Opel astra gtc j sores of operation. Opel Astra J GTC owner reviews. Vehicle control and comfort

➖ Large doors / Problem parking
➖ Rigid suspension
➖ Maneuverability (large turning radius)
➖ Visibility

pros

➕ Design
➕ Quality of finishing materials
➕ Comfortable salon
➕ Manageability

Advantages and disadvantages of the Opel Astra J GTC 2012-2013 revealed based on reviews real owners... More detailed pros and cons Opel astra GTC 1.4 turbo, 1.6 and 2.0 petrol and diesel with mechanics and automatic transmission can be found in the stories below:

Owner reviews

At the moment I have wound my 12 thousand km, I will try to describe the sensations ... Living in the outback, I still clearly feel how people drill their eyes and turn their heads. Yes it's an Opel, but damn lucky appearance leaves no one indifferent.

When I bought a car, many kept saying, they say, how to live with it with a three-door. However, sitting back is quite normal, and sitting behind a person of average height is quite normal. My wife and I are not taller, the seats are pushed back quite a bit, so there is a solid space in the second row to the front seats. The back also has its own lighting, speakers, space for glasses, bottles or something else, there are hooks for clothes.

In general, what I like about this car is that for all its "youth" it provides a very adult level of comfort and equipment. Rain and light sensors work adequately. The adaptive bi-xenon is beautiful at night, the diode eyelash bezels look cool.

The engine lives only from two and a half thousand revolutions, before that it was quite a vegetable. In sixth gear at 3000 rpm, the speed is exactly 130 km / h. My consumption is mainly on the highway, and in the summer the average does not exceed 8.4 liters (of course, with condender, and the power loss from the condender is minimal), in winter the consumption is a little more, somewhere up to nine liters. Engine 180 HP frisky in moderation, or rather the car is very heavy 1613 kg. Besides big wheels so there is no overclocking that takes your breath away.

Review of Opel Astra GTC 1.6 (180 hp) with mechanics 2012

Video review

A month after the purchase, we go with the girl on a trip to Altai on the GTC. For the trip I had to drive about 2,000 km. And then I realized how comfortable this car is for long trips on good roads... Active lights, cruise control, rain sensor, good music - this helps a lot on a long trip. Then there were many other trips out of town - and each time the car was a real pleasure.

Keeps confidently on the track, there are enough dynamics to confidently overtake. Just switch to 4th or 5th speed and you're off. It is comfortable to drive on highways at 125 km / h. Discomfort is caused only by unexpected bumps on the road - a more or less serious bump can "pierce" the suspension with a characteristic sound.

The appearance at first drove me crazy, blissed out from everyone's attention. He constantly turned around when he got out of the car, beholding his beauty. Now I'm more or less used to it, but Astra still gives aesthetic pleasure.

And now honestly about the cons:

1. Large turning radius. It is compensated by beautiful large wheels.

2. The rear of the car quickly gets dirty due to the absence of mud flaps, and their presence greatly spoils the appearance.

3. Driver's seat. After adjusting for roll-out, the seat is not always fixed to the end, and you need to insert the seat into the groove with additional effort until it clicks. In addition, after a bad road in the city, the lower back begins to weep.

4. Electronic handbrake. There were a couple of cases when I did not put the car on the handbrake, and the car began to slowly roll back. A sharp click does not always work. Therefore, you need to press the button with emphasis.

But I will not attribute large doors to minuses. Yes, you need to calculate the distance to the next car when parking, but what a pleasure it is to open and slam a large and heavy door!

Review of the Opel Astra GTC 1.4 turbo (140 hp) on the mechanics of 2012

The comfort of the front sports seats, you sit like in a "capsule";
+ good insulation (only the muffler hums at high speeds);
+ good information content of the instrument panel, a lot of buttons (feeling like on an airplane);
+ the interior is beautifully highlighted (door opening handles, panel near the gearshift knob).

- it is inconvenient to sit in the seats, as well as very inconvenient to climb out of them (especially those with a large 5th point);
- disease of the combined seats (after 30 thousand km. Everyone has cracked the lower lateral support of the seat made of leatherette, on which they usually sit down when landing, for someone it is generally torn into the trash);
- because of the front wide struts, visibility is lost.

