Leaderboard

Hi everyone. My name is Richard and I’m based in Bristol. I used to work for Welch’s, the main Vauxhall dealer many years ago in the early 80s as a salesman and developed a passion for 80’s Vauxhall’s which has never left me. I now am fortunate enough to own a Low mileage gorgeous Mk 1 Astra GTE 3 door in polar white, unmolested and completely original, a Mk2 Astra GTE 16v, same colour, very low mileage, again completely original and pretty much concourse throughout plus have just completed a full nut and bolt restoration to a 1985 Nova Sport with a mere 47,000 miles. This car is near enough identical to when it was delivered to the dealer new, other than it has the X 17 uprated camshaft which was manufactured in Sweden specifically for Irmscher and an option at the time. They are all driven and not just showpieces.

Hi Earlier this year I purchased a JC Wyvern which is a kit car using the Vauxhall Magnum running gear engine is the 2.3l High Compression slant four. Although the car look grand as he had recently a respray and a so called rebuild, I am now in the process of rebuilding it correctly. I would like to find any other JC owners so please get in contact if you own one or know someone who owns one

Hi everyone, Firstly, thank you for accepting my request to join. A little about me, I’m Craig from Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. My father worked in the local Vauxhall dealer on the island (McKirdy & McMillan) and I spent most of my younger years (1990 - 1998) growing up in amongst Cavaliers, Astras, Novas, Corsas and Carltons. The owner, Jim McMillan and I had a sort of bond and I had the utmost respect for the man and we became good friends despite the massive age gap. He had a white Senator CD annd it was sheer luxury. I still remember the reg no. It was G475 VGD. I loved that car. Unfortunately he took ill and the garage closed down in 1998 and he passed away in 1999 when I was 15. My apprenticeship was served in the local Ford dealer (W. & J. Duncan) then I worked in the Local Renault Dealer (Rothesay Motor Services) before going to work for my Father-in-Law full time driving his cattle float. I’ve owned a few Vauxhalls over the years, a Nova SR, Cavalier CD and two Cavalier LS and after not having owned one for around 20 years I’m starting to look for another Cavalier, Calibra, Vectra or Astra Will see what’s available when I’m actually ready to buy . Looking forward to having a good look around the forum and I’ll probably be looking for some help and advice in the near future.

Hi. Here is a photo of our Astra at the dealership back in December 2025 on the day we agreed to buy it.

Hi, Last summer I bought an approved second hand electric Mokka. I'm joining to ask questions - which I hope I'll post in the relevant forums! Peter, south coast England

Hi folks. Stonham Barns is holding Vauxfest again this year. But this year they are allowing club stands too. If anyone is interested in attending the details are to follow.

Hiya Not managed to do a thing yet sadly , all of a sudden work has got very busy, on weds morning I'm hoping to send and clean the marks and fill with paint and then colour cut at the weekend. I promise to post progress photos as I go along.

Hello Steve. Welcome to the club. Feel free to post pictures of your car for all to see and admire. Yes as was mentioned in an earlier comment, I have some knowledge on maintenance on the Astra's. I am on my 2nd mk4 Astra, and wish I had got in to them years earlier than I did. I have been doing quite a bit to my beast, which due to its age is just replacing worn out parts. The main thing to do is keep up to date on servicing, and they'll return good mileage back. My Astra is a 1.6 16 valve auto, and has recently hit 242000+ miles, and is 24 years old. Happy motoring.

lol...there's no pleasing everybody for sure!

Thank you for your kind comment, my wife and I were very taken by its look and also the cabin and seats are well fitted and comfy. The dealer tells us it has a factory "XP" kit fitted which I must say gives it a modern and purpose full look , though my Son says the brake discs look tiny thru the big wheels !

