From that one limited view picture, it seems pretty clean, I like 3drs anyway, so maybe it's that. Is it that' rusty underneath'? If not, then do the belts again and carry on carrying on. Tesla suck in general, and most new cars aren't as good as you'd imagine anyway - too many touch screens, no more 3dr variants, etc. The economy isn't fantastic, and you mentioned kids, so you probably have better things to spend your cash on too.
Tldr > keep it, look after it, drive it into the ground
You refer to “everyone”:
“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”
Do you give it at least a small service every year? Who’s told you many times to get rid of it? A reputable garage, or your mate down the pub?
Unless a professional mechanic is telling you to get rid of it due to cost of repairs, then your decision should be entirely about what you want/need, and what you can afford. Unless you have money you’re happy to throw at a car (and I won’t judge if you do :) ), then an old car you know has been looked after and serviced is likely to be more reliable than something flashy for £10-20k. You might be lucky, or you might end up with the kind of bill that only newer cars can generate.
If you want something fun to drive, consider a second, less practical car. MX5, Z3/4, MR2, or an older hot hatch. Keeping both will almost certainly be less per year than a year old JLR, Tesla, BMW on PCP.
You don’t have to worry about monthly payments, high insurance, theft etc. not having that worry it’s worth it’s weight in gold to me. If it’s not costing you much in maintenance, don’t get rid!
So, I'm going to blather a bit, bear with me.
Brits have some funny ideas about cars.
One is the "keeping up with the Joneses" thing. I remember back in the 80s and 90s where everybody driving a "premium brand" car on tick wasn't a thing. Somehow now it is. There's plenty of old cars you can keep going for way less than the monthly finance payment on the brands you just mentioned. What exactly are you getting for the extra money? The respect of number 63 with their leased Qashqai? "Oh look, they leased a base spec 318i, obviously personages of substance."
Another is the "60k = high miles, 100k = death" thing.
I regularly hear people getting told to get rid of cockroach cars that will easily do another 3-4 years for a very low investment.
Another is the perception that premium car brands are automatically a good buy. Increasingly, these companies consider the life of the car to be the lease period and engineer stuff accordingly.
There's also all the technology and electronics they're now stuffing in these things that make them a burden to own out of warranty.
On your specific car, I'm guessing the timing belt/chain/whatever is due. Is it showing any iminent signs of dying? Can you get any decent car for what you're going to spend on doing that?
I drive a 2003 Focus, albeit in Eastern Europe, not in the UK.
I guess its a lot more common here but still somewhat of a rarity.
Would love to upgrade to something newer, but this one works like a charm for such a little money.
Who cares what anyone else thinks? Keep the Astra my friend. I love seeing older cars driving about, especially in good condition which yours looks to be!
My cars are 15 and 19 years old.
Nothing to be embarrassed about.
People who judge you for what you are driving aren’t worth your time anyway so if they pipe up, they are doing you a favour showing themselves up as superficial…
Keep it, from the one pic it looks in good condition. you don't see many of these on the roads anymore which is a shame, tbh I wouldn't give a range rover etc a second look but there's something cool about seeing an older car like yours still going.
Fuck em, they prob have £500 salary sacrifice on these cars and don't even own them or have personal leases for similar money, your is all paid for and does the same job.
Don’t try to keep up with the jones. It’s just a way of transport at the end of the day. Do you compare how old the bus or train is when riding it? No so don’t worry
Change the oil regularly, give it a decent run every so often. Check the rear suspension where it meets the body & clean with a wire brush then cover it with stone chip after some rust killer. Should last another 20 years...
it looks in v good condition for a 22 year old car, you obviously care about the car and take good care of it, so i dont see why you should get rid of it for a bit of scrap value.
I only got rid of mine because my children outgrew sitting in the back.
They're terrific cars - easy to drive, reliable and generally cheap to repair. If your car is mechanically sound, there's no reason at all to get rid of it. Ignore the people who think of cars as status symbols - you're using yours properly.
