2002 Vauxhall Astra 888 Edition

This well-maintained example has done just over 66,000 miles, a fair bit of which was done in the noughties. It’s accompanied by a service record, MOT history paperwork, a brochure (which has all the details of the different components that the Triple Eight gets over a standard car; so great for your pub quiz), etc.

The vendor mentions that the car’s not very grown-up in the way it drives — quite potent in the corners, and not bereft of character with that turbocharged engine — which makes it great fun. Complementing that is the car’s styling; one can make out it’s no standard Astra Coupe, with the presence of a large spoiler among other additions. The interior has seen a lot of change, and that can divide opinion quite a lot. You can take a look at the exterior, interior, etc. in the detailed photo gallery below.

The Triple Eight is pretty much ready to be driven by its new owner, which means no restoration is required at all. Everything from the exterior to mechanicals is in great condition, adds the vendor.

With its new range of models, Vauxhall was beginning to look more serious in its approach to appeal to a wider range of buyers. But this collaboration with Triple Eight couldn’t have been more focussed. Its target buyer is someone who wanted a car that looked fast, was fairly quick and had great dynamic abilities.

If you were to pick up any ‘how to make a car look fast’ guide from the era, it’d most probably mention body kits. Unsurprisingly, the Astra Coupe 888 also gets one. Although given that it’s far from gaudy, unlike most other projects, this one looks great.

Not that the Bertone-styled Astra Coupe didn’t look great, but the styling kit, which included side skirts, wheel arch extensions, front bumper splitter, and a large rear spoiler, made the 888 even better. On a regular car, these would look out of place, but with the inclusion of OZ Racing wheels (17-inch) and lowered body (reduction of 30 mm at the front and 35 mm at the rear), the Astra Coupe 888 Edition looks smart.

The bodywork is near-perfect, the Europa Blue paint is resplendent, and there isn’t anything to worry about. The Triple Eight came with galvanised body and panels, and this example shows why that’s worked well in the long run. Apart from some age-related wear, the car hasn’t suffered much. The front bumper does have stone chips, though.

It was no half-hearted effort by Vauxhall and Triple Eight in making the Astra Coupe 888 feel special, and the interior is evidently more vocal in that regard. The omnipresence of blue might be off-putting to those who like beige or grey cabins, but as a limited-run car, this Astra Coupe works really well. And it doesn’t just end there; the list is quite long, actually. To start with, the car gets blue/black Sparco sport seats at the front, replete with Alcantara. The same treatment is carried over to the steering wheel, which also has the embossed 888 logo. The handbrake and gear lever gaiters are also finished in Alcantara. The latter has been redone, and it looks great. To further differentiate it from the standard model, the car also got an 888 alloy gear knob, handbrake lever, and pedals, among other inclusions.

The example here doesn’t have a tired interior. And like the exterior, apart from some age-related marks, it’s all fine in here. A close look at the interior photos and you might find that the front seats have minute signs of age, and the offside door pad has some scratches. The rear seats seem fine, and for short rides, they might be okay. But more importantly, why would anyone want to leave the body-hugging Sparco sport seats anyway!

The Astra Coupe 888 Edition used the same chassis as the standard car, but not without enhancements. The car, as has been mentioned earlier, came lowered from the factory and fitted with Eibach springs and dampers. With the 17-inch alloys and the Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, it would corner flat, with more confidence and speed. This is where the expertise of Triple Eight Race Engineering would come to the fore. The vendor mentions the car drives beautifully and doesn’t seem to be so grown up that it loses its playfulness and character.

A part of that character is also down to the turbocharged 2-litre engine. When new, it was claimed to offer a 0-60 mph of 7 seconds, which is hardly a surprise considering it made 189 bhp. Respectable figures, aren’t those? Further adding to that is the car’s advertised roll-on time (from 30 - 50 mph in 4th gear) of 6 seconds. This proves it won’t fare badly as an everyday car, either. The short shifter (supplied as standard on the Triple Eight) also works as intended. Having said that, the more focussed approach in handling does take a toll on the car’s ride quality.

The car’s running like-new tyres at the front whereas the rear ones are brand new — not the original Michelin Pilot Sports, though. In addition to this, the vendor recently got a major cambelt service.

This, car #64/100, is a model-year 2002 example. Since new, it’s done under 70,000 miles, and the service record states the first service was done in 2003 at 11k miles (which was one year or 20k miles from new) and the latest one was in 2018 at just under 66,000 miles. As mentioned earlier, the MoT paperwork along with service records comes with the car. The current MoT is valid till June this year.

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

It’s clear that this isn’t an everyday Vauxhall. Triple Eight’s efforts did make it quite different from the car it’s based on. From the way it looks to how well it drives, the Astra Coupe 888 deserves to be enjoyed. It’s certainly not for mundane commutes because while it’s almost certain you’ll reach the destination with a smile on your face, the harsh ride might not be pleasing.

If you’re looking for a focussed car, you won’t mind the ride, though. The rather eager engine was rated to deliver maximum torque of 184.4 lb.ft. from just 1950 rpm onwards. This does mean it’ll reward with pace or wheelspin, depending on the surface. To keep things tidy, both traction control and stability control are present, along with ABS. But one must keep in mind that it’s a car launched in the early 2000s.

Some might feel that it’s too loud for their liking. But the large spoiler (and maybe the exhaust) aside, the car doesn’t stick out too much. The finer details are worth enjoying, and will probably be noticed by those who appreciate nice things in life — like OZ Racing wheels. On the inside, it might take some time to get used to the overuse of blue, but the high-quality material of the seats and steering balances that out perfectly. We think it’ll fetch between £6,500 - £9,000.

Owning one in 2021 doesn’t sound like a bad idea. For less than what it cost when new, the Astra Coupe 888 can be a fun car, with a good compromise between outright driver appeal and practicality. True to the car’s tagline ‘Handles Life Beautifully’, don’t you think?

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with the owner in Essex; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.