A Tale of Two Brothers: 1980 Vauxhall Astra vs. Opel Kadett

[@StuartAxe]

I passed my driving test in August 1985 in a bronze 1980 'W' reg Opel Kadett. A colour seen throughout the video. It was bottom of the range with the round headlamps too so very rare then let alone now!

[@keijak1]

Thanks for that. In 1980 my Dad took delivery of a V reg 1.3S Opel Kadett 4 door saloon. After his Marina it was pure luxury and performance. Unlike any of the saloon Astras it had a rear wiper that was mounted with the shaft passing through the rear screen with the motor boxed in on the rear parcel shelf. Later in 1988 I bought a 1980 Astra E saloon 1.2S. Most basic, no glovebox, no headrests, blanks on the dash where the clock and radio are mounted. But for a 1.2 OHV it was pretty nippy, more than a match for mate's Mk3 Escort 1.3. Early Astras were sold as V reg, notable as having 'VAUXHALL' spelt out in individual letters across the top of the boot/hatch. By late 1980 they reverted to to the Vauxhall and Astra badges either side of the boot. Also if I remember correctly the hatch key lock on the very early models was below the number plate, on later models it was moved above. Great vid, brought back some happy memories. Always thought the Mk1 was a better looking car than the Mk2 with a far better interior. The Opel was considered more upmarket, the back wheel caps looked better and more sporty than the silver on the Astra. I always wanted an SR.

[@quarterlight]

Thank you for your comment enjoyed reading it

[@NiceCakeMix]

Great video, good comparison between the Astra and the Kadett. My mum had a 1300S L Astra but was a 1984 model back in 1988. It was a really nice car to drive, it had a really responsive engine and was much better put together than my Ford Escort 1984 1100 L. Considering they were both from the same model year, the Astra to me was such a better car. The interior was a much nicer place to be, the seats were more comfortable and the drive was much better too. The only thing the Escort had over the Astra was the insurance cost. The Kadett was better appointed than the Astra as it had been out before the Astra due to it replacing what was the Opel version of the Chevette, whereas here in the UK they kept the Chevette on as it still was selling well and was a bargain price by this time. Cant wait for next weeks episode on the Cavalier.

[@insceman8515]

I had a Vauxhall Astra in mid 1980s and a mate had an Opel Kadett Berlina 1.3S. They were identical and made in same factory but the Kadett Berlina was a higher standard spec than the Astras. It was effectively the Astra GL 1300S with full instrumentation (Tachometer) unique 4 spoke alloys, headlamp washers, tinted glass. His also had metallic paint (hazel brown metallic as per the GL in the brochure) and the sliding steel sunroof, which may have been standard, but can’t recall. The Mk 1 Astra only had full instruments on the sporty SR and GTE. Great cars, I had a couple, reliable, reasonably quick for the time, felt reasonable quality and great engines and handling.

[@quarterlight]

Nice - thank you sharing you comparisons

[@danentwisle8885]

We had relatives with a new Super basic Kadett in 1980. It was a V-Plate with a boot, those see through head rests, the orange interior featured and a terracotta type body colour. Even as a 9/10 year old it came across as very austere. These original Astra’s weren’t as high spec as some of the opposition, like Talbot’s Horizon which in GLS and SX form came with a few more features. The Mk3 Escort was just around the corner with an extensive range from basic, to the “luxury” of the Ghia, and the XR3, with its alloy wheels, black spoilers and “Laser” fabric trim. I wonder how that impacted Astra sales.

[@quarterlight]

I’m sure it did but you always had the loyal - im only buying a Vauxhall or I’m only buying a Ford crowd.

[@mrjsv4935]

Interesting comparison. Here we had just the Opel Kadett and cheapest version had round head lights, while higher spec Kadetts had more modern square ones. Strange thing that "sedan" version with small boot when there also was the exact same body with proper Hatchback tailgate. I think only Datsun Cherry did the same trick around same era as this Opel Kadett D / Vauxhall Astra Mk1.

[@mattw8332]

I wonder why Vauxhall and Opel ever bothered with the saloon versions? They were just impractical with the small opening. At least the 1986 Belmont based on the Astra mark 2 was a proper three box saloon.

[@quarterlight]

I have no idea why the saloon was a thing

[@thomasrpoulsen]

Two very competent brothers. Thanks for another exciting program.

[@quarterlight]

Thank you

[@julianhammonds2330]

My first car was a W reg 2 door Opel Kadett 1.3S in dark bronze, I always thought it was something different to have the boot rather than the more common hatchback.

[@roberttucker805]

Fun fact. The chevette was exported to Germany for a couple of years after production of the rwd Kadett stopped because although the FWD Kadett was sold in Germany a year before the Astra was introduced in the UK there was still a demand for the rwd cars especially amongst older people who were dubious about FWD. It's probably one of the reasons the chevette carried on for so long.

[@quarterlight]

Interesting

[@adamtoms2726]

The Mk1 Astra, won Vauxhall a lot of buyers, and was the right car and the right time, but it was not a comprehensive offering at launch. The Kadett at this period was a comprehensive offering. When the Mk2 Astra came around in 84/85 it was no longer competing with Opel, and was able to be a much wider model range which could really challenge the Escort in the UK. I think in 1980 and I had a choice of a Kadett or an Astra in the UK, I would go for the Kadett.

