Vauxhall

10 February 2012

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2008 Vauxhall Antara reviews

Vauxhall Antara reviews by year of make: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Read all reviews

Number of reviews: 16

Matt Golding, England

Vauxhall Antara S 2008

I bought an 08 plate Antara last August and had exactly the same problem with the fuel gauge as described by Paul of Rotherham. The Vauxhall dealership identified the problem as a faulty sender unit in the tank and replaced this part, which fixed the problem. I have now sold the Antara, although apart from the problem specified I found it a fairly competent, if not terribly exciting car.

Submitted: 28/03/2011 10:16:15

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Paul Rotherham, England

Vauxhall Antara Exclusiv 2.0 CDTi 2008

The fuel gauge is inaccurate which affects the fuel consumption computer. The gauge will read half full after the fuel tank has been filled up. It sometimes corrects itself and other times read a quarter full after travelling 100 miles from a re-fuel. When the vehicle is stationary it will show different readings when the ignition is switched on. It is definitely faulty. I was told by the service manager at the Vauxhall dealership that there is no fault and that the gauge will give different reading when the fuel is disturbed by movement in the tank. He told me instead of relying on the fuel gauge, perhaps record mileage on the trip to work out when a refuel is required? Utter tosh!!! I believe this may be an inherent problem with the Antara which GM are aware of? Perhaps they don’t want the expense of a re-call. Same as the faulty handbrake on the 2006 Vectra - took Ann Robinson on BBC Watchdog to get GM to take responsibility. Other problems I had with the Antara include faulty fog lights and electrics not working properly on tow-bar fitted by the dealership. Vehicle has gone back to dealership 4 separate times to try and sort out the problems. On one occasion the Antara was sent to GM’s technical centre. In fairness to the dealership, they did provide me with a loan vehicle whilst I was without the use of the Antara.

Submitted: 09/03/2011 19:27:37

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Murrough O'Brien, Essex

Vauxhall Antara 2.0 DSE (I think) 2008

Reading these reports, I feel I am one of the lucky ones. Bought the car in Chelmsford Essex in March 2009 and I’ve never had problem with it. Took it to Scotland straight from the dealers, gave it a run on a few dodgy roads and tracks, all fine. OK. It does drink diesel and the sat nav tries to take you down every footpath, but that’s about it. I’ve finally worked out the the auto settings for the environment: they are not the best so use the manual settings, especially on hot days. Had the first service, and the recall fix, and the car still feels good to drive and I like it. I did have one random incident with the alarm, but only once that I know of and put it down to a solar flare :). My only beef is the automatic gear takes a bit of forcing to put into P, with the brake pedal having to be firmly pushed.

Submitted: 05/08/2010 10:37:12

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Trudy Thomas, Devon

Vauxhall Antara 2008

I was one of those unlucky ones to pick the Antara. I have had nothing but headache from the car and dealer. The first 6 months or owning the car it spent 18 weeks in the work shop having it’s many faults "rectified" The MPG is rubbish nothing like stated, I was even taken on a driving lesson to be shown by the dealer how to achieve the figures, no joke we were going so slow on the motorway we got stopped and asked if we had a problem!?!?!?! Even driving at a silly speed, with everything and I mean everything off (they even made me take items out of the boot including a child seat) we still only reached 35 MPG Extra urban, nothing like the 41.5 in black and white. Customer services are poor... As I write this guess where the Antra is??????? Has been recalled for the driving shafts. We have now placed this in the hand of our solicitor and trading standards are investigating under the sales of goods act and trades descriptions. my advice DONT BUY AN ANTARA and my advice to my dealer? LOOK UP CUSTOMER SERVICES!

Submitted: 10/04/2010 21:57:50

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Geoff Hayter, Hertfordshire

Vauxhall Antara SE Manual 2008

I am having problems with the heating system. One minute boiling hot when the setting is on cold and then later when on a hot setting it goes cold and stays cold. Car been in five times but Vauxhall dealers thinks this is fine. Clearly they don’t like warranty problems that involve spending money.

Submitted: 11/02/2010 13:54:05

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Andy Dunk, Kent

Vauxhall Antara cdti 2.0 auto 2008

Car came back that afternoon to be told that the brake fulid was low, it hadn’t got a leak and it was all sorted out. Vauxhall customer service is still rubish THEY JUST DON’T CARE!!!!!

