Vauxhall road test reports and car reviews

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch Design 1.6 Easytronic 2004

I bought my Astra 1.6 design easytronic gearbox second-hand from my local dealer just over 2 years ago and I can say its the best car I have ever bought. It’s gearbox is just brilliant and easy to use after just a few miles drive and the best thing is you can use auto or the manual modes as well as sports drive too. Slight wind noise at speed but this is forgiven because it’s so comfortable, with both driver’s and passenger’s lumber support. Looks are easy on the eye and it’s this that made me look at it in the first place, even now 2 years later it still looks and feels like new. Well done Vauxhall.

Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 LS Auto 2002

Owned from 6 months old, gentle use 55,000 miles in 7 years. Seals failed in radiator leading to water in the autogearbox which wrecks it. Vauxhall have known about this manufacturing fault for years now and even have dealer instruction sheet. They have not acknowledged letter I sent a week ago. It’s an internal fault you cannot see and it’s not covered by servicing. Looking at the number of scappers with this fault on ebay, they have problem that could be worse than the Toyota issues. you can’t sell a car with a sealed for life gearbox and radiators that fail after 50,000 miles. They go at all different ages no Vectra auto should be bought at any price. Astra’s also doing it, how safe will the Insignia be?

Vauxhall Vectra 150PS SRI 2007

I’ve had this 1.9 CDI diesel for the past year, which now has 40k miles. Best car in 40 years driving. A blessed relief from the Skoda Fabia. The Vectra has the power on tap to pass safely, something the Fabia with 70hp wouldn’t do. Massive wheelbase and track provide great ride, yet the lump returns 56mpg! I like the quiet grumble of the diesel at 2000rpm in 6th at around 70mph. Problems? Wipers go beserk when the weather is freezing. There may be a wheel bearing. Tyre wear greater than Fabia. Had a lighting problem with a side light out, but it cured itself before I’d bought a bulb. Looked difficult to do anyway. Suspect the problem is water getting into electrics, maybe through the huge gap between the bonnet and the grille. Why is it there? Engine gets dirty, water gets in. Am thinking of blanking it off with some closed cell pipe insulation stuck on the bonnet lip. As editor of Practical Farm Ideas these probs have to be solved!

Vauxhall Corsa sxi 2003

The Corsa is absolutely c**p! I’ve had 2 of these the first one smashed into a lampost and the second one had to have a new engine, what the hell does that say about Vauxhall? The paint is very shoddy, my father has had the Vectra and it is the same again, nothing but trouble, sensors going and gearbox locking up! Never again will I touch these cars, awful run of the mill headgasket failing s**t. I dont even want to give it a star.

Vauxhall VX220 Turbo 2003

I’ve owned this car for the last 6 years, the longest I’ve ever owned a car for. And I have no intention of ever selling it. That alone should tell you something. It has blistering performance (0-60 in 4.7secs) and goes on up to a top speed of 150mph. And coupled with this performance are fantastic levels of grip. The car brings a massive grin to my face every time I step into it. And there are very few of them around so they are a curiosity to other road users and passers-by who tend not to believe you when you tell them it’s a Vauxhall!

Vauxhall Vivaro swb 2003

Just purchased this van with 78,000 miles on clock. Noticed that it pulls to the right under acceleration and then back to left on de-acceleration. Any ideas? Apart from that all seems to be fine.

Vauxhall Signum Elegance direct 2.2 2006

Very good and economical petrol wise considering size of engine, bought second hand in January 2010.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 1.9cdti Design 2008

Bought this car when it was 12 months old, listed new at around £28k paid £13.5k. 9 months on I’m glad to see the back of it. Great car with the roof down, nightmare when its up, creaking & leaking. Bought an Astra SRi and now I’m a happy little bunny.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 sxi 2007

Sluggish, new clutch after 14,000 miles due to plates contaminated, new heater as old one very noisey and out of balance... just found out the £800 panoramic sunroof I had fitted when I ordered the vehicle has sprung a leak "Sorry this is not covered on warranty as it’s classed as trim", £470 to replace a new piece of rubber?!! ... I don’t think so. I would seriously not recommend buying Vauxhall, even to my worst enemy. Be warned, the get out clause is " Has it been fully serviced ??"