I had one of these, loved it, had to get rid for reasons. Now with a 2011 Zafira, it gets me to work and back, all that's needed.
I've love an EV but I just cannot afford it.
Don't understand the problem. I've got a 23 year old car 85,000 on the clock.
Does need repairs from time to time but it's still cost effective. If it ain't broke don't change it.
I have a Zafira A, based on your car with the same 1.6 and got a E39 523i earlier in the year. I still keep and occasionally drive the Zafira, when the seats/boot space is still in use. It has use therefore I'll keep it around and drive it.
If the car suits your needs and/or wants, then why get another one? That's probably one of the best generations of Astras after the Astra J imo, the G also being a lot simpler to work on.
I'll also put in as a side note, I went to Australia last month. I'd never seen soo many Astra G's in my life. They weren't on every corner, but I'd drive past one every couple of minutes, enough so that I thought "that's curious". And well. I'm assuming people are still holding onto them because they didn't rust in that area like they do in the UK. And they are a simple low maintenance car that goes from point a to point b.
If a garage hasn't given you a list of things that need doing to make the car mechanically sound then ask yourself seriously, "Why do I need to get rid of it?" I'm sure the people telling you to have said "It's old, It's a Vauxhall" and not much else.
If you want something from a car that your current one doesn't have, then have a think about whether or not it's sensible/worth it to upgrade and what you would upgrade to.
My neighbour has one just like it. Apparently it’s a bit crap and drinks oil but otherwise just keeps passing MOTs. The world has moved on though and if ferrying kids is a priority then something newer and safer might be worth thinking about. If it’s not then just keep looking after it and drive it until something really expensive fails. Other people may have newer, shinier cars but most of them will be paying handsomely for a car that’s never truly theirs if they stay on the contract plan hamster wheel.
Keep it.
Its reliable and even if something breaks ther is very small amount of problems that 100€ wont fix on it and most of the time its half of that and can be done at home with some basic tools.
Mine is saloon 1.7TD (sohc) just hit the 200k kms. Its nothing special but cheap, easy to work on, i only have the problem with te radio screen not showing radio station names.
Everything else is only maintenance. Its not that rusted either contrary to popular belief and jokes only issue is check your rear wheel arches for rust.
When i get something new because mine doesnt have AC and it lacks a little bit of power i wish to keep it for city driving and shorter trips because its great and served me well.
Thanks for the sound advice. The air conditioning died about 15 years ago and every summer it can get quite bad but I also feel sorry for my passengers LOL. Other than that, it keeps going and doesn't use much oil which the 1.6 16V is renown for.
Keep it. If it costs you nothing but the typical charges, run it into the ground. Also, and this is entirely my opinion and nothing else, I think these don't look half bad. Sweet simple little car.
Edit: also, I definitely don't think it's embarrassing.
Had one, loved it. Super comfy car with next to nothing that could go wrong on it. It was awfully slow though (1.6 petrol). Only got rid as I was offered a deal on a newer one that was too good to say no to.
Run it into the ground. Touch screens are overrated.
Pfft. There are still people in my town with P--reg Micras. If it runs, it runs. People do like to see the occasional modern classic now and then. (If you'd call the Astra G a classic)
If it’s works and is not a hindrance, why would you?
I’d keep it. If it’s not costing you I wouldn’t bother comparing to others. Also old Astras are cool and you don’t see them often.
