Teppo Uotinen needed a car that is robust and reliable. In Finland the paths are wide, workshops rare. The young engineer regularly had to drive long distances through the country for his employer. That was in 2007. He found: an Astra G, nine years old, 181,000 kilometers on the speedometer, two previous owners. An Opel? That fit. His parents drove Opel, he himself had driven a inherited Kadett E as a student – a loyal companion. So he reached. And since then the Astra has been running. And runs. And runs.
At some point, Uotinen set itself a goal: to crack the million mark. Only his Astra reached a million kilometers. Then Uotinen drove another 180,000 kilometers and completed his personal million. The Finn and its astra have long been inseparable. Only twice the long -term runner had to be repaired over the years. The first rust exposure? After 17 years. The hardest test test? An 18-hour trip from Finland’s southwest coast, where Uotinen lives, to the Kola peninsula in Russia-for “ski mountaineering”, a Scandinavian extreme sport.
A real millionaire: the Astra is our latest access in the gallery of the kilometers.
The Finn Teppo Uotinen has been traveling with it for 17 years.
The 51-year-old particularly raves about the engine of his occasional purchase: “With the last tank filling, I drove over 1,000 kilometers-less than five liters per 100 kilometers.” The maintenance? A longlife oil service at Opel every 30,000 kilometers. You don’t need more. That is why Uotins also find words for the “father” of the indestructible engine: “Fritz Indra is a genius.” From 1985 to 1998, the Austrian headed engine development at Opel. Under it, the legendary C20XE was created-and also the X20dtl, which makes Uotinen a milionaire.
Car as a cultural asset
In any case, the Finn is a “Car Guy” through and through. As a student, he joined a club that promotes technical knowledge of cars, sees motorsport as a hobby and works for better driving skills and traffic culture. And what’s next with his Astra? “At some point he has to retire,” admits Uotinen. “That can be soon.” He finds consolation in summer – in his Opel Speedster.
April 2025
Text: Eric Scherer, photos: private