Vauxhall Combo 1.7 diesel 1997

I bought the van second hand showing 85,000, within 12 months I have replaced the alternator £85, starter motor £120, gear linkage £140 (Vauxhall only, 3 bits of metal with plastic ball joints!) brake servo £40 (scrapyard), handbrake cable £20 and last but not least clutch £75...not mentioning the usuals, tyres brake pads etc., all of these replacements done by myself; thank God I didn’t need to take it to a garage, the bill would have gone quantum! The ONLY thing going for this heap of tripe is the mpg, 55 average soooo many common problems as indicated by a web search. The starter failed because the alternator failed, put too much amperage through the starter, blew the armature and brushes, the alternator fails because the oil pump is attached to the back of it, restricting airflow resulting in over heating, this causes the relay to blow also; no one really knows for definite where they are located, not even main dealer, apparently they moved them around a lot, usefull! When the alternator fails it causes allsorts of electrical troubles because it produces waaay too many amps and volts, burns a lot of things out, handy thing to happen when its a common problem :/ The clutch was a nightmare to change, practically had to dismantle everything, it took 5 days dodging weather, was NOT impressed! The pressure plate showed little wear but was seriously cracked on removal the gear change mechanism is also a common fault, I have read reports of them failing as low as 20,000 miles but Vauxhall, God love them, will sell you a part to rectify the junk they fit as standard. Overall my impression is this vehicle was designed and assembled by a octodextrous retarded squid, constructed from the cheapest materials resulting some how in extraordinarily expensive replacement parts. If you have loads of money and want your local garage to do a roaring trade, buy one of these. I know for sure I wont touch any Vauxhall with anybody elses barge pole ever again :) lesson learned.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 Easytronic 2007

I will have had this for 3 years come November 2010. I am thinking of changing to another manufacturer. It has been serviced regularly. I told them the nearside rear brake was making a grinding noise when it went into service and they did nothing about it. Also, which i know is a big job, you get vibration under the driver side dashboard, which i was told it could be the air conditioning pipe loose. So if they can’t do a simple job, like checking the rear brakes, what’s the point of telling them about the vibration under the dashboard drivers side? If I had bought this car it would of been different. It is a Mobility car. My conclusion with Vauxhall Deals is they do not have enough time to work on their cars and services and checking work out, this is bad service! The Easytronic is really bad to drive. Going back to a proper Automatic. When I told them how bad it was to drive, they revved the engine more so the gears change, which change down when they shouldn’t. Worse Automatic I ever owned!

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch 2004

I’ve had this car since six months old. From the first few weeks there were problems. First in cold damp weather the car radio would switch on by itself and especially over long periods a flat battery would happen and the sound level would increase. Secondly the car alarm gooes off especially during the early hours, with annoyance to my neighbours. It has been back to dealers four times and the last visit they had my car for twelve weeks. On the plus side the ride is comfortable especially with leather and material trim. The tyres can be expensive.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 2008

Since buying my Twintop just over two years ago it has spent about 20 weeks in various Vauxhall dealerships with problems with the roof, first a creak, now a leak. Some research shows this is a common problem - check out the owners club for more information. Has really spoilt my enjoyment of an otherwise nice car. I am just constantly paranoid about the roof and can’t enjoy it.

Vauxhall Vectra sri new shape 2005

I had this car for about 10 months and have put in new clutch, flywheel and turbo 2 months ago and now the car is giving me problems again. It loses power now and then when I am pulling out of junction or stopped at traffic lights. I took it to the local garage but the engine light doesn’t show so they can’t find the fault, they saying it might be the fuel pump or the regulators. I have always liked Vauxhall but this one has put me off.

Responses to this review

I had the exact same problem with my 06 plate vectra. Turns out it was the exhaust gas release valve or something similar sounding. Had it fixed under warranty. Maybe worth a try? - Lee Beck from England

Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTI Design 5dr 2008

Worst decision of my life, awfull car to own and shockingly bad reliability. Never again am I buying a Vauxhall.

Vauxhall Corsa 2008

It’s ok but acceleration is a bit poor.

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch cdti 2005

Cramped, brake failure, constant water leaks

Vauxhall Omega 1990

Great sound, love the hidey hole.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Manual 2009

I just bought my Astra (Twintop), that is what its called in Australia. It’s awesome. The six speed manual is really fun to drive not to mention how great it looks when the roof is down. Even when the roof is up it looks stylish. Only downer for me is the rear passenger space. It’s really only a 3 seater when I’m driving lol. Overall love the car not many around when I live, though there is no shortage of sun is Australia, so the roof is down all the time.

Vauxhall Vivaro sportiv lwb 2006

I have owned this van since 2007 when it had done 13k, now its 50k and no major problems. The engine management fuse went, which cost a bit in diagnosing the dealer, going to sell it because think it’s Renault! Should sell as its a 2.5 rare engine.

