Advice on Opel Astra

[Karag2]

Hi guys,

I'm planning to buy a 2nd hand opel astra 01. Hope you could add insights positive and/or negative, to help me decide. Baka kasi nabulag lang ako and I think na good deal e.

It is owned by the wife of my bayaw. It has a milage of 43k and according to them matipid naman daw (matic). The only problem they have is the aircon, which they said na adjust nalang yung selling price para mapaayos.

The positive things na naiisip ko are : low price (around 200k lang), well driven (pang leisure drive lang kasi dami nila auto) and madali kong malaman yung service history since in a way family na sila.

Negatives naman : While searching in the forums, MAHAL ang maintenance. (Although reliable yung parts yun talaga yung big factor sakin), few shops aside from casa for repairs (specially computer diagnostics).

Thanks sa mga inputs nyo.



BTW mods kung mali ang forum paki repost nalang (sori 1st post ko) thanks.

[nitrox]

My friend also owns an Opel Astra. He said spare parts are indeed pricey. But he said the car has a better longevity (in terms of servicing) compared to his Jap car; he said that this somehow compensates for the high price of the spare parts. He replaced the A/C compressor and distributor mid-2007.

Does the car have a service record? From there you'll see what part/s might be scheduled for replacement in the near future. Also check with GM if they can check-up on the car. Also ask for the price of a new A/C compressor, just to gauge how much you can bargain on the price adjustment.

[Karag2]

thanks for the reply nitrox,

Yup, reliability vs price is what's been nagging in my mind. Pricey parts but majority says that its more durable. Compansates in the end.

the car is casa maintained and I could easily get the service record from them. They had the aircon checked and the estimate is 10k. Forgot all the things that would be replaced.

Might test drive it tom and have the aircon checked in another shop.

[utk505]

if i were u i'll buy a japanese car

[fireblade]

Love yourself sir. Save yourself from the worries of this type of a car as it will give you tons of headache. My previous office has owned two of those and it stayed in the shop for six months. Also, considering the age of the car, it is about to extinct For the low price, still it is not enough. One last, mahal ang ospital ngayon at mahal ang gamot sa puso

[kotiko]

Sorry for the Jap lovers out there but I'd suggest you give it a shot. The Opel Astra is a pretty good and powerful car. Opels just a need a little more passion and getting used to when being maintained. Come check us out at http://www.clubopelph.com. This is where the Opel owners in the Philippines hang out. Try to post a similar thread there, I'm sure lots of the Opel owners will be able to help you out with your decision.

Yes, some spare parts are indeed a bit pricey and sometimes not immediately available compared to Jap cars, but like what nitrox said, once you replace one part it takes quite a long time since it gets busted again. There are also some people who bring parts it at a cheaper cost. And for the Aircon, there's some good shops around as well which could get it fixed cheaper. There's quite a lot of places and mechanics for repairs, especially those who understand how Euro cars work.

By your description, the car you're planning to buy seems fine. Not all Opels and non-Jap cars are "headaches". For now, checking out the service record and see if there's anything actually alarming with the car (major repairs, mga obvious at paulit ulit na sakit, etc.). Anyway, just my opinion :D Post and read around in clubopelph.com to help you in deciding!

[drey]

10K aircon repair is almost similar with the aircon repair of Jap cars.

[mo_lester69]

i own an opel astra wagon and it's probably the best car i've driven so far (being a previous owner of a civic, corolla and sentra). it has a very solid build just like most german cars and has a very firm suspension (you wont feel the potholes).

my only complain is acceleration is quite sluggish which is understandable since the chassis is quite heavy for a 1.6 engine (esp since my astra is a wagon).

dont mind people saying it will be a headache. any 2nd hand car will be a headache if the 1st owner did not properly maintain it so make sure you check the service records of the car. ok lang kahit di casa maintained coz the casa sucks and it's understandable if the previous owner brings it to another 'talyer' to do maintenance.

i had the same dilemma like you before since a lot of people were discouraging me to get an astra. but after almost a year, i have no regrets.

[Karag2]

Thanks for the info guys,

I really wanted a jap car since mas madali mag mod and I am beginning to get interested in modding cars. But as fate have it na overrule ako ng supreme court (wife). hehehe...

We just bought the car yesterday and I am now getting the feel of a euro car, having mostly driven jap cars.

I'll just enjoy this car for now, but I hope that after a year or two pag bumili ako ng isa pang car ako naman ang masunod

nyway... thans sa replies...

[drey]

YOu will now appreciate the practicality of a wagon. I like Astra Wagon, most especially if may cargo cage sa likod.

[eddiebauer]

bibili ka ng european syempre dun ka na sa sikat dapat

eto parang bumili ka ng mga damit duon sa megamall, nag kunwari european pero iniimport lang mayari sa dept. store dun sa europe. ano nga ba pangalan moda italia

kunwari europe style pero trash lang ng europe binebenta ng mahal

[basti08]

bibili ka ng european syempre dun ka na sa sikat dapat

eto parang bumili ka ng mga damit duon sa megamall, nag kunwari european pero iniimport lang mayari sa dept. store dun sa europe. ano nga ba pangalan moda italia

kunwari europe style pero trash lang ng europe binebenta ng mahal

sus. are you saying na dapat BMW 3 series wagon ang binili nya or Audi A4 avant or MB C-class estate na lang ang bilhin nya? may bagay kase na tinatawag na budget eh...
medyo hambog ka din sa mga reply mo noh?

another thing, why would he listen to such comment coming from a person who bought JUST an Explorer EB instead of a Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator? (peace tayo Explorer owners! you know what i mean... hehehe)

[basti08]

reserve your such nasty comment til the day you own the penultimate of all cars sir...

you $uck big time!

