1995 Opel Kadett 160i S

1995 Opel Kadett 160i S hatchback

Flexible daily driver

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Kadett Astra Rautenbach will soon be turning 30. That’s a very desirable age for a car; sufficiently young to prevent culture shock yet mature enough to be interesting.

Then-Natal Parks Board site inspector, Peter Rautenbach, bought her on 23 June 1995 – the year in which it won SA Car of the Year – as his last official vehicle before retirement. Until then he had usually chosen top models with every bell and whistle but, in order to be sure of getting it paid off before the big day, he “bought down” to entry-level specification.

The car he chose, while sufficiently peppy to get the job done, was pretty basic; manual wing mirrors and windows, no aircon, no central locking, no radio, no power steering. That refinement was added later after he handed the car over to his wife and she found it hard to drive. Subsequently, after the elder Rautenbachs had passed away, the car moved on to their son Paul. He owns the motor workshop and car wash behind the Shell fuel station in Zwartkop Road, Pietermaritzburg.

Being a product of its age, it was built before the time of ABS, ESP, airbags or cameras. There’s no fault with that; it simply requires that its pilot possesses decent driving skills and remains alert.

Although overseas versions of this model range were all labelled Astra, Delta Motor Corporation, South African distributors of General Motors brands between 1986 and 2004, chose to badge hatchbacks as Kadett (an old Opel model name) and sedans as Astra.

Paul’s comment on handing me the key was: “For an older car it still has plenty of steam, keeping up easily with the youngsters.” It does that, but subject to the usual caveat: “except for VWs, Audis, BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes and big SUVs or double-cabs driven by hooligans.”

Driving impressions: For a little hatchback with naturally aspirated engine, performance is spirited and flexible; third gear is ideal for city and suburban work, between about 40- and 80 km/h, while fourth will take you from there to freeway entrance speed quickly and safely. The motor turns over at around 3500 rpm in top gear (fifth) and rolls on nicely from there if needed. Although maximum torque of 132 Nm (European figures) kicks in between 3400 and 3500 rpm, ninety percent of that is available from 2500 revs to about 5850.

Its suspension, McPherson struts with coil springs and anti-roll bar in front and beam axle with Watts linkage, coils and conventional dampers at the rear, is firm but not uncomfortably so. Handling is reassuringly positive and on par with all but really fancy 2020s competitors.

Controls and interior: Gear shifting is still smooth, positive and free of sloppiness; the centrally placed mechanical parking brake works firmly and progressively, trim is generally in good condition and free of rattles. The only obvious signs of wear are on the faux-leather gaiters surrounding gear lever and hand brake.

Front seats are fabric, comfortable and adjust mechanically, although this was before seat height adjustment became fashionable. In the absence of touchscreens, secondary controls like HVAC, entertainment (if fitted), lights and trip meter are easy to find and operate.

Back seat accommodation is a moderately good fit for this 1.85-metre tester who rated headroom (three finger-widths of space between scalp and ceiling) OK, although knee- and foot space is rather tight. Three grab handles and a single courtesy lamp are included.

The boot loads at 71 cm into a well 23 cm deep, so luggage handling should be quite easy. Its space is nicely shaped; 818 mm long – 1372 with 60:40-split seatbacks folded – 995 mm between wheel arches and 868 mm deep. Luggage capacity is rated at 360- to 1200 litres VDA.

Although not loaded with modern-day toys, this basic-spec family runabout should fulfil most users’ needs and is a very neat and flexible daily driver.

^{Car kindly loaned by owner.}

The numbers

Retail price at time of purchase: R66 541

Engine: GM Opel C16SE, 1598 cc, SOHC, eight-valve, inline four-cylinder

Fuel feed: Multipoint, indirect petrol injection. Naturally aspirated

Power: 73.5kW at 5600 rpm

Torque: 132 Nm at 3400 rpm

Zero to 100 km/h: 11.0 seconds

Maximum speed: 185 km/h

Average fuel consumption (ECE rating): 7.1 l/100 km

Tank: 52 litres

Luggage: See text

Brakes: disc and drum

Ground clearance: 135 mm

Turning circle: 10.5 metres

Standard tyre size: 175/65R14

Spare: Full size, steel rim

Towing capacities, unbraked/braked: 500 kg/1000 kg        

                                  

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