[@tomhoward4905]

Came close to buying a 3 door as my first car 13 years ago, ended up with a base Nova instead. (Base as in no passenger mirror, no rear seatbelts, no stereo, 1.0 ohv with manual choke)

[@saxongreen78]

Personally, I'd pop along to the OPEL dealer...and buy a MANTA!

[@Bernd-sb2sh]

When the Kadett D/ Astra has been introduced, they developed the new types of OHC-engines, first as 1.3N 60HP and 1.3S 75HP, later 1.6S 90HP. The 1.3 engines have been launched end of 1979 and were available in the rearwheeldrive Opel Ascona. The engines of the first generation had massive camshaft issues, because the material was too weak. Many camshafts had been changed by waranty. With the frontwheeldrive they introduced also a new generation of gearboxes which had a moveable mainshaft to make a clutch change possible without removing the whole gearbox. But some special clips were necessary to put the clutch under tension. Unfortunately those gearboxes havn't been very reliable and some of them only reached a little bit more than 100.000 km and began to produce a loud screaming noise . The base versions were also available with the old 1.2l OHV- engines with 52 or 60HP. For the Italien market there was a 1.0l version with 50 HP. Those engines were normally indestructable. Another issue of the Kadett D were massive rust problems because of bad protection. The OHC-engines had also issues with distributers and the ignition. Driving the Kadett D was very nice and comfortable. Compared to the Kadett C there was much more space inside. The top of the range was the GT/E with 1.8l and 115HP. I don't know wether the British Astra had the same issues as the Kadett. That time Opel had general massive quality problems. I think the 1.6 Diesel with 54 HP they introduced in 1983. I don't know wether the British customers had the same problems with their Astras or if there was a big difference between the Kadett and the Astra. Thank you for this very interesting video. 👍

[@quarterlight]

Interesting comment thank you for taking the time to post

[@ElgiNDuffeR]

My good friend had MUJ89W, a 1200E ‘saloon’. It must have been made in Germany, which I didn't know that! Interestingly, it did not have head rests (or the holes etc)

[@quarterlight]

Interesting you remember the plate !!

[@obesetuna3164]

Viva Chevette, even Viva Viva lol ! This really was a confusing period in Britain for the average GM spotter. Quite early on, my friend in the RAF, brought back a left hand drive Opel Astra from Germany.

[@PaulWilky-x6r]

1984 85 vauxhall brochure would be good to see

[@quarterlight]

That is a good year

[@TrevorBuick]

What a muddle it was, vauxhall GM Opel brands, eventually it worked well when the Opel badge meant Manta and Monza

[@liverush24]

You used to hear at least half of them knocking as they drove by.

[@gaufrid1956]

If you thought that it was strange that both Opel and Vauxhall were selling the Astra, albeit with different model ranges, what was happening in Australia in the eighties was even stranger. General Motors Holden also sold a model called the Astra, from 1984 to 1989, and again from 1995 to 2017. Holden died in 2017. To explain further, the Holden Astra from 1984 to 1989 was not the Opel/Vauxhall Astra. Oh no. It was a rebadged Nissan Pulsar of the time. Guess what though? It looked pretty darned similar to the UK Astra, down to a similar five door hatchback configuration, similar front styling, and even the same looking vents on the C pillars behind the rear doors. They looked like they could have been drawn by the same people that designed the Opel and Vauxhall versions. There were two facelifts until 1989, but again based on the Nissan Pulsar. All of these Astras were built by Nissan in Victoria Australia, alongside the Nissan Pulsars. Seeing something similar here, eh? Due to a federal government plan, until 1995, Holden sold the Nova, which was a rebadged version of the Toyota Corolla of the time. Between 1995 and 2017, all Holden Astras were imported. Some models were built in the UK, some in Opel's Belgian factory, some in Poland, and the convertible versions by Berlina in Italy. In the noughties some were also made in South Korea. The eighties and early nineties in Australia were a weird time where car companies often shared models, and simply rebadged them, all produced on the same production lines. The Labor Government of the time wanted to promote local production, but realised that because the market was quite small, model sharing made more sense than having each company producing cars needing to spend a lot of time and money on their own designs. This was why the small and medium vehicles were Japanese designs, while, for example, Holden's Commodore was rebadged as the Toyota Lexcen.

[@quarterlight]

Interesting info - thank you for taking the time to post as always

[@robsx4280]

Great interesting video again. Are you able to show the colours available pages in future videos i always find the colours to choose from very interesting, thank you.

[@quarterlight]

Yes I will mention some colours later in the series - sorry keep forgetting

[@liverush24]

I always thought that the best colour for the MK1 Astra was gold. Unless it was an SR, then it was blue. GTE, white or silver.

[@Bonzoguy66]

In 85 , I drove a 2 door Kadett van , in base model , at the work Not sure if it had 1.2 or 1.3 engine

[@liverush24]

Did I see "V" reg ones, or am I imagining it?

[@quarterlight]

In theory it’s possible as v plate went until July 80

[@kjellhmyhre2374]

I will never ever understand how anyone could possibly choose an Opel over a Vauxhall! After all, this is Britain against bloody Germany!

[@edword7195]

so you did not buy a Manta or Monza at a Vauxhall dealer , I always assumed they were sold at Vauxhall

[@quarterlight]

You did but later on

[@Connect201]

The Opel Kadett was a better car from the vauxhall astra because it was better equipped and engineered.

[@ischul]

7:30 of waffling

[@quarterlight]

At least!

[@simonspider]

Always thought the astra mk1 was an ugly looking brick