182 or Astra GSI Turbo

[topp_shotta]

Gettin abit board of my 182, wondering what everyone thinks about the astras 2004 model, 2.0 ecotec turbo. i no this being a clio forum everyone gunna say there poo, put iam just after a change, even tho i love tho clio, my mind wonders quickly

 

[KungFuSpaghetti]

another cheshire chav wagon that doesn't handle. good in a straight line though

 

[Christopher]

Quick in a straight line. Not as nimble as the Clio and IMO they look very boring.

 

[Cuppa]

I actually think they look great in electric blue, but mainly driven by idiots... However it has a great engine.

 

[topp_shotta]

Well iam not a fan of tryin to rip my tyres off the rims when i go round corners. just after summat thats more reliable and turbo'ed. They are a chavvy car, but i live in chav central

 

[Marv-C]

I think they look good even though they are chav wagons. Good engine but poor handling with an intrusive traction control system that you can't turn off.

Try one and see what you think. Also the seats aren't as supportive as they look.

 

[alex-avfc]

Great engine with a lot of potential if you want it, thats for sure

I actually think they look great in electric blue, but mainly driven by idiots... However it has a great engine.

Arden blue.

 

[.Ben.]

It has an anvil under the bonnet, so doesn't corner properly.

Can be made to put out respectable power though.

 

[FlameR]

Wouldn't bother to be honest, and that's coming from someone who's owned a 172 (practically a 182) and has a GSI now.

comfy ride, the seats are a million times better than a 182 (I'ev got heated leather recaros), but as I've found there are plenty of things to go wrong. Plus having a turbo gets boring after a while.

Radiators need replacing, AFMs need replacing all the time (replaced mine 3 times in 12 months), engine rattles when cold, rattles inside (although not as much as the 172 did), head lights are poor in comparison to 1*2 xenons (very few GSI's come with xenons, but there are a few about).

 

[Martin_172]

great for tuning, go well in a straight line, wont go round a bend and cant be made to go round a bend, useless TCS system too

 

[AlexS]

I ve had one as well as a 172, very, very fast in a straightline when remapped and mine handled well due to a whiteline rear anti roll bar, however it was also very dull. The engine was completely silent even at 150 chocolate buttons.
The running costs however are dramatically more than an RS clio, my 172 used to return about 29mpg on my commute, Astra was returning about 20mpg.
I felt the additional performance of the Astra wasn't worth the extra outlay.

I forgot to add your looking at 2-3 AFM's per your at £100 a time, mine had one in the 3 weeks I owned it.

 

[Jonff]

I quite like the looks of them, some say "boring" but I see it more as stealthy which I prefer to be honest.

I know a lad that owns one that's modded, not entirely sure what bhp it is but I've heard figures around 260bhp and in a straight line and motorways I can't get anywhere near it in my Cup.

 

[Arr0nUK]

board of my 182

Drive it harder in bends . But thats not usefull.

I dont think the astra is that bad tbh, i even looked into getting once my self though the fact that loads of chavs seem to drive them put me off a bit.

I would say there good in stright lines and would can also Map it as well

 

[Gavin J]

I had a mk4 Astra SRI turbo (released prior to the GSI and limited to 500) same engine etc as the GSI but minus the leather trim and switchable traction Control. I thought it was a really nice car, mine was super reliable and seemed pretty well built and no interior rattles!! Felt quicker than my 172 but all turbo cars do!! only big downside for me with the Astra was the handling, the clio is in different world handling wise. Always loved the engine bays on these to no horrible plastic engine cover, just how an engine bay should be....
Mine just before i sold it

 

[Arr0nUK]

How do they drive compaired to the 1*2?

eg. gear box/change, low down pull ext

 

[Gavin J]

I felt it was pretty good, but i did feel the gearbox was bit notchy in mine, not very smooth but the power delivery was good, no turbo lag etc and obviously being a turbo tuning potetial is very good - i'd have another to be honest but would have to spend a bit of time on upgrading the suspension etc to make me happy with it....brakes were pretty 280mm discs if i remember right so stopping power was adequate..

 

[topp_shotta]

My only down side to this is the price of them, my clio 04 182 42k would get about £5000-5500 ish for it, the astras go for 5k with 60k+ on, dont no if i would want an older car with more mileage Looks like iam just gunna have to spend some money on the clio

 

[Reyes]

GSi any day. I've owned both 1*2 and GSi, GSi was epic fun when remapped!!
1*2 is good in the twisties but lacks torque big time.
Here's my old one.