Vauxhall Antara 2009

I have had my brand new Antara for 3 weeks. I was very impressed with the drive and comfort as I proudly drove it home from the dealers. The car looks great and the build quaility is first class. Great great value for money, or so I thought!!! After just 3 days the alarm went off at 23.00, I could not turn it off no matter what I did. It only stopped after the battery flattened (after upsetting the neighbours of course). The AA arrived the next day and declared that I had not closed the tailgate properly causing the battery to drain triggering the alarm. Although thinking it strange as I had checked all doors before I left it prior to the problem I was happy all seemed ok. Now, needless to say the alarm has since activated itself on many subsquent occasions. This week I took it to the local Vauxhall dealer who told me that he had not heard of this type of problem. After 3 hrs in the workshop I am told that a new alarm box has to be order which will take at least a week to obtain after which they will arrange to take it in to fit the part, so say 2 weeks at best. In the meantime I switch the alarm off all the time but with concern over insurance issues should the vehicle be stolen. Having read about your similar problems on this site I am now depressed. I wonder how Vauxhall can allow this problem to continue to run unchecked, surely it only serves to damage the reputation of what in all other aspects appears a good car. Come on GM give us a solution to this problem, it can’t be that difficult.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.7 Design CDTi Diesel 2007

Having had two Corsa C’s previously and been very happy with both I chose to buy another and went for the near the top of the range Corsa D, 1.7 Diesel in Design trim in White (£390 saving over metalic’s) with options of electric sunroof, cruise control, climate control and computer. The vehicle looks great and distinctively individual in White with the black glass panoramic roof that comes with the sunroof option. Now down to the nitty gritty the good, the bad and the ugly (well no ugly) points I have found with this vehicle to date. Firstly I must say that I love the sturdy, solid feel of the vehicle and the (German) build quality is good although not excellent (the rear screen has been install out of line with a big bottom gap on one side and no gap on the other side). The internal materials are also mostly very good quality; the piano black centre console is particularly smart and pleasing (although again not all materials are great with the cabins secondary plastic’s appearing a bit 1980’s Ford Escort dashboard quality, but durable and easy to wipe clean all the same). The external paint quality is first class and cannot be faulted. Internally the cabin is light and airy but there are a few niggle. Firstly the piano black strip trims on top of the dash reflects in the screen on very bright sunny days and this can be quite disconcerting. Front occupance headroom is not brilliant and although the driver’s seat is height adjustable I still find my head brushing the headlining. The door opening check straps do not adequately keep the door open and often on hills the heavy door will close whilst one is attempting to exit the vehicle. Rear legroom while the front seats are set right back is very poor and it is difficult for rear passengers to put their feet in the rear footwells to ingress the vehicle. The buttons that operate the computer on the centre dash panel are not backlite as are all the others, unless you have the radio on. The depth of the glove box is minuscule, and therefore rather pointless although it does have its own light upon opening. There is no engine temperature gauge, an utter cheapskate omission as is the fitting of a single tone horn as opposed to the dual tone that it was supposed to be fitted with as was specified in the broacher. The indicator switch (the same as on the last Vectra models) takes some getting use to but once familiar with it appears intuitive in use, although its operation can be heavy and confusing at certain times. The rear screen cannot be flip wiped but has to be turned on to its intermediate wipe setting then off again, an additional operation and a nuisance. However this negative can be countered by the automatic rear screen wipe function that operates when the vehicle is put in reverse with the front wipers on. As I always reverse onto my drive this is so useful in the rain. The operation of the automatic external lighting fitted to this model is excellent as is the anti-dazzle electro chromatic rear view mirror and I would not be without these features on future vehicles. However the same cannot be said about the automatic windscreen wipes that operate automatically in the rain, they are just to sensitive and override the variable intermittent wipe function when set, in all but the lightest of drizzle. This is plain annoying, as you have no control over the wiper operation other than to switch the wipers fully off and thus the fitting and use of the variable wipe function becomes superfluous and redundant on this vehicle. The seats however I can report are very supportive with squab side bolsters but perhaps do lack lower back bolster support. On the road the vehicle all but excels. For a diesel it is very quite and many passengers upon their first ride in it have question if it is a diesel at all. Around town it is quite refined to drive (although no where near as refined as my wife’s Honda Jazz). The only let down here is the engines on/off turbo nature where acceleration off turbo at low revs is a bit sluggish but as soon as the turbo kicks in it will fly. However where it comes into its own is on the motorway. With its standard fit six-speed box, it lopping long legged nature and the optional cruise control it is so relaxing on long journeys. Two thousand engine revs equates to 75mile per hour in top and it will hold this all day long. Fuel consumption is also excellent returning between 45 and 50mpg around town but on longer journeys 55 to 57mpg can easily be achieved whilst holding a constant 75mph. This gives an excellent range of well over 500miles between fuel fill ups. Over the 12000miles that I have run this vehicle nothing has fallen off or packed up and no oil has been used, However there is a very annoying bumping noise in the base of the B post behind the driver when driving over uneven surfaces and I shall have this looked at before the 3 year manufacturers warranty is up.

