find out if the permanent growth of dimensions justifies itself.
MODERN CLASSIC
How she looks like?
“Why did you take an old car?” - met me on the threshold of an overly familiar neighbor. Of course, with the release of the next generation, the predecessor model almost immediately begins to look slightly outdated - especially if the appearance of the heiress is radically different, as is the case with Astra. But personally, I strongly disagree with my neighbor. Like almost all of our editors, as well as friends, acquaintances and relatives, who during this time managed to get in touch with the car. Moreover, in a 3-door body, Astra-N even today seems to be more in line with the sporty spirit of the city “lighter” than its plump successor.
However, I can’t say that the sedan looks just as organic - it’s too clearly visible, as if hastily fastened “tail”. Nevertheless, thanks to the right proportions - thanks to the base, increased to 2.7 m - the car does not cause such rejection as the early experiments of designers in the field of creating such sedans. Remember, for example, the first "Symbol" or "Peugeot-206-sedan".
Pretty soon, the practical advantage of both body shapes in general and the sedan in particular was revealed. The rear window, for obvious reasons, does not require a “janitor”, and even after a 200-kilometer country trip in the rain it is not at all necessary to visit the car wash - a white sedan looks pristine clean from ten steps away. And even mirrors practically do not lose their ability to reflect reality.
From a fairly high ground clearance, the sedan seems slightly "ankle-legged". However, a decent clearance pleased me throughout our acquaintance - it is difficult to find a curb in the city that will begin to grind the crankcase. Yes, and winter forays into the Sergiev Posad region proved that on good tires you can safely follow crossovers in a track a third of a wheel deep. Miracles do not happen, but you can “plant” a sedan only when you yourself feel that you should not move on alone.
Special thanks to the bi-xenon headlights. They not only look dapper, but also have excellent dipped and stunning high beams: when, in addition to turning the curtain of the main headlight, an additional 55 W halogen is connected, you feel like a king in the winter forest.
DOWN THE EXTRA!
What is she like inside?
In the cabin, I settled down pretty quickly. In addition to musical accompaniment, it was possible to entertain yourself in Astra-N with telephone conversations through a standard audio system, and laying the optimal route, and getting to know the on-board computer menu, which, among other things, manages the distribution of air flows.
Until recently, all this was in a rather long list of additional equipment. But in the spring, a new price list appeared - all versions went up by 5,000 rubles, and only three packages were left of the options assigned to each of the equipment versions, and bi-xenon headlights. By and large, I only regret the impossibility of ordering ESP. Because other amenities are not too pleased. Luke would rub the top of my head if I tried to straighten my back. Navigation, unlike that of Insignia and Korsa, is devoid of a Russian-language interface and is not as detailed as we would like. And for leather seats, on which it was, let’s say, not very pleasant to sit on in winter and summer, I would gladly prefer the standard Cosmo upholstery, where the role of leather is played by its high-quality imitation, and at the points of greatest contact with the body you find a “breathable” fabric .
I still couldn’t get used to quickly turn off or turn on the air conditioner at speed - there is no separate button, and it’s more expensive to be distracted from the road. At 190 cm tall, I definitely missed the lower seat cushion position, and not only because of the sunroof - fully straightened, I found the sun visors in front of my eyes. For six months, I could not find the optimal driving position - I had to choose between back comfort and visibility.
But to most of the controls, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel of a section suitable for my hands, as well as an automatic transmission selector that goes strictly in a straight line, there were no complaints. If it were not for turning on the air conditioner through the on-board menu, I could call the ergonomics of the driver's seat exemplary. This is not "Insignia" for you, where the head can ache from the number of buttons out of habit.
The sound insulation, which is outstanding for a golf class, is also impressive - even on a studded Hakkapeliitte-7 at 100 km / h in the cabin you can hear a neighbor mumbling under his breath. I was also pleased that the interior was warming up at -15 ° C overboard by the seventh or eighth minute of the trip, and thanks to the parking sensors and good visibility, maneuvering in reverse did not create any problems. The only pity is that the operation of the sensors could only be heard - unlike, say, Volkswagen, the color monitor does not duplicate them.
