2006 Vauxhall Astra Estate reviews

Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.3cdti 2006

Got as a company car. Fuel consumption was 55mpg on a trip, but car cut out all the time, on motorway, in town, everywhere. Took to main dealer for service, drove 300 yards after collecting car, big bang & car stopped. Dealer collected it, kept it for a week, "fixed" the gearbox (why I don’t know) and it now does 150 miles less per tank, average 37.7mpg on long trip, grinds in second & sixth gears, and now needs to use 2 gears lower for the same hills that it managed in sixth. Had to take it back to get pollen filter changed (supposed to be done on service). The car is a joke to drive, even a Transit pulling a trailer will out drag you at the lights (used to go really well before service). Good news is the stalling is cured! This is my sixth Astra estate and they are great until the dealers touch them. They have ruined my others eg serviced & left dipstick out, fitted wrong fuel cap so tank & filler neck collapsed, on my first one, brakes failed in dealer car park after brake repair. Only by this car if you service it yourself! Basic design seems good & robust, but dealers lack basic skills & will wreck anything they touch.