 

[Poopensharten]

I really like the Astra GSi, Recaro seats are lush aswell!

 

[Jordi17]

 

[JayR]

^Jordi you clown you cant be of the same opinion as me!

I love them looks wise although only in the blue but having never driven one i cannot comment on how they drive - I did however have an epic blast a fair few years ago against one in a pals 190 bhp R5 and it held its own quite well (we were three up at the time mind).

 

[Slammed172]

Reyes that is stunning, never knew you owned one.

I like them, i was thinking about one, but as said, the price seems steep for a p'astra.

 

[Jordi17]

arden blue by far the best colour though to be fair

 

[EllD90]

My only down side to this is the price of them, my clio 04 182 42k would get about £5000-5500 ish for it, the astras go for 5k with 60k+ on, dont no if i would want an older car with more mileage Looks like iam just gunna have to spend some money on the clio

shot some more gear

 

[topp_shotta]

shot some more gear

Sush dont give the game away, well if i get a black astra with blacked out windows i will look the part 4 defo

 

[alex-avfc]

For real ^ ?

 

[JayR]

^LOL - With a Clio i dount it very much!

 

[Fagan]

A mate just got an arden blue one of these the other day. Stage 3.5 so apparently running circa 310bhp. K04 turbo etc.

It is absolutely rapid, can't see many motors passing him in a straight line, heated leather recaros are mint, nice inside and personally i love the look of them from the oustide too.

I will always have a soft spot for a 182 though, so for me it would be a tough choice.

 

[Lee-182]

Ive now had both, I would still have the GSI over my 182, Easy to tune and they make an awesome noise with a open cone filter.

 

[raggit]

I think they look good even though they are chav wagons. Good engine but poor handling with an intrusive traction control system that you can't turn off.

Try one and see what you think. Also the seats aren't as supportive as they look.

you can turn the traction off in the gsi, its the cheaper sri turbo that you cant turn the traction off.

 

[raggit]

I felt it was pretty good, but i did feel the gearbox was bit notchy in mine, not very smooth but the power delivery was good, no turbo lag etc and obviously being a turbo tuning potetial is very good - i'd have another to be honest but would have to spend a bit of time on upgrading the suspension etc to make me happy with it....brakes were pretty 280mm discs if i remember right so stopping power was adequate..

i has a silver sri turbo too, the traction issue was the only reason i sold mine - the only way to turn it off was to remove a fuse, then you lost abs, power steering etc. - and when remapped it was a monster.

300mm front discs IIRC

 

[Andyman]

A lad i know couldnt get under 15 seconds on the quarter in a relatively (not totally) standard one. :dead:

Turbo torque makes the car feel quicker than what they actually are. Tune them up proper and its a different story

 

[gussy]

Well iam not a fan of tryin to rip my tyres off the rims when i go round corners. just after summat thats more reliable and turbo'ed. They are a chavvy car, but i live in chav central

SEAT IBIZA 1.8 20V T CUPRA 3DR good idea maybe?

am thinking of saleing my ph1 172 an geting one?

 

[sideways danny]

A mate has a GSI and has tuned it a fair amount, blown it up, and upgraded to an engine and turbo from a newer astra VXR. running approx 300bhp now, and it's fast. Next step is standalone and a Garrett GT28RS

 

[Chris205]

most turbo cars you will get problems with

Coil's go in the 1.8t VAG engine all the time

My bro had a 340 bhp ihi converted ibiza cupra, absolutely rapid car, scarey quick once rolling in 3rd, really nice to look at as well

If it was me i'd save up a few more grand and get yourself a mk5 golf gti, new 2.0t, still tunable and supposed to have an excellent chassis, which means you'll get the best of both worlds and ofcourse, VAG build quality

 

[Arr0nUK]

I've been thinking of the whole GSi Astra thing latley. I love the look of the Clio, and the way it handles but I've always had 'B road' cars. The Clio is good in a stright line but there not loads of tunning options for Bhp to £.

Not sure if I should be lazy and boring and go buy a deisel which shed loads of torque and good Mpg

 

[Dink]

i had a little play with one of these not so long ago

he didn't look pleased that he didn't get away but i don't believe his was standard and neither is mine lol

 

[Arr0nUK]

i had a little play with one of these not so long ago

he didn't look pleased that he didn't get away but i don't believe his was standard and neither is mine lol

What car you got at the moment?

 

[Dink]

that was in the polo

 

[Millen]

The thing with the turbo astras is they have so much usable power from low revs so they feel so quick to drive. They are fast without having to wind them up like you do in the clio RS'.

Here's my old turbo 5 door