New Astra Start/Stop ... Any good?

[XmisterIS]

I currently drive a 2002 plate 2 litre turbo diesel Mondeo 130ps - it has plenty of grunt and will readily go like the clappers, but it is a filthy dirty old thing which is becoming increasingly inefficient compared to modern diesels - it will do about 50 miles to the gallon, which was pretty good back in 2002, but not any more. Also, it will easily do well over 100mph and will get there quickly (tested on a private road, of course!

), but seeing as I am happy to pootle along at 70, I don't need a car that will go that fast!

I was browsing Parker's and happened upon the new Vauxhall Astra Start/Stop diesel - apparently it will do 0-60 in 10 seconds (only a second slower than the mondeo) and is geared for torque at the lower end - so it will be nice and punchy into heavy roundabout traffic, etc (top speed I don't care about), and apparently it does 80mpg!!!! Yes, 80. It also is a zero-VED car. Also, while it is roomy, it is a lot shorter than the mondeo so it wouldn't be a complete pain the arse to park.

All in all it seems like an all-round winner. Does anyone here have one? What's it like to service? Would I end up losing the fuel and VED savings in expensive service and parts charges, especially if the start/stop starts breaking down? Can the start/stop be switched off? How does that effect the economy?

 

[smokeysmoo]

I don't know specifics about the Astra, but most modern stop/start systems re-start the engine from the alternator as opposed to the starter motor. This is achieved by storing power in the alternator that is released when the clutch is engaged which then spins the engine over. It's much smoother than the jerky action of a starter motor, and in the ones I've driven yes you can switch it off, although you have to do this everytime you initially start the car.

If you are a DIY mechanic, bear in mind, it does mean you need specialist discharge equipment to work on the alternator, or it could simply kill you!

Also, if you can achieve the published fuel economy figures of any car from any manufacturer than share your tips. They're simply not achievable in real world driving conditions. These figures are achieved on a test track using optimal condition scenarios.

If you must have a stop/start, most mainstream manufacturers seem to embracing the technology now, so don't limit your search to just the Astra.

FWIW, my opinion is that these cars are being produced as a nod and a wink to the environmentalists, to say look we are taking steps towards improving this and that. Some companies have dabbled with stop/start in the past, none of their systems caught on. Same with these hybrid petrol/diesel/electric cars, hybrids are not the future, hydrogen is.

IMO you'd probably be better off with a Peugeot Bluelion, VW Bluemotion, or a.n.other 'Blue' badged car, (most manufacturers do them these days, why blue and not green I have no idea!). These are designed to be as efficient as possible by using aerodynamics, special tyres and frugal yet still very usable engines without any electrical witchcraft, and many also qualify for zero RFL too

 

[Norm]

It is obvious but I'll say it anyway - stop/start is only a benefit if your journey is in bad traffic or has lots of lights and it only works under certain conditions, usually involving handbrakes and the car being out of gear. Although I realise that drivers should use the handbrake and put the car in neutral anyway, most people dont.
I had a friend who bought a BMW about 3 years ago and it was over 6 months before it first did its thing.

Given the environmental disaster which is 21st century vehicle manufacturing, your Mondeo might be a filthy dirty thing but there will be uncertain benefits in replacing it with a new car. However, if you are going to do so, small diesels are pretty good and would get my vote.

 

[smokeysmoo]

PS: 50 mpg for an 11 year car of that size is far from shabby IMO.

FWIW I drive a 4 month old 2 litre diesel auto estate, and according to the computer it's averaging low 30's mpg! Admittedly, I don't drive it like a Nun, but even so

 

[Norm]

PS: 50 mpg for an 11 year car of that size is far from shabby IMO.

This is also true. I think most cars would struggle to get much more than 55 in real driving.

Well, when I say also true, I mean that it's good for a car of that size. It's not true that it's 11 years old.

 

[albion]

If it is 50mpg at 70mph then it is doing well.That claimed 80mpg would no doubt be 60mpg tops at 70mph. More likely it will be 55mpg for the average user.

 

[smokeysmoo]

It's an automatic as well. That's usually bad news for fuel consumption isn't it?.

It is, it is

 

[XmisterIS]

If it is 50mpg at 70mph then it is doing well.That claimed 80mpg would no doubt be 60mpg tops at 70mph. More likely it will be 55mpg for the average user.

Yes, those figures did get me wondering, hence why I posted the thread in the first place.

I achieve 50mpg by gentle braking and acceleration - I'm not in a hurry when I'm in the car.

The figure of 80mpg did seem very surprising - I remember when I had a 125cc motorbike while I was still on L-Plates - that would do about 85 or 90 mpg - but then it had a cylinder the size of a teacup and was so light that you could literally pick the back end up completely off the ground! Not so with a car ...

 

[mr Mag00]

i believe trade figures can be calculated from a r un as short as 3km for consumption figures. my 307 sw on a run from cumbria to dorset ave 56mph and 55.3 mpg

 

[TheBoyBilly]

You will surely miss the Ford's heated screen. Why haven't all manufacturers latched onto this brilliant piece of kit?

 

[XmisterIS]

You will surely miss the Ford's heated screen. Why haven't all manufacturers latched onto this brilliant piece of kit?

Yes, it is great! Except that a couple of element have gone, and I end up with "stripes"

 

[Vapin' Joe]

You will surely miss the Ford's heated screen. Why haven't all manufacturers latched onto this brilliant piece of kit?

+1.

That was the best thing about my ancient Mondeo, I really miss it now I have an Astra.

Back to the OP, I'd be very wary about stop/start. We've all had cars that have needed a bit of attention to get them running at 100% again, you are rarely able to pop into a garage the instant a fault develops and may have to nurse a poor runner for a week or two. Having some bastard that switches itself off every time you stop and doesn't want to go again is a drivers nightmare.

I prefer to be my own stop/start, if I am in a queue that isn't going to move for a while I switch the engine off. I wouldn't like the choice of whether to do so or not taken away from me.

 

[darth vadar]

This has little or nothing to do with it except I've just bought an Astra Estate 1.7 CDTi which is much more economical than my previous car.

When it is fitted with a roof rack for my bike, it will also double up as a place to sleep when the back seats are dropped down. Who needs an expensive hotel room or a camp site when I can rough it in the back with a sleeping bag?

Its a poor man's camper van I know, but what the heck. When I have blacked out the windows I will be as snug as a bug in a rug!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

why not give up on the rapid acceleration, which if used to achieve 0 - 60 in 10 seconds will wreck your mpg, ditch the particulates chuked out by diesel engines to the thanks of all asthmatics, and go two-stroke with a Fiat 500 twin-air?

 

[XmisterIS]

why not give up on the rapid acceleration, which if used to achieve 0 - 60 in 10 seconds will wreck your mpg, ditch the particulates chuked out by diesel engines to the thanks of all asthmatics, and go two-stroke with a Fiat 500 twin-air?

Last time I had Fiat it was unreliable, crap, and parts were eye-wateringly expensive.

Apparently the 500's mpg is not all it's cracked up to be.

Rapid acceleration from standing is an absolute must! I remember the days of driving gutless hatchbacks when I was a nipper - pulling out into heavy traffic was an absolute nightmare because you'd put your foot on the gas and nothing would happen ...