HEART DO NOT AGE
How does she drive?
A duet of a 1.8-liter 140-horsepower “four” and an “automatic”, in which there are only four steps, I have optimism, who managed to get hooked on a “turbo” in a small volume and newfangled “de-es-ge”, of course, did not call. But time passed, and little by little I began to remember the forgotten charms of the classic combination - a guaranteed winter start, quick warm-up while driving, and even the ability to "anneal". Yes, yes, do not be surprised, in comparison with the new Astra, its predecessor will in no way lose its face.
I can responsibly declare that the time-tested 1.8-liter engine and 4-speed "automatic" are too early to discount. Thanks to the "Sport" button, the automatic transmission maintains a lower gear, and the engine responds much more vigorously to the position of the throttle, and in certain circumstances this pair is more nimble than the new duo. After all, the 6-speed "automatic" of the modern sister is inclined to save fuel, and therefore quickly turns on the highest gear. And if you urgently need to accelerate from, say, 60 km / h, a second or more delay is guaranteed, while the 4-speed works without annoying thoughts.
In addition, according to my neighbor, the “old” car is more friendly with turns than the Astra-J - rolls are less pronounced, and the steering wheel is a little more informative. No one requires such qualities from a family sedan, and yet its potential cannot but rejoice.
With uniform movement, even in combination with a 4-speed "automatic", which on suburban highways oh so lacks 5th gear (at 100 km / h the tachometer already shows 3000 rpm), from the 1.8-liter "Ekoteka" you can achieve a flow rate of 7–7.5 liters per 100 km. But it is worth making a couple of overtakings or getting into a traffic jam, as the engine begins to show a remarkable appetite. And yet, the average fuel consumption of 11.5 liters, provided that 80% of the mileage fell on Moscow, including winter, can be called more than acceptable.
Approximately half of the gas stations fell on the AI-92. In winter, with a more accurate, maximum half-pedal, driving, the car loses some of its dynamics. But cheaper gasoline consumes almost as much as more expensive. If you hurry, then the 7% difference in price between the 92nd and 95th will no longer cover the fuel consumption that increases by 10–12% in this case.
WHERE IS THE BUTTON?
What is she carrying?
It is generally accepted that a hatchback is a priori more functional than a classic sedan. However, I calmly loaded the stroller into a separate Astra trunk, and my wife and daughter, without any hesitation, sat on the sofa, where, in addition, there are regular isofix mounts for a child seat. Moreover, in addition to the stroller, a 2-week supply of provisions easily fit into the hold. And a jar of salted cucumbers that spilled by chance revealed another plus of the trunk separated from the living compartment - we learned that the incident had happened only when we opened the lid.
However, there were also reasons to grumble. The trunk release button is located exactly in the middle of the center console - it is extremely inconvenient to reach deep into the cabin with packages in your hands. There is no separate button for the trunk lid on the remote control, but if you hold the central locking release button for more than 3 seconds, the hold can also be unlocked remotely. Yes, that's the trouble - in the cold, the remote control did not always react the first time. I had to again reach for the key in the cabin, soiling my trousers.
Considering the technical characteristics of the Opel Astra H, it is necessary to take into account variations: more than 5 different engine sizes, a sedan, a station wagon, two hatchbacks and a convertible, 3 configurations.
Opel Astra H - specifications for the whole family
The technical characteristics of the Opel Astra H cannot be described in one paragraph. Because the Astra H is not just one car, it's a whole family. A line of at least 5 cars. Identical at first glance, but different in essence, in their driving performance, appearance and size.
Astra H began to be produced in 2004. In 2007, experienced a slight restyling. The technical characteristics of the engines have undergone changes. They have become more powerful, economical and environmentally friendly. The front bumper, mirrors, and some trim elements have also changed. Astra H is still being produced, in a station wagon, sedan or 5-door hatchback, but already under the name Astra Family.
I read it in the magazine "Behind the wheel", it turns out that everything is not so bad. Maybe someone will find it useful, I'll leave it on the forum.