Submitted: 12/10/2009 09:34:41

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Andy Dunk, Kent

Vauxhall Antara e 2.0 cdti auto 2008

Hi, I am back!! Yes, the Antara’s back in the workshop. Had been enjoying the car for the past couple of months and began to think the worst was over. Wrong. Last week the wife was driving the car when the ESP light comes on for no reason, then minutes later the ESP turned off light came on as well. The car was left overnight and in the morning it would appear that the Fairs had fixed the problem for us. Used the car on Saturday and yes you guess it both lights come on again, but this time they did not re-set. Monday comes along and the Antara disco gives us another light show; now the parking light is on even with the handbrake off along with both ESP lights. The car went back to the dealership tonight, so they have it for the morning to work on. Normal great service; the Workshop manager sees me walk towards the service centre and runs for cover, when I asked to speak with him told he’s in a meeting. Then the woman on the count say "Ok Mr Dunk we will carry out a diagnostic check and that will be £59 and we will contact you tomorrow to tell you what the fault is. To which I reply "I don’t think so, this is the seventh time this so called brand new car has been back". Perhaps 3,400 miles in six months is too much for a car like this to cope with. I wonder if hire car I will be offered this time! Update to follow along with the book and DVD.

Submitted: 09/10/2009 09:52:44

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Andy Dunk, Kent

Vauxhall Antara ANTARA E 2.0 CDTi Auto 2008

Hi, yeah I am back! Sorry for the delay but I am not going to say it too loud... the Antara appears to running fine now, Yes, I can’t believe it. At last the problem with the alarm that happened back on the 19th June like I said in my last report had returned. Well this time when the car was calling out to us we decided to video the events and show the footage to the Workshop Manager. This time straight away he stated he knew what it was and that this was the same type of alarm fault that some of the Astra’s have had. This time they replaced the alarm sensor and so far it’s been fine. As it’s been just over two months of trouble free motoring in the Antara I feel that I am in some sort of position the review the car now. It’s now got two and half thousand miles on the clock and I can say that the fuel consumption is nothing like Vauxhall states I am getting about 28 to 30 mpg. But it’s a great car to drive its comfortable, lots of vision, the Auto box is great, money well spent. Last week I drove to Disneyland Paris and it was a pleasure to drive, got to use the cruise control and that was great. The extra I paid for the parking sensors is not worth it, they peep at everything. When I back off the drive it peeps at the kerb stones between my drive and next-door. I think they are more trouble that they are worth. When I drive the car I have them turned off most of the time. All in all I did wonder what I had purchased at first but touch wood everything appears sorted now and I am starting to enjoy driving the car, the wife loves driving it, in fact she drives the car most of the time, unlike our old VW Passat when she said that was to big! The kids love going out in it and after the drive to Paris and back this year we are thinking about driving down to the South of France next year in it. One little problem is that the boot is a bit small or is it that we take too much junk away on holiday with us? Considering purchasing a roof box for next year, any recommendations? As for Vauxhall after care they are rubbish, still trying to get compensation out of them after all the problems. STEVE from Kent as for your question, what was the dealer I purchased it from? If I was to say that it can be found on the A2 in Bapchild that might help!

Submitted: 25/08/2009 09:29:10

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Barrie Chinnery, Derbyshire

Vauxhall Antara SE 2008

To look at and drive, the car is wonderful. However I find the fuel consumption is very very poor. My previous car was a Hyundai Santa Fe whch on a long journey returned 44/45 mpg. Acccording to the MANY on-board computers, the Antara showed 31.5 mpg. Doing manual tests, full tank to full tank over a measured mileage it was 36 mpg. Better, but still disappointing. Another downside is that you cannot turn of the screen display! Who wants to see the main computer or Vodafone sign. If you want the sat nav on, then you have to have the audio system on as well. There are times when I prefer to drive in silence. OK, I can turn the volume down, but surely that defeats the object of it all. So, computer systems that are useless, audio/sat nav systems turns an otherwise excellent car into a source of annoyance.

Submitted: 17/08/2009 09:33:59

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Steve, Kent

Vauxhall Antara s 2.0dti 5 speed 2008

My wife and I love this car; excellent value for money BUT haven’t had the car a year yet and completely out of the blue, 3.30pm on a Friday the alarm starting going off. The car was in the garage so I thought a fly or spider must be creeping about in the car setting off the sensors, it went off about 3 annoying times, checked car windows, boot, etc then thought no more then 3am next morning off she went again, again many times we read the handbook again to try solve it but no luck, so we took it back to the dealership in Canterbury who’s workshops said they were too busy to look at it but finally told the service man that we will give the number of the showroom to our tired and stressed neighbours for him to explain. Anyway, took car in workshop, put machine on it and according to them the machine indicated that the alarm HAD NOT gone off and all was well, but our tyres had 9mm of tread! What’s our tyres to do with anything? So have got to try tomorrow to get booked into another Vauxhall dealership - Caffyns and wait to see their outcome! who advised us to leave the car unlocked which is the only way to stop the alarm trying to reset itself. I would like to add that our Antara is good on fuel also, Andy Dunk of Kent - which dealership are you using please? Andy, our dealership advised AA assist and it appears that they dont know one end from the other!

