Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

[Retro gte]

Hi all,

Just came across this forum amongst many others on my search so thought I would introduce myself.

Currently looking for a really good original astra gte mk 2, have been looking for a while actually so getting a bit disillusioned at the lack of good ones.

I have a budget if up to 7k ish, colour is not important but low miles and history is. Would ideally love a 16v but have read so many articles about the engines blowing etc. the only good ones I seem to find are 8v standard ones so I am starting to consider one of these.

Is there really much difference between the two, apart from the red top engine, rear discs on the 16v etc. the interior differences don't really matter to me as long as I find one in good condition. Obviously the 16v is better performance wise but does it make that much difference?

Am planning to keep it stored and bring out for sunny days, shows etc so will be stored. Looking at the long term, is there that much of a difference between 8v and 16v should I decide to sell ina few years. I know everyone says that the 16v is more sought after but to me history and condition is more important if it is only going to have 200 miles put on it annually tops and not be tracked etc.

Interested to hear any opinions. Thanks in advance.

[James C]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

I've owned/own both types and the 16v is the superior car in original spec for certain.

Lots of that is down to the engine. The 16v is of a much more modern design more efficient power delivery and just more 'crisp'. Don't get me wrong the 8v GTE is a good package (in fact mine is the best of 3 I've had).

However at a minimum of 22 years old finding the best original mk2 Astra will be difficult and won't necessarily be a 16v.

I'd expect £7000 to get you the best available but as I say it'll be very difficult to find a perfect original.

Dancedj (Jon) who posts on here came close recently and that car now happens to be either in or awaiting a trip to body shop.

Good luck with your quest. If you decide you want a reasonable starting point for a restoration check out my car in the for sale section.

[Clive]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

Firstly Hi and welcome to the forum. I was in a similar situation a few years ago looking for a very good standard condition GTE 16v and was willing to pay the right money for the right car but in the 3 or 4 months I was looking at the time nothing suitable came along. That’s not to say they are not out because they are its just about being in the right place at the right time. In the end I ended up going in a different direction and bought a restoration project which I’m building back to standard spec.

It’s fair to say that you need to bear in mind that the pool in which you are fishing now is getting ever smaller with only circa 100 each 8v or 16v GTE’s taxed and on the road at last count on “howmanyleft” website and only a proportion of those will be standard specification if that’s ultimately what you want.

To give you some indication a one owner white 16v came up for sale a couple of years ago with just 18,000 miles on the clock and sold for £15.5k!! but that really was a one off. Your £7k budget should definitely net you a more than excellent example.

Low mileage and history is fine but Mk2’s hide a multitude of common rust and rot area’s and really need to be checked out when viewing any car nearing 25 yrs old that has not had some sort of restoration done in its time. Don’t be fooled by an excellent paint job either that could have all sorts of rust gremlins lurking as paint and bodywork to put anything right will be by far your biggest financial outlay over any mechanical costs.

In either form if looked after the 8v and 16v engines go on forever and I definitely don’t know of many 16v engines blowing as you has highlighted as they are pretty much bombproof.

I’m sure there will be others on here that will offer you lots of good advice and genuinely hope you find what you are looking for.

[Retro gte]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

Thanks for the replies guys, the 8v seems to be more available but I was told it was inferior and wouldn't be worth as much in the future?

Seems to be, as with most classics, go for the best you can find at the time then? Not as if it is going to be thrashed. I just want to be in a position to sell it should I need to.

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice. What a great forum!

[F'astra 16v]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

The best way to understand it is who the cars appealed to in their hay-day, pretty much from launch the 16v was bought by boy-racer types that thrashed and abused them they've generally had a much harder life than 8v's as all the 8v's were bought by people that wanted the spec but wasnt too bothered about performance hence the half dozen of mint original 8v's I can put my finger on right now.

The best solution I have is pick up an honest original 2k (as complete as possible) car and plough the rest of the budget into the bodywork then you know its mint, they're all hiding something. Lol.

