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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.

I got the mirror replace, as taking off the old mirror , which was clipped in and removing the element cable from the spade connection and replacing the new mirror in reverse, where you connect the heating element cable and clipping the mirror back to the side mirror body. I did struggle ,where i broke the heating element spade cable, so when i had the MOT done, I asked the mechanic to fix it.

Thanks for the guidance. Parts found on Facebook group "Official Astra mk2 convertible owners club.

Thank you so much, I will look into this in Australia. Any help is greatly appreciated. This is my father’s car, now proudly mine.

Has anyone else noticed how dangerous it is to drive at night with the modern cars emitting light beams that can be seen in outer space (almost)? What do you do to improve the situation? Night (yellow) Glasses, Tinted Windows, break the other cars headlamps ? Let us know what you think - take it away the floor is all yours!

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

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

I have an issue with my Vauxhall 2025 Grandland GSE MHEV. The vehicle is less than a year old. After a few months of faultless motoring, the hybrid assist now fails to engage at all. It is as if the car has reverted to being a petrol-only engine. This is extremely frustrating as I feel I have paid for a vehicle that does not work. I have taken the vehicle into a Vauxhall dealership, and I have consulted the Vauxhall dealership where I purchased the vehicle from. Both the service centre and the original sales staff have drawn a blank. The service centre has been in contact with Vauxhall, after diagnostic reports have been shared with them, but there is still no update. Quite by accident, when switching on the windscreen de-mister (which turns on the air conditioning), the blue speed lights lit up, and hybrid assist was engaged, although intermittently. Since then, I have "played" with the AC buttons, both the windscreen de-mister and directly from the infotainment panel, and this seems to wake up the hybrid assist, but not consistently. I have shared this experience with the service centre, who told me they would feed this experience back to Vauxhall while we await their next steps. This experience should warn potential buyers away from the MHEV, as, so far, Vauxhall are clueless as to how to proceed. Obviously the vehicle is under its 3 year warranty still, and I have initiated interactions with the service centre inside 12 months from initial vehicle registration. Does anyone know how this matter can be resolved, or has anyone had this same experience? Should I be initiating requests for money-back?

I have two problems with my new grandland. 1. Electric boot will only open on it's own 10 per cent of the time 2. It will not run in hybrid mode if the fan is switched on. Fan off and it runs in in hybrid. Has anyone any suggestions on how to rectify these problems John

Thank you for your answer. It's good to know that it is not just my problem. My car has been back to Arnold Clark's five times now (since September 2025) and the problem has not been sorted, I am now waiting for the dealer to get back to me but unfortunately they are not answering my emails. I feel it's a trip to the dealer for a face to face meeting.

Hi just joined - didnt know club existed - we have Astra Convertible Bertone 2005 (and Antara 2013) have problems at the moment and mechanics just say too old - get rid !- the convertible had for 13 years been great but now have problem outside door handle not working all electrics and locking working and can open from inside manually (windows drop down naturally when opening - part of roof mechanism) mechanic tried to fix and done damage to the panel - just said get new car - really helpful!) we need an outer handle pull rod which has a small plastic clip which we think is the actual problem) according to vauxhall who have told us the part numbers and who recommended to get in contact with you guys as you may have advice on where we can get one and how to actually fit it, greatful for any ideas - as seem such a small thing to have to get rid of car for but is automatic mot failure. Thank you

Hi...welcome to the Club It appears that it is taking a live feed direct from the battery (via fusebox possibly). I assume it is a standard radio or is it aftermarket (Sony, Panasonic, etc)?

Yes everything is absolutely original, with the exception of front seatbelts that dad had added in the 1990’s. If you look up Australia’s Great Race history, you will see this beautiful girl as the original winner of the first, inaugural race in 1960. My father is Frank Coad, sadly dad passed in 2021 and I purchased the vehicle from the estate to ensure it remains in the family as was dad’s wishes. Very proud of the amazing history this car holds in Australian motor sport. The cars had to be stock standard to qualify. The race was to show how the ‘everyday family car’ stood up to the ‘gruelling conditions of Australia’ over a continuous 500 mile race. She is special.

It is in the ECU and it was damaged, vauxhall not a clue

Is there any chance that you are resting your foot on the clutch pedal even just slightly

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.

If you would like to put this out to the club as you both live in the same region (Suffolk/Norfolk) and if enough members are interested then we can promote it and then get a club stand if you want?

