With each new generation cars are becoming larger, and displacement of their engines less. Europe has covered fashion for the turbo and robotic gearbox with two clutches. But is hopelessly outdated proven designs?
To answer this question, we decided to go to Astra-N, which continues to be sold along with the new one that was commissioned by J. CONTEMPORARY CLASSIS: How does it look? "What are you doing, the old car?" He met me on the doorstep of the front door. Of course, with the release of the next generation, the predecessor model almost immediately begins to look slightly obsolete-especially if the heiress of the heiress is radically different, as in the case of Astra. But personally, I strongly disagree with my neighbor. As with practically all of our editorial staff, as well as friends, acquaintatives and relatives, they managed to touch the machine during this time. Moreover, in the 3-door "Astra-N" body, even today it seems more appropriate to the sporting spirit of the city "lighter" than its disinherited heiress. However, to say that the sedan looks just as organically, I can't seem to be too obvious to be hastily tail-fastened. However, thanks to the right proportions-thanks to the base increased up to 2.7 m-car does not cause such rejection as the early experience of the constructors on the creation of such sedans. Recall, for example, the first "Symbol" or "Pejo-206-sedan". The practical advantage of both bodywork and sedans in particular was soon revealed. The glass is not required for obvious reasons, and it is not necessary to visit the car wash even after a 200-kilometer-long vacation in the rain-not necessarily-a white sedan with ten paces looks pure. And even mirrors are virtually losing their ability to reflect reality. From a fairly high road light, the sedan seems to be a little bit soft. However, the worthy clenence pleased me throughout our acquaintance-it is hard to find a curb in the city that will begin to shirp the protection of the crater. Yes and winter raids in Sergievo-Posadsky district proved that on good tyres you can quietly follow the crossover in the cuter in one third of the wheels of the hinterer. There are no miracles, but it is possible to "plant" a sedan only when you feel it is not worth moving on alone. Thanks a few thanks to the bixenon headlights. Not only do they look brushed, but they also have an excellent passing and stunning driving beam: when, in addition to the turn of the main headlamp, an additional "halogenka" with a power of 55 W is connected in the winter forest, you feel like a king. I DON'T KNOW. What's she like inside? In the saloon, I lived pretty quick. In addition to the music accompaniing of "Astra-N", it was possible to hold telephone conversations through the regular audio system and the optimal route, and acquaintance with the menu of the onboard computer, which, among other issues, manages the distribution of air streams. More recently, this was a long list of additional hardware. But in the spring a new price-list appeared-all versions rose by 5,000 rubles, and the options left only three packages, fixed for each of the versions of the equipment, and the bixenon headlights. By and large, I'm only sorry about the impossibility of ordering ESP. Because the other things didn' t make you happy. Luke used to give me a head shot if I was trying to straightout my back. Navigation, unlike that of Insignia and Cors, is deprived of the Russian-language interface and is not as detailed as would be desired. And the leather seats, on which in winter and summer, were not very pleasant, I would be happy to prefer the standard upholstery of Cosmo, where the role of skin is performed by its qualitative imitation, and in the points of the greatest contact with the body you find "breathing" fabric. I have never been able to get fast at speed off or turn on the air conditioning-separate button is not provided, but to be distracted from the road is more expensive. With 190 cm rise, I certainly did not have a lower seat cushion position, and not just because of the hatch, I discovered the sun visors in front of my eyes. In the six months I have never been able to find the optimal position for the ulema-it was between the comfort of the back and the visibility. There were no claims for most of the controls, including the rudder of the wheel suitable to my hands, and the rolling straight selector of the automatic automatic transmission selector. Had it not been for the inclusion of the air conditioner through the onboard menu, the ergonomics of the driver's seat would have been exemplary. This is not "Insignia", where the number of buttons with an uncanny can cause a headache. It is impressive and prominent for "golf"-class of noise insulation-even on the hashed "Hackapeliite-7" at 100 km/h in the passenger compartment of a neighbor's nose. It was also pleased that the passenger compartment at -15C was already on board the seventh to eight minutes of the trip, and thanks to the parktronik and good visibility, the reverse course was not a problem. It is a pity that the work of the sensors could only be heard-unlike, say, Volkswagen, the color monitor does not duplicate them. HEART: How is she going? The Duet 1-liter 140-strong "quartet" and "vending machine", in which there are only four steps, is the optimism of me, who has had a successful seat on the "turbo" in small volume and new "de-es-e-gye", a clear case, has not been summoned. But the time was ashy, and little by little I began to remember the forgotten charm of the classical combination-a guaranteed winter leave, a rapid warm-up in motion, and even an opportunity to "burn." I can responsibly say that the tested time is 1.8 litre engine and the 4-speed "machine" is too early to be discarded. Due to the "Sport" button, the ASC supports a lower gear, and the engine is more responsive to the throttle position, and in certain circumstances, this couple is more than a new duet. After all, the 6-speed "machine" of the modern sister is inclined to save fuel, and therefore the sport includes the highest gear. And if you need to accelerate quickly, say, from 60 km/h, a second, or even more delay, you are guaranteed, whereas a 4-step works without annoying thinking. In addition, "old," as my neighbor thinks, the car is more friendly with the rages than Astra-J, the creas are less pronounced, and the rudder is a little more informative. There is no need for such quality from the family sedan, and yet its potential cannot be overjoinable. With uniform motion, even in combination with a 4-speed "sub-machine", which on the extra-urban highways, the fifth gear (at 100 km/h shows already 3,000 rpm), from 1.8-litre "Ecotheka" one can achieve a cost of 7-7.5 litre per 100 km. But it is worth doing a couple of overtaking or getting caught in traffic, as the engine starts to show a bad appetite. However, the average fuel consumption is 11.5 litres, provided that 80 per cent of mileage falls on Moscow, including winter, is more than acceptable. About half of the refuellings occurred on Ae-92. In the winter, at the most punctual, maximum half-pedal, driving a car loses momentum. But cheaper gasoline uses almost as much as the more expensive. If we hurry, then 7%-the difference in price between 92 and 95% will no longer cover the increase in this case by 10-12% of fuel consumption. WHERE'S HIS BUTTON? What's she doing? It's assumed that the hatchback is a priori a functional classic sedan. However, in a separate trunk "Astra" I calmly loaded the stroller, and the wife and daughter, without any restraint, sat on the sofa where there were regular fixings for the children's crusher. In addition, there was a 2-week supply of provisions in the hold, in addition to the stroller. And the resulting neatly-pointed cucumpers revealed another plus separated from the living compartment of the trunk-that the show occurred, we only found out when they opened the lid. However, there were reasons for turning. The button to open the trunk is located in the middle of the central console-reaching into the interior of the passenger compartment with packages in the hands is inconvenient. There is no separate button for the boot lid on the remote control, but if you hold the key of unlock the central lock for more than 3 seconds, the hold can be unlocked and remote. There's trouble in the cold, and the remote didn' t always react the first time. Once again, I had to reach out to the salon, a pack of trousers. By the way, hands dirty, especially in winter, in any case there will be no handholds on the back of the trunk lid, so it is difficult to achieve the necessary force when closing. We have to close it outside. I've been with the car with great regret, and despite the small orders, Astra has become a true friend to me, having shaken some of the staunches in favor of new technologies. The only advantage of a new generation machine will be those who, like me, waved above 185, "Astra-J" above the ceiling. In the rest of the world, the previous one boasted. A practical, compatible, reliable, modern outer, and also with a democratic price, what else is needed for happiness?