Hi all, I’m an individual vehicle owner who’s experienced a wet timing belt–related engine failure and I’m trying to raise awareness and understand how common this issue is across the UK. Independent garages are increasingly talking about wet timing belt degradation (e.g. PureTech, EcoBoost), where belt material breaks down inside the engine oil, blocks the oil pickup, and leads to oil starvation and sudden engine damage — sometimes at relatively low mileage and with little warning. Rather than treating cases in isolation, I’ve put together a voluntary owner reporting page where people can share their experience if they choose. This isn’t commercial research, a survey, or data collection for profit — it’s about consumer awareness, supporting complaints, and helping owners understand whether what they’re experiencing is common. The page also includes guidance on: • what evidence helps if a claim is rejected • who to report issues to • and how others have navigated warranty/manufacturer responses If you’ve experienced something similar and want to share, details are here: 👉 https://sites.google.com/view/wet-belt-failures/home No obligation at all — even comments describing your experience are helpful for discussion. I’m also interested in hearing from mechanics or trade professionals who are seeing this more often.

Hi Steve - welcome to the Club That should definitely blow the cobwebs out and give the battery a top up. @AndyR is your man for older Astra's advice, as and when any maintenance and repairs are needed

Now that the old girl has a new lease of life. I thought i'd give her a clean up and add some stripes to break up that silver a bit. And she has just made another milestone. 240000 miles. Not bad for a 23 year old.

Thought I'd introduce myself quickly. 2014 Insignia owner (two or three previous owners), very happy with it overall. Joined up to get help with a specific issue (I'm really not a car person so limited knowledge) but, after reading through some of the threads here, there's clearly a lot of very useful things to explore! I'm not likely to post much, I don't know anything useful about cars to share with you all!

Hi, I keep meaning to say thank you for your advise. We're a bit skint at the moment and the steering isn't playing up (touch wood), so we're saving up and hopefully get it in a garage ASAP. Thanks Ang :-)

Hi All, Recently picked up a 2012 Astra GTC VXR. Initially wanted an ST MK2 for the unbeatable 5-pot burble, but reckoned I wouldn't sleep peacefully after I'd researched the sleeve cracking issue in-depth 😅 This led me to the Astra GTC VXR. I've been pleasantly surprised with the overall package and driving experience this car offers. The performance and looks are a killer combo and a testament to a time when manufacturers were fighting to have the hottest hatch, while still letting you plonk a few buttons to unleash the dark side. Glad to be here!

Thanks for the welcome and when the weather clears up and I have cleaned the car I'll get some pics

Owned from new - metallic silver with factory fitted full body styling kit + 19in alloy wheels (snowflake design). Additional spare alloy wheel (purchased when no longer being manufactured). 130,000 miles - still runs extremely well. Bodywork in reasonably good condition for its age. Serviced and MOT'd last month. Excellent tyres - all tyres purchased during this year. Genuine reason for sale - running costs now somewhat of a luxury with only doing approx 2000 miles a year - for some years now. Does need money spending on it due to following issues - Offside & nearside inner drive shaft joints severely deteriorated (MOT minor defects) Nearside rear brake pipe corroded (MOT monitor & repair if necessary - advisory) Alloy wheels (which make the look of the car) could do with refurbishment. Panel on drivers door that operates both front windows not working. Petrol cap disconnected from central locking system as solenoid needs replacing. Wiper motor/linkages need attention as both wipers sweep against/beyond windscreen rubber surround. Water ingress into front passenger footwell. Reason unknown - suspect it may be windscreen seal damage/deterioration (not visible) where wiper blade has swept onto/over the rubber seal. Car needs TLC from a Vectra enthusiast who has the skills to maintain it. It would be such a shame to scrap it as 2.0 SRi petrol variants aren't so common these days - the car genuinely looks good. All offers considered. Tel: 07733 359313.

Hi there have you tried ebay? Failing that it might have to be a vauxhall dealership. I have found in the past that ebay has come up trumps on a lot of parts. Some can be high silly prices, but thee are quite a few that are decently priced. Hope this helps. Regards AndyR

Ty I got 1 from there thanks

Hi all Name is Kevin owned my Zafira since 2002 purchased as a 6 months old ex demo car from Hartwells

