Holden Astra 2009 Problems

The good news is that this probably isn’t an actual gearbox problem, but rather one with the mechanical linkages that select each gear or perhaps even the gear selector itself. If you can remove the centre console, you might be able to locate the offending (loose) fastener that is allowing the gear lever to flop about and not find its proper place.

If, however, you mean that the vehicle doesn’t want to select Drive properly first thing in the morning and either won’t move or moves very slowly when you accelerate, then you could well be looking at a worn transmission. That said, the same problem can be caused by a transmission that is simply low on fluid, and a top up will put things right. So that’s the first step: Check the owner’s manual for the correct fluid-checking process and try that. If a top-up doesn’t fix it, it’s off to a mechanic. But beware – driving the car in that state could be doing extra damage to the transmission.

It's always hard when you know there's a problem, but it's never present when there's a mechanic with you. It's hard to diagnose when you can't hear it for yourself, so keep notes on when it occurs and anything you observe that might give the mechanic a clue. Things like, does it do it on cold starts, under acceleration, slowing down, at idle. Even better, record it on your smart phone so you replay it for the mechanic the next time you take it in.

This is a difficult one; there is no right or wrong answer. The car is four years old, and things do go wrong, even on cars that have only done a few kilometres. I can sympathise with you and generally I believe that components like the heater motor in your case should last longer than they sometimes do, but cars are machines and they don't always go smoothly. I would recommend that you contact Holden's Customer Assistance Service and lodge a claim for compensation. In the normal course of events I would expect them to offer you, at best, part compensation.

Get it checked to make sure it is a sensor and not a problem with the airbags. It would be horrible to find out the hard way that there was a problem with the airbags. Before you can start claiming against Holden you need to establish what the problem is. Perhaps it is something that Holden should fix, but you won't know until you find out what's actually wrong.

That she got 80,000 km out of a set of rotors is good going, so I wouldn't be concerned that they needed replacing. If you wanted to check that they were actually replaced you could measure the thickness and compare it to a new rotor. As for who pays, it depends on how long it has been since the service. If it's only recent then you stand a chance of having the dealer pay, if you've let it slide for a while before reporting it there's no chance the dealer will cover it.

Almost certainly they were “recommended” by the dealer and not Holden, and furthermore they are what is known in the trade as “upselling”. They are not necessary.

FOR a stylish drive there's the VW Beetle cabriolet and the Mini cabriolet. Both look smart and are fun to drive, and you will be able to get them for about $40,000. Another way to go is to buy a coupe/convertible -- one that has a folding metal roof instead of a soft-top. That way you get the security and refinement of a coupe and the fun of a convertible. The VW Eos is a good one, as is the Holden Astra Twin-Top, but they will set you back about $50,000. For a sportier ride there is the Mazda MX-5 coupe/convertible, which is more fun but is only a two-seater. All those cars will be reliable and all represent good value.

CARS are sometimes damaged in transit, but it's the responsibility of the dealer to ensure the car is handed over to you in new condition. Your best course of action is to let them repair it again, but this time don't take delivery of it until you are satisfied with the repairs.