Holden Astra 2005 Review

In this case, I'm talking about Holden's Astra. I loved the last model's flat rear, but now things have gone futuristic and curvaceous. It seems that's the trend, curvy lines and big bumpers.

But I'm not convinced the new shape is better than the old. Perhaps I'm being too superficial here, as looks aren't everything.

Even so, it did take me a few days to warm to the Astra. I was driving along when all of a sudden I started to get hot. Really hot. I looked over to my passenger, who was grinning madly. A quick scan of the dash and I flicked off the seat warmer button that I hadn't noticed was there.

Now it's not that I'm not observant or that it took me four days to discover these gadgets, but there are so many knobs and buttons in the Astra that I still don't know what half of them were for. There are nine buttons alone to preset radio stations.

Then there are numerous buttons for the stereo/CD, and none of them giving away which ones operate what. Never mind, because the Blaupunkt sound system is brilliant.

Unfortunately, and perhaps it was just me, I found the five-speed Astra wasn't happy in lower gears – it stuttered a bit in first and second, making ungracious sounds.

But moving up the gears, it quietened down. And once it got going, I couldn't fault the Astra – it is flawless and nimble, and the 1.8 litre delivers plenty of power.

Now, while I'm still on the gears, there is an awkward feature. The gearstick. Two things struck me straight off – its odd, chunky shape and that reverse is next to first gear.

You have to lift a lever at the back of the gearstick to lock it into reverse. It took me three attempts to master.

The chunky gearstick was awkward to grip, and maybe that explains why it was stuttering in lower gears. But in the end, it was like all new things and just a case of getting used to something different. And by different, I don't necessarily mean bad. In fact, now I'm quite fond of it. Pity I had to give it back.