[DRIVOBLOG|➨]™

I had been eyeing the Astra ever since it was launched. My first drive in that car, in 1996 – the experience was heavenly. Yes even in those days, I realised that it was underpowered.

Purchase

I finally got the taste of ownership when I was allowed to use the company owned Astra (1996 model) for 3-4 months.

The search ended and I picked up a steel Grey 1996 model. Things had to be spent on during ownership.

• Alloys
• Tyres
• Timing Belt
• Strut Mountings (They always gave way)
• Brake pads
• Brake shoes
• AC Compressor repair
• ICE
• Front WIndshield replacement (for scratches)
• Coolant plastic pipe near intake manifold
• radiator and AC Fans

Performance and FE

The engine was not rev friendly. The LET was good. I changed gears @ 2000 rpm. The car was designed for highway cruising. My car used to gives 17 to the litre of petrol on Nighways with A/c on all the times (or whenever I drove it on overdrive on extended periods and even while on short stops) on the contrary it gave 6-9 kmpl in the city with A/c on all the time (even when my wife is shopping)…my car has crossed 110000 kms.

Yes this was the vehicle which taught me how to drive frugally, by light-footing the throttle. Inspite of that I decided I will buy one for myself.

Ride Comfort

Till this day, that ride-comfort and NVH has been unmatched in similar segment vehicles (other than the BMWs, Mercs and Audis that i have test-driven). It just ran like as if its cruising on a fluid. Any other car would not impress me (except a Ford Mondeo maybe). The pleasure was when you braked, the rear end of the car used to lower itself, compensating the forward thrust and heads did not NOD.

The aerodynamics of the car is so ahead of its time that the moment you touch overdrive…it takes over from you and the scenery just whizzes past you when you look outside the window.

Problems:

• In-confident braking: Even after new fluids, new discs, new tyres, becos of the damn brakes…..I once banged on a mud hill on NH6 at dark midnight…. the car rested on its belly and there was this bus which winched me back on the road…. nothing happened to the car. I was never confident of the brakes and cornering, so never drove above 100kmph
• One during the HYD-DEL-MUM-HYD, the brake line lost fluid and I drove whole night in that condition through Seoni till Sagar.
• Once the radiator fan failed and the car had to be driven without coolant for 10 kms.
• Once while driving through waterlogged streets, water wetted the carpet and a polythene got fouled up in one of the driveshafts and dislocated the axle bellow.
• I always had a tough time sourcing spares and getting the right mechanic.
• Both the Astras I used – used to overheat during bumper to bumper traffic.
• Engine vibrated irritably on idling with AC On: RPM becomes 600 from 800-850 once AC is on.

The car was finally sold in Hyderabad in April 2008 after I purchased the Toyota Innova. I used to take it door to door to offer it everyday during lunch time, until one guy on Minister Road fell for it.