Should I Get an Astra?

witsa on 11/04/2018 - 23:34

So I'm in the market for a new car. I've never bought a new car before and honestly, I know nothing about cars. This car I will need to take me to work and back every day so I figure for once, I would get something new and comfortable as I'll be spending quite some time in it.

Anyway, I'm thinking either the Astra RS or the Hyundai i30 Active. Both are about the same price (the Astra seems to be dropped in price especially if I find an ex-demo model).

My impression from the test drive is that the Astra RS drives heaps better - I think there's more power with the turbo engine. It's also got a ton of features like assisted parking, blind spot alert, emergency braking assist, keyless entry etc.

It all seems very futuristic actually whereas the i30 just seems to have the basic features.

So my question is… well why is the Astra dropping in price so much? Is there something wrong with them? Has anyone bought a new Astra RS recently that can give me a review of whether they think it's good or not?

Automotive

Comments

  • tomsco on 12/04/2018 - 00:12
    +3

    Like you, I am not amazingly up to date with cars, but from what I understand, Astra's (and Holden's in general) have been known to have problems whereas Hyundai seem to be going from strength to strength.

    I guess it depends on how long you'll have it. If only short term (ie. within warranty period), you should be covered, but if it's long term, it may become a costly exercise.

    • witsa on 12/04/2018 - 00:36

      ah ok I always thought Holden was a reputable brand and Hyundai was like an el cheapo brand manufactured in Korea.

      Guess things have changed…

      • saltypete on 12/04/2018 - 01:38
        +1

        Holden source smaller cars worldwide, often from Korea or other countries. Mechanicals seem to last well enough, but the electronics have given trouble after a few years on pretty well every Holden badged car I am aware of. Not deal breakers, but annoying and fiddly and expensive to fix, and unnecessary if they had put better components in. As a long time Holden owner I've soured on them TBPH.
        No idea about Hyundais.
        Have found Toyotas pretty well bomb proof but borring as batshit. My wife's Corolla is 18 yo and works flawlessly.

      • Oz8argain on 12/04/2018 - 11:06
        +1

        It's the other way around now

  • Noire on 12/04/2018 - 01:23

    I was going suggest the new toyota corolla but that isn't going to launch in another 4 months.

  • Godric on 12/04/2018 - 06:20
    +2

    Get an 80k Mercedes

    • [Deactivated] on 12/04/2018 - 07:19
      +4

      A200 ///AMG

  • [Deactivated] on 12/04/2018 - 06:24
    +1

    Astra’s are horrible
    Buy the i30
    Or something else

  • Nalar on 12/04/2018 - 07:14

    New model i30 (2018) has all the tech as well as turbo in it now, but your looking $25-30k.

  • John Kimble on 12/04/2018 - 07:36
    +2

    I had an Astra AH. Worst car ever.

  • holdenmg on 12/04/2018 - 07:57
    +1

    Get a Kia/Hyundai.

  • Nugs on 12/04/2018 - 08:17

    Yep

  • Ryanek on 12/04/2018 - 08:32

    Hyundai i30 - Best value, best warranty, best servicing
    Astra - Best performing, best features
    Polo - Best quality, best to drive and the roomiest

    I think it depends on your priority. Do you want a driving machine or an economical one.

    • Speckled Jim on 12/04/2018 - 08:51

      The base model i30s (Go/Active) aren't so good:
      According to Wheels.

    • iforgotmysocks on 12/04/2018 - 09:55
      +1

      Polo? They are a size class smaller than i30/astra.

    • RyanMK on 12/04/2018 - 13:25

      Is a Polo really roomier than the i30? I haven't sat in the current gen i30, but the previous gen i30 was around the size of the Golf?

      • BOGOF on 12/04/2018 - 14:10

        Nearly. the new 2018 Polo has more headroom for front seat passengers but less for rear (polo 1019/964 v 130 994/977), whereas shoulder room is about the same for front seats but wider in the Polo (polo 1425/1425 v i30 1427/1406).

        The new Polo has crept into the old Golf bracket. So if you are a tall skinny passenger, then the i30 will feel roomier, but if you a short fatty then the Polo will feel roomier. Someone ask Ryanek which seat he sits in?

  • Fergy1987 on 12/04/2018 - 08:47

    no you should not. Anything else is better

  • Speckled Jim on 12/04/2018 - 09:01

    OP, your impressions are broadly correct. The Astra RS is a more feature-rich car than a base i30 with its torsion beam rear suspension (!).

    There's a slight risk, in that reliability of previous generation Astras weren't a high point. I've read conflicting reports that this Astra is made in Germany, then another place says Poland. Regardless, some of the dud ones were German and Belgian IIRC.

    The other issue is one of dealing with the Holden dealership network. Much has been written on this topic in recent years, and for me it might tip favour one way or another. As would 5 vs 3 year warranties.

    It's a tough call, and the third way — Mazda3 — also looms.

    • witsa on 12/04/2018 - 10:52

      i considered Mazda 3 but they don't offer Android Auto. That's basically a deal breaker for me.

  • Donaldhump on 12/04/2018 - 09:06
    +1

    i know nothing about cars, but a friend who is a mechanic, said to buy cars from Japanese Companies (Mazda, Toyota, Honda etc), if not Japanese, then buy other Asian Company made cars i guess which then means Hyundai, and never buy Ford or Holden.