Let's move on to the body. The body is the hallmark of this model. Due to large standard 18-inch wheels and design features, the car has a small turning angle, which is very inconvenient, especially in a large city. It is also inconvenient with huge doors, which, although they open almost 90 degrees, so at least jump up and down, but because of this it is difficult to find a parking place, because with such an opening of the doors, a lot of space is needed.

Suspension:

On the track with its own weight and wheels it goes like a tank.

- albeit on 18 wheels, but tough, every joint and bump is felt, shakes well!

Manual transmission:

I think that the GTC has a manual transmission - weakness... I was faced with the fact that this box, with a NATIVE run of 75,000 km, whistled a bearing input shaft... The problem turns out to be massive, many people drive with it anyway, so when accelerating over 40 km / h, a whistle appears in the box (everyone thinks that this whistle is somewhere else). On the Internet, I also dug up information that at high speeds there is a strong heating in the box, and then the oil overheats, and then the consequences are already clear to everyone ...

Engine:

The 1.4 engine is a strangled engine with a small impeller, which, as they say, does not need to be cooled even after a trip, but I still got used to cooling it down for a minute on long trips. He does not like racing, as well as high speeds, it is worth stamping and something is sure to hit somewhere, so there is only one word from the SPORT equipment and the exhaust system.

Review of the Opel Astra GTC 1.4 turbo manual transmission 2012

In the parking lot next to the GTC, all other cars seem featureless and unprepossessing. When you start the engine, turn on the music and start smoothly (although you could have ignited it), you forget about all the problems and worries that tormented and haunted. You turn on the heated steering wheel and you feel the vibration of the low frequencies of the audio system with your whole body. Well, you must !!! I go without gloves, my hands do not freeze. It's just some kind of holiday!

I let others pass, I climb into a row with full confidence that they will let me through, and this happens. I can easily go around any car I deem necessary to go around, and I feel a huge amount of power under the hood.

But at the same time I absolutely do not want to drive. I am pleased to turn on the fifth gear at 80 km / h and, slightly touching the pedal, out of the corner of my eye see the message: 4.5 liters per 100 km. But with this smooth movement, I know that at any moment, staying in the same gear and slightly pressing the pedal, a car with a cheetah growl will accelerate from 80 to 120 km / h in a couple of seconds.

On the GTC, all the small and natural irregularities of the Russian roads are perceived as a slight vibration. But if you fly into a serious pothole at speed, the blow will be strong. And at this moment you realize how stiff the car's suspension is. As a result, you have to work on the steering wheel, bypassing all this disgrace.

We drive up to the office, looking for a parking place. I find my usual space of 4.5 meters and I understand that my car is exactly this length, so I can only park on such a heel with a crane. I find a place a meter larger. Seems like it should be enough.

I begin to back off, and immediately I hear the scream of the chamber. I get out of the car. My God, and there is still about a meter - to crawl and crawl. It would seem, turn off the parking sensors and calmly hand back another 50 centimeters, but set high rear glass does not allow you to see the hood rear car... As a result, you have to maneuver, leaning against the car in front, since there are no problems with visibility in the front.

Konstantin, review of the Opel Astra J GTC 2.0d diesel (130 hp) MT 2012

Someone may disagree, but personally I think that today of all Opels, the GTC is the most beautiful and harmonious.

There were no problems with adaptation, the wife got used to the car very quickly, which is not surprising. The steering wheel is very nice, lightweight, the pedals are also very soft, getting into the car is comfortable, the steering wheel is adjustable both in height and in reach, there is powerful lateral support and a bunch of settings for the seat itself.

The decoration and quality of materials in the cabin are also at a height, the seats are combined, and in the place where they have the fabric, the fabric itself is very dense, I think it will be very difficult to kill it. Everything else is automotive leather, stitched together. In general, everything is done very well.

A very pleasant sound of the engine, such a bass with a roar, and the sound insulation for its class is at a level, and it is interesting that on winter tires the car became generally very quiet.

The car holds the road perfectly, and in general, excellent taxiing is the most vivid impression of this car. The ground clearance for a car of this class is also quite satisfactory, almost 16 cm. winter tires so in general 17 cm.

So, what is impractical and inconvenient in this car ... Firstly, these are huge doors, so when parking you need to think about this first, it is better not to drive into a narrow place, because the swing of the door is not less than a meter. Secondly, the left stance - it really bothers me. You can't see a fig in the rear window either, but actually there is nothing to look at, since there are parking sensors.

