Holden Astra Problems

The front pillars are certainly wide, to accommodate the airbags as the dealer said, and it's something you need to be aware of when driving so you don't have those close calls. You could try moving the seat to minimize the blind spot. It's also something prospective buyers should be aware of and check during a road test to see how it affects them.

On the basis of what you have described here it doesn’t sound as though the car is unsafe, and I wouldn’t be reluctant to drive it. I can, of course, understand that you feel frustrated at not being able to get a satisfactory explanation of the cause of the noise. I would suggest that you go back to the dealer and ask for a meeting with the service manager to discuss your concerns. Have the manager talk you through what they have found wrong with your car and what they have done to fix it, and ask them to justify to your satisfaction that it is indeed fixed. If you’re still not satisfied ask them to have a Holden factory technician assess the noise and give you a report on it. Further to that you could have an independent mechanic assess it for you.

You could use E10 ethanol blend fuel in both of your cars; you could also use regular 91 in them if you wanted.

You certainly have had a bad run with your car and I can understand your frustration. Holden's offer is not a bad deal, but if you want to take it further you could go to the ACCC, or your local state government consumer affairs people. In Victoria, that's VCAT.

It does seem like a lot of money for the work done, particularly when it has come back to you with a problem. I would insist of them fixing it, but if you feel you don’t have any confidence in them getting it right, I would take it somewhere else and send them the bill.

There is no set distance and it is usually only done when the engine starts to run a little roughly or loses power. It sounds to me like your dealer is trying to sell you up to something you don't really need.

It’s probably the battery. The cold snap we’ve had in recent weeks has been a tough test for batteries, and your battery was probably down a little. That it starts without a problem when warm is further evidence that it’s the battery. Your experience is one we should all take note of, and make a mental note to check the batteries in our cars each year before winter sets in, but we tend to forget about it until we have a problem starting our cars.

Phew, where to start! It's always a good idea to read the warranty before you buy a car so you understand what it covers and what it doesn't. The new car warranty is provided by Holden, the extended warranty is not, that is provided by an insurance company and sold to you by the dealer. Again you need to read it and understand what it covers and what it doesn't cover before you buy it. Personally I wouldn't buy one, I don't believe they are good value for money. Like every profession there are good mechanics and dud ones, ones that treat their customers well and others that don't. It's a good idea to find a mechanic you can trust, one that treats you with respect, and stick with them. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't be fobbed off. If you aren't satisfied persist until you are satisfied with the answers, it's not a bad idea to ask to see any parts that have been replaced and get an explanation of why they needed replacing. A good mechanic will be happy to take the time to explain to you what has gone wrong and what they have done to repair your car. With regard to Holdens breaking down shortly after the warranty runs out, I don't believe there is any evidence that they do, certainly none that says they breakdown more frequently than other makes. As for the extras charged during a service; you are perfectly entitled to get a quote before the car goes in, and Holden would be able to tell you how much each service will cost you; if there is anything else they find during the inspection they must get your approval before going ahead with the work. It is not uncommon to find faults during the service inspection; that is why they inspect cars when they come in for service, I don't think that's unreasonable. Cars do breakdown, that's a fact of life, and it's not restricted to Holdens.

They are relatively common faults. Carmakers do make parts to be replaced rather than repaired, it's considered cheaper for all concerned if a mechanic simply has to pick up a new part and fit it instead of spending possibly hours repairing the old part. It means lower warranty costs for the carmaker, greater volume of work going through dealer workshops, and usually results in lower costs for the owner. It's impossible to say you will have more troubles in the future, but it's a fair bet that you will.

Sometimes, when a car sits for an extended period of time, the oil can drain back down into the sump from the top of the engine. If that happens it can take a few seconds for the oil to be pumped back up to the top again, and in that time the lifters can rattle. I would guess that’s what it is, but if you are concerned about it have a mechanic check it.