Vauxhall/Opel were slow to react to competitor’s coupe-convertibles, but the final result has been a good-looking well though out design. The Astra Twintop’s roof folds into 3 pieces minimising wasted space and keeping the rear of the car relatively slim compared to much of the competition. The convertible Astra is a good drive for its class, but its weight blunts the performance a little. Rear space isn’t great and some may find the headroom to be restricted with the roof up but in general it’s a very attractive package.
The Vauxhall/Opel Astra Twintop makes a sensible used car buy, as it pre-dates the more complex modern designs that may be more costly to run into their old age.
The 1.8 litre Vauxhall/Opel Astra Twintop benefits from variable valve timing to produce a more eager feeling car than the smaller 1.6. The result is a more entertaining drive without being that much quicker. The engine needs to be revved to get the best out of it.
The 2-litre turbo Astra Twintop topped the range with impressive amounts of power. A Sport button sharpens the throttle response and sharpens the steering transforming the mellow Astra into a more direct and sporting car. It corners well with minimal body roll. A flex can be felt from the chassis when driving over uneven surfaces.
The 1.9 turbo diesel engine suits the Astra Twintop well giving spritely performance and good economy. Engine noise is muted at speed but can be a little intrusive around town with the roof down.
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By submitting a comment you grant Convertible Car Magazine a perpetual license to reproduce your words and name/web site in attribution. Inappropriate and irrelevant comments will be removed at an admin’s discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only, it will never be shared.