Review of the Opel Astra GTC 1.4 automatic 2013 onwards

Opel Astra J is positioned by the manufacturer as a car for a young family. It was intended to replace the previous Astra family of the H series. The letter designation "J" indicates ninth generation this line. The reliability of the machine plays a decisive role in sales and it is this that determines the activity in sales and the growing popularity of this series. Several body options and the presence of a diesel engine in the lineup allows you to choose a car to suit your preferences and tastes.

Disadvantages of the "Astra J" model

The advantages of the car, which is produced under the Opel brand, can be enumerated for a long time. All the advantages are well known not only to the owners and admirers of this brand, but also to people who are uncertainly oriented in the automotive field. But the disadvantages are worth focusing on, especially if you want to buy a car "J" - series in the secondary market.

Let's start the review of "sores" with the chassis and suspension.

An eternal disease at "Opel" - the ends of the steering rods. Very rarely, when they nurse more than 30 thousand km. The rear multi-link suspension with Watt's mechanism suffers from the fact that the rods bend from loads. Weak rear silent blocks of the front levers require special attention. The front shock absorbers can leak and start knocking after 50,000 km. All this can be revealed if, when buying, you carefully inspect the chassis and take a short test drive.

Transmission units do not cause any special complaints, but there are several features

When equipping the car with automatic transmission, pay attention to the radiator. When it is depressurized, the performance of the automatic transmission will be a big question, since the coolant enters its hydraulic circuit. No wonder Opel conducted a revocable campaign on this issue. This applies to vehicles manufactured in 2009-2010. If you come across a car with a robotic gearbox, then remember - even before reaching 60 thousand km. they caused problems for the owners. If you feel strong when driving jerks or jerks, refuse to purchase this car. Know resource robotic box much less "machine".

Weaknesses "Opel Astra J"

Brake system and thermostat in the cooling system. Vibrations, noise during braking indicate the curvature of the brake discs. This is especially true for the top-end versions of the car, which have discs with a diameter of 321 mm. With strong heating as a result of braking and sharp cooling, the surface of the disk "warps", which manifests itself in vibrations. On machines produced in 2010-2012, the thermostat suffers from fragility, which is accompanied by the almost continuous operation of the cooling fans. When replacing, the gasket must be changed, otherwise the leak will be guaranteed.

What to look for when buying

The main disadvantages of the "Opel Astra J", which you should pay attention to when buying a car, are: frequent failures in electronics, mediocre sound insulation, poor visibility, poor quality of finishing materials in the cabin, which leads to the appearance of "crickets" already at the initial stage of car operation , low-quality glass, especially the windshield, which very quickly "wipes out" and becomes cloudy.

Of course, any sores can be cured both independently and in a specialized technical center. Practically on any thematic forum there is a lot of information about what breaks most often in Astra J. There are problems with valve failure in the intake manifold. This applies to cars equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, as well as problems with paintwork.

There are many cases where the paint began to peel off in large pieces on cars that had not been used for more than ten years. Visually, you can determine this yourself using a thickness gauge. As with all cars, the most problem areas- these are the sills, the trunk lid, the joints of the bumpers and fenders.

That's about all you need to look at when buying an Opel Astra J. If these typical sores were eliminated by the previous owner, then you can safely purchase this car... He will bring you great pleasure from management and from the very fact of owning this car.

Opel Asta J- which replaced Asta G. The car is presented in bodies: hatchback, sedan and station wagon. The maintenance schedule for all bodies is similar. For Russian market Opel Astra J was presented with 4 petrol engines. Two naturally aspirated 1.4 Ecotec A14 XER, 1.6 Ecotec A16 XER and two turbocharged 1.4 Turbo Ecotec A14 NET, 1.6 Turbo Ecotec A16 LET.

This service manual for the Opel Astra J describes all gasoline engines volume 1.4, 1.6 liters. Two types of gearboxes are also considered: for mechanics, the replacement schedule is every 45 thousand km, for an automatic machine every 60 thousand km. The official manual states that routine maintenance must be carried out exclusively at a service station and this procedure, as a rule, will cost extra financial costs. To be able to save money, you can do it yourself, since it is not at all difficult and this guide will help you with this. WITH

The cost of a DIY Astra J maintenance will depend only on the price of spare parts and consumables (the approximate price is indicated for the Moscow region and in US dollars at the exchange rate at the time of writing). Below is the maintenance schedule Opel car Astra J by terms of execution:

List of works during maintenance 1 (mileage 15 thousand km.)