Vauxhall Combo 2008

I’ve had my Combo 7 years, still averages 55 mpg. The steering rack went at 20000 but warranty covered this, oil pump went at 140000, alternator at 210000, starter motor at 340000, now the gear linkage/selector cup has worn through at 392000, yes 3920000. Yes I am satisfied with mine and am now going to look for another one as I think at this mileage she is now finally wearing out. I keep her serviced, cam belts changed, oil and water checked daily and also does 1400 miles a week. I’ve got no problems with a combo.

Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.7 CDTI 2006

Had the car since new, covered just over 91000 miles in a little under 4 years. Uncomfortable seats, problems with engine, new head gasket, turbocharger, various coolant system hoses, complete new front suspension, ongoing problems with rear reg. no. plate illumination lights bulb holder corroding badly, front ball joint and even had new rear shock absorbers on its first service at 20000 miles just for starters! I might just be unlucky with a Friday afternoon special, but would second the motion that "GM, engineered by accountants." When the lease runs out, Vauxhall will be first to be struck off the replacement vehicle list! In summary, rubbish vehicle, would not recommend!

Vauxhall Vivaro 2ltr sr cdtdi 2007

Nice van, I had transits before this Vivaro, well what can I say? Problem after problem. I hear there is a lot that can go wrong with the gear box but doesn’t it all come down to how we drive and look after them?

Vauxhall VXR8 2007

I used to think sex with a glamour model was fantastic until I discovered a rough brute of a woman, not refined, not pretentious, not classy infact...wild, raw and exciting, that’s what attracted me to the VXR8. From the moment our eyes met, I couldn’t wait to get in her (excuse the pun) and when i did...it took my breath way. This car is like no other, no excuses it’s an animal and driven hard will excite you like no other, the image is loud, the engine is brutal and the performance value bang for bucks is second to none. It is a motorway muncher, attracts comments and is by far the best car I’ve ever owned for 30k. Never a day goes by when this car doesn’t make me smile, I cannot ever wait to drive it and it’s sheer enjoyment. Ok it doesn’t have the finesse of an M5 or the finish level of an S4, BUT trust me, if you want excitement, an adrenlin rush and performance this is the baby. However if you want a more sedate, uncomplicated ride, where mistakes are governed and ironed out by electronics this isnt for you!!! This car goes like he clappers, will bring sheer joy to the driving experience and you will always be suprised at its ability to please....the difference between Jordan and Lumley I suppose!! Great car, don’t hesitate to buy!!

Vauxhall Vivaro 2900 1.9 di swb 2005

Bought mine direct from BT, it’s a 2005. Had 39,000 on clock and full service history - BT are faithful to the recommended service intervals. There are a few things I will say. 1: Always have it serviced at main dealer 2: Buy from somewhere that offers an AA warranty and take out the policy for 2 years. After 2 years change the van and repeat! 3: Buy low mileage if possible and always buy at book value for year etc - eg If its cheap there is a reason!!! Mine is used 7 days a week (about 250 - 300 miles per week), Oil / Filter is done every 6 weeks and Full service every 3 months. If you look after them they are fantastic vehicles, BT use them, AA use them and many many traders up and down the country use them.

Responses to this review

To change your oil every six weeks is very costly 9ltr of oil at £15. A litre + a filter + labour no change from £200, why you would change your oil at every 2000 miles when it recomends 18,000 miles is beyond me, that has cost you £1800 in oil and service costs in between every service interval, think your talking c**p, just like the vans - Will Crossan from Scotland

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.

Vauxhall Omega Petrol 1998

The Omega is a great car to drive, very comfortable if you are on a long journey, front chairs go up or down. Very spacious legroom in the back and a big boot. The Heater heats up in seconds and gets very hot quickly.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 2007

I own a great car but there are some aspects that I am not too happy with; visability when the roof is up is poor being one of them.