Lol Mate I'd be happy to sort out your scratches and paint chips and of course that extends to any and every member of this club .

Hiya. Had a really good day today , what i was doing wrong was applying compound to the paint while it was wet with water , compound cuts better when the paint is dry so today got a few areas done dry and starting g to get very pleased with the results, as I go along I find more paint fits to do but that's OK, I e joy the results , from the weekend I'll start bothering friends and relatives to see if they have any paint scratches they want fixing !! Steve

ah glad the cheaper option paid off and a lot safer in this sort of weather

Welcome to the club. That is a nice looking beast. Love the reg.

can anybody tell me which radio upgrade i need to have dab/dab+ to my factory fitted viva 2016 radio single din please

Hi Peter and welcome.

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 !

Hiya,is this meeting on again in Suffolk in 2026? It's close by I'd love to come along.

Crikey! that's a punchy engine - the 2.3 Magnum was a real powerhouse and not much could challenge that engine (and car) back in the day (when Vauxhall were heavily into motorsport) Totally agree, you will find out how well (or bad) the car has been built and you can add mods to it as you go along.

...and how did you get on with it - any end result photos yet?

Hiya , my name is Steve I'm a driver in my 60s and I have just bought my first Vauxhall. I've made 4 short trips in it since delivery in December but tommorow we make a 86 mile drive to London , give that battery a top up ! Looking forward to learning more about the Brand and my new car.

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

Took our first long drive (87 miles) in our 2011 Astra J today and I must say the car was a pleasant place to be , queit smooth , free of Drama , radio with TA now and again. We had sat the car since Dec 19th last year with a handful of small 2 to 3 mile drives , so I was pleased to give a run out, get a bit of charge into that battery. Steve

Lovely looking car and looks great in red

Probably need an EVAP smoke machine test to see where the leak is. if its windscreen then they need to pay for the EVAP... if its only started since the window then I would be pointy fingers You might be able to buy an EVAP Smoke test and do it yourself.. have seen a kit years ago.

Hello All. Glad to be part of this group

Thanks for reply i will have to go searcing again .saw video of pvc valve on peugeot puretech engine but valve is not in same place on vauxhall puretech

Hello Are there any Owners meets in North Essex or Suffolk? I'm new to Vauxhall ownership so keen to get the advice of the more experienced, and I always enjoy a good owners club meet up.

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.

We had our car just over a year from 2nd hand and it started to go. I never knew what it was, when i accelerated, i got "stop the car" and allsorts and it would cut out (not good on a fast bypass up in the highlands) My pal is a mechanic and the prices he said around gave me the fear. He said play your face at Vauxhall, so i did, one free wetbelt fitted for free, and not a £600+ bill, job done, Maybe grovel to Vauxhall as they realist how garbage a wet belt is.

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!

If it's any help, I bought a chip from a German company called racechip+for £200 ,just plug the wiring harness into your car at 4 points ,follow diagram, took 10 minutes, my gtc has 170bhp now instead of 140 bhp ,they also do one that would have given me 235 bhp mine has been in 3 years now ,you also get an app for your phone so you can connect to the chip by Bluetooth and change the settings of the chip

I'm wanting to sell my 1998 Vectra 2.5 V6 Sport in red which I've owned for 25 years but has now been stood for 6 years. No longer used due to corrosion underneath the front end. Car has 115000 miles on the clock with a great engine, gearbox and Magnex exhaust system. Car starts, runs and drives (not on public road) and has no fluid leaks. Interior in good condition with all switches and light in working order. £1500.

A replacement mirror glass can be purchased to fit directly onto the existing one or for more money you can get a complete replacement glass Never use Superglue as when it hardens it will contract and break the glass

i have had plenty of Vaxuhalls over the years and 3 vectra b's - previouly they were just workhorses but last year i got my hads on a nearly mint N plate 1.8 gls with 36k miles and i love it. I have taken her to FOTU 2022 & 2023 and she should be on the odfs youtube channel in the coming weeks https://www.youtube.com/@DougieSRi According to www.howmanyleft.co.uk there are 2 Vectra n Reg's alive built in 1995 and 34 from 1996 (some will be p reg's) so i will make it my lifes work to find the other n plates - can people please let me know if you have one or if you are aware of one? It would be great if we can get a few together at some stage