The Astra's have a high safety rating, excellent handling, good build quality ( though not as good as Jap quality - they are built in Belgium). The 1.8 requires regular servicing, including new timing belt, guides and rollers every 60,000k without fail. If you can't do the mechanical work yourself, the 60k service is a killer, around $5-600 a time. From other posts in this forum, spare parts are not cheap. The 4 speed auto kills their performance completely as they are a bit heavier than the TS model they replaced, but have basically the same motors.
Someone mentioned the Golf. Brilliant car, fantastic safety levels, braking, handling, steering, but when things need replacing, they are even dearer than the Astra. Servicing costs are high - my Mk 5 Golf had a 65k service and it cost over $600. Electrical components have been suspect in the Mk 5 and that was my experience. Mk 5's were built in South Africa, which might account for the slightly iffy build quality. Mine had a couple of interior parts that needed replacement or repair under warranty, as well as the numerous electrical faults.
Hate to agree with others, but the Japs seem to have the reliability and quality game wrapped up and won't break the bank at service or repair time, compared to the Euro's.
