Colin

Just thinking at this stage about buying a Holden2.2 l hatchbackyr 2001with137000 klmall i know is what i see -- cam belt changed at8.000 klmthey any good !thanks

what one ! holden made some right poo in that years astras i think it was constantly with electronic faults , i know because the guys daughter from the local pub had one astra 4 year old they wanted to sell for 4 grand back then because she walked more then driven it.

Firstly, its not a Holden its an Opel with a Holden badge. I am very much not biased against European cars but the Opel product of the time was not great.

Trouble is they look and drive nice, seem excellent value and well appointed. But unlike a VW, BMW, Fiat etc they are not well designed and built. Simple problems (like changing a bottom radiator hose) become massive expensive nightmares. You also get stupid things cropping up that shouldn't happen with modern cars, like sheared exhaust manifold bolts and a tendency to blow headgaskets.

Buy a MK4 Golf instead, all the nice European quality, refinement and features without the poor engineering letting you down.

Oh and assuming 8.000km is actually 80'000km the timing belt is either almost due or overdue depending on how long ago it was done.