miles25

I am after opinions regarding performance and reliability of these cars (if used on a track).

What are the standard bhp figures?

How do they handle?

Any other relevant information or personal experience.

Big Col

Available '91-'94. 150bhp as standard. Biggest positive about the car is the engine. Quite rapid for a 2litre even by todays standards. 0-100 in 21secs iirc.

On the downside the handling aint the best (understeer city) and the steering is very uncommunicative IMHO. A decent aftermarket suspension set up will help things but I'd think for a trackday weapon you might be better finding something that handles better in the first place. Also they aint the lightest at 1120kg.

Good examples appear to be holding their value very well. I've recently seen very clean examples selling for £2K.

miles25

Thanks for the info

A friend was looking at one as a potential track car, sounds like there could be better options out there for similar money.

mozzaITA

I owned an astra gsi16v j reg going back 6 years or so and to be honest it was probably my favourite car that i did own, the engine was excellent, the accelleration was good especially as you could hit 70 mph in second gear, brakes were adequate but like previously mentioned the handliong wasnt brilliant but it was predictable!

Reliabilty was spot on and it never gave me any problems and if so they were very easy to work on! Overall it was a great car, good fuel ecconomy if not pushed too hard, 0-60 early 7's and would hit 140 mph. Shame a drink driver killed my one!

Buy one!

moz

wisecobandit

Good engines but they did have problems with porous heads.
If you do look into it they had 2 different types of heads.Look for a cdscast one rather than a gm one.Both will be stamped on he head somewhere which type.
The obvious symptom will be mayonaise in the coolant header tank.

wisecobandit

P.S early 1's where 156 bhp later 1's only 150hp.

Big Col

i disagree.

All mk3 Astra's had the 150bhp C20XE. The early 156bhp 20XE was found in mk2 Astra's.

mozzaITA

All mrk 3 2.0 16v astra's have 150 bhp as they were fitted with a cat, the mrk2 gte 16v had 156 bhp!

Heple

Get a 1992 J Plate.

No need for a cat in MOT, more electrics inside than later models, cosworth heads.

These are the fastest 2.0 on the road much faster than any of the modern cars that advertise more bhp. They have a really good mid range.

Handling is awful though when pushed. Loads of understeer followed by loads of oversteer quite fun when you witness it.

Engines are excellent mine had 190,000 on it when i sold it and it ran like new you just have to look after the idle speed controller with some WD40 every now and then.

16vmarc

Red Tops had forged pistons too and were pretty much hand built im led to believe. They were very expensive to produce and ultimatley couldnt comply with new emission rules, hence its replacement by the 136bhp Ecotec engine.

Also im pretty sure some J reg were Coss cast? - Check the block it will be stamped.

Big Col

The coscast stamp is on the head, near exhaust port 3. It's kinda difficult to see though. Easier to look for is a core plug under the distributor. If one is present it aint a coscast head.

The coscast heads still can get water/oil mixing issues but it doesn't seem to be as much as a problem as with the later heads.

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

Try Mig Web mate.

Loads and loads if info on there and im sure they could help you out on there with your questions.
www.migweb.co.uk

Darren

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

Just seen this on PH classifides

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/57063.htm

Big Col

that won't be a C20XE (red top) though. That will have the X20XEV Ecotec.

Heple

The X20XEV are slow as **** - Stay away !!!

wisecobandit

Yup i agree with that...
Just me not reading the post saying it was a mark 3.
How come your on scoobynet Col have you got a scooby to?Funny seeing another migweb member on here.

Woody1

I had a D reg 1.3 Merit as my first car that I got 73mph out of 2nd !!!!!!!! Glad their was no rev counter on it !!!!

FB Tuning

iTrader: (30)

Another vote for the XE engine here

I've put one in a Nova, and am having great fun with it on the slippery roads

The engine has done 120K+ and has had the life thrashed out of it for the last 30K - Doesn't use any oil, and never misses a beat (touch wood!)

wisecobandit

Ive got a redtop sat in the garage out of an astra and stuck in a tuned v6 in my astra mk3...

Problem is i wanna drive both the scooby and the astra whenever i go out and can never make my mind up which 1 is more fun

DarrenSTI

iTrader: (3)

Miles25, were you in the market to buying one?. If so mine is up for sale. Full details can be found on www.migweb.co.uk under DAZGSI, it the Red GSI.

If you need any more details than on the site let me know.

Thank
Darren.

JCScooby

apparently the 16v red top was actualy away ahead of its time in terms of build and design. So even a high milage shouldnt give u many problems. Great engine But as others have said, not so sure about the car.

MooseRacer

Coscast redtop in my Westie, cracking motor and sounds great on throttle bodies

dazzaTypeR

Oh my what fond memories are flooding back, I had a GSI on a Jplate, and as previously said I think it was one of the best cars I owned, I paid 6550 for mine with 39k on the clock. I owned for 18months never had a single issue with it, uprated the suspension and sorted the handling. Had a race with a 2wd Saph cossie once, he done me down the straight just, and then held me up thru the twisties while he slid his way round. I put 12,000 miles on it and due to joining a motoring magazine had a different new car every night so she had to be sold. I sold it £6500 to pro footballer who also had a love for them along with many of his other toys. It went like hell and eventually handled like a go-kart and I lost £50 in 18months. WHY CANT ALL CARS BE LIKE THAT!!!

My bro had one too, he had his chipped by superchips to just over 180bhp he was pulled over in Germany for pushing 155 by the law who just wanted to know what it was. How cool, espesh for a vauxhall.

miles25

I asked the question on behalf of a friend, but yes he is on the market of buying one (or something similar). It's going to be used as a track car though and the views regarding poor handling is putting him off slightly?

DarrenSTI

iTrader: (3)

Well until I get my Impreza Thats probably when I will see and tell the difference in handling between the two(I'm guess the Subaru will be a million times better). As it stands at the moment I think its fine, of course a typical front wheel drive car.

I wonder if a rear wheel drive car would make for a better track car?, or would you just have to sort out the suspension out on a front wheel drive to suit a track?.