Astra irmscher 2.2

[stendog]

Anyone got one, had one or now someone with one? Any reviews on them?

[MiniGibbo]

Gashtras...

[daveg1]

What astra do you mean mk4 mk5?

[loudandproud205]

Engine is good if a little under powered for the displacement, the chassis are shit

[Mieran]

the chassis are shit

I don't think so

[MiniGibbo]

Nik_L has one they must be shit..

[loudandproud205]

I don't think so

I do a boat anchor up front on a not exactly an amazing set up to start with leads to under steer much.

I was loaned my mates 2l turbo coupe for a weekend, fast yes but my god power of a roundabout and opp's

[stendog]

Gashtras...

Anything to base your fucktard comment on? No didnt think so, so dont post usless shit in my thread cheers

Mk4

[Mieran]

I do a boat anchor up front on a not exactly an amazing set up to start with leads to under steer much.

I was loaned my mates 2l turbo coupe for a weekend, fast yes but my god power of a roundabout and opp's

I changed the suspension, the shell/chassis its self it not shit

[loudandproud205]

Its not good or agile either.

[K17NEY]

Shit! The only good thing vauxhaul ever made is a C20XE,C20LET and a nova.

[CampDavid]

I do a boat anchor up front on a not exactly an amazing set up to start with leads to under steer much.

I was loaned my mates 2l turbo coupe for a weekend, fast yes but my god power of a roundabout and opp's

That's neither English or in any way based on fact.

Anyhoo, I owned one for a while, it was a decent car, at least until someone plowed into the side of my girlfriend in it but that was hardly the cars fault.

The engine is, I believe, an alloy block, it certainly didn't feel too front heavy. Not quite as engaging as a a french equivalent, either the older 306 GTI-6 or the Renault Megane 225 but certainly steered well enough while being more forgiving than either of them. 2.2 lump has a fair chunk of torque low down, above 4k RPM it was a little disappointing. Ours averaged about 33mpg over it's life with us - pretty good given it's pace and size.

Overall I found it to be pretty competent but no where near as exciting as the 306 Rallye.

Faults wise, the ECU light is common, if that comes on then it's usually the EGR valve. I ignored mine, however that fills up the memory on the ECU and stops the thing from starting - a pain when you're trying to get off a ferry at Dunkirk at 1am. Head gaskets can go (rare) while 2002 and earlier cars had a dodgy cam chain oil spray jet, which caused the camchain to stretch and a £1500 bill.

Otherwise they're pretty robust old tanks. I'd probably not go out of my way to own another but if I needed wheels and one was the right money I'd buy

[loudandproud205]

After I bought mine (Z22SE Zafira) a mate bought a 2001 model owned a few months before the timing chain snapped and it made more sense to change the engine, the palleted weight of the engine was 160ish kg IIRC, made moving it so the engine crane could be attached bit awkward.

So I wouldn't say 150kg for an engine is that light

[Furio-92]

My dad had pretty much this one:
http://is01.thegumtree.com/image/big/47859541.jpg
Loved the car, leather seats and ride was nice and was pretty quick.

[MiniGibbo]

Anything to base your fucktard comment on? No didnt think so, so dont post usless shit in my thread cheers

Mk4

Who shit on your face :S

[CampDavid]

After I bought mine (Z22SE Zafira) a mate bought a 2001 model owned a few months before the timing chain snapped and it made more sense to change the engine, the palleted weight of the engine was 160ish kg IIRC, made moving it so the engine crane could be attached bit awkward.

So I wouldn't say 150kg for an engine is that light

It's a large lump, I'm not sure it's over heavy. The SRI disguised it well.

Personally I think they're good cars but crucially, not great. I can't remember anything bad about mine really but I never felt it did anything more than I expected. I was never impressed by it.

[ChAdS]

Shit! The only good thing vauxhaul ever made is a C20XE,C20LET and a nova.

Not really... the x14xe and x16xe if you look after them are solid engines!

[LWS_71]

My sisters boyfriend has one. Nice enough car and fairly nippy aswell as being quite big inside. Under-powered in terms of capacity but they have equal amounts of torque which pulls them along well.

The mk4 is actually a pretty good chassis as it was developed and tweeked by lotus and they know how to make a chassis.

There by no means shit, but they aren't amazing either.

[Nik_L]

As said,i have a Mk4 SRi hatch with the 2.2.

Goes good,not slow like they are made out to be just because the only have 144bhp from the 2.2.They have decent torque to make up for it.Dont need revved to go anywhere.Will pull from low down easily.Engine note is quite unique too once opened up.Sounds sort of like a cross between a V6 and a straight 6.Some breathing mods transforms them,livens them up a bit.Easy to supercharge too seeing as they have a reverse head.

Engine is an alloy head and iirc the later models had an all alloy engine.

I would also try and get as late a model as possible as the early model had the smaller oil jet which was prone to clogging up and stretching the chain and snapping.It's not a must,mines is on 104k and is fine,brothers was on 149k and it was fine.

Handling as standard is nothing short of shit.BUT a decent set of springs and RARB will sort that out.