Hi everyone, I thought I would introduce myself to you all as I think I have some interesting history with Vauxhall. Back in the late 1950/Early 1960 my father worked at the Vauxhall plant in Luton, not really sure what he did, but probably on the production line somewhere. My earliest recollection of the car he drove was a Bedford CA Dormobile, I don't know that much about it other than the Reg number of NEW641 and the memories of places we visited with this vehicle, believe me we did some miles in it. The next car he owned probably around 1966 was a truly fantastic car, The Vauxhall Cresta PA Estate reg number UPM70, what a lovely car that was. Next was the PC Cresta saloon, another work of art, then he purchased ( brand new) probably with staff discount a Viva Van, not quite sure what model HA or HB in white, as a second vehicle in the household, I do remember that he tought both my Mother and my eldest sister to drive in it. So as you can imagine there is a bit of Vauxhall in my blood, currently I own a VX220, and a Mavano van that has been converted to a Campervan and there have been many other Vauxhall's in-between, as well as some interesting history with a vauxhall dealer where I worked for a few years. Just a short taster of many years with Vauxhall, if anyone is interested send me a message and I'll get back to you. Thanks for reading this, all the best

Hi mate I completely forgot about sharing my photos of my new Corsa ultimate and I also went for the 130 turbo!!........ it's like it's been given a steroid injection 🤣

Would love to go but I am at Le Mans 24 Hours race that week

Tanks admin i will contact them

Today I picked up some 600 grit wet and dry and a power red paint stick and some Isopropol alcohol. Tommorow , I've told the missus if anybody phones for me " he s outside working on the motor ! " I'll sand back the paint chips , clean with IA and then paint in some colour to build up level. Then I'll let it harden as the rest of the wet abd dry from 1000 to 5000 and some polish discs for the drill need to arrive in the post , but I'm hoping to make some very neat paint repairs.

So there we were parked up at the supermarket and I casually mentioned to the wife how the car might look even better lowered by 2inchs , she made "that face" and replied " you lower that car and I'm leaving you" just because I've modded a few cars in the past to get better stance and improved handling, might just lea e ot as it is then !

Hi Andy , thank you for posting. I certainly will take you up on your offer for advice , and I'm a monster for regular and proper oil and servicing, on any car I've owned, firm beliver in prevention over cure . I'll post some photos as I go along . Cheers Steve

Hi...and welcome to the Club Interesting to read your history with Vauxhalls, from the era when they were great cars to work on. Droopsnoot Firenza, always wanted one and now wouldn't be able to afford one....good luck with your search for a classic Vauxhall. Feel free to jump into any post you feel you can answer or add your opinion, wisdom, etc. Great to have you onboard !

Thank you

I have the same problem. Did anyone solve this yet?

Up date on issue took a look at it and belt was off, puzzled really if belt was off how is I could drive car with message on dash, so refitted belt and the message as gone so I tested the battery (engine off) was reading 11.35 (engine on) reading 14.56 so took it for drive tonight no message back and belt still on strange, but still have a loss of power in car but this just may be down to the intercooler pipe as I may have a split in it some where as engine makes a whistling sound when accelerating would I be right there

Hey everyone 👋 I’m new to the group and also new to the whole car-modding scene. I drive an Opel Astra H GTC 125, and I’ve recently started developing a real passion for modifying it and making it look neat. So far, I’ve done a good cleanup, repainted the car, and even painted the brake calipers. Basically, it’s now at a perfect ground zero for me to start adding mods. I’d love to hear your suggestions on where a beginner like me should start. A few things about what I’m aiming for: I’d prefer to do most of the work myself and keep learning along the way. I don’t want to mess too much with electrical components. I’m more interested in exterior mods and some light engine or exhaust changes. I’m on a budget, since I’m still figuring out what I like most. I’m currently looking at adding a fin and roof bars. 👉 One thing I’m especially curious about: exhaust mods. I’d love my Astra to have a deeper, more aggressive roar. Can I realistically do an exhaust change myself as a beginner, or is it better to get it done by a pro? What exhaust tips or setups would you recommend for a nice roar without going overboard? What have you done to your own cars—any DIY exhaust mods that worked well? The car is my daily driver (work commute + weekend adventures), so I don’t want to go too extreme, just tasteful and practical. Thanks in advance, really looking forward to learning from you all!

Sat and worked out mpg for the trip to the coast the other day. And I can honestly say that I'm impressed. A round trip of 88 miles and £10 of petrol. Works out that I was getting 47 mpg. For a 23 year old car that's coming up to 241000 miles, and automatic. I think that's good going. 🚗 🙂

88 mile round trip to the coast and back. Had a little glitch on the way out, but that was it. Purred all the way with no problems. 😃 just got to work out mpg to see if it's back to its usual consumption. Oh I'm so happy to be driving her and not be worrying.

