SPORTIVO OR ASTRA?

[Croatian Princess]

ok as the title states sportivo or astra?

ive decided to come to my senses and give a go at learning manual....if i succeed i shall buy a new car! but i cant decide which one is better? i personally think the astra (current shape 2 door - similar look to sri turbo) ..what do you guys think?

based on insurance and looks and petrol and power and how long car will last etc.

Thanks!!

[gOODbOYz]

I love the look of the asta 2door turbo.. but i reckon it'll b hard to find performance parts for the astras.

If ur planning to keep ur car long term go for toyota, they just keep going and going, how rare is it u see a corolla break down? i've never seen one in my life.!!

But in the end its ur money and ur choice, we cant advise u to buy what car we reckon is good coz one day ull turn around and say what if i bought the other car?

lucky dip it is!!

[Dead]

When I was looking for a car my godfather told me to buy a Corolla. That sort of shocked me a bit as the whole family is Holden oriented up there. In saying that, I myself am glad I have this car to this day klara. I'm holding on to it for quite a long time :)

[Suprathai]

If you get over the fact that the sportivo has the 2zzge in it, then I would say the Astra. The sportivo corolla is too old to be honest, a very dated design. But just go for a test drive and find out which one you prefer over all.

If you can't get over the fact that the sportivo has lift then we all understand as well :D

Unfair comparison if you ask me, should be Sportivo Vs SRI turbo. Which I would chose the SRI straight away. It will have better resale value anyway I think.

[Dead]

It's not that old lol

[oVo]

Manual is so much for more FUN!! lolz

I like the looks of the Astra...but i'd only go the SRi Turbo.

Depending on which car is better, well that's all in the eye of the beholder. ;)

Take an astra for a test drive and see how you go. :)

As for worrying about reliability issues, well cars past year 2000 are pretty decent and i don't think you'll be keeping a car for 10 years. Both companies have a good parts base, if ever anything were to happen. Holden and Toyota are both good companies in this respect.

So it boils down to your wants and how the two cars cater to them best for you. :D

Good luck!

[Dead]

I am a mechanic and I work on them all the time. I would say they are one of the most loathed and badly built cars. Ever heard of a timing belt snapping on a toyota at less than 100000Km's or tensioners for belt having to be replaced? Here is some other regular problems that I have seen within my career. Massive electrical sensor prolems. Guarenteed always after timing belt replaced, tensioner problems. Timing belt snapping at 50000Km's - despite holden's 60000km change interval, shock absorber replacement at 26000Kms, exhausts going at 30000Km, premature tyre wear, gear box problems within 100000km's, problems with doors and fuel flaps at young age. Core packs that fail regulalry and are expensive to replace and these are only the ones I can remember.

OVERALL: I have never met a mechanic who is very impressed with them.

Obviously this is only one opinion that was drafted, but there's others out there slightly similar to this. Reference to the 2004 - current models.

Sorry this was an unofficial review on the Astra. I think a lot of the guys on here would be familiar with the problems on the Corolla's (cheers 'you know who you are' ;))

[oVo]

I am a mechanic and I work on them all the time. I would say they are one of the most loathed and badly built cars. Ever heard of a timing belt snapping on a toyota at less than 100000Km's or tensioners for belt having to be replaced? Here is some other regular problems that I have seen within my career. Massive electrical sensor prolems. Guarenteed always after timing belt replaced, tensioner problems. Timing belt snapping at 50000Km's - despite holden's 60000km change interval, shock absorber replacement at 26000Kms, exhausts going at 30000Km, premature tyre wear, gear box problems within 100000km's, problems with doors and fuel flaps at young age. Core packs that fail regulalry and are expensive to replace and these are only the ones I can remember.

OVERALL: I have never met a mechanic who is very impressed with them.

Obviously this is only one opinion that was drafted, but there's others out there slightly similar to this. Reference to the 2004 - current models.

Oh Sh** ....serious?

Dat's some seriously scary stuff!

Same wit da SRi Ts?

[Dead]

People need to make up their own decisions ay. I'm not going to sit here and bag something I personally have never driven or owned, but I found it scary when my own Godfather told me to stay away.

My uncle recently bought a 2001 astra and it seems fine however. Second hand though so many of the issues may have already been ironed out.

I dunno, maybe a lot of the guys on here will say 'better the devil you know?'.

I dunno whether Klara would honestly want an SR-i T guys. Wouldn't like to see the cost to insure it.