1. ... The manufacturer recommends using engine oils of ACEA A3 / B4 or A3 / B3 quality level not lower than SAE viscosity grade 0W30, 0W40,. The amount of oil in the system is 1.4 Ecotec A14 XER - 3.8l, 1.4 Turbo Ecotec A14 NET - 3.7l, 1.6 Ecotec A16 XER - 5.0l, 1.6 Turbo Ecotec A16 LET 4.9l ... Fill in GM Dexos2 5W30 oil, take a 5L canister (search code 1942003) average price $ 20.
2. Replacement oil filter 5$ (0650172).
3. Checks at TO 1 and all subsequent ones:

• Accessory drive belt;
• A / C compressor drive belt;
• Timing gear belt;
• Crankcase ventilation system;
• Cooling system hoses and connections;
• Coolant;
• Exhaust system;
• Fuel lines and connections;
• Covers for joints of different angular speeds;
• Examination technical condition front suspension parts;
• Checking the technical condition of the rear suspension parts;
• Tightening threaded connections fastening the chassis to the body;
• Condition of tires and air pressure in them;
• Wheel alignment angles;
• Steering drive;
• Power steering system;
• Checking the free play (play) of the steering wheel;
• Hydraulic brake lines and their connections;
• , discs and drums of wheel brake mechanisms;
• Parking brake;
• Brake fluid;
• Headlight adjustment;
• Locks, hinges, hood latch, body fittings lubrication;
• Drainage holes cleaning;

List of works during maintenance 2 (mileage 30 thousand km or 2 years)

1. All work that is provided for maintenance 1 Opel Astra J.
2. ... Cost on average from $ 8 (K1223A);
3. Replacing the air filter. For Astra, we take a General Motors filter (13272719) with an average price of $ 6.5.
4. ... There are two options: Replace with original CHAMPION RC10MCC R6 candles (1214016), the cost of which fluctuates around $ 6 per piece. or replace with DENSO Iridium Power iridium candles (IK16L) all the same $ 6 per 1 piece. Please note that we are considering an A16 XER encoded engine. Judging by the reviews of motorists who made a choice in favor of DENSO candles, we can summarize, namely: the car starts up noticeably better at low temperatures, the engine feels a little softer and more elastic. And the most interesting thing is a decrease in fuel consumption, not significantly, of course, but nevertheless.

List of works during maintenance 3 (mileage 45 thousand km.)

1. All the same work that is provided for in TO 1.
2. If you have a car with manual transmission, then this item is for you, changing the oil in this unit. Initially filled from the factory with SAE 75W-85 API GL4. Fill the manual transmission with API GL4 SAE 75W-85 or 80W90 or SAE 75W90 oil. The manufacturer recommends replacing the oil filled at the factory with SAE 75W90 gear oil if the vehicle is operated for a long time at ambient temperatures below -30 ° C. Refueling volumes: box type F13 and + MTA - 1.6L, F23 - 1.75L, M20 and M32 - 2.4L. On average, we take 2 liters of GM Getriebeoel Schaltgetriebe, two canisters of 1 liter each. (1940182) the average price is $ 9 per liter.

List of works for maintenance 4 (mileage 60 thousand km. Or 4 years)

1. All maintenance work 1 + everything that is included in the 2nd routine maintenance of the Opel Astra J.
2. ... This item is for owners of an automatic transmission. The volume of the system is 4 liters, it is recommended Transmission oil GM Getriebeoel Dexron Vl 1 liter canisters (1940184) the average price is $ 8.5 per liter.

List of works for maintenance 5 (mileage 75 thousand km.)

