Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v | Spotted

Whether new, lightly used, or classic, the appeal of a great hot hatch is easy to grasp. Because these humble hatchbacks can be as rare, exciting and entertaining as many more overt sports cars, while retaining almost all the usability, simplicity and ease of use of the base car. The older a car gets, the more complexity becomes a burden rather than a boon, as it’s one more thing to monitor and potentially replace. 

Similarly, if your old car is millimetres from the ground, awkward to get in and stubborn when cold, then you’re less likely to use it. But if there are doors from a family-friendly hatch, a spacious enough interior and a lusty yet simple engine under the bonnet, there is no excuse not to. 

We all know the Astra GTE. Plenty of us probably love it. Along with various GTIs of the era, it’s the peak for many of the true back-to-basics hot hatch, before turbos, limited-slip diffs, huge wheels – even airbags, in this case. It’s raw, rare, and likely huge fun, with 150 16-valved horsepower hurling along a tonne and a bit. If you didn’t want one 30-odd years ago, it was because you already had one. 

Or you had one of the innumerable alternatives, of course. With the 205 and Golf GTI at their best around 1990, there were reasons not to get a GTE. Some people would buy a Ford instead of a Vauxhall, no matter what. And an eight-valve version of this car offered up the look (very important for a hot hatch) without the performance (or the insurance premium). 

But this is the real deal, a 2.0-litre GTE with the digital dash, white wheels and some very jazzy seat fabric. More than that, in fact, it’s an extensively restored 16-valve Astra. With rust taking hold at the end of the ’00s, this GTE was taken off the road and a host of new parts – think doors, bonnet, bumpers – fitted to bring it back to its best. And it didn’t stop with bodywork, either, with fresh brakes and suspension – even a new C20XE engine – installed. A huge amount of time and love has been put into this Astra, not just in terms of fitting new bits but tracking them down in the first place. 

It’s a surprise, really, to find the Vauxhall for sale, given so much has gone into it. Probably it looks even better than expected, gleaming like a fresh set of Turkey teeth and with a spotless underside. The engine bay is like a redtop shrine, and the interior looks great for 160,000 miles (probably as some lightly used seats were sourced – told you the effort had been invested). In truth, it’s probably an Astra that’s impossible to repeat now, given the scarcity of similar cars and the availability of parts. Does that make it worth £20k? Over to you…

Engine: 1,998cc four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 158@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 145@4,800rpm
MPG: 33.4 (Autocar road test average)
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 159,659
Year registered: 1991
Price new: £9,879.48 (1987)
Yours for: £19,750