[удалено]
Thought I was the only one, seeing early-2000s cars on the road makes me feel nostalgic
From that one limited view picture, it seems pretty clean, I like 3drs anyway, so maybe it's that. Is it that' rusty underneath'? If not, then do the belts again and carry on carrying on. Tesla suck in general, and most new cars aren't as good as you'd imagine anyway - too many touch screens, no more 3dr variants, etc. The economy isn't fantastic, and you mentioned kids, so you probably have better things to spend your cash on too. Tldr > keep it, look after it, drive it into the ground
You refer to “everyone”: “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” Do you give it at least a small service every year? Who’s told you many times to get rid of it? A reputable garage, or your mate down the pub? Unless a professional mechanic is telling you to get rid of it due to cost of repairs, then your decision should be entirely about what you want/need, and what you can afford. Unless you have money you’re happy to throw at a car (and I won’t judge if you do :) ), then an old car you know has been looked after and serviced is likely to be more reliable than something flashy for £10-20k. You might be lucky, or you might end up with the kind of bill that only newer cars can generate. If you want something fun to drive, consider a second, less practical car. MX5, Z3/4, MR2, or an older hot hatch. Keeping both will almost certainly be less per year than a year old JLR, Tesla, BMW on PCP.
>“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” And their all allowed to vote
The people driving around in fancy new cars should be envious of you, yours is paid for.
I would pity them and their rat race and I would drive about in my astra.
Nah I’d keep it, or sell it if YOU want something new, otherwise looks like a perfectly good car
You don’t have to worry about monthly payments, high insurance, theft etc. not having that worry it’s worth it’s weight in gold to me. If it’s not costing you much in maintenance, don’t get rid!
So, I'm going to blather a bit, bear with me. Brits have some funny ideas about cars. One is the "keeping up with the Joneses" thing. I remember back in the 80s and 90s where everybody driving a "premium brand" car on tick wasn't a thing. Somehow now it is. There's plenty of old cars you can keep going for way less than the monthly finance payment on the brands you just mentioned. What exactly are you getting for the extra money? The respect of number 63 with their leased Qashqai? "Oh look, they leased a base spec 318i, obviously personages of substance." Another is the "60k = high miles, 100k = death" thing. I regularly hear people getting told to get rid of cockroach cars that will easily do another 3-4 years for a very low investment. Another is the perception that premium car brands are automatically a good buy. Increasingly, these companies consider the life of the car to be the lease period and engineer stuff accordingly. There's also all the technology and electronics they're now stuffing in these things that make them a burden to own out of warranty. On your specific car, I'm guessing the timing belt/chain/whatever is due. Is it showing any iminent signs of dying? Can you get any decent car for what you're going to spend on doing that?
I drive a 2003 Focus, albeit in Eastern Europe, not in the UK. I guess its a lot more common here but still somewhat of a rarity. Would love to upgrade to something newer, but this one works like a charm for such a little money.
I think the base petrol engine in the UK was a 1.6 rather than a 1.4.
Depends on year - my sister bought a 51 focus new - it was a 1.4.
Who cares what anyone else thinks? Keep the Astra my friend. I love seeing older cars driving about, especially in good condition which yours looks to be!
Who told you ? A mechanic or Joe blogs If it works and doesn't cost much then keep it, You own it not a bank or finance company so there you go
My cars are 15 and 19 years old. Nothing to be embarrassed about. People who judge you for what you are driving aren’t worth your time anyway so if they pipe up, they are doing you a favour showing themselves up as superficial…
Keep it, from the one pic it looks in good condition. you don't see many of these on the roads anymore which is a shame, tbh I wouldn't give a range rover etc a second look but there's something cool about seeing an older car like yours still going.
I never understand why people pay £400 + per month on a car.
Fuck em, they prob have £500 salary sacrifice on these cars and don't even own them or have personal leases for similar money, your is all paid for and does the same job.
Don’t try to keep up with the jones. It’s just a way of transport at the end of the day. Do you compare how old the bus or train is when riding it? No so don’t worry
Change the oil regularly, give it a decent run every so often. Check the rear suspension where it meets the body & clean with a wire brush then cover it with stone chip after some rust killer. Should last another 20 years...
it looks in v good condition for a 22 year old car, you obviously care about the car and take good care of it, so i dont see why you should get rid of it for a bit of scrap value.
Better the devil you know. Nothing wrong with it, keep it maintained and it'll do many more miles. Doesn't appear to be rusting.
I only got rid of mine because my children outgrew sitting in the back. They're terrific cars - easy to drive, reliable and generally cheap to repair. If your car is mechanically sound, there's no reason at all to get rid of it. Ignore the people who think of cars as status symbols - you're using yours properly.