1. All maintenance work 1.

List of works for maintenance 6 (mileage 90 thousand km or 6 years)

1. Execute routine maintenance TO1, as well as to carry out everything that is provided for by TO2
2. If you have a manual transmission, then change the oil in the box (see point TO 3).
3. Replace drive belt... There are four possible options:

• dv. 1.4 NET / XER unconditioned - Gen. drive belt, 120cm (1340016) price $ 21.
• dv. 1.4 NET / XER with cond. - Gen. drive belt, 130cm (1340005) price $ 21.
• dv. 1.6 LET / XER without air conditioning - Gen. drive belt, 190cm (1340280) price $ 11.

dv. 1.6 LET / XER with air cond. - original (1340019) average price ATTENTION! 83 $ !!! There is an analogue (1340275) with an average price of $ 25.

It is advisable, together with the generator drive belt, to change the tensioning belt pulley (1340267), the average price fluctuates around $ 70. But a replacement is at your discretion, if the condition of the roller is not very worn out.

1. Replacing the timing belt (0637241) price $ 32.

List of works during maintenance 7 (mileage 105 thousand km.)

1. Perform routine maintenance TO1

List of works during maintenance 8 (mileage 120 thousand km.)

1. Perform routine maintenance TO1 and TO2, and if you have an automatic transmission, then also change the oil in this unit (see point No. 2 TO 4).

Lifetime replacements

1. Replacing the brake fluid. Replacement schedule every 2 years or 30 thousand km. run whichever comes first. TJ type DOT4 must be used. The volume of the system is just over one liter. Brake Opel fluid 0.25l (1942057) price $ 3, 0.5l (1942058) price $ 7, 1l (1942059 or 1942422) price on average $ 12.
2. Replacing antifreeze. Original antifreeze concentrate red Long life coolant 1 l (1940663) average price $ 4.5. System capacity 5.9 liters. Replacement according to the regulations every 45,000 km or every 3 years (whichever comes first). When distilled water is added in one-to-one volume, it does not freeze down to -38 ° C.

How much does it cost to Opel Astra J

Summing up how much money will be required for maintenance on the Opel Astra J, it would be correct to break it down into cars with and without air conditioning, as well as by the type of gearbox. Based on the above basic maintenance and each subsequent one for all cars (changing the engine oil and oil filter) will come out about $ 20 (oil) and $ 5 (filter) total $ 25... That is how much a five liter canister costs synthetic oil GM Dexos2 5W30. For 1.6 liter engines, it will come out end-to-end, since the volume of the system in them is about 5 liters. For 1.4 liter engines, about 1 liter will remain for refilling in case of need.

Second MOT the Opel Astra J modification is also similar for all, namely: basic maintenance $ 25, air filter replacement $ 6.5, cabin filter replacement $ 8, spark plug replacement $ 24, total 63.5 $.

Third TO differs from cars with automatic and mechanics. It differs in that, according to the regulations, the oil change in the gearbox on cars with manual transmission is carried out at 45 thousand km, therefore: for mechanics TO3 = TO1 + oil change in the gearbox. The result of the manual transmission = $ 43, automatic transmission = $ 25. The fourth TO is also different for the manual transmission and automatic transmission, different in that this time we change the oil in the automatic transmission, because already 60 thousand km. mileage. Therefore, for automatic transmission TO4 = TO1 + TO2 + oil change. Total TO4: manual transmission = 63.5 $ automatic transmission = 97.5$

Fifth TO is identical for all, it is equal to the basic maintenance. Total $ 25.

Sixth TO at the same time the most different and most expensive for all cars. It is very different because it matters which engine is 1.4l or 1.6l, whether or not an air conditioner is installed, since here it is necessary to change the timing belt and drive belt, as well as possibly the tension roller. Especially owners of manual transmission will have to fork out. And so as not to describe everything possible options Let's take two cars with 1.6 LET / XER engine with air conditioning and manual transmission and automatic transmission. Total TO6 for Automatic transmission = $ 120.5 For Manual transmission = $ 138.5... It will probably cost $ 70 more if you also replace the idler pulley.

Seventh TO= TO1. Total $ 25.

Eighth TO identical with TO2 for vehicles with Manual transmission = $ 63.5 and is identical with TO4 for vehicles with Automatic transmission = $ 97.5.

These prices are for the regulatory Maintenance, are relevant if all work is done independently. The average cost for an oil and filter change at a service station is 500 rubles, an oil change at a gearbox is 800 rubles. Replacing candles, cabin and air filters - all for 300 rubles for one service. Replacing the drive belt 200 rubles, and replacing the timing belt as much as 3200 rubles! As you can see, if you do everything yourself, you can save a lot of money!

