One of India’s first-ever premium sedans was introduced by Opel way back in 1996. It’s a shame that the brand has now been pulled out of the Indian market and with it the products it offered. The Astra, at the time it was introduced, was lightyears ahead of what the Indian consumer was used to. So elaborate were the features offered that a comparable sedan available in the market today might struggle to match it. Add to that the pedigree that Opel’s German engineering brought with it and the Astra was a near unbeatable car. However, there were certain drawbacks which saw the Astra fade into oblivion a few years after its launch. Competition from cars like the Honda City and Mitsubishi Lancer mushrooming all over the place did little to help Opel’s cause, either.
In 1996, however, it had little actually, almost zero – competition apart from the Daweoo Cielo. The Indian market was just walking up to cars beyond the Padminis and the Ambys. The Maruti 800 had already completed its conquest of the Indian market and the Esteem was considered a contemporary sedan. And the of course were the just-introduced Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloons for those who could afford them. This scenario left a massive gap that was on offer for the upwardly mobile. Until the Astra came in, that is.
ENGINE
The first batch of Astras to be sold in India were fitted with a 1.6-litre petrol burner which was far from refined. Idle was rather gravely and the will to rev almost nonexistent. Things improved with a mildly altered engine the following year, with a slightly reworked transmission case to go with it. However, the real step up was when Opel introduced the fuel injected unit in 2000, which was in use in the Opel Corsa until as recently as last year, when GM decided to pull the plug on the Opel brand in India. A 1.7-litre turbo-diesel unit which made a not very grand total of 67bhp was also introduced toward the latter half of the Astra’s life in 2001.
The fuel-injected 95bhp petrol engine ranks as the best buy of the lot. The turbodiesel motor is also quite a reliable unit, decent but for the clatter, the bane of all diesel engines of that era. The five speed manual gearbox with its well-spaced ratios tries its best to all the horses on offer, but shift quality isn’t exactly crisp and the throws are long and rubbery.
COST
As mentioned, Opel has no direct presence here right now. However, note that the service liabilities are borne by General Motors via Chevrolet dealers and finding a centrally located service centre should not be a hassle. A regular service at an authorized centre, at intervals of 10,000km, could cost as much as Rs 4,000. The 1.6-litre petrol engine returns about 9.5kpl on average under mixed driving conditions, which for its size is healthy, especially considering the awful figures that its only rival then, the Cielo, managed.
The diesel engine was quite popular in its day for its efficiency. If you get your hands on the 1.7 diesel variant, ensure that you check the service logs as diesel units often demand more attention. A quick online search for used Astras returns a host of results with CNG and LG converts. In case you opt for one of these, dig for more information as to when and where the kits were installed.
SUSPENSION
The suspension set-up on the Astra is one of the best around and lasts well past 50,000km. Ride quality is impressive and just about any surface is dismissed with ease. Most Astras on the road today would have clocked up enough kilometers to have worn out a set of shock absorbers and will either require a completely fresh set or would have faced a thorough overhaul already. As a result, it makes good sense to check the ride quality and keep an open ear for suspension noise on a test drive. A complete suspension rework will be an expensive job. Watch for sloppy steering too, as the tie-rod ends could need to be changed and in some cases the steering column may be shot.
EXTERIOR
The sober design makes the Astra inoffensive and although it’s a relatively old design, the car seems to have aged well and still has an understated elegance about it. It has almost no flash value but then some people look for just that sort of unostentatious class. A set of snazzy alloys might add a bit of bling though, if that’s more to your tastes. The body panels should be checked thoroughly for rust, especially if you live around the coast. The ends and corners of the sheet metal are the most vulnerable to scratches and rust damage and it can be a serious problem unless addressed early.
Slight scratches and blemishes are likely, and almost expected given our driving conditions. It is the bigger shunts, especially head-on bangs that you should be careful about. A quick look at the service records of a well-maintained car will give you details about any bodywork repairs carried out on the car. And to be on the safe side a quick check for uneven weld lines and kinked pillars is advisable. An undercarriage check is also advisable if you have a chance, as underbody damage would give you an idea about how the car has been used.
The general build quality of Opel cars is superb and the doors of even the decade-old Astra we drove shut with a pretty solid thunk. Plus there were no creaks or rattles from any corner of the car or from the dashboard. Impressive stuff.
INTERIOR
The interiors are rather dull and the decade-old presentation is evident. Lots of little boxes on the instrument cluster house the various warning lamps and the large dials with vibrating needles have an old-school charm about them. You almost expect a column shifter to pop out of someplace just to complete the feel. However, what you do get is a short, sporty looking floor-mounted shifter.
The controls are well laid out and there are plenty of useful little storage areas and cubbyholes around the cabin for all sorts of everyday clutter. Even the indicator and wiper stalks have cue little grooves on the sides for your fingers to slot into. The quality of the dash is acceptable and pretty well put together, though dull shades are used and the styling clearly is dated. Check the many buttons and make sure they are all in working order. Power windows all round and electric mirrors are some more features that you get. And if you are really lucky you’ll fine one with a sunroof too.
VERDICT
Driving around in an Astra may not be the most exciting thing as the engine is rather sluggish and takes its own sweet time to gather momentum. The gear shifts aren’t particularly crisp either. The brakes too have far less bite when compared to newer cars. But all of that can be forgiven if you prefer riding in the rear seat, where the combination of the well-appointed cabin and excellent suspension appeals most. The excellent ride quality takes care of our potholed roads, more so during the monsoon, and the cabin is also quite well insulated from all the hubbub of Indian roads. The Astra’s seats are comfortable enough and the cabin is quite spacious as well. There is also a large boot to cope with weekends out of town.
Need another reason to consider one? Opel Astras are now available for as little as just a single lakh!