Irmscher kit came as standard on most,mines dosn't have it but i like it without.Very late models had the Prodrive kit(same as the SRi Turbo's).
Build quality is pretty good too.
For the money they can be picked up for nowadays,you cant go wrong.Will struggle to find a better specc'd car for the same price.Fuel consumption is decent too.

I paid 900 for mine.2001 model,near enough mint condition with trip comp and cruise control etc.
Some nice OE 17s,wee drop,badgeless grille and you will have a nice looking Mk4.

[daz_zz_er]

Nik_L has one they must be shit..

He had a Puma! Taste right there bitch! ;)

[DannyVTS]

I had a 1.8 on Janspeed coilovers was an awesome car :)

[Nik_L]

He had a Puma! Taste right there bitch! ;)

Puma's are awesome cars.Only thing that lets them down is the girly image tag they have.

They handle like a hot hatch as standard.And 123bhp in a car that weighs 1ton makes them quick wee cars.The 1.7 16v Yamaha engine is a revvy wee fuker.Loves to spend time up past 5k.Can certainly hold its own on the B roads.

[MiniGibbo]

He had a Puma! Taste right there bitch! ;)

Youve just backed my point up dude :homme:

[daz_zz_er]

Youve just backed my point up dude :homme:

Haha ;) Have you driven a Puma?

[MiniGibbo]

No im far to manly for such a girls car :homme:

Id love a FRP though..

[daz_zz_er]

No im far to manly for such a girls car :homme:

Id love a FRP though..

Who cares if you are manly or not ;) If you ever get the chance to drive one, do it and i guarantee it will put a smile on your face!

[greggy50]

Who cares if you are manly or not ;) If you ever get the chance to drive one, do it and i guarantee it will put a smile on your face!

Puma's are amazing car's to drive must admit
Ford Racing Puma is a dream for me one of the best fwd car's ever made imo

[daz_zz_er]

Puma's are amazing car's to drive must admit
Ford Racing Puma is a dream for me one of the best fwd car's ever made imo

Love it! :hug:

[loudandproud205]

It's a large lump, I'm not sure it's over heavy. The SRI disguised it well.

Personally I think they're good cars but crucially, not great. I can't remember anything bad about mine really but I never felt it did anything more than I expected. I was never impressed by it.

That's the nail on the head really.

There good but its missing that bit that you can't describe.

I do't believe there is a bad car just ones that the owner can improve, in different area's

[ahoward87]

As said,i have a Mk4 SRi hatch with the 2.2.

Goes good,not slow like they are made out to be just because the only have 144bhp from the 2.2.They have decent torque to make up for it.Dont need revved to go anywhere.Will pull from low down easily.Engine note is quite unique too once opened up.Sounds sort of like a cross between a V6 and a straight 6.Some breathing mods transforms them,livens them up a bit.Easy to supercharge too seeing as they have a reverse head.

Engine is an alloy head and iirc the later models had an all alloy engine.

I would also try and get as late a model as possible as the early model had the smaller oil jet which was prone to clogging up and stretching the chain and snapping.It's not a must,mines is on 104k and is fine,brothers was on 149k and it was fine.

Handling as standard is nothing short of shit.BUT a decent set of springs and RARB will sort that out.

Irmscher kit came as standard on most,mines dosn't have it but i like it without.Very late models had the Prodrive kit(same as the SRi Turbo's).
Build quality is pretty good too.
For the money they can be picked up for nowadays,you cant go wrong.Will struggle to find a better specc'd car for the same price.Fuel consumption is decent too.

I paid 900 for mine.2001 model,near enough mint condition with trip comp and cruise control etc.
Some nice OE 17s,wee drop,badgeless grille and you will have a nice looking Mk4.

everything i would have said has been summed up right here ^... especially the bigger pipe/oil jet

[stendog]

am i right in thinkin the bigger oil jet was fitted to the ali block ones?

[c20xejay]

there not that bad

[Nik_L]

My mistake,they are all all-alloy.

The bigger oil jet was fitted to March 2003> cars.

R.E the weight of the engine.....

They weigh around 120kg tops with all the manifolds and stuff attached.So in no weigh are they a heavy lump.

[vtrsarah]

i agree :p puma's are really good to drive i have a 1.7 vct aswell as the vtr and my god it shifts

[daz_zz_er]

i agree :p puma's are really good to drive i have a 1.7 vct aswell as the vtr and my god it shifts

Whats it like in comparison to the VTR? Speedwise.

[vtrsarah]

Whats it like in comparison to the VTR? Speedwise.

imo much quicker there is no comparison not bad for a daily driver :) i do still prefer my vtr tho only problem i have with the puma is the annoying bubbling noise mine makes when you turn the engine off it sounds like a kettle boiling

[daz_zz_er]

imo much quicker there is no comparison not bad for a daily driver :) i do still prefer my vtr tho only problem i have with the puma is the annoying bubbling noise mine makes when you turn the engine off it sounds like a kettle boiling

I love My Puma :) Its surprisingly quick for a 1.4! Until you have driven a Puma you really cant slate them. Do you know why it makes that noise? cant say mine ever has haha.

