Looking to buy a 2003 Vauxhall Astra car? Used Car Expert has thousands of 2003 Vauxhall cars for sale from 2003 Vauxhall car dealers and private sellers across the UK.
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2003 (52 Reg)
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2003 (03 Reg)
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2003 (53 Reg)
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An excellent car. Built to a standard that would shame many cars from the class above the Astra makes a clever used buy. There are loads on the market and that, combined with the value badge makes secondhand prices very soft indeed.
The Astra really puts the Golf into perspective. All it lacks in comparison is the badge. Nimble handling, cheap servicing costs and a really solid cabin give it many tangible advantages over that car.
There is always a premium to pay for diesel cars in this sector and on this generation of Astra you will pay £500 to £1200 more for a diesel. We would not do so - the mileage is likely to be 20% higher and servicing costs and insurance will be more.
Keep it simple. Go for the tried and tested 1.6 petrol motor and, if you intend to sell it on, make sure it has air-con. We'd go for a 1.6 petrol estate in Club trim for a proper used car bargain.
The pick of the bunch is the 1.6 petrol in Club trim. This will cost £7600 at 3 years old. If you want, you could pay £10,000 more for a nearly new 1.9 CDTi diesel Design variant of the same car. That would be very silly though.
The best time to buy will be at 3 years old when the first MOT is due. Depreciation can run to 16% in this year.
Used Car Expert recommends that you try to buy after a big drop in depreciation and before the next one, so with the current Vauxhall Astra you would aim to buy a 1 year old and sell it before it is 3 years old.
Petrol Vauxhall Astra cars lose most over the first year (from new to 1 year old), so that is the best ‘nearly new’ buy in terms of car for money.
Petrol Vauxhall Astra cars lose least between years 1 and 3, so this is the best buy if you want to keep the car for a while.
Petrol Vauxhall Astra cars lose least between years 2 and 4, so that is the best buy on older cars.
For advice on what to pay, see below and for more detailed depreciation and mileage & spec adjusted prices & graphs visit our price guide.