Holden Astra 2017 Problems

A leak in the tail-light lens is a remarkably common problem in a lot of vehicles. It’s even more likely if the vehicle has previously been in a crash and the tail-lights replaced by cheap imported units. You’ll spot a leak like this by condensation that will form inside the lens on a warm day.

Your mechanic is correct, too, if water gets into the light unit, it can then make it into the boot or hatchback area. From there, it will wet the carpet or boot-liner and potentially run down inside the rear quarter panel or the area where the spare tyre lives, where it will sit and start the process of rusting the car’s metal. If there’s a musty smell when you open the hatch, then you probably have a leak and it needs to be fixed pronto.

The jerk when you select reverse sometimes is definitely worth having diagnosed properly as it shouldn’t be that way. Scanning the car (which I’ll presume the dealership did to arrive at its answer) doesn’t always show up all faults, so just because the computer says there’s nothing wrong, doesn’t mean there isn’t. There are plenty of reasons for a car to jerk into a particular gear, but the good news is that the Astra uses a conventional, torque-converter automatic, not one of the vastly more troublesome double-clutch units.

Your second problem, however, may not be a problem at all. In fact, the gearbox in the Astra is smart enough to know that you’re coasting down a hill and will actually shift down a gear or two to take the strain off the brakes while still maintaining your speed. As it shifts down gears, the engine revs will rise; that’s absolutely normal and part of the way the car is designed to operate.

You’re pretty safe with either car in terms of reliability, but resale would favour the Honda.

If it makes you feel more comfortable then buy it, but I don’t believe it’s necessary.

Get it now if you do want it.

It’s recommended that you use 95-octane Premium unleaded in the RS, and that’s what I would use. You could damage the engine using 91.

The transmission in the Astra is a conventional torque convertor unit, the one that gave the trouble in the Cruze was dual-clutch manual/auto, a different ’box altogether.

The recommended fuel is 91-octane unleaded petrol.

It is 90,000km. The service interval was reduced from 100,000km to 60,000km in the preceding TS model after a number of serious engine failures caused by broken or loose belts caused by a problem with the belt tensioner. In AH the service interval was increased to 90,000km. When it's replaced mechanics usually find that the water pump is leaking, and they replace it, which adds to the cost of the job.

Our enquiries with Holden weren't successful; all we got was a deafening silence. It seems they either don't know how it will work, or aren't prepared to tell us. Given the company's reluctance to talk on this matter I suggest you maintain pressure on the customer care people until they give you an answer.