The move from the Russian market of all budget models of GM was interrupted by a very good start Astra J. Despite internal competition with a very successful Chevrolet cruze and continued to be produced by the predecessor of the Astra H, the car, as they say, "went". The combination of modern looks, excellent driving characteristics, modern turbo engines and a very high-quality interior attracted both brand fans and people who had previously avoided Opel.

The undoubted advantages of the model include a wide range of powerful atmospheric engines. Some people took the bait for the emergence of new six-speed automatic transmissions and excellent fuel efficiency ratings. In general, it was definitely a breakthrough into the world, where the VW concern was firmly entrenched with its cars of this class. Opel has made a relatively cheap, comfortable and advanced car.

In this generation of Asters, a clear advantage was gained by configurations with "downsized" 1.4 liter turbo engines and automatic boxes gear. This time, the conservatism of the brand gave way to the latest trends. All these factors, as well as traditionally adequate prices for new cars, a wide selection of bodies and the fame of inexpensive cars in operation, allowed Astra J to make the company's cashier even after the market attacked with B ++ class sedans. But after 2014, sales stopped, and the next generation of the Astra K model was not officially presented with us.

In the photo: Opel Astra (K) "2015 – present.

In the world, a happy future for the model was practically guaranteed. An almost exact copy of the European Astra was sold in the United States as the Buick Verano, and there it was with a naturally aspirated 2.4 liter engine (182 hp) and a turbocharged two-liter engine with a capacity of 253 hp. And in China, the Buick Excelle XT / GT showed excellent sales with more familiar European naturally aspirated engines 1.6 and 1.8 liters and supercharged 1.6. There, he repeatedly ranked first in sales among foreign manufacturers.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2009 – present.

It is more difficult to calculate the total circulation of the model over the years of production, but together with the platform-based Chevrolet Cruze it amounts to millions of cars. So, taking into account all the clones and "relatives", this model is one of the most common cars in its class. At least this fact suggests that it was well received not only among us. And it will tell those in the know that for Astra J there should be a rich selection of spare parts from various suppliers in different markets and an extensive market of "used" components around the world.

Body

Like most relatively "young" cars, there is no need to fear serious "natural" corrosion. Relatively rare cases of paint-and-lacquer flaking are typical for the first installation batches of St. Petersburg-assembled cars and very early cars. To a greater extent, the problem somehow affected the three-door hatchbacks. Sometimes a defect occurs on later cars in other bodies, but you should not look for some kind of system in this. It is rather a marriage that was eliminated precisely as a marriage. It was lucky that the body is well galvanized and easily endured for a couple of months in a "naked" state.

Front wing

8 874 rubles

As a standard, paint peels off on the front fenders and in the front of the sill due to "sandblasting", and this happens when the mileage is less than a hundred thousand kilometers. In general, the paint on galvanized panels holds worse than on ordinary steel sheet, and a similar defect can be found even on very well painted cars, like the Audi A6 in the C5-C6 body, which are difficult to suspect of cheapness and poor-quality assembly. Be that as it may, checking the paintwork for thickness and repainting, as well as body seams for originality, is highly recommended, because the paint layer is generally quite thin and easily damaged by "contact". And touch-ups mask more serious accidents.

The peculiarities of the geography of the car's production at one time provided it with a rich selection of Chinese body elements. Now the situation with the availability of body parts has changed to the opposite, the original is badly lacking. Sometimes it is easier to order imported parts for Buick than for Opel. There are almost no non-original spare parts, and for a cheap one body repair you can not count. Used components are still quite expensive and damaged items will need to be repaired whenever possible.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2012-15

Please note that the anti-corrosion protection of the bottom is poorly done: the surface is only partially covered with shock-resistant mastic, and therefore paintwork defects are found there. Including with already quite extensive underfilm corrosion and even in places with loose rust. And if on flat surfaces below they are easily removable, then on the rear arches or at the bottom of the doors it will be much more expensive to remove it. Unfortunately, cars with the initial stage of such a disaster are already encountered. So it is recommended to carry out anti-corrosion protection measures and not forget about prevention in the future. Even the best bodywork does not guarantee the absence of corrosion problems after five to six years of operation.

The rest of the body is almost perfect. The locks are strong, even on the back door they function perfectly. The doors, even on the three-door GTC, do not require adjustment, the seals work perfectly.

