The duo is well known around Paal-Beringen in the Belgian province of Limburg: Gerry Dirix and his Astra are among the local celebrities. The musician has been driving the dark gray Opel for over two decades. Every day. To music events, to church services – he is the organist in various parishes – or to an educational institution. Here he accompanies children on their way to school. The demeanor is not loud or shrill. On the contrary: the 46-year-old is known and valued for his down-to-earth attitude, honesty and reliability. Characteristics that he and his Astra have in common. When its speedometer – that was nine years ago – cracked the 500,000 kilometer mark, there was a celebration. A priest blessed the guests – including the car. The kilometer heroes made it onto national television when the Opel crossed the magical one million mark in May of this year.
Lively exchange: CEO Florian Huettl (right) didn’t want to be denied the opportunity to experience the driving proof of the long-standing slogan “Opel, the reliable one” up close.
Big appearance in front of the Adam Opel Haus: Gerry Dirix drives up to the headquarters in Rüsselsheim in his Astra, which has over a million kilometers on the clock.
That was the moment when Wim Verloy also became aware of the duo: “I contacted Gerry to congratulate him,” recalls the communications manager for Opel Belux. The long-standing Astra driver expressed the desire to visit the headquarters in Rüsselsheim and show the Opel CEO his long-distance runner. “Okay, I’ll just ask,” Wim Verloy remembers his reaction. Today, on a Wednesday in mid-July, Gerry Dirix is standing with Opel CEO Florian Huettl in Rüsselsheim in front of the Adam Opel House. They watch the Belgian TV report on their smartphone and chat about the quality of the 25-year-old bestseller model.
Honor where credit is due
“The engine is original, just like the gearbox,” emphasizes the Belgian guest. “There is an oil change every 7,000 kilometers,” he sends afterwards and presents the service booklet as proof, it is the fourth. The CEO takes a seat in the kilometer hero, the musician in the new Astra plug-in hybrid. Together they record a video about the meeting. “It’s a very special day for me,” says the Belgian. It is a great honor for him that Opel recognizes his passion and made this visit possible. Florian Huettl also enjoys the exchange: “It’s nice to see how outstanding quality leads to satisfied customers.”
A meeting with the Opel CEO – why not? After all, proximity is part of the core of the brand.
A look into the cockpit of a millionaire: Gerry Dirix bought the Astra F, built in 1997, from a neighbor in 2000 – with 150,000 kilometers on the clock. Now, 22 years later, there are 1,010,850. As proof, the owner presents fourth bulging service booklets. Because of course the kilometer display is only designed for a six-digit mileage.
Well-groomed impression: Is this what fittings look like after a quarter of a century? In an Opel, yes. The owner’s care tip: “Just wipe regularly. With a damp cloth.”
Quality down to the last detail: He hadn’t actually planned to drive the Astra for so long, “but there was no reason to buy a new car,” says Gerry Dirix. We believe immediately when we see this door sill.
There are more exciting Opel models than the Astra F. Although? Only at first sight.
And of course a visit to the headquarters also includes a detour to the sacred halls: Opel Classic boss Leif Rohwedder personally guides Gerry Dirix and his girlfriend Brigitte Fischer through the Opel Classic collection. Fascinated, the two inspect the wax candles that serve as headlights for the Opel Lutzmann and reverently take a seat in the “Green Monster”. There are more exciting vehicles with lightning in the halls than the Astra F. Although? Only at first sight. The guests listen intently. Because the model that Gerry Dirix bought from his neighbor 22 years ago made history. “With 4.13 million copies, it is the best-selling Opel model to date,” says the Classic boss. The reason: The Astra F is peppered with innovations. As is tradition in the now 86-year history of the compact class bestseller.
Astra as a technology carrier
The safety features (twin tube reinforcements in the doors, full-size airbags as standard from 1994), the use of recycled material (instrument panel, interior paneling or center console) and the consistent use of catalytic converters set new standards in the compact class in the 1990s. The 1.7 liter compression-ignition engine that works so reliably in Dirix’ Astra also has a specially developed diesel oxidation catalytic converter. Last but not least, Leif Rohwedder takes the guests to a special model of the series: “With the Astra Impuls III, Opel carried out the first large-scale electric car test in its history from 1993 to 1997.” Ten such examples with batteries covered a total of 350,000 test kilometers on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen away.
Car lovers among themselves: Opel Classic experts Jens Cooper (right) and Gerry Dirix talk shop about the new Astra, which rolls off the assembly line just a few meters away at the company’s headquarters.
Sewing machines, bicycles and pure classics: Opel Classic boss Leif Rohwedder (centre) guides Gerry Dirix and his girlfriend Brigitte Fischer through the collection.
It is a research work that has ultimately culminated in a production vehicle with the new Astra. A plug-in hybrid is parked in front of the Classic workshop. It’s a brand new example, just yards away from the assembly line. “A fully electric model will follow next year,” says Jens Cooper, Opel’s classic expert. Together with the guest, he inspects the cockpit, the so-called Opel Pure Panel. “It looks great – and shines just like my cockpit,” jokes Dirix. And indeed, no matter where you look: the fittings in the Astra endurance runner are impeccable, as are the door sills, the seat covers, even the steering wheel. “The Astra has never let me down – the quality is outstanding. And it still drives as smoothly as on day one.”
“Never Let You Down”
Of course, an electric drive would also appeal to him: “The new Astra drives great,” says Gerry Dirix, describing the impressions of his test drive, “but before I can think about a successor, I have to find out how long my Astra will still serve me faithfully performs.” There is no question as to which brand his heart belongs to: “It’s just like Mr. Huettl said: Great quality leads to satisfied customers. My next one will of course be an Opel.”
Before the successor can be clarified, the question arises: What can the millionaire still achieve?
Group photo with the Opel endurance runner and the new Astra (from left): Wim Verloy, PR manager for Belgium and Opel CEO Florian Huettl together with Gerry Dirix and his girlfriend Brigitte Fischer.
Aug 2022
Photos: Andreas Liebschner