With the advent of the new Opel Astra, the previous model with the factory index H, still in production, received a prefix to the name: Family.Opel Astra H
Buying a new car is a pleasant, but very expensive business. Those who want to save money are looking for cars in the secondary market - it's cheaper here. To make a successful purchase, you need to know what to pay close attention to.
NERVOUS BREAKDOWNRewinding the mileage on the Astra is relatively simple, just replace the instrument panel with a fresher one. Do not rely on the odometer reading! Better compare the mileage with the marks in the service book by asking the dealer to check the authenticity of the MOT against the database. At the same time, order a complete diagnosis - it's not so expensive compared to the price of the "pig in a poke" itself. By the way, there is an unspoken rule: if the specialists find only flaws honestly named by the seller, diagnostics are at your expense, and if there are hidden defects, the “forgetful” seller pays. You just need to agree on this in advance.
The Opel electrician contains many electronic units that communicate with each other via a multiplex (CAN bus) - in domestic conditions this makes troubleshooting difficult. And they happen. Either the ceiling light will light up for no reason, or the immobilizer will no longer recognize the native key. As a rule, it is enough to remove the terminal from the battery for a couple of minutes, and everything will return to normal.
More often than others, the CIM module of the steering column is buggy: you press on the horn, but it is silent. Other buttons located on the steering wheel also sometimes do not work, while the audio center may stop responding to its own controls. At an early stage, the defect was random in nature, so for a long time it was not possible to establish the cause. They changed the module under warranty, soldered the contacts, assembling one block from several - it did not help. As a result, we came to a simple and reliable solution: in 2009, a steel U-shaped bracket was introduced, which compresses the body halves and provides reliable contact. For reference: the price of such a piece of iron is only 8 rubles.
It will not be cheap to make a new key to replace the lost one - 5700 rubles together with the firmware (this is the name of the process of "acquainting" the key with the immobilizer). In this case, you will definitely need a personal car card (Car-Pass) - take care of it like the apple of your eye.
musculoskeletal system
There were many engines installed on the "asters", but only the Z16XER and Z18XER (respectively 1.6 and 1.8 liters) took root in our market. They have a timing belt drive, so if in doubt about the authenticity of the mileage, replace it immediately. Until recently, the belt resource was 150 thousand km, but recently it has been officially reduced to 120 thousand km. We change rollers without hesitation.
The ignition module, which is inserted directly into the candle wells with its leads, delivers the most trouble. Over time, the ends crack (this happens with a careless replacement of candles), and then, consider, they arrived. Another reason is the untimely replacement of candles. According to the regulations, it is necessary every 30 thousand km, however, it happens that the central electrode by that time is significantly shortened due to erosion, which causes the spark gap to increase. Accordingly, the breakdown voltage increases - and the module burns out. We recommend checking the spark plugs at every maintenance (15 thousand km) and adjusting the gap. It is not out of place to carry a spare module with you, and in a reliable package so that it does not split while flying around the trunk.
The resource of the air conditioning compressor is unpredictable: some copies serve 150 thousand km without complaints, others fail even on a new car. In half of the cases - due to a break in the winding of the switching clutch. Replacement does not always help, because a new node may well turn out to be with the same defect. Therefore, it is advisable to “ring” the winding with a tester before buying.
The diode bridge of the generator usually burns out due to an oversight by the owner himself: he damaged the right mudguard of the engine compartment somewhere in the rut and did not change it in time. Through the hole, dirt flies straight onto the generator, clogging its insides. Of course, both the unit itself and the V-ribbed belt that drives it cannot withstand it.
On cars manufactured in 2005–2007 with a 1.8 liter engine and automatic transmission, the engine cooling radiator combined with the box heat exchanger created serious problems: due to the destruction of the partitions, the oil was mixed with antifreeze. If such a cocktail is highly undesirable for a motor, then it is deadly for an automatic machine! In those years, a recall campaign was carried out to replace radiators, and in advanced cases, complete boxes were also changed. Later, they began to be repaired, for which the manufacturer accredited a number of third-party companies that work on an official basis to this day. They do not sit idle, because even with a working cooling system, the resource of the machine barely exceeds 160 thousand km. Mechanical boxes serve about the same amount, regardless of the version (there are five of them), as well as the clutch.
