By 1998 the Astra Mk3 had been holding the baton for 6 years and with Ford developing a new market leader, Vauxhall needed something impressive to keep its customers away from the blue oval.
The Mk4 was the answer, a substantial step forward for the Astra, quieter, safer, nicer to drive than the outgoing mk3 although arguably not as nice in the eye.
This Mk4 is a very VERY early example, registered 5th June 1998 on an R plate and boasting the 1.6 16v mated to a 5-speed manual in CD spec.
Outside it’s a pretty unassuming old motor, unmarked police car coded, finished in white with plenty of black plastic trim, boasting 15” steel wheels and its original plastic wheeltrims.
Inside there’s plenty of patterned velour and some peak 90’s wood effect plastic on the centre console and the gearstick. You’ve got electric front windows, electric mirrors and an aftermarket Bluetooth head unit.
Engine wise the 1.6 16v is punchy, boasting around 100bhp which is more than enough in a hatchback weighing just over a tonne. The five speed is nice and precise and all in all it’s a much quicker little car than you’d expect it to be.
This Astra G has ‘Festival of the Unexceptional’ in its veins, a nicely presented example of a chronically mundane little workhorse in very original and unmolested condition. Parts are still readily available and cheap and returning about 38mpg it’s also a fairly cheap thing to run.
Tickets will launch on July 28th and the LIVE draw will be on Sunday 6th September 2026 at 8:30pm
17 TICKETS SOLD
TICKETS
Robert Vann 01
John Tams 02
Christopher Fairbrother 03
Christopher Fairbrother 04
David Hood 05
David Hood 06
John Ogier 07
John Ogier 08
Michael Duckers 09
S J Hylands 10
John Shaw 11
Leo Simmons 12
Jack Lang 13
Sean Lynch 14
simon vallis-ridler 15
J Fryars 16
Antony Pollard 17