Vauxhall Tigra 2009

Good car so far, just one major fault I have noticed that the body coloured bumpers do not match the the main body. I have had bumpers replaced but it looks no better, latest attempt from dealer was to paint bumpers to match, but there is still a tone difference. As I paid almost £18000 for this car I think that there is a problem with this aspect and they’re are not admitting to me that it cannot be rectified because it is two different materials. I wonder if anyone has the same problem? PS. It is now a discontinued model, that could possibly be the reason?

Vauxhall Corsa 2009

We bought this car after owning 3 Corsa’s before we bought new a 1.2. Great looking little car but fuel consumption, well its very poor. The car is 5 months old with 4800 miles and we have just sold it and bought a Dodge Nitro 3.7ltr and believe it or not it’s cheaper to run so I suggest you do the same. We’ve lost a fortune and we would never give another one space on our drive. By the way we did put on rolling road for the day and yes a magic 24 to the gallon, thanks but no thanks.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXi Dualfuel 2005

I bought this car new in 2005. Knowing that I would be doing a high mileage I went for the factory fit LPG option. In all respects it is as capable as any other Corsa and does what is required. The major benefit is the lower running costs, with LPG being less that 60% of the cost of petrol or diesel, and when even taking into account the lower mpg when running on LPG it still works out a much greater distance can be covered for £10 of fuel. Another plus is the annual road fund licence for this vehicle is only £15 so a good saving there too. The only downside I have found is that the LPG tank takes the space normally used for the spare wheel and as such the car is supplied with a can of tyre sealant.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 1.8 Design Manual Petrol 2009

Bought the car as an unregistered showroom ’pack’ car, which means the dealer bought it cheap in a Vauxhall package of different models. It has every available extra and for a £23.5K list I paid just under £15K including £2k scrappage for a car I paid £1.3K for 3 years ago! It’s as much fun as you can have with your trousers on! I drive it roof down all weather as long as no rain or snow, even Xmas, Boxing & New Years Day. Heater & seats amazing, as is sound system. No problems at all, I love it and so do the ladies, grandchildren & friends. As the 09 plate is no longer new I’m putting on a personalised plate K999 plus my initials bought from DVLA for £250 all inclusive. Being flash at 65 feels great!

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch 2001

Brilliant car, bought second hand but what a great buy, never had a problem with it, great on fuel and so easy to drive.

Vauxhall Corsa 2002

I brought a Vauxhall Corsa in July 2008, it was 6 yrs old, which in my opinion in no age for a car. It was under 3 yrs finance and I have now decided to get rid of it because I have had nothing but the same old problems over & over again! First problem occured in Nov 2008, when my thermostat went, I would come out to the car early in the morning to a car that would just not warm up, then after that was fixed, I had an oil leak and found the orange warning light flashing, I took it in to find the head gasket had gone. In the April another oil leak occured, there was a fault with one of the valves. Then in July 2009, there was another oil leak, it broke down on the bridge of a busy road, the engine completely overheated even though there was water in it. Then a day after it came out of the garage, I had been shopping and it it made a funny noise when I started it up, the orange warning light flashed again, I took it to the garage, who couldn’t find a problem, after driving it to work afterwards and leaving it in the carpark for a few hours, it refused to start. When it went into the garage, I found out the head gasket had gone yet again, and petrol and water were leaking into the oil! Then in Nov 2009, the theomostat went again and the oil light was flashing, even though I filled it up with oil. Then in Jan the warning light came on, the temp gauge was going from cold to practically overheating, I have now found out the head gasket has gone again. Am far from impressed and wouldn’t touch another Vauxhall with a barge pole. Piece of rubbish, clanking, noisy and poorly built!

Responses to this review

Hi, I am sorry to say that you have been had by the garage if there is nothing wrong with the thermostat, let me explain (this problem has happened to me and my friends a lot.) The engine management light only comes on if there is a fault with the engine management system, if there is it detects the fault and the orange light comes on and goes it to safety mode causing it not to start. The engine management system only consist of sensors and wires, nothing to do with machines or gaskets. Sensors tell the engine when to let fuel in and out and air in to let the fuel burn and when to let the fan kick in. You don’t have a faulty thermostat it would probably be an engine coolant sensor that does not sense the temp so the fan does not turn on so it over heats. The car may not start because it is in safe mode. Get the sensor fixed then try staring it, then replace the head gasket. What I hear is it’s not the Vauxhall that has got problems it’s the garage; they don’t have a clue about modern tec and main dealers just rip you off - Mr Singh from Lincolnshire

Vauxhall Zafira life 2009

In General a good car, it’s done well in the recent snow that we had and didn’t fail to get to and from work in up to 12" of snow. But we have had the fault warning symbol of a car with a spanner through it, this turned out be the engine oil level was low, the fault code was that an engine knock sensor had failed, this was changed and oil put into the engine no more problems. Now the engine shaped warning light has come on, but I’m still searching for info on this.