Two types of steering racks were installed on the "asters" - with an electric and with an electro-hydraulic amplifier, and in various modifications, which even experts lost count of. Some mechanisms please with adequate effort and clear feedback on the steering wheel, others, to put it mildly, not so much. The main claims against EGUR: even a serviceable unit does not work perfectly, and sometimes fails due to overheating. Well, at least it doesn’t steer where it pleases! To return the mechanism to working condition, you need to wait until it cools down.
Regardless of the variant of the amplifier, we carefully monitor the steering rods: by 60 thousand km, play is already noticeable in them (they are replaced separately). Tips are unlikely to require attention up to 150 thousand km. In the front suspension, the support bearings of the struts are called the conditionally weak link - they get clogged with dirt and begin to crackle. As a rule, dirt penetrates during a sharp rebound, for example, when driving off a curb, when the seal does not have time to work out after the rack parts going down, leaving a gap-loophole. Moral: "speed bumps" are better to push at low speed.
The front sensors are most often to blame for the failure of the anti-lock braking system, and they cannot be replaced separately from the hub. Less commonly, the hub has to be changed due to bearing wear. Both of these are costly. There are no complaints about the rear hubs.
But rear shock absorbers often sweat; but this does not affect the effectiveness of their work - you can not rush to change.
ASTRA: LOGICAL FORECASTThe cost of maintaining the base model, although higher than that of some competitors ( ZR, 2011, No. 12 ), but remain quite acceptable. The sports modification of the OPC does not lend itself to such an accurate forecast, since here a lot depends on the driving ambitions of the previous owner. Of course, in general, these machines get much more, especially in terms of brakes and clutches.
The Zafira V compact van, built on the basis of the Astra N, has a similar list of diseases, but problems with the engine radiator and strut support bearings did not affect it, since there is a different set of components and assemblies, and some suspension parts are also reinforced. Therefore, when you are convinced that machines built on the same platform suffer from the same birth defects, know that this is not always the case.We thank the Armand company in Gostinichny proezd (Moscow)
for assistance in the preparation of the material.
The paintwork of the body as a whole is not satisfactory, however, in some cars of 2005–2006, rust appears on the trunk lid and lower door flanging. Tarnished chrome is common. All the buttons on the steering wheel of this car still work without failures thanks to the ingenuity of the owner - he pulled the halves of the body of the CIM stalk module with bandage rubber. A smart alternative to the branded U-bracket! In the rear suspension with an H-shaped elastic beam, we focus on shock absorbers: by 100 thousand km they can leak. Brake pads are enough for 60 thousand km. Pay attention to the solid plastisol coating of the bottom - it perfectly resists salt.
The most popular Z16XER engine: we recommend checking the spark plugs at every maintenance and adjusting the gap if necessary. Be careful with the ignition module: the product is quite fragile. Some dealers advise flushing the nozzles at every maintenance, but you need to make a decision wisely: if there are no complaints, you should not climb into an established mechanism. Front suspension: ball bearings are riveted to the levers, which is reasonable on this model: the resource of the supports, silent blocks and the levers themselves (due to fatigue cracks) is approximately the same - under 180 thousand km. Brake pads wear out by 30-40 thousand km, discs last twice as long. The clutch for turning on the air conditioning compressor is not famous for its reliability: an open or interturn short circuit of the winding is possible. It is not difficult to replace it, since there is an automatic tensioner for the V-ribbed belt.
FROM THE HISTORY OF THE MODEL COST OF INDIVIDUAL WORKS AT DEALERS, rub. COST OF ORIGINAL SPARE PARTS, rub.
ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THREE YEARS OF OPERATION (75–150 thousand km), rub. Opel Astra H
However, in Europe, this company did not particularly interfere, there were completely different tasks: for all the popularity of the brand, there were problems with the profitability of production, GM managed to make the brand unprofitable for many years. But “unprofitability” and loss are very different things in the modern world, in any case, the American concern has been refusing all proposals for the sale of the European branch since 2008, and given the complex system of ownership of suppliers and the concern ... In general, not only AVTOVAZ has similar nuances.
Why buy Astra H?
But back to our "rams". The unimportant situation with Opel sales in Russia was changed by the release of Astra H in 2004. The car replaced the well-deserved Astra G, which, like all its ancestors before, was practical, comfortable and ... extremely boring.
In the photo: Opel Astra Hatchback (H) "2004–07
In the new generation, the car has been transformed in accordance with the latest requirements for C-class cars: it has become much more voluminous inside, more comfortable and at the same time more economical. At the same time, it remains quite simple in design - no multi-links, only MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam in the back, only in-line motors. Of course, it complied with all the latest European safety requirements.
In fact, the car occupied a niche in which its “relative” had recently played - Opel Vectra B, and which was vacated when a very large and solid one was released. Of course, the price of the Astra corresponded more to the class than to the status, and it fit in well with the new realities of the Russian market for new cars, in which “imported” cars were squeezed out by domestic assembly, and the import of “three-year-olds” was fueled only by an extremely low price per dollar until 2008.
And sales were good! Astra remained in the top three sales leaders in its class, yielding two to three times in sales of Ford Focus, but at the same time steadily outperforming all competitors from Japan and Korea. And the “Czechs” lagged behind at least two times.
The reason for this growth is not only in a competent pricing policy and the recomplication of cars of this class, but also in excellent appearance and very decent driving performance. Opel cars were gaining respectability before our eyes, besides, it was clearly noticeable that corrosion was now the lot of competitors, and Astra, even with problems with painting, did not rust for a very long time, so the proverb “every car becomes an Opel over time” gradually lost all relevance.
In addition, Astra became one of the cars that went through localization, they began to be assembled at a new plant near St. Petersburg. Little by little, a new circle of buyers formed who appreciated good ground clearance and simplicity of suspensions, aggressive European design and ... engine power! After all, Astra was offered for a very moderate amount with a 1.8 140 hp engine, and lovers of “hotter” could choose from a couple of options for a supercharged two-liter engine.
The disadvantages of the model were not a secret either: minor troubles with quality, an outdated automatic transmission (albeit a reliable one), a frankly unsuccessful Easytronic “robot”, a stiff suspension and a not particularly loyal warranty policy of the company. In general, to compete, much was not enough.
In 2009, the new Astra J came out (and a little earlier - its platform), which greatly complicated the company's marketing, but even against this background, the car remained one of the most popular cars in its class. They released Astra H right up to 2015, but most of the sales are still the period from 2006 to 2012.
In 2015, when GM curtailed its presence in Russia, the new Astra confidently set the tone in sales. And most of the machines presented on the Russian market are already close to their tenth anniversary. What owners of such cars will face, and how economical solutions from GM are doing now, read below.
Body
The aggressive design of the car looks quite relevant now. Unless the paint fades over time, because the quality of body painting at Opel is difficult to call outstanding - the layer is thin, it is easily scratched. In addition, both German and St. Petersburg cars at a certain stage suffered from “peeling off” of the paint layer due to the unsuccessful technology of applying the primer, and the defect was very similar, which indicates a puncture of a purely technological plan. The advantages of the paintwork include at least elasticity - with “soft” strokes, the paint does not fly around.
Do not worry, even despite all the difficulties with the paintwork, the car is not prone to corrosion. They pretty much went overboard with the metal processing: small corrosion spots begin to appear on the surface without paint only after a year, but most of the owners fixed the defects under warranty or simply painted the car on their own. Extensive corrosion damage is usually the result of poor quality repairs or poor maintenance.