Submitted: 29/06/2009 14:00:37

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Andy Dunk, Kent

Vauxhall Antara S Auto 2008

Yes me again! Well the tilt sensor was re-set and the car is collected at 16.30hrs on Friday 5th June. Saturday the 6th June 02.47hrs woken up again with the sounds of the Bloody Antara’s alarm going off, manage to turn it off a bit of sleep then 05.50hrs yes the alarm goes’ off yet again. 08.20hrs the car is back in the workshop at my so called Vauxhall dealership. Oh guest what my Zafira is waiting for me. Workshop manager tells me that they will change the Tilt Sensor so leave the car with them. Five days pass with no updates decide to ring to find out what is happening. Informed that alarm has been re-set and the car left on various different area’s of the forecourt and for five days it has not gone off. When asked why the Tilt Sensor had not been changed was told that it didn’t need changing as it has not gone off. Pick the car up on Thursday 11th June 17.30hrs and manage to use the car for a few days and manage to get the mileage up to 500miles I AM STARTING TO ENJOY THE CAR and trying to put all the problems behind me. Thursday 18th June laying in bed trying to get some sleep as I am up at 04.00hrs on an early shift in the morning, just fall asleep when I am woken up a 23.30hrs to the sound of the cars F*$%^@g alarm going off again. Manage to re set it yet again. Friday 19th June drive to work and back, 80miles round trip , been home for ten minutes after a fourteen hour day when yes the alarm activates yet again. Guess where I’m off in the morning!!!!!!!!!! LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ZAFIRA AGAIN.

Submitted: 22/06/2009 09:03:12

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Andy Dunk, Kent

Vauxhall Antara S Auto 2008

Hi - ready for another interesting instalment on my Antara Nightmare? Well, after my last two reports things have moved on somewhat. After nearly three weeks with out my brand new Antara I was given the good news that Vauxhall had agreed to replace the car for another branded new one - HURRAY! Nearly another two weeks past before I could pick up the replacement one. Last Saturday came, I arrived at my local Vauxhall dealership at the time agreed , signed the paperwork then the salesman disappears for sometime after say he was going to bring the car around. After twenty minute the salesman was seen talking to one of the managers then they disappear into the office of the dealership owner. Another couple of minutes past then I am informed that the vehicle had not been taxed and that the admin lady was off - they could not tax it as the computer had gone down. I’m about explode and I have informed them that if I didn’t collect the car today then I would be leaving with my money, but luckily they managed to contact the lady concerned and the matter of tax was resolved. So off I went with my lovely new Antara happy once again. Didn’t use the car Saturday as a BBQ and beer was the order of the day. Sunday; went out for a drive with the family the car was great, it was everything we expected comfortable and nice to drive. Monday and Tuesday used the car for work and got to play with some of the toys in it, the cruise control, the auto light and wipers. The auto box was proving to be money well spent , but the parking sensors were proving to be c@*p. Got home from work Tuesday afternoon, parked up, leaving the car on the drive. Then all of a sudden the alarm came on. I’ve managed to turn it off and didn’t think much over it. So that evening we drove to the beach and had fish & chips on the sea front then drove home. Wednesday came, the wife had the car she went out in it and loved it. She would never drive the old Passat saying it was too big! But the Antara she love’s. The only moan at this point was that it drinks fuel. Wednesday afternoon about 4pm the alarm sounds on the car. Go to check on it find nothing wrong with it. Alarm reset; twenty minutes pasts the alarm goes off again. This time it would not reset. Bleeps, flashing indicator, lights etc and continue about every 20 minutes for three hours. Not happy now I call out the AA (Vauxhall Assist) the AA man arrives, looks at the car say "What’s this?". Having never seen or worked on an Antara before. He admits that the AA has no information about them, but to take it back to Vauxhall in the morning. So we could get some sleep that night the battery was disconnected. Thursday morning forced to take a day off work, call the after sales manager tell him the problem, told that it just needed an alarm re set and to bring it down straight away. Drive down they check the ECU and tell me that the alarm tilt sensor was the problem then hand me a set of keys for yet another Zafira this time a petrol one great (yes like the diesel its c*@p). I was told to go home and they would ring later. Well later that afternoon the after sales manager rings, leaving a message on the answer phone advising me that it is a problem with the tilt sensor and they will be working on it in the morning and will ring lunch time on Friday with an update. So since place my order for the car on the 14/4/2008, which was picked up the on the 28/04/2008 which lasted one day (45miles) before it broke down. Then picking up the replacement vehicle on the 30/05/2009 which lasted five days (220 miles) before braking down. I am left wondering what I have done. Vauxhall / the dealership so far have had no offers of compensation for what I have been through I am still waiting to see if Vauxhall will cover the months insurance which I paid for a vehicle I didn’t have and the cost of the admin fee that I was forced to pay to change the registration on my insurance policy for the replacement vehicle. I can’t say very much more than if you want to be out of pocket, have permanent stress then the Antara is the car for you!!!!!!!!!!! In August I am meant to be driving down to Disneyland Paris I don’t think I can trust the Antara making the journey, so it’s looking like more expense to change my travel plans. I have sought legal advice and we are now thinking out having a refund and taking legal action, because I have lost all faith with the Vauxhall and the Antara. What should I do? Because of the Vauxhall Partners deal I won’t be able to buy the same type of new vehicle with the same spec for that type of money. Any suggestions?

