Vauxhall Astra

Tourists flock to London from all over the world, but it’s strange how when you actually live and work in the capital, you rarely find the time to savour the attractions.

So, to prove to myself that driving in the city isn’t all about traffic jams, rip-off parking and congestion charging, I decided to take my long-term Vauxhall Astra Design on a sight-seeing tour – and that wonderful
Panoramic windscreen made it the perfect companion.

The innovative glass roof provided the same uninterrupted view of London’s bright lights and landmarks as you’d get in an open-top double-decker bus, but with protection from the elements. From Piccadilly Circus to Big Ben, my mini-break was a real success.

I will certainly miss the Astra when the time comes to hand it back. It’s stylish, swift and practical – boxes not all its rivals can tick. The only problem was the engine’s sudden thirst for oil at 3,250 miles, which has led to several lubricant top-ups since – strange, as the first service isn’t due until 20,000 miles. Nevertheless, the diesel has returned good economy, although the 45.8mpg average is still a little way behind Vauxhall’s 48.7mpg combined claims.

With 6,995 miles on the clock, the Astra has settled in well in other ways, too. In contrast to the impractical light beige leather trim of the Renault Modus I used to run, the attractive dark grey cloth and leather-look finish of the Design-spec Astra is wearing nicely. However, given that I’ve had to retrieve the spilled contents of my handbag from the floor on several occasions, I do miss the French car’s clever stay-put cubby on the front passenger seat squab.

The Vauxhall is a superb motorway cruiser, with its easy-to-use controls, long-legged performance and relaxing ride. It is one tourist attraction I would drive a very long way to see!