    Just what i was told!

  • beeawwb on 12/04/2018 - 09:23

    There's a lot of worry at the moment surrounding Holden's financial performance, and perhaps rightly so. I'm on the fence in that regards. My partner and I are in the market for an SUV and she really likes the Equinox, but I'm hesitant because of their future prospects.

    But at the same time, I think if there were any problems Australian Consumer Law would offer some protection if things went totally pear shaped for Holden. YMMV.

    • spackbace on 13/04/2018 - 00:42

      What appeals about the equinox? Nothing really seems standout about that car

      • beeawwb on 13/04/2018 - 08:35

        They gave us a 3 day test-drive, which she appreciated, and it's one of the roomiest in its class. But you're right, it's very similar to most of the others in class in terms of features. I've got a spreadsheet which compares every vehicle we're looking at in every specification and it matches most of them.

        It's still very early in the process though. There's a lot of test drives still to go, and I don't know that we'll end up with one.

  • BOGOF on 12/04/2018 - 09:30
    +7

    The latest Holden Astra (also known as Astra K) is a well designed and built car, the R+ & RS models are packed with 'kit' and beat Hyundai hands down. This model series should not be compared to the old TS & AH series as it now has a completely new platform, (i.e. new chassis, engines & gearboxes). The old TS & AH were very well engineered, but suffered from electrical & electronic issues, mainly due to the placing of components, i.e. they were affected by heat.
    Holden source their cars from various GM suppliers. The current Astra hatch is built by Opel in Poland, the wagon is built by Vauxhall in the UK and the sedan is built by Daewoo in Korea (avoid the sedan!)
    I have driven the latest Astra, i30, Kia Cerrato & Mazda 3. I personally found the Astra to be the better experience mainly because of the handling and performance, but everyone's requirements are different. I also found the Astra & Mazda to be the most attractive cars, the 130 & Cerrato now looks a little old.
    If you are considering a i30 have a look at the Kia Cerrato, it is exactly the same car as the i30 but has a different 'skin' and 'trim' it is also cheaper and has a seven year warranty.
    The Astra is the best looking, best performing hatch with a five year warranty, and lifetime capped servicing……….you know what to do.

    • Speckled Jim on 12/04/2018 - 10:14

      According to their page, 5 years roadside assist too. The 2017 reviews I saw are outdated; they said 3 year warranty.

      Despite also having torsion beam rear suspension, I'd pick the Astra RS too.

      • CMH on 12/04/2018 - 23:01

        I did my own homework and drove an Astra home.

        My cons list included 9month servicing, 95RON requirement and the Holden badge. And the piano Black finish (solved that issue with DIY cosmetic wrap job)

        An extensive search and speaking to others couldn't reveal anything specifically wrong with the car. Mostly anecdotes and personal prejudices against the brand\older model.

        Also lurked around the online opel\astra K forums too to figure if there's any medium-term issues (it's a pretty new model).

        I'm still looking for said issues, mainly so I know what problems I should be looking for in the future.

        • Speckled Jim on 13/04/2018 - 08:35

          Turns out some electronic assistance comes with R+ and above and not optional as I assumed. So I'd just get the cheapest R manual. The 1.4 takes 91 ULP or E10.

          Then I'd address our other shared concern, the badge. Front, rear and steering wheel Opel badges off eBay or wherever? It's not at all deceptive. Pretentious?

        • CMH on 13/04/2018 - 11:16

          @Speckled Jim:

          When I said badge I really meant the support behind it, rather than the aesthetics lol.

          Btw the boot badge is part of the latch assembly so replacing that will cost a bit more than a piece of plastic and adhesive.

        • Speckled Jim on 13/04/2018 - 14:22

          @CMH:
          Sh!t. That's a deal breaker so I'm out.

    • acg21 on 03/06/2018 - 20:01

      Why should the sedan be avoided?

  • k-rokfm on 12/04/2018 - 10:40
    +1

    Give the VW Golf a go. We drove both when we were test driving them, and the Golf drove so much better to us. Inside the Astra is amazing, but the golf is also very nice.

  • 2ndeffort on 12/04/2018 - 10:44

    I just bought a VW Golf and couldnt be happier. I know there are loads of VW haters but my experience has been great and very happy with the car. We previously had a VW Passatt that we downsized from to buy the Golf. We only literally walked past the Astra, wasnt even worth a test drive for us. We looked at the i30 but it seemed lower rent than the VW on a number of levels.

    • CMH on 12/04/2018 - 23:03

      What exactly struck the astra from your list?

  • greencomet on 12/04/2018 - 11:14
    +1

    I'd stay right away from anything VW, sure they're look/drive nice but their reliability is poor, they only have a 3 year warranty, parts are expensive and their servicing costs are high. If you're only keeping it for the life of the warranty that's fine, but there's no chance I'd be keeping it longer. Ask any mechanic and they'll tell you to keep right away.

    • 2ndeffort on 12/04/2018 - 12:05

      Fair enough, respect your opinion everyone has a brand or 2 they hate but I sold my former VW to a mechanic working for a competing brand, he wasnt keeping right away.

      • RockyRaccoon on 12/04/2018 - 16:30

        Mechanics from Competing brands dont always know the problems. You should be looking if mechanics of the brand are buying the brand

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