1980's MK1 Vauxhall Astra GTE...your thoughts about them

[Accy cyclist]

There's one appeared (A Reg') in the last day or so around here. I'm going to try and get a photo' of it. I was about to ask the owner yesterday,but he drove off before i could reach him. Not on purpose i hope🤔. I was going to buy one (red) in 1988,but didn't do as i thought the 'boy racer' look maybe wasn't for me. They look so 1980's now which is to be expected as that's when they were made,but you know what i mean! Have you ever owned one and if so would you like to go back in time and drive it again?

 

[midlife]

Yep, had a red one about 1986. Stolen and written off in a police chase! Quick for its day but a bit wayward for torque steer lol.

 

[Drago]

Great cars, very underrated even back in the day. Arguably just that little bit better than a Mk1 Golf GTi. Slightly stonger performance, less understeery on the edge, slightly heavier but more communicative steering.

Waayyyy back in the 90's a friend of mine had one with a race prepped 16 valve engine from a mark 2 - the external block mounting dimensions are identical, so it was very straightforward to swap. Pressing the accelerator gave me some idea what it must've been like to stand on a landmine.

I had a Mk2 8v 2 litres with the optional close ratio box (the F16/5C box for any Vauxhall afficionados), and much as Im not really a car person I loved it. Lent it to the the Mrs D while her Calibra was in for a service and she wrote it off. Suffice to say it went downhill from there and i eventually divorced her.

 

[Cycleops]

Had a Mkll which was quite nice but always preferred the Golf equivalent.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Ah the days when 16 valves was the height of performance

 

[Brandane]

Used to lust over the mk1 Astra GTE. First car I had after passing my test in 1986 was a then 3 year old standard Astra 1200 cc, and I loved that car. My mate had a silver Astra GTE mk1 and it was a cracking car.
Later I had a Cavalier mk2 SRi which had the same 1800 cc fuel injected engine as the Astra GTE. That was a great car in it's day too, many happy memories of my Vauxhalls in the mid to late 80's.. Then was tempted away by the lure of the mk2 Golf GTi.....

 

[Drago]

Ah the days when 16 valves was the height of performance

Oh aye, the Astra "Valver" was a real flying machine at the time. Now even Accy's Gran's Austin 7 has four valve heads.

 

[keithmac]

I had a Nova GTE, cracking little car!, then went over to a Mk2 Golf GTI 16v which was a cut above performance and quality wise (ended up supercharging that one and still own it).

 

[Brandane]

Ah the days when 16 valves was the height of performance

Fuel injection was also a "thing" back then.
Point of order - the standard mk1 Astra GTE had an 8 valve engine. 16 valve didn't come along until the mk2 Astra. But although the engine in the mk2 might have been an improvement, the actual car looked like a jelly mould. I much preferred the looks of the mk1, which also felt more solid to drive, where the mk2 felt cheap and tinny. I only ever bought one mk2 Astra and kept it for a matter of months before dumping it for a Cavalier SRi..

 

[midlife]

After mine was written off I bought the mk II with the electronic digital dash display, not as nice a drive though compared to my mk I

 

[newts]

I had a red 83 1.6 mk1, nippy little beast. One of my favourite cars 🚘😁

 

[Spiderweb]

I would have loved a GTE back in the 80’s but ended up with a red Y Reg 1200e!
I sprayed the wheel trims white and put a stripe down the side and a ‘SPORT’ sticker on the rear quarter panel, it looked fast😂

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Cracking cars. I had a 1.6, and almost bought a mint GTE with a redtop conversion a few years ago. I sometimes which I had, but I really needed something practical

Here's mine, circa 1988 sitting on Spax suspension with a Janspeed full system. Super go-kart

 

[HMS_Dave]

Mostly a Ford man, but my Uncle was a Vauxhall man. He had an Cavalier MK1 and an Opel Manta. The Manta looked great. I haven't seen one on the road for many years...

 

[Cycleops]

The Manta looked great. I haven't seen one on the road for many years...

Lost it's cachet when GM stuck the nose on the Cavalier.