My brother bought a Holden AH astra diesel on the back of the proviso of quality European/German engineering and build quality from a car salesman that recommended it. My brother also liked it and thought it was a good car. After paying $21,000 for it secondhand, the emission control system started acting up, clouds of bluish white smoke, engine misfiring, and going into limp mode, gearbox issues involving not staying in 5th gear, (kept going into 4th and staying there with the engine running at high speed. Only after 80km/h, the ability to hol...Read more

Steer clear of this model of astra as it was the the most terrible car from factory. My father had owned this car for seven years and was driven mainly by my parents, over seven years of proper maintenance it never stopped coming up with problems such as ignition coils, air conditioning, engine failure. The car always been properly driven by mature adults and it just seemed to be a very car. Everytime my father took it to the dealership the cost to fix those things was over $2000 AUD which is completely ridiculous as most mechanics did not want...Read more

Bought a second hand 2005 AH Astra auto for my daughter.
First the horn wasnt working - turned out to be the CIM module. At the same time the auto gears were not changing properly. Luckily these both got fixed under the dealer warranty.

A year later the gearbox had issues and would not change above 2nd. Caused by the transmission fluid being diluted by coolant as the design is such that gearbox coolant flows through the radiator and any failure causes this catastrophic result. End result the clutches etc in the gearbox were ruined and neede...Read more

The Astra was such a love/hate car for our family. The love comes from the fact that all of the Astra’s are good to drive. They feel solid, hold the road well, have aged well so still look good and, most of all, have that definite European feel about them. The fact that Holden switched it out for something as dull and generic as the Cruze will, for them at least, go down in history as a fatal mistake.

With this in mind it pains me to admit that we have never been happier than the day we walked into a dealership (not a Holden dealership) and ...Read more

I purchased this car two months ago, on the third day of driving my 2002 Holden Astra CD sitting at the set of lights the emission light came on, I pulled into a car-park and when I stopped my traction light came on. I decided to drive it around to test out what was going on, it wouldn't allow me to accelerate faster than 40km/h. After sitting at the side of the road turning off the ignition and starting it up again only the emission light had come on, where I proceeded to try and accelerate the traction light came straight back on again. When ...Read more

I've always had my car serviced by Holden, they're overpriced but didn't want to void the warranty. 2 services prior to new car warranty expiry I noticed the coolant warning come up occasionally on the computer dashboard so had Holden check it out twice and both times they said it was fine. As soon as it was out of warranty and I took it for it's next service they said the sensor is faulty and will cost me to replace it!

I refused saying I had brought it to their attention twice while it was under warranty but they said it didn't show up a...Read more

My wife brought her 2007 Sri brand new. My wife is a conservative driver never crashed, i often get mad while driving with her because she is like a grandma. To begin this car goes through a new set of front tyres every year which is crazy. Even if you get them alligned, balanced and get decent tyres they still wear unbeliveably fast.
The car was regularly serviced but not at holden dealership. At 23000 kms a gasket leaked and pumped water into transmission. We took back to Holden an they said it is because we didn't get it serviced by them,...Read more

This was my first Holden car. I will never buy an Astra or Holden again due to this LEMON. I highly recommend others consider these words.

I sold the car the day after the warranty expired due to the engine troubles. The local dealer like us because it gave their service department work. The 5 unsheduled visits plus the 3 sheduled visits meant we saw the service people 8 times in the first 3 years.
Good handling, suspension. Steering very intuitive for effortless drving. Like all small cars it has a small front end which makes it easier tha...Read more

I strongly suggest not buying one unless you feel like burning a hole in you pocket! simply putting it they are the worst cars ever to be made.
looks stylish.
I got my astra without realizing that it was coming up to its 120.000 km service. First Big blow. almost 1000 dollars later for all timing belt and driving chain and general servicing. Since then and only 10 thousands Kilometers later, a warning light came on and it was chugging and backfiring really bad. Took it to mechanic.. 700 dollars later apparently coil pack went and needed to be r...Read more