Used Vauxhall Astra G Diesel review and buying guide (1998 to 2004): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Vauxhall Astra G Diesel should you buy?

Go for a 1.7 diesel whose paperwork shows the oil pump pulleys were replaced along with its last timing belt. Every diesel engine in this Astra has a serious fault against it, so none is a safe bet. The 1.7 is the lesser risk because its worst fault comes down to how that belt job was done, and a receipt can prove it was done properly. Nothing on paper fixes the 2.0 and 2.2 DI 16v's oil burning.

The diesel Astra G was sold from 1998 to 2004, and all three serious engine faults apply across the whole run, so a later car isn't a safer one by date alone. Early cars do have a couple of date-specific things to check: a bad batch of sealant let condensation into the headlights and foglights on some mid-1999 cars, and noisy power steering pumps were replaced free in 1999.

Three-door cars from 1998 were recalled for a front seat adjuster spring that loses its tension, and a 2002 recall replaced brake calliper pistons that could release hydrogen gas into the brake fluid. Ask for proof that the work's been done on any car either recall covers, as neither shows up on a test drive.

Which Astra G Diesel engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.7 diesel is the lesser risk, but only with proof the oil pump pulleys were changed when the timing belt was. If they weren't, the pulley driving the oil pump can break apart after a belt change, mostly on cars between 80,000 and 120,000 miles, and that can lead to the cambelt failing. Sudden loss of power, the engine stopping or metallic noises from the engine bay are the warning signs.

Steer clear of the 2.0 DI and 2.2 DI 16v unless the seller can show it isn't using oil. There's a genuine consumption fault, put down to bores finished with too much gloss, that shows between 50,000 and 100,000 miles as blue smoke, rough running or a sludged engine. Bad dipstick habits make it worse: oil sits in the 16v head and drains back slowly, so checking it soon after a drive reads low and gets it overfilled.

The Isuzu-derived diesels have their own serious fault: the engine control unit fails, often through dry solder joints, mostly between 80,000 and 120,000 miles. It shows up as the engine cutting out, refusing to start or dropping into limp mode, so whichever diesel you look at, make sure it starts cleanly and doesn't stumble. Hard starting on the Isuzu diesel can also mean the valve clearances need re-shimming. There's no diesel automatic to fall back on either, as it was dropped.

What should you check when viewing a used Astra G Diesel?

Lift the front carpets and feel underneath for water, because leaks into the footwells are a known weakness. The fix is resealing either the front bulkhead or the pollen filter carrier. While you're inside, run the heater blower on every speed, since the fans fail, and see whether the windows mist up: a broken vent flap or water dripping down the wiper spindle onto the pollen filter both cause it. Make sure the aircon blows cold.

Most of these started out with fleets or hire firms, so look at the front tyres for uneven wear and the wheels for kerbing, which point to hard use and suspension that's out of line. Check the rear coil springs for breaks, as road humps have snapped them, and ask whether the rear brake compensator's been renewed, because its springs fail and can't be bought on their own. One owner's 2002 car had a new subframe fitted free because of rust, so look underneath too.

Turn the key and check it comes back and pulls out cleanly. The plastic ignition barrel overheats, and a key that sticks can burn out the starter motor. On a 16v, watch for blue smoke from the exhaust and ask how often it's been topped up. Ask for receipts for the timing belt and oil pump pulleys on a 1.7, and for airflow sensor work on a DI, as those have needed renewing every 36,000 miles.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What do Astra G Diesel owners like about them?

It's a straightforward, honest family car that's decently screwed together, which is what you want from something this age. The estate's the best-thought-out version of the lot, so if you're carrying a family and all their kit around, that's the body style to look for.

The steering's got proper feel to it, so it's more satisfying on a twisty road than the plain, rounded styling suggests. It won't turn heads in a car park, but it isn't a dull thing to drive, and that feel through the wheel is the part that surprises people who expect a bland family hack.

• The Astra G is a decent, honest family car, offering practical and reliable transport for owners.
• Estate versions of the Astra G are notably well designed and come with good equipment levels.
• The Astra G offers superior steering feedback compared to four-cylinder Golf Mk IV models.
• All models come with three proper three-point seatbelts in the rear as standard equipment.
• A convenient ski-hatch is provided, allowing long items to pass through to the boot.