Responses to this review

We purchased our Vauxhall Zafira at the end of last year, it had just 60 miles on clock as it had been used for demonstration use only by the dealer. We have had no problems with it until today . We booked it in for its first service this Tuesday, it was fine when we took it and brought it back home, this morning went to do the weekly shop in town, on way back the engine managment light came on and has stayed on. Have booked it in for tommorow with the vauxhall dealer to find out why the engine management light is stopping on. Seems it has developed this problem since it has had its first service. Will keep you posted on this problem - Sharran Barnard from Lincolnshire

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch 1.6 1998

I’ve only recently purchased this vehicle so haven’t done many miles, however, so far I find it a very good drive!

Vauxhall Tigra 1995

A great sporty car from Vauxhall. Great fuel economy on the 1.4 with rapid exceleration make this a cheap fun drive.

Vauxhall Corsa 2000

After buying the car in 2001 I have been driving up to 6000 miles per year and have had no trouble with this car. The boot is quite small but I regularly took another person scuba diving around our country. The car is regularly serviced through a local garage to keep it in top trim. I would recommend the car to anyone for a good type of small car.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Breeze 2008

I bought my 08 3 door Corsa Breeze brand new. It did take some time for engine to loosen up and is better now. Two years on I have a problem with the front anti roll bar links and it rumbles and rattles over bumpy roads. Getting fixed by Vauxhall dealer next week - I hope under warranty. I never really ’bonded’ with the car and don’t like the grab handles on the front seats. Nearly had my fingers off several times. Yes it’s got lots of toys but it’s sluggish up hills and takes time to get rolling. Wish I had gone for a 1.4. Looking to change the car once work done - thinking of going back to a Nissan or Mazda. A a little person I also find the car difficult to reserve park cos of the shape at the back.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 1.6 SXi 16v 2006

Having lived with the car for nearly 4 years and driven 40,000 motorway miles I can safely say the mechanicals are second to none. The engine is smooth and refined with a good exhaust note, but is a underpowered at low revs and manages only around 25-30mpg. The car has had a service every year with oil changes and it has passed its first MOT with flying colours. The car has also been kind to tyres as the first full set only had to be changed at 30,000 miles. The wear was even which shows that the steering is balanced. The interior is very comfortable if a little grey. The finish to the interior upholstery is of a high quality. The stereo which comes as standard is of a good standard, with steering wheel controls. The exterior design of the vehicle is striking. Its a vehicle that can be recognised in silhouette form and has since been emulated both by the Renault Megane and VW Sirocco. The only flaws with the design are that the rear window is very small and visibility is reduced and the side doors because of the size and weight loosen the door stops. A turn on the T screw rectifies this problem. The vehicle is also very wide for its size, making parking more difficult, than with the previous Astra.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2002

I have this van on an 02 plate. I bought the van because I used to drive the Trafic version for another company, which I thought was a fantastic van. After starting my own business I bought the Vivaro privately & after one week the turbo went, £1072 for a new turbo. Steering was wobbly after a few weeks so I replaced both track rod ends but steering is still the same. Luckily I haven’t had any problems with the gearbox. I am selling this van and I’m going to buy a brand new Vivaro; I have been assured that the issues with the earlier vans have been sorted, hope so.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2006

The best van you can buy, my 2006 model 1.9 cdti has done me proud. I’m a service engineer and travel the country 6 days a week, i’ve now done 1740000 miles and nothing has gone wrong; I change the oil and filter every 4 weeks. All I have changed is the tyres and brakes, not bad for the miles eh?

Responses to this review

Hi Richard, I had a test drive yesterday 13/2/10 on a Vauxhall Vivaro 115PS Diesel Engine, it handeld well, 6 speed easy to use,engine very smouth, all round good, 8 weeks old, whose engine is it, Vauxhall’s or Renualt’s? Are they made in Luton or France? When was the Euro 4 compliant common engine fitted to these vans? I’m thinking of buying the Vivaro Sportive Model, what’s your opinion? You read the other owners experience? What a costly DISASTER. Or I might go for a VWT30 SWB Panel Van. I appreciate your comments. Regards, - Zoran Zaharijevic from Buckinghamshire