In the photo: Opel Astra GTC (J) "2011 – present.

The headlights, however, are overwritten quite easily, it is better to stick a film on them. The headlight washer nozzle covers also fall off and the wipers peel off, but these problems are typical for most cars.

By the way, about optics. For the Astra, the front adaptive AFL optics were offered, and they are an order of magnitude better than conventional standard headlights. But it was also noted both by the high price of the headlight itself, and by the wear of the lens drives themselves and the failures of the regulation systems. Basic consumable- body level position sensors, but the lens motors also "get tired" over time, often freezing in extreme positions. Repair, of course, is not provided, but the headlamp can be disassembled. Craftsmen will be able to sort it out, there is nothing super complicated in it, but there are problems with spare parts.

In the photo: Opel Astra OPC "2013

Windshield

13 047 rubles

Cases of failure of the fuel filler flap drive have been noted.

The Pilkington windshield is frankly unsuccessful, it cracks easily and is quickly overwritten. Especially if you rarely change the brushes and remain without the "washer". And it also cracks from temperature changes - sometimes it does not even require blowing from the stove, a bright enough sun.

Replacing or checking the brushes here requires putting them into the service mode: after turning off the ignition, you need to move the lever down without removing the key, and the wipers will move to the service vertical position. By the way, be careful with the trapezoid, it is not cheap and does not differ in strength.

Salon

The salon will delight you with the excellent work of all systems. But you can also find disadvantages.

The seats are somewhat weak, compared to premium brands, their wear will be more noticeable. By a run of a hundred thousand, the combined seat upholstery is already beginning to give out the age of the car with a small cushion drawdown. But the serious wear of the seats and the steering wheel speaks, rather, of a mileage of more than 200 thousand kilometers, coiled up to a "reasonable" value.

In the photo: Salon Opel Astra J "2009

Scuffs of buttons and decorative elements may appear earlier: plastic does not withstand rough handling. In general, the cabin is characterized by small crickets of the panel, roof console and skins. They are random in nature, and in most cases were not eliminated under warranty (GM service was not particularly friendly).

In the photo: Torpedo Opel Astra (J) "2012-15

The resource of the air conditioner fan is well over 200 thousand. The automatic climate control control unit itself is somewhat unsuccessfully implemented: if handled carelessly, the handles may fail.

Windows can only creak, and distortions and their other problems are rare.

Versions with a heated steering wheel have an increased load on the steering wheel and have a slightly shorter coating life, this is quite normal. But in winter, this option significantly improves the perception of the car, even if there are sometimes complaints about accidental failures of the seat heating system.

In the photo: Opel Astra Sedan (J) "2012 – present dashboard.

On cars with manual transmission, over time, the gear lever becomes very loose, usually this indicates a mileage of over 200 thousand, but sometimes the problem occurs noticeably earlier. In general, everything is pretty predictable and boring.

Brakes, suspension and steering

The braking system is far from perfect. Squeaking pads are not so bad, it's a traditional problem in GM cars. But the souring of the fingers of the rear calipers is already an unpleasant thing. If the handbrake has the AutoHold function, then the probability of failure of the drive after four to five years of operation is quite high. And if you do not use the handbrake at all, then its mechanisms will turn sour.

Please note that on the GTC and when choosing the optional 17-inch wheel rims installed on the sedan and station wagon brake system, which will prevent you from supplying 15 and 16-inch wheels. So anything over 16 inches will do. At the same time, the brakes in such cases squeak more and more often than the standard ones. True, they also slow down much better.

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The suspension of the car as a whole is simple and has a good resource, but there are several nuances.

The rear semi-independent suspension is equipped with a Watt mechanism for better handling. And in the case of operation in Moscow, it is prone to souring, as a result of which the rods can bend, and the car will become unnecessarily stiff. The beam itself holds up perfectly up to 150-200 thousand run in the city, then inexpensive silent blocks usually do not withstand. She only dislikes overload and dirt roads, and even more so - their combination in one trip.

The front suspension is almost eternal, but there are also nuances. With frequent movement on dirt and simply muddy roads and rare washing of arches, the support bearing of the strut suffers. The rear arm support does not like shock loads on rails and rubber more than 18 inches. And if you have a GTC with swivel fist, then there are more vulnerable spots, and suspension elements are more expensive.

