Vauxhalls - any good?

iolanthe07

My daughter had an automatic Astra which was OK, but very thirsty.

System

Sea_Shell wrote: »

It's the 140 bhp one we've got. We get about 37mpg running local urban. But just done a long 175 mile duel carriageway run and got 45mpg, fully laden boot, 2 passengers. You do have to push it a bit to get the performance compared to the diesel, but it's plenty for what we need!!

A 140BHP petrol will accelerate as fast as a 140BHP diesel assuming everything else is equal however because the power is higher up in the rev range on a petrol you have to keep the revs higher to get the benefit - my MX5 for example comes alive once you get above 3000RPM and is as flat as a fart below it, my diesel Mondeo will pick up from 2000RPM. Diesels "feel" faster because they have gobs of torque low down in the rev range where people drive more often.

Sea_Shell

Yep you don't get that "boot up the bum" like you do from the diesel!!!

Just asking DH about this too... also they don't do all trim levels / all engines in the auto, so your choices are limited too.

shinytop

Sea_Shell wrote: »

Yep you don't get that "boot up the bum" like you do from the diesel!!!

Just asking DH about this too... also they don't do all trim levels / all engines in the auto, so your choices are limited too.

Thanks. I get my "boot up the bum" on 2 wheels so just need performance to be OK. I've found 1.6LD, 2.0LD and 1.4i Astra in autos so they are there - just not as much choice.

shinytop

alan_d wrote: »

I live in a Vauxhall factory town so there are a LOT around.
The amount of smoking, rattly Vauxhalls I see is enough to prevent me from buying one. They are cheap for a reason, rubbish cars.

Thank you for your well-though out, unbiased and insightful analysis of Vauxhall cars; it's information like this that makes me come back again and again to this forum. I'll be crossing them off my list of potential cars and telling everyone I know how bad they are.

PS why did they sack you anyway?

DoaM

SWMBO used to have a 1.4 petrol automatic Corsa. Never had any real issues with it as far as I can remember, other than the paint fading. (It was red - a lot of red cars fade with age). It was nice to drive and the auto box seemed to work OK. (It wasn't a performance machine by any shout, but would go quickly enough if you pushed it).

What's your 2-wheeled beast? (I've been away from 2 wheels for a number of years now, after I did a bad impersonation of Superman off my XJ900S Diversion. My beast before that was a GPZ600R).

motorguy

shinytop wrote: »

Thank you for your well-though out, unbiased and insightful analysis of Vauxhall cars; it's information like this that makes me come back again and again to this forum. I'll be crossing them off my list of potential cars and telling everyone I know how bad they are.

PS why did they sack you anyway?

+1

Has never owned one but has taken exception to them {for some reason} and therefore they must be bad cars.

motorguy

My tuppenceworth.

I've owned several personally - my last being an Insignia CDTI SRi. I thought it was a great car. I certainly got a lot newer / lower mileage car than the equivalent Passat.

I also had a lot of them when motor trading. In fact i underwrote the trade ins for a local Vauxhall dealer which was often - unsurprisingly - Vauxhalls.

No particular issues with them, relatively cheap, easy worked at, good workhorses generally.

One or two of the engines have given trouble - not unlike many manufacturers - so best do your homework on any variant you're looking at.

vansboy

Have a look on https://www.honestjohn.co.uk the reviews section will cover all makes, good and bad points of each model, too.


And personally a fan of the brand, up until now, as they are no longer Vauxhall, as such, with the new owners taking much more control of the brand.


Diesel Astra owner and previously my Omega estate....actually the best car I ever owned and that includes all the Jaguars and Rovers, Audis, Mercedes and other supposedly premium brands. Plus sold plenty of Astravans in the past.


So looking at a last but one, generation Astra 1.4 would be an ok proposition, for a sensible buy. But the one certainty ou will have, is difficulty comparing the price of one specification against another. Even Vauxhall dealers don't know whats what!!


VB

Arklight

shinytop wrote: »

I'm looking at 3 year old Astras/Insignias. There are plenty around and relatively cheap. Any experience - good, bad, indifferent? Or are there better alternatives? It has to be an automatic and I don't mind diesel. The last Vauxhall I drove was my dad's Chevette.:)

Cars like Vauxhalls, Fords, and Renaults are great up to the point the warranty runs out. If you were revolving new cars on 3 year PCP deals then there is no reason at all not to have one.

I wouldn't want one after that.