[MiniGibbo]

I love My Puma :) Its surprisingly quick for a 1.4! Until you have driven a Puma you really cant slate them. Do you know why it makes that noise? cant say mine ever has haha.

Isnt the puma basicully a Fiesta coupe?

[daz_zz_er]

Isnt the puma basicully a Fiesta coupe?

No no and No! :panic:

[vtrsarah]

I love My Puma :) Its surprisingly quick for a 1.4! Until you have driven a Puma you really cant slate them. Do you know why it makes that noise? cant say mine ever has haha.

no idea im selling her soon will probs buy another one in better condition i have always thought of them has a hairdressers car til i bought this one for 600 quid you would love the vct model its a rocket

[MiniGibbo]

No no and No! :panic:

iirc its built on the same floor plan, so long story short it is infact a fiesta coupe..

So your sat theyre "eww look at me with my ford sports car"

No its a feista wit ha fancy rear door :homme:

[Giraffe]

I love My Puma :) Its surprisingly quick for a 1.4! Until you have driven a Puma you really cant slate them. Do you know why it makes that noise? cant say mine ever has haha.

Can we slate how they look?

[Nik_L]

1.7 vct Puma would kill a Vtr.I had 1 before the Puma.

Remove the 1st gear torque limiter and it wont be far off Vts/Gti pace.Probably be on par tbh.

When i 1st got mine,on way home i was having a play with my bro in his CTR.From 30mph-100 he wasn't getting away.After 100 he started to noticeably pull.Shocked us both as to how quick it was.

Under-rated cars the Puma.

[daz_zz_er]

no idea im selling her soon will probs buy another one in better condition i have always thought of them has a hairdressers car til i bought this one for 600 quid you would love the vct model its a rocket

Haha yeah they have got that name but i really couldnt give 2 flying fucks what people think :p I did test drive the 1.7 and was very good! Unfortunately though im only 18 and insurance for a 1.7 was outrageous! So 1.4 it is, but damn is it 100x better than my 1.4 306!

[vtrsarah]

1.7 vct Puma would kill a Vtr.I had 1 before the Puma.

Remove the 1st gear torque limiter and it wont be far off Vts/Gti pace.Probably be on par tbh.

When i 1st got mine,on way home i was having a play with my bro in his CTR.From 30mph-100 he wasn't getting away.After 100 he started to noticeably pull.Shocked us both as to how quick it was.

Under-rated cars the Puma.

agreed thats what i have done makes my vtr feel like a 1.1 lol

[MiniGibbo]

1.7 vct Puma would kill a Vtr.I had 1 before the Puma.

Remove the 1st gear torque limiter and it wont be far off Vts/Gti pace.Probably be on par tbh.

When i 1st got mine,on way home i was having a play with my bro in his CTR.From 30mph-100 he wasn't getting away.After 100 he started to noticeably pull.Shocked us both as to how quick it was.

Under-rated cars the Puma.

Was your brother granny shifting not double clutching like he should?

[Nik_L]

iirc its built on the same floor plan, so long story short it is infact a fiesta coupe..

So your sat theyre "eww look at me with my ford sports car"

No its a feista wit ha fancy rear door :homme:

Its based on the Fiesta but with wider track and stiffer suspension.Totally different car to drive.

[vtrsarah]

Haha yeah they have got that name but i really couldnt give 2 flying fucks what people think :p I did test drive the 1.7 and was very good! Unfortunately though im only 18 and insurance for a 1.7 was outrageous! So 1.4 it is, but damn is it 100x better than my 1.4 306!

yep i now think the same sod it i love surprising the boy racers :)

[daz_zz_er]

1.7 vct Puma would kill a Vtr.I had 1 before the Puma.

Remove the 1st gear torque limiter and it wont be far off Vts/Gti pace.Probably be on par tbh.

When i 1st got mine,on way home i was having a play with my bro in his CTR.From 30mph-100 he wasn't getting away.After 100 he started to noticeably pull.Shocked us both as to how quick it was.

Under-rated cars the Puma.

How many times have we heard "under-rated cars" about the Puma? Its totally true haha!

[Nik_L]

Was your brother granny shifting not double clutching like he should?

Nah he was riding the revs and not using the clutch.

Clutchless shifting ftw.:P

Granted he isn't the quickest of drivers.But he did say he was giving the Civic some stick.

Go have a shot of a Puma,you will be surprised.

[MiniGibbo]

Its based on the Fiesta but with wider track and stiffer suspension.Totally different car to drive.

Dude you guys have the wifes puma not the FRP :homme:

[daz_zz_er]

Was your brother granny shifting not double clutching like he should?

Please just go and have a drive of a Puma and you will be shocked! Like i said you cant slate it until you have driven one!

[Nik_L]

Dude you guys have the wifes puma not the FRP :homme:

The FRP has an even wider track and even stiffer suspension than a normal Puma.:y:

[c20xejay]

Was your brother granny shifting not double clutching like he should?

classic...

[CampDavid]

Please just go and have a drive of a Puma and you will be shocked! Like i said you cant slate it until you have driven one!

Driven one, was ok, nothing really to write home about. Good safe handling and a decent 1.7l engine. I bought a GTI-6 instead