Front shock absorber

6 120/19 621 (adjustable) rubles

The resource of shock absorbers is not happy either. After 50-60 thousand mileage on most cars, their efficiency is noticeably reduced, but they rarely flow, and complete failure usually occurs after a hundred or more thousand mileage. But with a full load on uneven roads in older cars, it is frankly unpleasant to drive.

In addition to the same resource characteristics, the adjustable FlexRides are characterized by increased shock sensitivity and a very high price. And repairing the suspension of an unpretentious Astra can cost more than repairing the pneumatics of some W220 from the beginning of the century.

The steering is very good. Especially on new motors with which an electric booster is installed. The main thing is not to drive through deep puddles, not to force the fords and not to neglect the prevention of contacts at least once every few years. Because the price of a new rack with a gearbox is 160 thousand rubles. The drive itself is noticeably cheaper, about 15-30.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2009-12

There are rare cases of damage to the steering shaft bearing, but mostly on the very first cars. EGUR on machines with atmospheric motors, unfortunately, has a not very successful electric pump. The officially non-replaceable fluid in the amplifier after 60-100 thousand mileage is an unpleasant black slurry. Unsurprisingly, the pumps fail and the racks are leaking. An oil change of at least 50 thousand mileage can significantly extend the resource of this expensive unit, and when buying a used Astra J, it is worth checking the condition of the fluid.

Astra J is a boring car, but in the best sense of the word. He does not present any surprises, everything is predictable and expected. At least for now. Let's see what motors and gearboxes say. But this is in the next part of our review.

Opel Astra j 1.6 liter engine... Today we'll talk about its turbocharged modification Opel Astra J with 180 hp. Z16LET. The motor appeared in 2006 and was created on the basis of the Z16XER series engine.

The Z16LET turbo engine, in addition to the well-known design, received the same problems as its atmospheric counterpart. As for reliability, the Opel Astra turbo engine is powered by our fuel and not very much quality oil may become unusable after 100 thousand kilometers. Quite a whimsical engine that requires high-quality and timely service.

Opel Astra j 1.6 device

The basis of the engine design is a cast iron cylinder block. The cylinders are machined directly into the block. The 16-valve mechanism usually does not cause problems, since there are hydraulic lifters and it is not necessary to adjust the thermal clearance of the valves. At the heart of the timing belt is the belt. But we will talk about the belt drive below. The main feature of the motor can be considered a phase change system on both camshafts... It is this system that causes a lot of trouble. especially if you pour low-quality oil. After all, phase shifters work exclusively due to oil pressure, focusing on various sensors. If a strange rattling sound (diesel sound) is heard from under the hood, then do not rush to sin on hydraulic lifters, most likely it is the actuators of the CVCP valve timing system that are out of order.

A schematic of the operation of the CVCP phase change system is shown in the following picture.

As a turbine, the designers of the engine installed the KKK K03 unit, which provides not only high power, but also excellent torque already from 2000-2300 rpm. The compression ratio is reduced to 8.8. Due to the high loads, under which almost all parts of the motor, extraneous noise and vibration quite often appear. Of the minuses, the engine's great appetite for oil can be noted.

Timing device Opel Astra j 1.6

Timing diagram of the Astra engine A16LET in the next photo.

Features Opel Astra j 1.6 (180 HP)

• Working volume - 1598 cm3
• Number of cylinders - 4
• Number of valves - 16
• Cylinder diameter - 79 mm
• Piston stroke - 81.5 mm
• Timing drive - belt
• Power hp (kW) - 180 (132) at 5500 rpm. in min.
• Torque - 230 Nm at 5400 rpm in min.
• Maximum speed- 221 km / h
• Acceleration to the first hundred - 8.5 seconds
• Fuel type - AI-98 gasoline
• Compression ratio - 8.8
• Fuel consumption in the city - 9.8 liters
• Fuel consumption on the highway - 5.5 liters
• Combined fuel consumption - 7.3 liters

If the modification of the Z16LET engine met the Euro-4 requirements, then the A16LET version fits into the Euro-5 environmental standard. Actually, the engines have no constructive difference, only the settings have changed. Among other things, the Opel Astra j 1.6 turbo engine is very picky about fuel quality. In our country, it is better to fill in AI-98 gasoline.