[selyaT]

Klara you're around the same age as me and I think a 2-door car would be tough on insurance... Not to mention the SRi T... I reckon the Sportivo is a perfect car and has so many applications. Four doors, reasonable power, reliable, practical, availability of parts etc... The build quality may be down on the Jap spec Corollas but "A Toyota's a Toyota" - my favourite palindrome :D

[Saiya]

If you want something more zippy why not wait until the new TRD Corolla comes out? I dont trust Holden or Ford.

[selyaT]

I dont trust Holden or Ford.

[rthy]

I dont trust Holden or Ford.

i learnt that the hardway.. and my pocket is alot lighter now...

i was also looking for a small car to replace my ford. ended up getting a Lancer GSR sedan 4wd 1.8turbo. best money spent since the supercharged ae82 corolla!

[Dead]

Ford's spirit needs to match their build quality at times. 1970's Ford needs to make a comeback. That's when a Falcon was a tought as nuts, simplistic torque machine (reference to the immortal 351).

However it will never be the same. Technology is king now, and the Japanese seem to be the masters of this across the board (Germans seem to specialise in the top end market).

[daviboy]

i havnt been in the Astras but if had the money, ide probly get an SRi turbo, they look so sexy. But instead i chose to also get a sportivo. Uncle always told me, get a corolla, most reliable car ever, so i did, and so far so good, only had it for a week though, not 2 mention its fast enough for me.

BTW manual is so fun, i switched from Auto and am basically mastering manual on the rolla, but its awsome

[Dead]

i havnt been in the Astras but if had the money, ide probly get an SRi turbo, they look so sexy. But instead i chose to also get a sportivo. Uncle always told me, get a corolla, most reliable car ever, so i did, and so far so good, only had it for a week though, not 2 mention its fast enough for me.

BTW manual is so fun, i switched from Auto and am basically mastering manual on the rolla, but its awsome

x2 the Astra is indeed a sex mobile in terms of styling.

Best 4 door hatch I've seen tbh is the sportivo hands down.

[saintly]

two different cars the sportivo and the SRi...

however the astra appeals to me more, though not necessary the best value for money.

[sportiyo]

astra if u dont car about power, astra i reckon is better if power not matters, it looks good, its new, and kinda classy interior

[perthcamry]

Astra = Euro= $ & Trouble

I was looking at getting one before the Camry and heard nothing good from Mechanics.

[MT]

i personally think the astras are ugly. and they have a timing belt? timing chain ftw! (ie rolla :P)

yes they are european which means $$ as someone else said.

Klara, i think u said u were under 20??? any 2 door car u get is considered a sports car so insurance will be twice what you are paying on the corolla now.

stick with something 4 door.

[Ashs Red Rolla]

Having owned a Sportivo, and now an Astra SRiT. I do think they both have their own strenghts. The Sportivo was a fun car because of the noise and people didnt expect it from a Corolla.

The Astra however has the best quality interior and overall finish out of the 2. As for power the Sportivo has 141kW and the Astra SRiT has 147kW. So almost identicle, but the Astra has it over the Sportivo because the power is there down low, but you have to wait for the power in the Sportivo. As for looks, i much prefer the look of the Astra to the Sportivo.

In the end it comes down to what you prefer Klara, and what you are willing to pay.

When modifying the Astra performance parts are becoming more readily available. I know that Walkinshaw Performance in Melbourne have parts for the SRiT, including exhaust, CAI and lowering springs. And there is always Ebay.... Check out www.opelaus.com if you have any questions. Here are some pics i have of both my cars, just to help you choose :D

[Ashs Red Rolla]

i personally think the astras are ugly. and they have a timing belt? timing chain ftw! (ie rolla :P)

yes they are european which means $$ as someone else said.

Klara, i think u said u were under 20??? any 2 door car u get is considered a sports car so insurance will be twice what you are paying on the corolla now.

stick with something 4 door.

They have a timing chain....

Just because they are Euro, doesnt mean that they are expensive. Service's are comparable to the Corolla.

I am 21 the insurance on my Sportivo was $1600 through RACQ. With the Astra i am paying $1400, go figure

[Dead]

*Starts humping ash's old tivo*

[Croatian Princess]

wow!!! so mani opinions.....BUt i didnt say i wantd sri turbo lol i said a 2 door but that looks SIMILAR to the sri with the body kit n all that jaz. neway i gave manual a go n im never sitting in a drivers seat of a manual car ever again! i did pretty good for my first go BUT coming from auto i was a lead foot and kept revvin the ***** out of the car and stalled it a few time and the clutch - damn that things annoying. all my dreams r shattered now :( manual looks like fun but i dont think i have any more patience and i dont have a manual car in the family to practice on :P i practiced on my bfs car which was ever scarier haha.

[neK]

What about a WV Gold TDI?

With petrol prices as they are, turbo diesel may be a good option.