Submitted: 05/06/2009 12:09:00

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Andy Dunk, Kent

Vauxhall Antara 2008

Yes it’s me again with my Antara update. Well Saturday has come and yes still no Antara. The Service Manager contacted me in the week to tell me the Cam Shaft sense has been changed, but this has only caused Pandora’s Box to be opened. The car has some many faults on it that I have been advised to reject the car and send it back to Vauxhall. So it is now being dealt with by the gods at GM Motors as to if they will replace the car with another new one. What do I do?

Submitted: 11/05/2009 08:56:57

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Andy Dunk, Kent

Vauxhall Antara S AUTO 2008

After seeing a used 08 Antara S Auto on the forecourt of our local Vauxhall dealership, I thought what a great looking SUV and at a good price. But at that point I had no intention of changing my VW Passat but still went ahead and booked a test drive. I went on the test drive taking my wife and family. After the drive we all agreed that it was a great family SUV and was impressed with box standard features, so much so I that I ordered a brand new Antara S Auto. I was told that my order would take about two weeks before it would be ready for collection, so in that time I started reading various reviews on net. Most of the reviews I read made the car sound good but concerns were raised about MPG. Last Wednesday came, blue sky, warm, a great day to collect our brand new Antara, with five miles on the clock; only my second ever brand new car. I was like a little boy again with a new toy. I was impressed, the ride was great, it was comfortable and the automatic box was proving to be money well spent. I was that impressed I drove the twenty miles to my mother-in-laws just to show her the car. She was impressed so much so she asked to go for a drive in it. On my return home the kids had come home from school they saw the car and asked to go out in it. So off we went driving two miles to the local petrol station... I filled up, got back in, three attempts to start the thing up, didn’t think much of it at this point. Go off for a drive doing about ten miles before stopping to collect a takeaway pizza. Whilst the wife is collecting the pizza one of my children ask to sit up front and experience the heated front seats after hearing about their mother switching them on during the day causing my bum to become a bit warm. So I went to start the car... nothing - the engine turns but does not fire up. After fifteen minutes I managed to get the car going and drove home. Thinking that it might be the chip in the ignition key causing the immobiliser to stay on I have decided to try the spare key to see if that solved the problem. Wrong! No it didn’t. So what started out to be a great day ended up with me thinking - what I have done? The next morning jump in the car to see what happens with a cold start. Straight away the engine starts and this happened on three occasions but the engine management light was now on. Now very p@#+~d off with the car. I have telephoned the dealership telling them I was not happy and that I was wanting the problem sorted out. The salesman, with his tail between his legs, comes out speaks to me... a mechanic comes out to have a look at the car. Now, with the engine warm again, it won’t start. The CMU is downloaded and a SENSOR on the CAMSHAFT has developed a fault and will need to be changed. So my brand new car that I have owned for less that 24 hours, with only 45 miles on the clock is in the workshop. Having spoke to the Servicing Manager this morning (Saturday) I have been informed that the part is on order and will not be delivered until next Wednesday as it is being shipped from Germany and I properly won’t have the car back until NEXT Saturday. What have I purchased? I can’t review the car anymore as I haven’t got it. This explains why you don’t see many Antara’s on the road. What I can review is the 09 Zafira 1.9 CDTi - the loan car - it is c**p. HOPEFULLY IF I GET THE ANTARA BACK I MIGHT BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE CAR IN A BETTER WAY. If not the VW 1.9TDI 130 Saloon is a fantastic family car that does on average 620miles on a tank of diesel (62 LITRES). I WANT IT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted: 05/05/2009 14:16:22

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Craig Morgan, Nottinghamshire

Vauxhall Antara 2.4i E 5dr 2008

I’m pleased with this new car, it’s much better than I expected. This is a company car and as such it offers a very flexible working and family car. It has all mod cons and drives well enough. Would I buy one? Probably not. Although there is nothing dreadfully wrong with it, there’s nothing that exciting about it either and price wise I think there are more exciting cars on offer.

Submitted: 21/04/2008 14:56:14

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David Holtby, Yorkshire

Vauxhall Antara S Model 2008

We test drove the Antara and were very impressed with it. After also test driving the C Crosser and Outlander Captivia we have ordered ours and are looking forward to taking delivery of the car.

Submitted: 21/04/2008 08:32:15

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Number of reviews: 16

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