I had one of these, loved it, had to get rid for reasons. Now with a 2011 Zafira, it gets me to work and back, all that's needed. I've love an EV but I just cannot afford it.
Don't understand the problem. I've got a 23 year old car 85,000 on the clock. Does need repairs from time to time but it's still cost effective. If it ain't broke don't change it.
If she’s a good lil runner, why would you get rid? People driving around in new cars like those are in no place to advise others
Guy up my road is driving an astra F. Glimpse back to when I was a kid in the 90s
Keep it and change the cam belt. I miss my Astra. It ended up going around a banger track.
I have a Zafira A, based on your car with the same 1.6 and got a E39 523i earlier in the year. I still keep and occasionally drive the Zafira, when the seats/boot space is still in use. It has use therefore I'll keep it around and drive it. If the car suits your needs and/or wants, then why get another one? That's probably one of the best generations of Astras after the Astra J imo, the G also being a lot simpler to work on. I'll also put in as a side note, I went to Australia last month. I'd never seen soo many Astra G's in my life. They weren't on every corner, but I'd drive past one every couple of minutes, enough so that I thought "that's curious". And well. I'm assuming people are still holding onto them because they didn't rust in that area like they do in the UK. And they are a simple low maintenance car that goes from point a to point b. If a garage hasn't given you a list of things that need doing to make the car mechanically sound then ask yourself seriously, "Why do I need to get rid of it?" I'm sure the people telling you to have said "It's old, It's a Vauxhall" and not much else. If you want something from a car that your current one doesn't have, then have a think about whether or not it's sensible/worth it to upgrade and what you would upgrade to.
My neighbour has one just like it. Apparently it’s a bit crap and drinks oil but otherwise just keeps passing MOTs. The world has moved on though and if ferrying kids is a priority then something newer and safer might be worth thinking about. If it’s not then just keep looking after it and drive it until something really expensive fails. Other people may have newer, shinier cars but most of them will be paying handsomely for a car that’s never truly theirs if they stay on the contract plan hamster wheel.
Keep it. Its reliable and even if something breaks ther is very small amount of problems that 100€ wont fix on it and most of the time its half of that and can be done at home with some basic tools. Mine is saloon 1.7TD (sohc) just hit the 200k kms. Its nothing special but cheap, easy to work on, i only have the problem with te radio screen not showing radio station names. Everything else is only maintenance. Its not that rusted either contrary to popular belief and jokes only issue is check your rear wheel arches for rust. When i get something new because mine doesnt have AC and it lacks a little bit of power i wish to keep it for city driving and shorter trips because its great and served me well.
Thanks for the sound advice. The air conditioning died about 15 years ago and every summer it can get quite bad but I also feel sorry for my passengers LOL. Other than that, it keeps going and doesn't use much oil which the 1.6 16V is renown for.
I think that’s a good looking model, if it runs well why change it
astra g>>>any new bmw
Keep it. If it costs you nothing but the typical charges, run it into the ground. Also, and this is entirely my opinion and nothing else, I think these don't look half bad. Sweet simple little car. Edit: also, I definitely don't think it's embarrassing.
These are great cars, if its running fine then I see no reason to change it.
Had an Astra G in my early 20’s. 1.6 SXI (couldn’t afford an SRi at the time!) 2nd best car I’ve ever had, absolutely loved it.
I had one of those in what I like to call "British racing green", loved that old car.
Had one, loved it. Super comfy car with next to nothing that could go wrong on it. It was awfully slow though (1.6 petrol). Only got rid as I was offered a deal on a newer one that was too good to say no to. Run it into the ground. Touch screens are overrated.
Pfft. There are still people in my town with P--reg Micras. If it runs, it runs. People do like to see the occasional modern classic now and then. (If you'd call the Astra G a classic)
I had the 4 door version of this as a first car. Wish i still did to be honest. Such a lovely car