I bought an metallic Red Opel Astra Advantage model in 2001. I loved it from the day first day. I got the car for comfort it provided.
The car was simply great. In chennai city traffic it used to give me avg of 10 kmpl with AC. On highways it was 13-15 kmpl. If you maintain your speed between 80-100 km you would get very good mileage.
The best features of the car,
driver and passenger comfort.
very efficient air conditioning
very good seats, especially in the rear
excellent suspensions - I would say the best of all the classes.
you feel safe inside the car.
a premium car with good mileage for about 8 lacs Ruppees.
Some of the downsides of the car (yes I can’t belive it but it had few)
power steering is not actually power steering. It is power assisted steering. Hence the steering will be harder than other similar cars.
The steering has drag to the right hand side. Meaning, it has a tendency to turn right, not very strong but you can feel it.
Spares and labour are very expensive. But by 2003 GM had reduced the price of the most of the common spare parts and labour.
some might feel that the engine should have more power. But that will compromise mileage.
Headlights not suitable for indian highways.
I loved the car. It had good ride quality, was very silent inside the cabin, very comfortable. AC worked very well in the peak of summer. The problems expensive labour and spares. And after GM India stopped its production in (who can they do that to a German car) good service is a big problem.