Heh.

So. I have been offered an Astra. It's a 1.7TD Estate (painfully slow
and not particularly economical, but twice as economical as the RX8 -
the Sera is being sold).

It's insanely cheap. Below half book. It's got a dent in one door and
has a bit of broken trim here and there, having been a decorator's 'van'
for a couple of years. The history ends on November 2004 at 52,000 miles
with a timing belt change and two glow plugs - and indeed, two glow
plugs look younger than the other two.

But...

The instrument panel is showing a row of dashes instead of a mileage, as
well as "InSP" when first started. InSP becomes trip mileage, but the
odometer remains absent.

My gut feeling is that someone has had a go as clocking the car, despite
the fact that if it's done 10,000 miles a year it'll only have done
80,000 miles, it /feels/ like it's done 80,000 miles, etc... and it's
worth essentially bugger all...

Anyway, anyone seen this before? Is it clocking protection, can it be
fixed? I don't care much myself, but it'd be handy to know if in fact
it's something else I might be able to sort, or if I can just award the
car 100,000 miles from a mileage correction place and have that come up,
or whatever.

Mk IV Astras are so dull, I think my heart actually stops when driving
it. Like that of my passengers when I forget I'm driving it, and
overtake stuff.

Richard

--
RichardK - http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/ - retro, music, cars.
2006 Mazda RX8, 1992 Sera Phase III -= Do Not Tempt With New Cars =-
"If the thought of something makes me giggle for more than 15 seconds I
am to assume I am not allowed to do it". * 64 is 128 for email *

"RichardK" <atari (AT) NOSPAMbtconnect (DOT) com> wrote

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like only a duck can....then....

It sounds like it's probably had *minimal* maintenance. Eg: when something's
went titsup, the owner has bothered to get part of the car checked out.

If you've got cash you can risk, I guess it's worth a shot. I'm completely
unfamiliar with the car, so can't offer any further advice; but sometimes
you want someone to be your dad. That will be me, for tonight. Babe. Just
kidding. Think I've got a bit of sick in my mouth now.