ASTRA. IT’S HARD TO THINK OF A CAR name with such a gap between the intended connotations (celestial, magical, the twinkling glories of the universe around us) and the harsh realities (hire cars, people called Kev, medium-speed police chases). Except, perhaps, Mitsubishi Carisma.
It’s equally hard to imagine that anyone has aspired to own an Astra since the aero-shape GTE of the 1980s. In fact, it’s quite difficult to remember what came after, so forgettable were the many generations of Astra that followed. There was that rounded one that; they merge into one unappetising lump. It was ever thus. You say Focus and your mind turns to crisp controls and driving thrills even in low-spec, low-power trim. Hear someone say Golf and you’ll think of stout, unfussy useability and all the everyday friendliness you get from the Labrador of cars. But if someone tells you they’ve got an Astra your reply is likely to be ‘Why?’ or ‘Can I help you with something, officer?’