Front bumper
original price
However, there is still a chance that if the car was manufactured in 2008, then it spent a lot of time under the snow at the Rzhevka airfield near St. Petersburg, where the plant sent almost all the cars produced. Some wintered in this way two or more times before they were acquired. Personal experience shows that, first of all, such wintering affects the condition of the car doors, they are usually not subject to this scourge, but if corrosion was noticeable in the “five-year-olds”, then most likely the biography of the car has a solid pause between the year of production of the main units, the actual production according to VIN and date of first registration. Most likely, the negative effect of such wintering will manifest itself in something else, but so far, due to the young age, other consequences are not noticeable.
But earlier cars are usually still extremely far from all such difficulties. Especially if five to eight years after the release, someone guessed to carry out a second anti-corrosion treatment of the bottom and internal cavities.
“Standard” places of corrosion, such as joints at bumpers and arches, are well protected here. Unless the "shelf" of the rear arch, upon closer inspection, already shows traces of future problems: the sealant swells. This means that in another five or six years, corrosion will be noticeable from the outside, and the arch can be overhauled only by welding in a repair insert.
Now the main points of control are the lower seam of the threshold, the sandblasting points, the attachment points of the subframe and the upper part of the threshold, which is tritely stepped on, and the friction points of the door seal on the C-pillar. Corrosion also feels at ease on the leading edge of the hood and roof: they are clearly worse protected than the rest of the car. The rear doors and trunk lid are also at risk, on the oldest cars they may already have corrosion along the bottom edge, but most cars have no problem with this.
Pictured: Opel Astra Sedan (H)" 2007–14
In general, against the background of competitors, Astra is an almost perfectly protected car from corrosion, even though it has practically no plastic protection panels.
As with all cars of this class, in case of an accident, the quality of repairs leaves much to be desired. Casco repair rates simply do not leave much choice, so a lot of cars with layers of putty on the wings and doors, with non-original body elements and poor build and paint quality are waiting for their buyer. An extra layer of paint will not hurt, but everything else is best avoided, at least because the car loses its remarkable anti-corrosion resistance.
In the photo: Opel Astra OPC (H) "2005–10
However, the body is threatened not only by corrosion. Astra's door hinges are not bad, but the driver's door sags over time, with runs "over 150" adjustment will be required, which is not so easy to do. The rear door on hatchbacks loses its tightness and starts tapping even with a lower mileage, it is necessary to adjust the lock in time and change the seals. By the way, the seal on the side doors is also not eternal, and if it is “tousled” in the lower part, and its tubular part opens, then the doors will close without a noble sound, and extra noise is provided on the go.
In the photo: Opel Astra TwinTop (H) "2006–10
Windshield
original price
Chrome overlays peel off quickly and many simply paint them “in a mat”, because restoration is usually not cheap (keep this in mind when bargaining). The windshield here is quite strong, it is almost not afraid of stone impacts, but over time it is rubbed off - on early cars, windshields were changed under warranty, do not be surprised if the year does not match.
But the headlights are rather weak, the very soft material of the cap practically leaves no chance for a long service: five or six years - and the headlight is worn out. But the luminosity drops due to the banal burnout of the reflector, and both xenon and lensed halogen keep about the same, five to six years of city driving. You can replace the headlight, or you can restore it, several technologies are available.
Headlight AFL
original price
This is especially "pleasant" for those who have adaptive optics with AFL. The Astra was one of the first cars in its class to feature this system, and the headlights are incredibly expensive. If we take the price of a new original, then, roughly speaking, the price of a car is four or five original headlights! Fortunately, this is not - the headlights are not removed from the Astra.
Fog lights crack easily, and the reason is their illiterate use as additional lighting, which is categorically unacceptable - they blind drivers, especially in the rain.
Sagging bumpers are a well-known problem, and it is not at all necessary to fasten them with screws, new mounting brackets are available. Weak plastic lockers are a small problem, the price of non-original ones is something like a couple of thousand rubles.
Pictured: Opel Astra Hatchback (H)" 2007–14
And, of course, the “lip” dearly loved by astrovods is the rubber lower part of the bumper. If you saw Astra with a hanging rubber band on the street, let the driver know, save him from another unpleasant expense. The "lip" is located low, and it is often torn off during careless parking or in the winter season. If you remove it for the winter, then there are high chances that in the summer you will have to put it on screws already - delicate fasteners are also damaged. In general, a whole “lip” and fasteners are a sign of a good attitude towards the car or a recent body repair.