[OTEP]

Any idea on the cost of parts ng Astra?

Consumables like air and oil filters? Pati parts like shocks and brake pads? Thanks!

[kotiko]

air filters go around P700 to P1,000 I think? Oil filters around P300 to P500? Can't really remember, pero along those lines rin. Shocks are similar to japs rin, pwede rin kasi Bilsteins i-fit. Replacements costs around 4k to 6k, casa prices are around 6k+ (someone confirm please? )For break pads, Bendix pads fit rin so di rin talaga nagkakalayo sa price.

Mahal lang mga major parts like Aircon compressor which could get up to 20k to 25k.

P.S., eddiebauer's post is full of crap.

[Karag2]

air filters go around P700 to P1,000 I think? Oil filters around P300 to P500? Can't really remember, pero along those lines rin. Shocks are similar to japs rin, pwede rin kasi Bilsteins i-fit. Replacements costs around 4k to 6k, casa prices are around 6k+ (someone confirm please? )For break pads, Bendix pads fit rin so di rin talaga nagkakalayo sa price.

Mahal lang mga major parts like Aircon compressor which could get up to 20k to 25k.

P.S., eddiebauer's post is full of crap.

yup, read in the other forum (opel club) that the price of filters are in that range. Compressor is a whopping 27k-30k, although sabi ng iba compressor ng crv are almost the same.

dun sa 9k++ bill for the aircon ang pinalitan is expansion valve and dryer. plus cleaning. forgot the exact breakdown but that were the major parts that were replaced. Doc otep ask ko lang kung naging factor ng pagsira nung expansion valve and drier yung matagal na di nagamit. After my bayaw's mom migrated to canada di raw kasi masyado nagamit, thus low milage.

thanks.

[kotiko]

Yeah I'd have to say the dryer and expansion valve of Opels are quite expensive. I'd say the 9k bill is just right nman. I think those parts really need to be replaced after quite some time when doing aircon maintenance. Probably accumulation of dirt could be another factor? not really sure.

[Alcymus]

I have an omega bought it second hand..the only thing I have to replace is the brake pads which cost somewhere to 7K for the whole set..What I can say is this car is great..european class and comfort..The japanese cars are a matter of innovation from other great cars..(No offense to japanese car lovers)..they just tend to get the best out of other cars and incorporate them to theirs in a much niftier way and less the durability and longevity..kaya nga ang dami nilang parts na pwedeng pagkunan kasi nga mura at napakadaling gawin..not like this kind of cars..its quality at its best..napapamahal lang kasi ang mga ganitong cars pagdating sa service kasi kulang ang market at konti lang ang mga tecinicians na marunong sa ganito talaga..kung madami lang ang market ng opel dito sa pinas sigurado european cars na ang kakalat dito..2.5 V6 engine ang omega ko pero i could go 13KM per liter mas matipid pa ang akin sa galant series..not to mention I let them eat my dust pagdating sa expressway!!!I could go a top 180KPH(ayaw ko na subukan taas pa dun kakatakot sobrang tulin hehehe) ng alang kahirap hirap at alang strain sa makina....

[Karag2]

Thanks JC might take you up on that offer. Right now the car has 44k km and from what I have read the T-belt needs to be replaced. Might as well do the 50k PMS along with it. yungalangkelanganngpera...

*Alcymus :
Yup euro car is different from jap... really wanted a jap because of the abundant parts and service... nahihilig ko nang mag butingting e... pero your right, a euro is another experience and i'm happy owning one (kelangan happy binayaran na e)

[Alcymus]

Thanks JC might take you up on that offer. Right now
*Alcymus :
Yup euro car is different from jap... really wanted a jap because of the abundant parts and service... nahihilig ko nang mag butingting e... pero your right, a euro is another experience and i'm happy owning one (kelangan happy binayaran na e)

Yes Bro I agree...ang akin lang is that i personally take care of my baby..i dont wait for 5000KM before i change oil..every 2mo palit kaagad kahit hindi ko pa syado nagagamit ang car kasi pag hindi importante ang lakad ko I dont use my car I commute..Its a matter of taking care of it..lagi mong check at I follow the advise talaga na distilled water..I use wilkins distilled on my coolant hindi tap water..mahirap na magsisi mahal ang radiator pare hehehe..and one more thing I do make sure that it doesnt get overloaded..max of 5 people..sa jap cars yeah they are good but if you'll compare the specs ng car natin sa japs makikita mo na advance talaga tayo..may airbags tayo,climate control, etc na hindi mo pa rin nakikita sa mga model ng japanese cars ngayon..merong mangilan ngilan pero mabibilang mo pa rin...