Thanks Andy for sharing the detailed report as it would be useful for anyone else who is experiencing the same issues. I don't think it does any harm to internally clean some components due to carbon build up and degrading seals and gaskets. I think we are yet to see how the increased Ethanol in fuel will affect the older vehicles particularly when it comes to seals and gaskets - only time will tell. Look forward to the updated reports

Hi I had the same problem and it was a total nightmare to sort. I had to buy a certain type of manufactures USB memory stick. Had to download load the updates about 20 time before it was recognised by the car. Got there in the end and won't be updating it again lol

OK cheers for this will take a look at this I Ave had a look on taken the door card off but did not get around to getting it all the way off as it seemed to e stuck at top, but will try your reply first

Sorry for late update on this I ended up changing the resoviar and low and behold message gone on looking in side of the old one the float was not working so happy days thanks for any reply n this

I bought the crossland x and had the wet belt replaced at a cost of £400 as a precaution. I've had it for just under three months now and I love it. It's a really nice smooth drive. So glad I took the plunge .

Hi. Just bought a Mokka 1.4 turbo Tech line, My first Vauxhall in years, GREAT CAR, At my age most of the Tech [switches] will take some learning, But Still a fantastic vehicle to drive. Best Regards to ALL the club members. Banksy.

e albeit short distances. Any suggestions helpful. Yep I am wearing warm clothes. Dave hi again sorry to be out of touch and No it has not been sorted. The garage stated it was a diverter valve of some description and said it can be seen under the dashboard as a white plastic wheel turning. Passenger side , Somehow I eventually got a part number for this right hand drive version.However once they stated that the dashboard was to be removed.Problem NO screws to undo or guidance. Have now given up due to longstanding health problem. Dave

Hi there Johndoh. Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will find lots of interesting stuff on here. Feel free to post any questions you might have. And if you've had an issue that you've managed to sort yourself, you can share your knowledge. Regards Andy.

I have an Astra G estate 1.6 Twinport 2004. I have recently updated this to a 2015 model. I want to sell the car to someone who can benefit from all the parts on the car which has been pretty much maintained regardless of expense. Maintenance has used only authentic parts or OEM upgrades such as Bilstein, Monroe and Brembo. I have a spreadsheet available detailing all replaced parts and consumables. I had to change car as 2 of the cylinders need new rings. It even has a premium Kenwood DAB+ & Bluetooth Stereo. Can anyone suggest where I might offer the vehicle, which still drives, for sale? Thanks

Hello 👋 everyone

I have owned my very faithful Omega CDX 2.6 V6 automatic for sixteen years and my cousin for three years before. Unfortunately a suspected oil pump failure has resulted in a suspected big end knock. Before I send it to scrap yard heaven, does anyone know of any specialists Omega breakers who might be interested in salvaging parts for the few that are still out there on the road or in a collectors garage? She had quite a few new parts fitted in the last year and has five full size alloy wheels, two with new tyres a couple of weeks ago and two with new tyres last year, around 2000 miles wear. She would need picking up from Alton, Hampshire. I have been offered just under £300.00 for scrap so would be looking for offers of at least that, but I would rather see her recycled for spare parts. Please contact me for further details 07970496616. Frank Norris.

Hi mate. Thanks for the reply and yeah it is an absolute beast but I think it's the new Astra's 1.2 130T lump they've thrown in or similar, I've never heard a Corsa sound like this ever it blows me away every time I drive it and when I put it into sport mode........ well it's crazily insane just bonkers!! I chose auto as preference my past few cars have been but have manual licence and on most reviews they slated manual, said auto was best for this engine and being the 130 turbo it had a few extra bits like twin pipe sports exhaust, racing brakes front & rear also and ultimate door seal plates and badges but told it's a rare Corsa now as can't order new now?! But I'm super chuffed with it and was so happy to get that call 2 weeks before Christmas to say it's been delivered as I was told could be 15 weeks or more when I ordered it mid November 🥰 Cheers Aaron

That's definitely a nice looking beast. Was being auto a personal choice? My 02 Astra I auto, and I love it.

just joined recently upgraded from 3door 2013 corsa 1.0 eco flex to 2018 Astra 1.6 sports tourer loving it so far