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My Old Astra Gte 16v


MikeWarner

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I didn't want to hijack another thread where I was asked for some details of my old car, so I started a new thread.

My old Astra GTE 16v was featured in 3 magazines and was the fastest of its type in the UK.

This is how it was when it was featured in Revs magazine in 1997. THe engine was pretty much stnadard back then.

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It was later featured in Redline and Total Vauxhall Magazines in 1999 and 2001 respectively - it had 230bhp at this time.

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The car got attention for its clean and simple looks plus its over the top mechanical modifications. It ended up with 250bhp from the original 2.0 16v engine and this was without a turbo or nitrous etc. The car set a record of a standing quarter mile of 13.89s (at Santa Pod) and the record stood for 3 years. Basically it was the fastest normally aspirated Astra FWD in the UK.

My current car is an astra Coupe turbo with 250bhp - not as fast as the old Astra GTE, but still a bit of fun.

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Sweet, just how car should be done. Respect you for that. :blink:

Exactly how my car is going to be done, only minor exterior styling, and all money spent on engine and interior.

Just to clear something up, normal aspirated means no NoS or after market fuel additives, right?

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Just to clear something up, normal aspirated means no NoS or after market fuel additives, right?

Normally aspriated means no forced induction - i.e. no turbo or supercharger etc and no nitrous. Just a normal engine breathing air in all by itself. :blink:

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Normally aspriated means no forced induction - i.e. no turbo or supercharger etc and no nitrous.  Just a normal engine breathing air in all by itself.  :o

Cor, you could of easily got another 50 or even 100 bhp if you tried then. :blink:

Nice one. :ermm:

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i Dislike the red one but I like what you did to them i that makes sense.

Now the silver one. Beaut. nice one.

What are the bertones as standard in BHP? My step dad has one with a K&N And bigger air feed and thats very fast at just that.

PS Get a standard or just a tad bigger than standard spoiler makes the car look lots more sporty and much better, too big and the part really does take after its name.

corish

Edited by Corish
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What are the bertones as standard in BHP? My step dad has one with a K&N And bigger air feed and thats very fast at just that.

All Coupes are Bertones as they built them. They can be a 1.6, 1.8 2.2 and 2.0 Turbo - like mine. The turbo is very rare and the range topping version with 200bhp as standard, but mine has an extra 50bhp. I was lucky to find one with great options including SatNav, leather, electric sunroof.. and more. You may have spotted a recent thread where I state that I'm looking into getting a Porsche 911 996 C2, so no more mods to the Coupe. :blink: Edited by MikeWarner
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Loving the top one... really is my style of car and the wheels are AMAZING.

I have a Mini but would soon like an old GTE or a corolla GT coupe.

They compomotive wheels in the first pic. They look amazing in my opinion.

What spec motor was in the GTE by the end of its life with you?

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my mates mum works for sbd development.

they got the craziest westfield.

its like a 1.6 and it canes the 1.8 or summit.

cccrrrraaazzzzzyyyyyyyyy

simon

It was a 1.6, but it has been bored out to a 1.7 now - with over 250bhp. I used SBD for all my parts when I had the red car.
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250bhp, quick as shit....

but its still a vauxhall (Y)

tehehe

only joking.

as far as astras go the mk1 and 2 are awesome cars! mk3 onwards lost the plot IMO.

a mate of mines got a mk2 with a 2lt red top XE and a 1.8 GTE box. its had a few subtle mods, and he claims its putting out around 160bhp.... but FOOK ME! its certainly quick, its got big tyres on 15'' rims, and on the straights it goes like shit! very revvy too!

while they may not look out of this world, vauxhall make some BLOODY GOOD engines....

nice car! not keen on the silver one.... far too modern and electronic for my liking.... but i bet that shifts too!

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All Coupes are Bertones as they built them.  They can be a 1.6, 1.8 2.2 and 2.0 Turbo - like mine.  The turbo is very rare and the range topping version with 200bhp as standard, but mine has an extra 50bhp.  I was lucky to find one with great options including SatNav, leather, electric sunroof.. and more.  You may have spotted a recent thread where I state that I'm looking into getting a Porsche 911 996 C2, so no more mods to the Coupe. :D

2.0l Turbo (Y)

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yeah vauxhall do make good engines. we have a few of the dohc 16 valvers in at work. we had an escort mk2 rally car in too that had one in (Y)

meh dont like the old astra like its performance figures but not it. saw some crazy ass casrs at shelsley walsh tother weekend, went up with my work to take the car weve bin buildin an engine for and there was this space frame majobby with a ford bda engine in and it had a helicopter turbine starter motor with its own fuel supply keepin the boost up on the turbo constantly, think it had 400hp out of a 1.7.

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The silver one is great because it is fast when you plant your foot, but pootling around is great and it quiet too. The red one was a handful - the engine was pretty much BTCC spec and really loud. That thing shifted though, I had loads of fun with it. What you have to remember about the red one is that it is my old car - I got it in 1996 - back then it was a really desirable car (like my current coupe is now).

I just bought a polisher from the USA to really clean up my Coupe, cost about £200 with a mains transformer, polishing pads, main extension - but should be well worth it. I can't wait for delivery!!! I'll post some more photos when I've cleaned it. (Y)

Edited by MikeWarner
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  • 2 weeks later...

I just cleaned up my coupe properly for the first time. I spent around 8 hours on it and the difference is amazing.

I used the following products to do the cleanup:

Porter Cable dual action polisher

Sonus SFX polisher pads

Sonus clay block

Sonus clay lube

Meguiars Gold class shampoo

Poorboys SSR2.5 pure polish

Carlack68 sealant

P21S Carnuba wax

Meguiars microfibre cloths and towels

Here a the results. <_< Let me know what you think.

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mycar05.JPG

mycar06.JPG

More below.

Edited by MikeWarner
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To be honest, my Dad's car looked just as clean using a hose and some random cleaning fluid (can't remember the name, he bought it for his VFR but used it on his pickup and his estate), yet probably cost him loads less to do <_<\

Fair enough though if it's what you like doing.

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