It is true that the old Holden variants of Opels did have some issues, like any car. Look at the cars recalled last year, almost the entire Honda range, and look at the debacle that saw Toyota having issues with its cars having the ability to stop. From whatever nation the car comes from or the brand, all cars have issues. For those who whine at this fact, perhaps they should buy a horse and cart, or a bicycle, but those break down too… Get over it!

The reason that Opel will have to charge a more premium price than what Holden did is because of the import / export tariffs, hence why many car companies have their cars built in Thailand due to the free trade agreement. Holden lost money on the Opel cars it sold, hence why the import of Opels ceased, and the Cruze was born, where it can be produced in a more cost effective way, and the cars only had to travel a smaller route to get to Australia.

Either way, Opel has my money, my car has been very reliable, and is still an eye catcher 8 years on!

I bought the car in 2006 it had 79 000km on it
I replaced
1. the timing belt
2 the alternator
3 the air conditioning pump
4 replaced the ignition
5 trouble with the coil
6 replaced tyres
7 full service
ect ect ect

The other day  driving home the timing belt broke (engine that had had its timing belt replaced and only lasted for 40 000km)

it  is going to cost me $2900 for repairs or $3300 to fit a second hand engine

Im selling this great car for $1000 dollars  may have a valve embeded into a piston   cylinderfragments floating around in a engine but the eybolt for towing works real well .
I have got to know my tow truck driver as well if you need future tows

Sounds like your ’02 CD is much like our ’03 City 1.8 It bought by the missus for no other reason than she thought the Holden badge meant that it was Australian without realising that it was made in Europe and the profits went to America.

Ours has 90000km and has only seen city roads. These are some of the recently incurred repairs:

1) rear shocks gone
2) washer bottle feed issues
3) cracked hot water hose from engine block
4) busted alternator
5) timing belt changed at 60000km
6) generally poor longevity for interior plastics
7) poor quality headlamps that have yellowed (headlight cataract)
rubber buttons on key tearing off

This car’s always been serviced by Holden.

We’ve traditionally only bought Toyotas and Mazdas (always had every second model of Corolla since ’73), so it was a bit of a shock to see that the ‘Germans’ can’t make something that lasts a bit longer. I am quite shocked that a simple item like the timing belt ($1000 service) can’t last as long as a Japanese timing belt.

Our ’92 Corrola got to 265000km (and was perfectly roadworthy) and was traded in for a 2006 Corolla and the 323 is now up to 168000km, so it’s not like I don’t know what to expect in terms of running costs or longevity.

Clutch plate at 40k’s?? are you running a learner driver school?? Replacing an alternator is a 30 minute job. Replacing brakes yourself will save you a fortune and doing so once in 9years seems justified. All modern interiors are plastic, an astra ashtray at a wreckers will cost you less than $50 and electric windows, in every car on the planet, shit themselves.

I hope your timing belt craps out on your way to the dealer tomorrow so you can log back in here with something worth actually whinging about.

I bought a brand new Holden Astra CD in December 2002. It has just over 60,000km on the clock. Below is what went. I am trading it in tomorrow.

1. Rear brake pad sticks after it rains or when you wash it – fixed twice under warranty
2. Elecric windows on the drivers side is not working properly
3. Side mirror control button has flicked off
4. Ashtry does not shut anymore, the clip holding it has snapped off
5. gets better…..
6. at 40,000km I had to replace the clutch plate
7. at 50,000km I had to replace the alternator
8. at 60,000km I had to replace the two FRONT steering arms – they are made of plastic (!!!)
9. at 60,000km I had to replace all 4 brake rotas and pads
10. I am trading it in tomorrow and praying that the timing belt or the computers do not break down on route to the non-holden dealer……