Astra Kerb Weight

[WoodlandsCamper]

I have been searching the internet for the kerb weight of a particular Astra but, as usual, Vauxhall are reluctant to publish such information. The possible candidate for our next tug is a 2013 Astra 5-door hatchback, Exclusiv, 1.7CDTi 16v (130PS) ecoFLEX stop/start, manual 6-speed.

In our current Vectra handbook Vauxhall quote a base figure for model (ie Vectra with specific engine) to which is added a trim level (ie 12kg for Exclusiv), plus 'heavy items' (ie 20kg for towing equipment). Please does anyone have an Astra handbook with similar info or access to a 'reliable' database?

Thank in advance.

 

[Sproket]

Sir Wc
One gives the MTW @1400kg & the other @1500kg with a GVW @ 2020 to 2030 kg as an example......
vauxhall-astra-se-1.7-cdti-16v-130ps-ecoflex-start-stop.asp
vauxhall/astra-diesel-hatchback/technical-data/

 

[RogerL]

, as usual, Vauxhall are reluctant to publish such information.

What a load of cobblers!
Vauxhall publish model-specific kerbweights in their sales brochures, their owners handbooks, their EU Certificates of Conformance and of course it's on the V5C.
If there's too many model/trim/engine/transmission combinations to choose from, that's hardly Vauxhall's fault.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

, as usual, Vauxhall are reluctant to publish such information.

What a load of cobblers!
Vauxhall publish model-specific kerbweights in their sales brochures, their owners handbooks, their EU Certificates of Conformance and of course it's on the V5C.
If there's too many model/trim/engine/transmission combinations to choose from, that's hardly Vauxhall's fault.

Roger
I beg to differ, Vauxhall do NOT publish kerb weights UNTIL you have bought the car, eg owners handbook and V5C. It is NOT in any sales literature. If you follow Sprocket's links given above you will not find any kerb weight given. On one it doesn't mention kerb weight at all and on the other the heading is there but the field is blank. Yes, they do give max towing weight (MTW) and gross weight, but NOT kerb weight, which is what is required to calculate percentages.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Kerbweight is not a required measurement for the V5c or other offical documentation. The nearest official figure you might find is the Unladen weight, or the Mass In Service, or teh mass In Running Order.
In reality the traditional way of calculating the towing ratio (i.e. Trailer MTPLM/Cars Kerbweight) is of little pratical value, as does not represent the actuial ratio of a real outfit, and it affords no guarantees of safe towing.
Its only purpose is to provide a very rough guideline for novice tow'ers to follow. If ULW were used instead of Kerbweight, the results would be little differnt and not likely to affect the performance of the outfit.

 

[Surfer]

, as usual, Vauxhall are reluctant to publish such information.

What a load of cobblers!
Vauxhall publish model-specific kerbweights in their sales brochures, their owners handbooks, their EU Certificates of Conformance and of course it's on the V5C.
If there's too many model/trim/engine/transmission combinations to choose from, that's hardly Vauxhall's fault.

Roger, it is very difficult to obtain these figures as they are not on the website and even in their brochures the figures can be difficult to find. We had a similar issue when we were looking for another car about 2 years ago.
The other thing we found out is that a Vauxhall with a kerbweight of 1500kg may be able to tow a maximum braked tow weight of 1500kg, but for every kg over the maximum kerbweight, you need to deduct from the maximum braked towing weight. This is very clear in all their brochures, but confusing for any that wants to tow a anything. The true figures are on the V5 but by that time it is too late. We decided to give Vauxhall a miss.
Anyway here are the figures http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/specs/detail/?v=MVAXCAST0476

 

[RogerL]

The other thing we found out is that a Vauxhall with a kerbweight of 1500kg may be able to tow a maximum braked tow weight of 1500kg, but for every kg over the maximum kerbweight, you need to deduct from the maximum braked towing weight.

Then Vauxhall have radically changed their policy since I last looked - Renault, alone, used to define towing weights the way you describe but I understand even they've changed,.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Prof
I'm not a pedant

, I use the term 'kerb weight' loosely. I don't mind if it's 'unladen weight', 'mass in service', 'V5c figure', or any other, as long as I can get a rough idea.

Surfer
Thank you for the link to Honest John. I see he's very honest as he hasn't made up a figure for kerb weight. The heading is there but the answer is a dash

 

[Lutz]

As kerbweight/MIRO/Mass in Service is specific to each and every vehicle, we only publish a range. For the Astra in question, 1373 to 1590kg is the range quoted. It all depends on engine equipment/transmission/factory fitted options, etc. Based on the description of the model in question, I'd say 1500 to 1530kg is a good closer approximation to use as a guideline.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Thank you Lutz
I believe now, for the model in question, the figures are:

kerbweight/MIRO/mass in service approx 1500 kg
Gross vehicle weight 2030 kg
max braked towing weight 1300 kg (would be 1500 kg if not stop/start)

With the van's MTPLM of 1210 kg the ratio is 81% - acceptable. Even taking the minimum kerbweight of 1373 the ratio is 88%, so still acceptable for an experienced driver.
Looks like we're on target for a new car.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Just as a matter of interest, I was passing a used car sales outlet yesterday and it had the same car I was interested in, but in SRi trim rather than Exclusiv. The salesman was kind enough to go and get its V5c certificate for me to read - the mass in service was quoted as 1571 kg, with a max tow weight of 1400 kg. Roll on the New Year

 

[seth1]

Will be interesting to see how it tows,the power delievery of the ones ive driven are like a light switch-on or off.Hope its good for you.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Just as a matter of interest, I was passing a used car sales outlet yesterday and it had the same car I was interested in, but in SRi trim rather than Exclusiv. The salesman was kind enough to go and get its V5c certificate for me to read - the mass in service was quoted as 1571 kg, with a max tow weight of 1400 kg. Roll on the New Year

Hello Woodlands,
The car you saw on the car lot was not the same, one is the SRi and the othe one you are looking at is the Exclusive.Now I cant comment specifically on the cars you are looking at but it is often the case that sports versions have different towing specifications compared to the cooking versions.
So you should not assume the V5c you have seen will be the same as the car you are considering.
In point of fact some cars that have decent towing capabilities in their non sport versions are not even rated to tow anything (not even a sub750Kg Trailer) in their sport versions. You can only go by the specification for your exact model.
Factors such as lowered suspension, different gear ratio's, which give the car higher performance may not lend them selves to towing.

