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Honest John Reviews Vauxhall

Vauxhall Astra Twintop (2006 – 2011) Review

Vauxhall Astra Twintop (2006 – 2011) At A Glance

4/5

+Smart looks. Drives well, especially the 2.0 Turbo. Keen pricing.

-Some reports of problems with the roof and windows. Waterpump failure can throw off timing belt on 1.9 CDTis in just 40k miles.

Insurance Groups are between 14–32
On average it achieves 87% of the official MPG figure
What do owners think of the Vauxhall Astra Twintop (2006 – 2011)? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Car seat chooser

Child seats that fit a Vauxhall Astra Twintop (2006 – 2011)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

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Real MPG average for a Vauxhall Astra Twintop (2006 – 2011)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

87%

Real MPG

20–55 mpg

MPGs submitted

160

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

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Reviews for Vauxhall Astra Twintop (2006 – 2011)'s top 3 rivals

Ford Focus
3/5
Good looks. Huge boot with the roof up and still quite roomy when it's lowered. Solid to drive and a...
Volkswagen Eos
3/5
Goes and handles well with space for four adults. Decent luggage trunk top up and fresh air top down.
Renault Megane
3/5
Beautiful-looking, relaxed cruiser with an elegantly simple folding hard-top. Excellent crash test rating....

Ask Honest John

Why won't the back windows of my Vauxhall Astra go up all the way?

"The back windows of my Vauxhall Astra Twintop aren't going up, they stop about 3-inches from closing. Any advice?"
Might be the motors, might be the wiring harness. But if they are partially going up they might simply be sticking in their channels. Try lubricating the channels with silicone grease or Vaseline. If the channels are damaged, replace them (assuming you can get the parts).
Answered by Honest John

Dealer won't pay to fix faulty roof on Astra Twintop

"I recently bought a Vauxhall Astra Twintop from a local dealer. The car was sold with a warranty that (the dealer said) covers the folding roof. Within a month of ownership, the folding roof mechanism failed. The warranty firm has told me that the roof is not covered and the dealer is refusing to pay for the repairs. What are my rights? "
Yes. Unless the dealer can prove that you did something that caused this problem, the dealer is responsible for this and remains responsible for it for six months from the sate of sale. See: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/ Once he knows you know the rules he will probably pay up.
Answered by Honest John

Which hard top convertible do you recommend?

"I am looking to buy a hard top convertible. The Volkswagen Eos is a bit big, so I am considering a three or four-year-old Renault Megane 1.6 or Vauxhall Astra 1.6/1.8. Have you come across any problems with the mechanics of the opening roofs with either of these models? Which one would you say is the better car?"
The Eos leaks like a sieve because the complexity of the roof requires a multiplicity of separate seals. I've heard of fewer problems with the Megane CC than with the Astra Twintop, and after a seemingly unfixable screen rail leak in its early years, complaints about the Focus CC have, er, dried up. You can check them all out at www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/
Answered by Honest John

Best value engine size

"My bad back makes driving my current Honda S2000 painful and I now need more space, an auto box and ideally a metal folding roof. I rarely use the huge power available. Vauxhall Twin-top is cheapest but Design version rare, auto even more rare. I've also heard rumoured quality issues with roof mechanism. Eos has microscpic boot space when the roof is stowed and I hear some issues with leaking/rattling roof. BMW 320SE seems best option despite price ( budget £21k )- and tax/mpg costs seem reasonable. So what's the catch when buying BMW? Should I go for the 325 though? As auto 2-litre may seem sluggish."
The E93 3-Series is the best. Everything else has some sort of disadvantage in comparison.
Answered by Honest John
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