Purchasing a new Astra Coupe

[Creasy]

Hi all,

As I shipped my Astra Coupe 2.2 all the way to South Africa, where it now stands in storage, I have been looking for a new (new to me!) Astra Coupe to buy here.
I am quite fussy about what I buy and standard spec and history and so forth, and have been struggling to find a decent example for a decent price.

In the interim I have come across a turbo model which has taken my fancy. Question is, it has a sordid MoT History, as it has failed most of them since about 2007 and at the same time carried around 10 advisories. At first it put me off the car, 3 failures and 10 advisories on one report! What do you all think? I live South of London and the car is near Newcastle, so I am trying to make a decision based on any and all info the dealer has.

Anything I should specifically look out for on a Turbo model? Should I avoid altogether due to its poor MoT history?

Would like another 2.2 but to be honest, am wanting something faster, hence the Turbo catching my eye. Does this club support Turbo owners, as obviously its not got a Z22se in it.

Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[HarleyPete]

For starters, is it the same advisories every year? If it is I personally would look to see why they haven't been done (ten years seems a long time to carry the same advisories around without them being sorted out). Secondly, does the price reflect the poor history or is it high for the age/mileage? The fact that it had 3 failures and ten advisories would be a bargaining chip to me to get the price down. At the end of the day it depends on how you feel about it. Are the alarm bells ringing or are you thinking cheap project.

 

[Creasy]

Thanks for thoughts HarleyPete.

Theres 1 advisory which kept repeating for 5 years; "power steering component has slight seepage." The other advisories were for corrosion mostly. It appears they got sorted, but then on the next MoT there'd be other advisories, sometimes as many as 10, for brakes, discs, oil leaks, exhaust etc. It just went through MoT last month, and there is only 1 advisory. Still the Power steering one mentioned earlier.
I did an HPi check and it shows last keeper change 2004, and the Dealer says he knows the owner well as he works at Volvo nearby him and all the car needed got done there. It looks in good nick, just the paperwork for it makes me think twice.

I would like for it to become a bit of a track car for me, but for the minute I need a cheap reliable runabout. Whats really throwing me off is that I cant nip down the road to view the car and make a decision based on actually seeing it. Its a 5 hour train trip from where I am!!

 

[HarleyPete]

I appreciate that, never easy when you cannot view it. The one thing that I find funny is the dealer saying that he knew the owner and that it got everything it needed done. If that's the case, why would it have so many advisories. I wonder what the last owner did, perhaps he wasn't too mechanically minded and just did what came up on the MOT's. It still wouldn't put me off though if it's the right price.

 

[vocky]

personally I would run away from a car like that, poorly maintained if it needs so much work at every MOT.

A service would pick them up and then they should have been rectified before it went to the MOT

 

[Creasy]

Thanks for all the advice, I decided to steer clear of that car. Thanks to all as it isnt even a Z22SE in question!!