Vauxhall Meriva 1.6 design 2009

Overall very good but has a few annoying niggles: 1) The control switch for the front sunroof has no neutral position between the slide and tilt mode. This means that closing the sunroof can be annoying. Enough so to discourage us from using the sunroof. 2) This is a £15,000 car, it seems rather cheap of Vauxhall that a spare wheel, jack, tool kit and the first aid kit are optional extras, especially when the boot has a moulded space for each of these items. 3)The 1.6 engine does not seem to pull well uphill. I frequently have to change down as low as 2nd gear on moderate hills.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 life 2008

I have bought this car for work and as we will soon have our 3rd chid. It eats up fuel, everyones 10amp fuse seemed to blow with the cold weather. The car gets to 60mph sitting at 30revs and makes a noise like you are at it’s peek, if you go a little above 70mph the car struggles and shakes. This car has little power at anything above 55mph. My 02 laguna, also a 1.6, has none of these issues and is a fair size too. This car isn’t very well equiped for kids, the laguna has every cup holder, several 12V connections for portable DVD players etc, the zafira has one 12V and cup holders if you use the middle seat down and a drivers cup holder in the middle of the clutch. Not impressed. The size is great for having more people in the car, but you have to have very short legs to use the back two seats.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 Diesel CDT SRI 2006

Where do I start? Good points first.. Very practical, good ride and handling, plenty of room for two adults and four childen, if it wasn’t for the following problems I would recommend this car, just a pity Vauxhall are not recognising faults that seem to be mentioned repeatedly on the internet. If you have had any of the following faults then I assure you you are not alone. Grinding noise from clutch, replaced with new bearing, Engine Managment lights intermitantly, Alternater packed in whilst driving, lucky it was me and not my wife as I had to use two hands to turn steering wheel, engine stayed running as I knew alternater was packing in as all lights on dashboard flickered while driving and I was not in a position to stop safely; this is a serious design fault for women drivers. Heater switch does not blow onto screen, replaced two times fault back again. Smoke emits from exhaust and enters cabin, This has been mentioned as a cracked manifold and the emission light illuminates, and the most serious thing happened while my wife was driving, engine running on its own accord while driving, she pulled over and engine revved up until it blew blue and white smoke from exhaust and engine bay and finally died.... If any one has experinced any of the above please let me and others know, this has all happened on a 2006 55reg with 39,900mls serviced at correct times. Vauxhall need to respond to these faults. have you or are having these problems?? £13k for a car I can’t use because you guessed it......ITS IN THE GARAGE, waiting for a quote to get the car back on the road.

Responses to this review

We have a Zafira 1.9cdti sri 150 bhp 2006 reg. Just read your review and we have had the same problems as you. We can’t drive any where far as the car lets us down. We have had a new alternator and the egr valve replaced 3 times but still faulty. Just had it serviced last week and now the engine managment light stays on and Vauxhall don’t want to know as they say there is no fault coming up on the tech computer. The car won’t go over 40mph and is using diesel like its going out of fashion and smoking a lot aswell - Jane Ingram from Lancashire

I have had nothing but problems with my Zafira. I kept getting the message coolant level and losing power, which was not a nice experience. The garage said the car was not suitable for my style of driving. i.e a family car used to take children to school and travel to work 5 miles away. I was advised that the car was designed for motorway driving and that I should have been informed when I brought the car from a Vauxhall dealer. The car has been into the garage 3 times with the problem on one occasion, I drove the car out of the garage and the following day experienced the same problem, when I phoned the garage, they said they were just about to phone me as they had not finished the work on my car. I returned the car and had a hire car for a week. The problem now is the grinding noise on my clutch - Lisa Dwyer from Staffordshire

Update from above: The Zafira has been taken to Vauxhall dealers for a full mechanical inspection, because the garage that recovered the Zafira say that the faults that are showing on the diagnostics/laptop, should not be occuring on a vehicle this young. I would be interested from anyone who has purchased a Vauxhall from LLoyds in Rosehill Carlilse, who has purchased or had servicing problems in the past or present. Lloyds in Carlisle are now a Alfa Romeo Dealers.......wonder if that says something not being a Vauxhall dealers any more? If any Vauxhall management read these comments I would look forward to their reply. I will keep you updated on the out come, Vauxhall have to show some degree of responsilbility to these faults, as it seems that I have no other option soon than to bring it to attention of the media - John Not a happy chappy from Cumberland

If anyone replies, can you give year, model, and mileage. And any info I gain from Vauxhall I will post on here, thanks - John Not a happy chappy from Cumberland

Vauxhall Vectra Sri 150 CDTi 2005

We have had this car for 4 years, it is one of the first facelift models. Had a few issues, EGR valve, alternator and flywheel, all of which were repaired under warranty. Other than that, this car has been one of the best we have had. Good performance, good fuel consumption, loads of room, good handling (once you are used to the steering). Also, quite a good looking car in the black. Honestly, I can’t really fault the car. Would be happy to buy one of the last XP models if I could find one.

