Ople Astra - The Robust Machine!

I own an Opel GLi 2001 MPFI (2002) & used to own a Opel 1.6 NZR (1998) for about 3 years.

The machine is distinctly european in looks and is one helluva compact model in its class. The sheet metal outdoes evey other japanese & korean models on road, so if you are looking for safety in crash tests you would hardly find an opel smothered to bits.(Tip: achtung for highway bustards comparison & you would thank your stars to be driving an opel) Achtung: Is "Watchout" in German.

The front crash sensors also do the trick for you to escape from the vehicle. Imagine your doors being locked post crash, but you need not worry in an opel as the chances of survival are almost 100%; the doors unlock immediately on an impact (Tip: this may not be included in earlier models though).So if you love your loved ones; nothing can beat this beast on safety.

So if you own the beast there has to be cons (i will give them in small doses throughout this article). The great indian mindset & the vehicles mileage may have some tantric connection to explore. You guessed it right; i have not got more than 9.5 in city & around 8.5 in rough conditions (without a/c). But when I did a mumbai - goa trip; the tripmeter returned a mileage of impressive 13.5. It all depends how you behave with the vehicle, i say!

If you plan to tame the beast be gentle to it & then see it exceed your expectations (true for every damn thing in this world)
Check out car maintainance tips at http://www.carwale.com/Research/TipsAdvice/MaintenanceTips.aspx

The interiors are the best in its class. The avoidance of plastic in interiors only goes to show the elegance factor is thumbs up.It has a leather like feeling on the dashborad. Every freaking vehicle uses plastic on dashboard except for this one. It has height adjustable seat belts on front and rear. Also an arm rest in the middle of the rear seat which can also be used to access the boot. Rear reading lights are smartly placed on the roof at both ends (left and right rear seats) Power mirrors, steering & windows (with anti-child lock for rear) is smart.

Mainatainance cost is only sixth best to the ambassador, fiat, contessa, peugot, esteem....you know what i mean. My entire front & rear suspesion kit came for under Rs.8000/-. The entire clutch plate kit costed me Rs.3800/-

Now the air-conditioning was never meant for the indian palate. The weather takes its toll on the compressor and chilling. (Tip: ensure you have a v-kool tint only on the front windscreen for effective cooling; the sides any other tint would do; reason being the sunrays direcly impact the dash which has the a/c vents) Guess what it has got a glove box which behaves like a chill box when the a/c is on. It also has vents to keep your cans cool of not chilled.

The ride handling is just too good. It grips the road well at high speeds. I could touch 160kms/hr for about 10 continuous minutes without any shuddering and it was raring to go further. I even managed to click a pic of my speedometer at that speed.
It is definitely not a zip, zap, zoom car. The mpfi is definitely pepier though than its pre-decessors. It has an engine guard/plate which obviously protects it from getting hit by rocks beneath; this feature is non-existant in any other vehicle.

Everything in this car is ulta-pulta for the new; i mean the indicators are on left; reverse gear has different mechanism; the utilities were startght from the left hand drive german auto. the music system is blaupunkt.(which is used only on mercs & bmw; cause they believe everything in german sourcing only). The vehicle is not sleek, jazzy, punk or futuristic. They have an 80's styling which gives you a retro feel & a no-nonsense category look to the vehicle.

It was the second premium high-end vehicle to be launched in the Indian market after the cielo & was priced from 8.15 to 11.80 Lacs depending upon the model variants. It had all the features that were not launched on premium segment vehicles untli late 2002. I mean which vehicle would give you power mirrors, crash sensors, mpfi engines, engine guards, head-rests, adjustable seat-belts, fog lamps, tachometer, electronic controlled unit to detect point to point failures mechanically and electronically, back in the late 90's. You ride this car and you would not want to trust the valuation. Cause what you get is more than what you see & hear about this beast. The only second best vehicle which would come close to build, safety and riding would be the Fiat Sienna. Not that i dont like or trust jap/kor cars but they are in a different league alltogether. Trust me for this pricing range of 1.25 to 2 Lacs if you are getting the world of german technology, it is hard to keep your eyes off it for long.

All in all a robust, sturdy, elegant & a no-nonsense vehicle; if the fuel economy does not punch your pocket for just a km or two's difference. Expect an mpfi engine to give atleast a km better mileage.