1989 mk2 L

[tam.]

Hi folks,

I've just won the bid on a 1989 Astra mk2 1.6 L auto with 41k in mint condition for £500.

I'm not picking it up for a couple of weeks and i just wondered what things to look out for. It was MOT'd last month and the owner said it sailed through, and that it has the original tyres on!

The cars only a year younger than me, and i've always been a fan of the mk2 and i hope owning one will be fantastic!

Any help would be much appreciated

[DarrenH]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

unfortunately rubber ages even without use. that would be my advice, go over the suspension bushes, tyres, top mounts, engine and coolant hoses for degredation, cracking, perishing and signs of aging.

i'm repeatedly surprised how vendors might think 21 year old tyres are a selling point !!

with cars of these age (and rusting habbits) condition of the body is number 1 priority, you can get a good 1.6 engine for 50 quid, but you cant get a good mk2 astra shell for 50 quid. pop open the warning triangle flap in the boot space and the rear light access flaps; there you can see the inner wheel arches. look at the sills and wheel arches round the back doors, front wings where it meets the bumpers, behind the headlights, boot floor and spare wheel well

[tam.]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

thanks

so other than the rubber parts and checking for rust is there much else that could be wrong with the car? the owner called me this evening and we had a good chat about the car, and he told me the mot tester said that the underside is like new, mainly due to it being garaged all it's life. It won't be an everyday car and will still be garaged when not in use, but i've heard that parts for these cars are quite hard to find...

[Astra Dan]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

Clean out and flush the cooling system. Garages always only check the anti-freeze strength, even on modern cars, yet the anti-corrosion stuff only lasts 2-3 years. Get a hose in the engine and rad, and refill with a nice strong mix of good quality anti-freeze.

[alex]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

By the sounds of it you have a nice one. Got the ebay link?

[tam.]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

By the sounds of it you have a nice one. Got the ebay link?

Yep, here you go

[alex]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

Cool. Looks tidy . It is not going to take much effort to make that look very nice indeed. You keeping it standard?

[tam.]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

Sure am, i like standard cars, especially ones like this. I've kept all my cars standard apart from a few subtle mods.

Plans for this one are mud flaps, an earlier griffin for the bonnet, some tailored mats and possibly a few more things. Need to do a couple of things like fix a dent on the boot and get a new headlining but other than that it's very tidy.

I've been trying to find a list of standard spec for the L but haven't found one so far. Just curious to find out if power steering and ABS came as standard as i've never driven a car without both of these......

[alex]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

Cool, all sounds good .

Power steering and ABS would not have come as standard - no chance on the L!

P.s I think it would look 10X better if the plastics (rub strips, bumpers) were restored - if I recall there are a few threads about of how to do it

[tam.]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

I think they let the look of the car down a bit. Was going to try some bumper wax but i'll have a look for the threads. Once i get it i'm planning on detailing both inside and out as i've kinda got OCD when it comes to a clean car lol

[alex]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

Nothing wrong with being like that at all. Gives the Astra a good chance

[tam.]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

I just hope it doesn't start to rust.....

I take it they run on unleaded? Just crossed my mind that some older cars only take leaded......

[alex]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

Yeah, no probs with unleaded. According to the Vauxhall brochures "All Vauxhall petrol-engined cars delivered from 1 January 1989 are pre-set to run on unleaded fuel, leaded fuel or a mixture of any of the two without any modification"

And in reality I doubt any other Astra built before 1989 will have a problem either.

[Astra Dan]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

Yeah all the OHC Isuzu based engines have steel valve seats, it's just a matter of timing setup, which a facelift Mk2 will have had from the factory. My 1988 pre-facelift was even unleaded from new.

[tam.]

Re: 1989 mk2 L

It's going to be weird driving a car from the 80s, the oldest car i've driven is a 2001...... however i'm determined to keep it mint as it looks like it's been cared for.

Hopefully fuel consumption will be better than the current Astra i'm driving - 2007 1.8 auto..... £20 lasted something like 65 miles lol