MK1 Astra GTE
01 August 2006, 04:54 PM
#1
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MK1 Astra GTE
The old man has one of the above that has sat in the garage for over 10 years now.
He has offered it to me FOc, so I was thinking of turning it into a track day car.
Does anyone have experience of MK1 Astras or know of a good starting point for minor mods and tweeks to make it into a decent track car?
He has offered it to me FOc, so I was thinking of turning it into a track day car.
Does anyone have experience of MK1 Astras or know of a good starting point for minor mods and tweeks to make it into a decent track car?
Strip it and fit a 16 valve engine if you're not worried about ruining it
01 August 2006, 05:34 PM
#3
If its any good, Ebay it, Vauxhall forum or something, if its mint and original its worth a bit as there are none left, then use the money to get something less collectible to strip.
01 August 2006, 07:37 PM
#4
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First thing you'll need to do is put some proper suspension on it, all performance Vauxhalls (with the exceptions of the Lotus VX220 & Holden Monaro) come with chronic understeer fitted as standard
Which is a shame because they also generally come with cracking engines which are virtually unburstable and as tuneable as your pockets will allow
For trackdays a decent set of brakes probably wouldn't go amiss either
Which is a shame because they also generally come with cracking engines which are virtually unburstable and as tuneable as your pockets will allow
For trackdays a decent set of brakes probably wouldn't go amiss either
01 August 2006, 07:45 PM
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Well thanks for the replies......
Car is a minter bar the pant had dulled over the years. One owner, my dad, 39000 miles from new. (Cannot drive due to health) I have been looking at a cheap westfield for a track car when he said I could have the GTE.
Like you said as its a minter, best to sort out the paint and flog it to someone that really loves them.
Car is a minter bar the pant had dulled over the years. One owner, my dad, 39000 miles from new. (Cannot drive due to health) I have been looking at a cheap westfield for a track car when he said I could have the GTE.
Like you said as its a minter, best to sort out the paint and flog it to someone that really loves them.
01 August 2006, 08:43 PM
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Wow great car to be honest the MK1 SR and GTe are a revelation after the later terrible Vauxhalls. I used to have an SR as my second car after learning to drive in an MKII Escort.
The Astra had a very firm but controlled ride and handled very well indeed and much better than expected and much better than the MKII Astra.
The engines are veyr strong but rather coarse but can be tuned to develop very good power. Mate of mine had an engine built at torque developments running twin 45s and that was 148bhp as the wheels and the car flew !
Don;t know how it would compete with some of the great hot hatches but I'm sure it woulkd do OK.
AllanB
The Astra had a very firm but controlled ride and handled very well indeed and much better than expected and much better than the MKII Astra.
The engines are veyr strong but rather coarse but can be tuned to develop very good power. Mate of mine had an engine built at torque developments running twin 45s and that was 148bhp as the wheels and the car flew !
Don;t know how it would compete with some of the great hot hatches but I'm sure it woulkd do OK.
AllanB
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01 August 2006, 09:58 PM
#8
I reckon that if there is no rot and that the paint comes up its worth a couple of grand to an enthusiast as they just dont come up anymore, might sound mad but we sold an Austin Ambassador and the phone went mad at 1200 quid ??
01 August 2006, 10:05 PM
#9
I had a bad experience in one............It's the only car i've ever written off, i was only 18 and had the car 2 weeks before someone pulled out of a farmyard entrance in front of me, i hit him more or less head on, then got shunted across the road and took a telegraph pole out!!
Still remember the car with fond memorys though, bright red and my first car that was a bit quick
Still remember the car with fond memorys though, bright red and my first car that was a bit quick
01 August 2006, 11:47 PM
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could well be interested if you want to sell post some pics up or e mail them to crabtrees.5@btopenworld.com
02 August 2006, 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by billywizz
The old man has one of the above that has sat in the garage for over 10 years now.
He has offered it to me FOc, so I was thinking of turning it into a track day car.
Does anyone have experience of MK1 Astras or know of a good starting point for minor mods and tweeks to make it into a decent track car?
He has offered it to me FOc, so I was thinking of turning it into a track day car.
Does anyone have experience of MK1 Astras or know of a good starting point for minor mods and tweeks to make it into a decent track car?
Best thing I can suggest is that I come and pick it up for you and get it out of your way
02 August 2006, 12:54 PM
#12
Only drove one once, about 1988 when I had just passed my test, working for a (car) dealer taking it to auction, going to fast on a lane, double decker comes round the corner using 2/3rds of the road so I ha nowhere to go and twatted the kerb, didnt drive so well afterwards and the wheel was at a slightly different angle, obviousl if you were looking for it, I was worried but delivered it to the auction, it went through, sold and I never heard a thing about it !
Was worried as the week before I had blown the diff on a Granada 2.8 doing Sweeney launches and prior to that towed a van into a BMW !
Was worried as the week before I had blown the diff on a Granada 2.8 doing Sweeney launches and prior to that towed a van into a BMW !
03 August 2006, 08:08 AM
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I think thats the plan. Only extras as suggested by the owners club will be to fit MK2 calipers, new manifold and exhaust and K+N induction kit. Plan to keep the rest of the car standard.
03 August 2006, 12:29 PM
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Car is in storeage at the mo, will get it out after my hols and get a few pics up.
As for the track use, I think it will be a good laugh!!!!!
As for the track use, I think it will be a good laugh!!!!!
03 August 2006, 10:45 PM
#20
I didnt find the MK1 all that quick, even then, drove a mk2 Sri and that seemed a lot quicker, never mind the 130 bhp GTE 2.0, that was a flyer, never had the pleasure of the 16 valve which was meant to be a beast, 150 bhp back in 1990, and it wasnt that heavy, traction was always an issue with these.
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