The main focus is on regular maintenance, identifying and eliminating possible faults and caring for various vehicle components.
The second generation Opel Astra (Astra G) first went on sale in 1998. It became the new representative of Opel in the most dynamic and attractive segment C of the passenger car market (according to European classification). The car was offered with four body types: three- and five-door hatchback, sedan and station wagon (Opel Astra Caravan). Later, Astra was introduced with coupe and convertible bodies, but they had very significant differences from the base model.
The cars had a front-wheel drive layout with a transversely mounted engine, independent front suspension and semi-independent rear suspension, a rack-and-pinion steering mechanism, a braking system with diagonal division of the circuits and ABS (on car parts). The design of the car is quite traditional for this class, so you should not expect any sophistication in terms of driving and operation, everything is moderately comfortable, convenient and dynamic. The only unusual solution is the use of an electric pump to create pressure in the power steering system. This allows you not to take away engine power unnecessarily, for example, when driving in a straight line, and also to reduce the number of pipelines by installing an electric pump with a reservoir directly on the steering rack. It should be noted that the location of the power steering reservoir on the steering rack complicates monitoring and, if necessary, adjusting the fluid level in the system.
A large number of body variants, engines and additional equipment provide the buyer with a wide range of options to choose from in accordance with his needs and financial capabilities. However, such a variety, combined with the constant modernization of cars produced by Opel, causes certain difficulties in repair and purchasing spare parts. Unfortunately, the Astra is not one of the most reliable cars, especially with increasing mileage, but given its lower cost than competitors, good repairability and availability of most spare parts, it can be called a very reasonable choice.
In 1999, the first-generation Opel Zafira (Zafira A) was created on the Astra G platform. The presence of a common platform ensured the identity of the chassis and powertrain of these cars. Zafira was created primarily as a family car, and in this capacity it does not have many competitors. With modest external dimensions, it can accommodate up to seven passengers. The third-row seats are foldable. However, it is worth noting that with both third-row seats folded down, there is practically no space left for luggage. All of the above regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the Astra model can be safely attributed to the Zafira model, given that the choice in the class of similar cars is much more limited.
In addition, the cars in question were also produced under other brands and names for the markets of individual countries, some of which can be found in Russia. Traditionally, most Opel cars with right-hand drive are Vauxhall and are manufactured in England, the model names correspond to similar Opel models. At the same time, with the exception of the location of the controls and minor changes associated with this, the cars are completely identical to those in question. The Subaru Traviq was produced for the Japanese market. This car is completely similar to the Vauxhall Zafira model, but was equipped with only the most powerful 2.2-liter engine. Some time ago, the GM AvtoVAZ joint venture produced Chevrolet Viva cars for Russia, which are nothing more than an Opel Astra with a sedan body, equipped with a 1.8-liter engine.
Original posted on the website [OpelBook.ru]
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