Holden Astra Problems

I CAN'T really give you a definitive answer because many factors can affect your decision. If you buy a new smaller car, the Fiesta, you have to be sure it will be big enough to transport your family. You will also suffer the depreciation that affects all new cars in the first year of ownership, but you will have the new-car smell and the coverage of the full warranty. If you buy a secondhand car you run the risk of having problems simply because it has been on the road for a time before you buy it. For me, the big advantage is you can get into something that is bigger and better equipped for the same money.

I CAN'T predict when your engine might expire, but you could get a guide by having a mechanic check some of its vitals. You say it drives well and isn't using oil, which is a good sign. But check to see if it's blowing smoke under any conditions and have a mechanic run a compression test to check the state of each cylinder. If all that comes out positive, I wouldn't be concerned about the engine giving up in the near future. As for the Astra, I have no problems recommending it.

IT SEEMS to be a fact of life that brake pads and discs wear more quickly than they once did. Think for a moment, though, about the fantastic braking performance we enjoy and where that comes from. Softer pads and discs are a part of the modern braking package, and you replace them more often. The distances you quote are normal.

THE flat spot sounds like fuel vaporisation. Fuel can vaporise in the fuel rail because of the heat generated while sitting idle, and it can cause a slight misfire when it's time to go. Get the fuel pump checked to see if it's delivering its full flow of fuel. Also check the fuel-pressure regulator to see if it's maintaining the correct fuel pressure.

IT'S CERTAINLY early, very early. I would suspect the chain lost tension for some reason. Was the tensioner changed at the same time that the chain was replaced? Chains are used by carmakers because they last longer than belts. Over time they wear and stretch and ultimately become noisier, but I wouldn't be expecting to replace a timing chain before 200,000km.

IT SEEMS there is an incompatibility between the Astra's rear suspension and its tyres, resulting in the uneven wear. To avoid the problem, rotate your tyres regularly. If you already have the problem, you can have your tyres buffed to rid them of the corrugations or high spots. That costs about $28 a tyre. The Dunlops are a good quality tyre, made in Germany, but there are other good ones such as the Michelin, for about $140 each.

HOLDEN has identified a problem with the camshaft timing belt tensioner, which has failed on some vehicles. The result is the belt has broken or skipped a tooth or two on the gear, with the potential for serious internal damage to the engine. To get around the problem, Holden reduced the service interval for replacement of the belt from 125,000km to 60,000km. As Holden sees it, you would have paid the service fee when the belt was changed at 125,000km anyway. Like you, I would have preferred Holden to come up with a proper engineering fix that would last long enough to maintain the longer service interval.Take it up with your dealer if you feel so aggrieved.

GENERALLY they don't need to be warmed up before driving or allowed to idle for a few moments before being switched off. The only thing I would avoid is the type of driving that puts stress on the engine before it has warmed up. That means no hard acceleration for the first few minutes after you start.

THE car should not roll backwards if the torque converter is working properly, though the ZR engine does need a lot of revs. Take it back to the dealer and get them to check the operation of the automatic, but also try holding the car on the brake -- perhaps with your left foot when you are stopped -- so it has more pulling power when you accelerate on a hill.