Description
Reluctantly, I'm having to sell my very special 57 plate 1.9 CDTI Design 16v in Metro blue. It has the best features of a 150 16v Design Turbo Diesel and a VXR, whilst being considerably more reliable, more fun to drive and less expensive to run, than a stock VXR. The Wavetrack LSD really is transformational. It handles better than a stock Mark 7.5 Golf R. The Whiteline Rear Anti-Roll Bar, makes it perfect.
Bodywork and wheels are immaculate.
Mechanically, this should not be confused with a standard factory H. Courtenay Sport did a fantastic job, helping to turn it into the best car it could be, (apart from a hybrid turbo) whilst still ensuring it remained reliable and durable. It has a conservative remap at about 200 bhp with 360 lbs ft of torque. It has an upgraded suspension, is lowered 25mm, an upgraded braking system with grooved discs, braided lines, upgraded callipers and ebc yellowstuff pads. It has an upgraded intercooler, Courtney Sport Air Filter, Milltek exhaust, Wavetrack LSD, VXR Recaros, Xenons and a de-badged VXR steering wheel. It has a revamped lighting system in the cabin. Gone are the factory reds and yellows and replaced with whites and blues. It has OEM VXR wheels, wrapped in Pirelli P7 Cinturatos (225/40/R18Y). The car has a Steinmetz front splitter and side skirts, with an OEM rear roof spoiler. The mirrors are piano black, to match the interior fascia and boot strips. It has a serious Alpine stereo system and speakers with hands free and bluetooth connection. It even has a Hirschmann aerial.
I mostly get 500 miles from a tank of fuel, and that's whilst doing a majority of shortish stop/start runs on busy roads. On a long motorway runs it will be even more fuel efficient. I have got 540 once, just to see how far I could push it, but then I bottled it, with fuel in the tank.
Not including maintenance costs, it has had at least 15,000 spent on it, making it the car it is today. All receipts have been kept and if I sell it, they will come with the car.
It has just had its annual full service, which included a brake fluid change and a new cam belt, water pump etc..It's driving as well now, as it was the day I picked her up from Courtenay Sport over 10 years ago. It has only ever been run on Shell V Power.
I suspect it would be the most agile, rapid, reliable and smile-inducing car available in its price range.
It may not be a cheap Astra H, but it's a whole lot of car for the money.