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Comfort for Four If the driving experience is still best left to the Japanese and the Americans, could the Opel Astra possibly fight the two in terms of comfort? In some ways, yes and in some ways, no. On the positive note, the Opel Astra does come with a powerful aircon. The blower emits a breezy Mount Everest feel that fogs up the front windshield even during mid-morning operation. More than just the ventilation controls, the standard stereo with CD player (an upgrade from the 2000 model that only has a stereo cassette) comes with good audio clarity thanks to its standard 8-speaker system (including front and rear tweeters). The seats offer good lateral support and are very comfortable, even in long distance driving. Front space is a bit tight, since the center console openly obtrudes into valuable front foot-well space. However, they are adequate for small to average-sized occupants. The story is true also for the rear passengers. Though the three separate rear headrests may suggest a total seating capacity of five people, the Astra is best left with just four inside. The suspension is a mixed experience. Though it does pretty well when it comes to large potholes and road joints (despite its small size and non-independent rear set-up), it still has much to be desired when it comes to long stretches of uneven roads as the jitters are transferred all the way to the passengers. The cabin also fails to block out outside noise such as street vendors and the like. Tire howl is very evident, especially at high speeds. Ownership and Value for Money Since the Astra was launched into the market last 2000, some owners have become regulars at our website, submitting their tales of both satisfaction and woe when it comes to ownership. Generally, most have liked the solidity of the car, especially given its sub-one million price tag. However, there are some bothersome problems when it comes to durability. The Opel Astra commonly suffers from steering wheel jiggles, easily worn-out brakes (especially the rear brakes) and a rather fragile Twist-Beam Axle. That said, service and parts are also hard to come by. Owners have usually complained of some parts requiring a long wait to get replaced. Some said that replacement of even simple things such as the car’s battery require an expensive visit to an Opel service center as the German marque’s size is not readily available from Motolite and other local manufacturers. |
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