[Vinci]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

The 8V engine can handle more abuse as the 16V, but I always say you shouldn't abuse it in the first place. The 8V for instance is much more forgiving thrashing it when it's still cold, a 16V will definitely be dead in 10-20K miles if you treat it like that. The more sophisticated the more sensitive is definitely applicable here, but if you do treat a 16V as you are supposed to it will go on forever. And it has much better gas mileage due to the much higher efficiency, and on top it has much better performance.

Then the chassis, over here many post 1989 Kadetts got the 16V shell in most ways, as they all were fitted with a catalytic converter, so they needed the larger tunnel. In the UK as far as I know only the 16V had the modernised shell and all the other models, including the 8V kept the lower tunnel till the end of production.

I would definitely choose a 16V, and as said, perhaps just get a good standard honest and complete car that needs work and get the bodywork done properly (for instance by the same garage doing Dancedjs and previously done Clives)

[zygalski]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

A house move may force me to sell mine in the next few weeks or months.
It's a daily driver which I won't want to put 10k miles per year on commuting to & from work.
Here's the diary thread. You won't find much better. A fully documented £5k spent in last 4 years.

http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthread.php?32410-The-continuing-adventures-of-SAJ

[DarrenH]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

the 8v gte was the flagship performance model for 4 years before the 16v was even launched. i dont think its a fair generalisation to say only the 16v would have been thrashed to death by boy racers

[Retro gte]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

Lots to consider, seems bodywork is the main issue?

So if the car has had some bodywork done, arches seem to be the main problem? Is that generally acceptable for a car of that age and is it likely to come back in the future, how do you know if it has been done properly in the first place?

So much to look for, maybe I 'll stick with an M3 but I do love the astra gte.

[F'astra 16v]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

the 8v gte was the flagship performance model for 4 years before the 16v was even launched. i dont think its a fair generalisation to say only the 16v would have been thrashed to death by boy racers

Yes, I ment the launch of the 16v in '88 not GTE as a whole, I didnt mean it in a derogatory sense that if it has a 16v badge its been hammered to death not at all, i'm talking proportionally. The 16v was famed for having "that engine" so attracted a certain secition of the market again not all a percentage would of gone to good homes, kept and hardly used the same is true with Cav turbos and as they got cheaper they got bodged, failed tests and were stripped, but good 16v's do exist like Cav turbos but the numbers are reduced because of the nature of the beast.

Going back to the authers last comment, if it has a sharp paint job theres not really much to tell you what horrors lay beneath without some intrusive digging thats why its always best to buy something honest as you can visually see what the problems are and buy informed. Don't be put off GTE's they might cost you initially to correct years of god knows what but whatever you end up doing will be well worth it! They are great cars, good luck! Hope you get something.

[James C]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

Hi again to Retro gte.

You could simply change you outlook and (obviously if interested) get a perfectly reasonable example for around £2000 and spend a little on general issues that you will experience.

You'd likely enjoy it as much and possibly more as not as much fear in it being damaged when left in a car park etc.

[1800turbogte]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

Welcome to the site mate,
I thrash my 8v from time to time she loves it
The 16v is a great motor thou smooth and powerful even in standard form.
Arches sils and the bulkhead are the main dodgy areas.
Good luck with your search

Chris

[Clive]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

Hi Retro GTE, if you are still on the look out for an exceptional quality GTE I’ve just spotted this on ebay that might just interest you and it's even within your £7k budget all but a few pounds!! If nothing else looking at the add and write up it’s got to be worth a look at the very least. Does look a cracking example.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-ASTRA-Mk2-GTE-8V-EXCEPTIONAL-EX-COLLECTION-/171789487401?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27ff738d29

[DarrenH]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

cant fault it for appearance, it looks great !

only things i can see are missing rub strips. broken back rest trim (front passenger seat) seatbelt retaining button missing/ripped out of the cloth in rear seat backs.

on these early lazer interiors the cloth on the door cards tends to shrink revealing hardboard, but these look fine

[Retro gte]

Re: Mk 2 GTE 8v or 16v?

Thanks for the link, saw this come up yesterday and it does look nice. Strange that they din't state the mileage yet say it is low?

Might give them a call in Monday, not a bad price if it is as good as it looks.