I am no expert and definitely no scientist but I am a confirmed cynic in general and a total one in terms of politics, so my cynical mind will not let me escape the belief that politicians and
governments rely on keeping the electorate under control through fear. How many times do we hear of impending disaster and Armageddon like the current so-called swine ‘flu, or the BSC mass panic and the Salmonella disaster?

Top of the list is Global Warming with theories being based on the flimsiest of scientific evidence that it is man and his cars and planes which are to blame for a rise in carbon monoxide but to link that with Mother Earth having one of her turns as she has done for millennia (the Ice Age being the most recent) is specious logic.

No! I remain to be convinced and though I am happy to join in the recycling game as a sop to the doom mongers because it makes sense not to be profligate with precious resources, I am not giving up my car or my very rare holidays which require flights.

However, as this current government has got us into a right old financial mess and now have to tax us to the hilt to get them out of the do do, I am always on the look out for fuel-frugal cars which are also attractive and fun to drive.

One such came care of Dobies of Carlisle - the new Vauxhall Astra which is kind to the planet and looks a million dollars. It also goes extremely well even though parts of it were designed in 1784 by railway engineer, James Watt.

Now this is not like Bugatti comparing the 1920’s racing Bentleys to trucks but simply that the Astra has Watt’s linkage rear suspension which he designed to restrain the movement of the steam engine’s piston but car designers pinched the idea to limit lateral suspension movement during cornering.

The new Astra had to be built to a price as its parent company, General Motors, is in difficulty and the Watt’s set up was the perefect solution and also had the desired effect of cutting down on the suspension noise of the previous model.

What is more, I can confirm it gives a comfortable ride and excellent road holding, helped by the MacPherson struts up front.

The Astra has always been a competent car which has proved strong in rallying and circuit racing but to cut the mustard in the small family car C market segment it had to be above the rest in looks and style.

Well I think the Astra designers hit gold as I love the tear-drop shape, the sculpted flanks and curvaceous rear: it is cohesive and attractive which along with the big alloys help give it a modern, aggressive and purposeful look.

The interior is equally elegant and purposeful with a crisp and logical design and the dash looks like a cockpit of a fly-by-wire Airbus, while the stumpy gear stick stirs a superbly slick five-speed ‘box.

The well-contoured seats convinced me I was in sports saloon, a feeling endorsed by the driver’s binnacle with large, clear dials informing me of revs and speed, plus vital functions.

So, rather than drone on about the rest of the excellent cabin, boot and vast array of comfort, entertainment and safety equipment, I strapped myself in and headed to the somewhat snow-swept roads of Eden to let my hair down (joke!) and explore its performance.

I was not disappointed because not only was the new Astra very sure footed, its 1.6-litre engine was a joy which encouraged maximum use of the easy revving engine.

Both the 115PS power and 155Nm of torque peak high in the rev range at 6,000 and 4,000 rpm respectively, so to make full use of them does require stirring that delightful ‘box, though should you have aged too rapidly and wanted to laze about, the Astra will play the pussy cat as well.
On the motorway the legal limit is quiet with plenty of go left if you had the chance to give it beans, so I can well accept the quoted 120mph is more than possible.

The new Astra will be vital in Vauxhall’s long term survival and to encourage buyers it is so loaded with goodies from handling aids, adaptive lighting, safety equipment to entertainment goodies it may be a hackneyed cliché but the level of extras as standard is well in excess of anything in its class.

I raved about the new Vauxhall Insignia for its superb design, handling and performance and its smaller sibling, the Astra, is every bit as advanced and attractive - both are superb packages which exude class and competence.

With prices starting from around £14k and without being either OTT or in the pay of Vauxhall, the new Astra, like the Insignia, really did impress me.

Oh! I nearly forgot, the Astra is an earth-hugging green to satisfy those who think Man is responsible for global warming as it will return 55mpg in extra urban mode and 44mpg combined while emitting 148g/km of CO2.