Salon
The interior of the Opels of this period is traditionally gloomy, but the materials are surprisingly good. Strict lines and other "ordnung" side by side with a very high quality of study of all elements, squeaks are rare, plastic is very wear-resistant, except that the steering column levers and climate control system buttons will have visible signs of wear. Plus the gearshift lever cover.
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The quality of the full-fabric interior is excellent, but if the equipment of the car is better, and there are already seats with combined trim, then tears in the seams and scuffs on the “eco-leather” are a common thing, especially when running over a hundred thousand kilometers. In addition, light fabrics perfectly absorb dirt. But if there is a sports salon, everything is just fine - both the material and the execution do not fail, and the skin, most likely, will be natural.
The steering wheel and door handles peel off at runs over two hundred thousand kilometers, the original rugs “end” at 150, which can serve as an indirect indicator of mileage (unfortunately, it twists easily here).
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Here the climate control system fails regardless of the mileage. Moreover, there are enough problems in the simplest configurations with a simple air conditioner, and for those who have dual-zone automatic climate control. The block is not made well enough, the buttons stick, stop pressing and spinning as they should. Yes, and damper motor drives break, especially if you switch something intensively in winter, while the interior has not yet warmed up. If there are extraneous sounds when switching the direction of flows (including turning on air recirculation in the cabin), then this is an expensive repair. But sometimes you can still get away with just lubricating the rods, any grease will do. The same operation should be done even if everything is still good, at least once every two or three years, take silicone grease and crawl under the panel on the driver's side. Well, or entrust this business to professionals.
The water in the ceiling light is not at all a consequence of windshield leaks, just a lack of thermal insulation of the roof, the shape of the skin is such that condensation accumulates there. It is useless to look for holes in the roof, just ventilate the car more often, and you should not drive with the climate turned off and without air conditioning - the car prefers dried air. By the way, this will affect the condition of the interior materials in the best possible way.
In the photo: Torpedo Opel Astra Sedan (H) "2007–14
If the steering column switches, and sometimes some of the buttons on the center console, do not work, this is already serious. The problem is mainly electrical, the so-called CIM module is dying, it is also the front console connection module. A lot is tied to it, including the work of the immobilizer, and a breakdown can empty your pocket for a tidy sum, since you will need to visit the owner of a Tech2 dealer scanner to bind a new module, or to those who know how to repair old ones with high quality. Thousands of pages have already been written on the problem, there are many developments for “easy fixes” and workarounds, so it’s better to turn to the original sources.
Otherwise, only random little things can annoy. I repeat, everything is done quite monumentally, from good materials. In addition, it is extremely technologically assembled and disassembled.
Electrician
Part of the electrical problems could be attributed to breakdowns of interior elements and vice versa. I have already told about the trouble with the CIM module and climate control above, it remains only to complain about the low quality of the door wiring, it sometimes breaks in the corrugation. And it’s not the wiring of the driver’s door that breaks, but the wiring of the rear doors. Typical signs of impending trouble are a wheezing speaker in the door and a non-working central lock. It is treated either by the skillful work of an electrician, or by a proprietary repair kit, which is preferable.
In the photo: Opel Astra Hatchback 2.0 turbo (H) "2004–07
The central lock also fails due to the wear of the microswitches in the driver's door lock, it may not unlock the lock, it may open it at the wrong time, for example, while the car is parked. If the locks click when you hit the door trim, it's time to deal with them, change the microswitches in the drive.
A weak throttle and an ignition module for gasoline engines are actually not so weak, as practice shows. The true mileage of cars with such breakdowns is usually already well over a hundred and a half thousand, regardless of what numbers the odometer shows, and the price of parts is quite sparing by modern standards. Under the condition of regular and replacement of candles at least once every 30-40 thousand kilometers, such problems almost do not appear. The ignition module is mainly afraid of moisture and oil leaks - if not noticed in time, it will pierce the tip and knock out the coil.