 

[RogerL]

In Vauxhall's case, the SRi is just a look-alike sports version - it's mechanical specification will be virtually the same as basic models with the same engine.
VXR are the real sports versions.

 

[ProfJohnL]

In Vauxhall's case, the SRi is just a look-alike sports version - it's mechanical specification will be virtually the same as basic models with the same engine.
VXR are the real sports versions.

Hello Roger, the most important words in your post is " virtually the same" but not exactly the same. You can only rely on the specification for your exact model.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

In Vauxhall's case, the SRi is just a look-alike sports version - it's mechanical specification will be virtually the same as basic models with the same engine.
VXR are the real sports versions.

Hello Roger, the most important words in your post is " virtually the same" but not exactly the same. You can only rely on the specification for your exact model.

The glossy brochure say the SRi has the additional features over and Exclusiv model
- 17 inch alloy wheels instead of 16 inch steel
- lowered sports suspension
- leathered covered steering wheel
- sports front seats
- front centre arm rest
- front fog lights
- trip computer
- alarm system
- chrome effect window surrounds
- tinted rear windows
- silver-effect roof rails
- centre console ambient lighting

ie looks faster but with the same engine, as Roger said

. It's also one insurance band higher.

 

[Surfer]

Our good friends have the Insignia SRi and while happy with it generally found the suspension to be too hard for their liking! The kerbweight on it is exactly the same as their neighbour who has an Exclusive.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

NEXT DILEMNA
The same 1.7 cdti (130) engine I'm interested in comes in 2 emission versions, 99 and 110 g/km. The 99 has a slightly better mpg figure and a slightly slower acceleration 0 - 60. It is also permanent zero VED whereas the 110 is £20 a year after the first year. However the 99 RRP costs a whopping £700 more than the 110 emission engine for the priviledge. For our intended annual mileage, towing/solo percentage and estimated average diesel cost the breakeven point is about 7 years (assuming service costs and intervals are the same, etc).
Does anyone else tow with a low-emission engine?

 

[RogerL]

Carefully check the power/torque outputs and towing limits of the two versions of that engine - the changes needed to get below that magical 100 g/km might alter one or more of those figures.
IMO, 7 years is too long for a breakeven point, so go for the initially cheaper one.

 

[Surfer]

NEXT DILEMNA
The same 1.7 cdti (130) engine I'm interested in comes in 2 emission versions, 99 and 110 g/km. The 99 has a slightly better mpg figure and a slightly slower acceleration 0 - 60. It is also permanent zero VED whereas the 110 is £20 a year after the first year. However the 99 RRP costs a whopping £700 more than the 110 emission engine for the priviledge. For our intended annual mileage, towing/solo percentage and estimated average diesel cost the breakeven point is about 7 years (assuming service costs and intervals are the same, etc).
Does anyone else tow with a low-emission engine?

Like Roger I would check the torque plus the maximum braked towing weight as there is probably a difference between the two. If a member of the CC, do a check on the towcar plus caravan.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Roger - The manufacturer's spec gives the same torque, power and max tow for both emission versions.
Surfer- thanks for the tip re CC checks. I didn't realise they did it, so I have checked. The check gives the same results for both versions - all 'ticks' except noseweight, as it didn't know the car's figure.

The only trade-off I can find is that the lower emission version has lower acceleration, which results in a slightly better mpg figure (at the cost of an extra £700 on the initial purchase price, but zero VED each year).

 

[RogerL]

Roger - The manufacturer's spec gives the same torque, power and max tow for both emission versions.

Just wanted you to check and not assume !
If there's a £700 difference in purchase price, countered by a £20/year difference in VED plus marginally better consumption - I'd go for the 110 g/km and save the £700 - there's no guarantees on future VED rates particularly if governments change (heaven forbid!) and by not using the extra acceleration you'd reduce the real mpg gap anyway.
One thing though that might make a difference - is the 99 g/km model exempt from the London Congestion Charge and is that any benefit to you?

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Have ordered the new car today

. Astra Design Hatchback 1.7 CDTi 16v (130PS) 110 g/km
Vauxhall may have been reading (and taking notice of) this forum as the 2014 edition of the Astra sales brochure/booklet now includes a column of max towing weights for EACH of the 47 variants of engine combinations. The small print says the towing weights are for a car with 2 occupants. Any luggage or other people in the car reduces the towing weight accordingly.

(appropriate for restarting on a 12% gradient at sea level).
No details on kerb weights have been included, unfortunately.

 

[Lutz]

The small print says the towing weights are for a car with 2 occupants. Any luggage or other people in the car reduces the towing weight accordingly.

(appropriate for restarting on a 12% gradient at sea level).
No details on kerb weights have been included, unfortunately.

Unless the maximum permissible gross train weight is less than the sum of the max. GVW and the max. allowable towload, the above statement doesn't make sense.
According to my sources, the kerbweight of the variant in question is 1503kg.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Lutz - thank you for your reply.
On re-reading the small print it appears the pro-rata reduction in max tow weight only applies at altitudes above 1500 metres.