Here, failures of a controlled thermostat due to a failure of the heating element happen regularly. Do not forget to read the errors, on many firmwares the “check” does not light up in this case, and the only thing that saves the motor from overheating is that the thermostat loses its tightness over time. Breakdowns of the wiper motor and the ingress of leaves into the climate control motor are a sign of a rare cleaning of the engine compartment from dirt and leaves. Check the condition of the "aquarium", it may accumulate water. This rarely happens and the drain is almost never completely clogged, but at an early stage it manifests itself in the form of a wiper failure. The rear "wiper" is trite sour - they need to be used, otherwise there is a chance to burn the motor.
Radiator fans are another problematic point, the motor is literally clogged with dust from burnt brushes. Bosch fans are "famous" for the latter, and if it's Valeo, then there will be no problem.
Brakes, suspension and steering
Brake system Opel, as usual, no surprises. This does not mean that there are no problems, just that they are completely standard. The front pads creak with little wear - it's easier to get used to or pick up with new "anti-creak" plates. With a run of over 200 thousand, the turn of anthers will most likely come, especially if you abuse the wear of the pads “to zero”. Brake discs are reliable, like an iceberg on which the Titanic has worn off, relatives survive up to five sets of pads or more than one and a half hundred thousand mileage. And not very sensitive to puddles and overheating. Note to the buyer: if there is something on the odometer in the region of 100 thousand, and the seller proudly declares new disks (or it’s just clear that they are fresh), then the mileage is not real.
Pictured: Opel Astra Sedan (H)" 2007–14
Brake disc rear
original price
7 705 rub (2 pcs)
At the rear, the situation is a little worse, because the new calipers with an integrated parking brake mechanism are prone to souring even more than the calipers with drum internal handbrake that suffered from the same problem on older cars. Yes, and for breeding pads, now some kind of tool is required.
However, this is not a replacement for pads when you need a dealer scanner, otherwise there is a chance that your fingers will be slightly pressed forever ... Brake pipes and hoses hold well, the ABS module is extremely reliable. Unless the front ABS sensors are in a vulnerable area, but change along with the hub. Do not worry, the problem has long been thought about: the sensors have learned to change individually. What can I say, this is Opel, a huge number of owners day and night are thinking how to save money! However, other services are still trying to breed to the fullest, offering a complete replacement in order to get less dirty and make more money on the resale of parts.
In the photo: Opel Astra GTC Panoramic (H) "2005–11
Rear beam silent block
original price
The Astra's suspension has always been good, and the H's is doubly fine. Good comfort and the highest reliability. Just do not forget that sagging springs and an extra 50 kg in the trunk of a sedan drastically reduce the resource of the rear beam bushings - they are not eternal here, as a standard they are enough for about a hundred thousand mileage on "ordinary" roads and two hundred - on Moscow.
In front, it is mainly the rear silent blocks of the L-shaped lever and the pillar supports that wear out as standard. The manufacturer obviously overdid it with the supports, because they begin to creak and squeal in our climate already at 50-60 thousand mileage. Users have long privately established that the reason is a lack of bearing lubrication and an unsuccessful boot design, which collects dirt more likely. When assembling, it is recommended to lubricate the assembly liberally, and if it is still working, wash it with a high pressure washer and fill it with grease. Suspension level sensors on cars with xenon are a consumable, but this is quite typical for this element.
In the photo: Opel Astra Caravan (H) "2004–07
The steering on the Astra H is also in good health. Unless the resource of rods and tips is relatively small. Yes, the EGUR electric pump on restyled cars with runs over 200 requires a fluid change. The rail itself does not flow and almost does not play. Machines with a conventional power steering pump are again limited by fluid contamination, but they have a cheaper pump and fluid changes are much easier.
But what about motors and gearboxes?
As you can see, the material turns out to be very voluminous, so we will devote a separate material to choosing the “right” engine. By the way, in this regard, Astra H is almost a unique car, because a manual transmission can cause almost more problems than an automatic one ...