Vauxhall Tigra 1998

I’m happy with the car overall, it looks smart - and is nippy - apart from some of the body work its great but I feel it’s not very good on fuel. I will get 300 miles to £45 of petrol and I don’t drive very fast, I maybe accelerate a bit sometimes but not all the time. Does anyone have the same problem or know how they could help me? Thanks, please email rhysholland7@hotmail.com

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 cdti 2005

Didn’t really have much trouble if I’m honest until it mysteriously went up in fire. No evidence of any sabotage. Fire officer beleived fire started because of electrical problem. I have heard that this has happened to other Opel, Renault, Vivaro type vans. If any one can give me info if they know anything please let me know.

Responses to this review

There has been a recall for alterations to the dashboard and engine bay looms - danger of fire. Check the Vosa site for details of recalls - Steve Dibble from Northamptonshire

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Club 2009

What’s wrong with you all? This is a great little car with loads of equipment, cruise control, fuel computer, heated elec mirrors and loads more. This car is so much more nippier than my wife’s (09) 12.5 Zetec Fiesta, more comfy, more toys, bigger inside, better on petrol. This car was registered on the 10th Jan 2009 and has done 25,000 miles and there has been no problems what so ever. I will definitely think strongly about getting another one next year.

Responses to this review

What do you mean? What is wrong with you all? Your Vauxhall must have been built on a good day! Mine was 6 yrs old when I bought it. Bought it in July 2008, by November 2008, there were various oil leaks & the thermostat had gone. Then in Jan 2009 the head gasket went on it, then in April another oil leak. Then in the July of 2009 the head gasket went again, then this Novemebr gone, the thermostat went, in December I went to refill it with oil as the oil sign was falshing & there was oil all over the engine, it was overheating. It was in the garage 2 weeks yet again and now the head gasket has gone yet again! Worst car ever, paid £3,500 for it and if I hadn’t had the warranty it would have cost me around £2000 for repairs. You’re very lucky, as is anyone who says this car is good - Vicki Malpass from Staffordshire

Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 Elite 2008

I have covered nearly 30,000 miles with car so far and it has been a joy to drive and the only thing I have needed to buy for it so far is a 10 amp fuse for the windsceen washer. Needed tyres at 17,000 miles but since I swapped to bridgestone er 300 the car runs smoother and gives me around 40 mpg with very little wear so far. The one thing I did when I bought the car was have the dealer fit it with an underbonnet sound proofing which I noticed only came in the diesel versions and this made a great difference to any noise from the engine is now so low you can hardly hear it running on tick over. I will keep it until the new model comes out and hope it is put together in the same way. I would give my Vauxhall dealer Fiskens of Forfar 100% for service and customer care so far. Great stuff.

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch 1.6 SXI 2006

Since the car was purchased (1yr old) from Monorep (Hayes, Middx) we have had non stop issues with it. 1st the horn was working intermittently and the Vauxhall dealer could not find a fault, until it completly stopped working! Then the emissions light came on and they replaced the temperature sensor. The car has been to the workshop about 5 times since we have had it. The emissions light has again come on and I have checked the fault code which is again pointing to the temperature sensor and now the dealer is saying that they want to charge us to run diagnostics and the repair / parts will be chargeable? I was also told that the work that is carried out has no warranty after the 3 year warranty has lapsed, meaning if work is done a day before the warranty has lapsed you have no come back if the fault re-occurs a day after. The irony is that when I spoke to the workshop manager said that he felt that the car coming back 5 times was not bad considering other Vauxhall’s that have had problems have come back a lot more. This is not very reasuring as a customer!

Vauxhall Meriva diesel 2004

Purchased 2nd hand from a local dealer (P A Autos) 3 days later the indicators packed in (common fault). Took it back and it was fixed in 20 mins. Spot on dealer, give him a good cheer, not many about like them nowadays. Had it for a year+ now & except for normal maintainance things (bulbs, tyres, wipers, my servicing done properly by my son, etc.) It normally does local journeys, but has been to Paris a couple of times, both my sons have used it (They try to hammer it) It’s done 78000 so I think I may need to change the cam belt (water pump is a good thing to do at same time, £20 extra but worth the effort) I get 46 mpg It’s a workhorse, 2 grandkids & daughter in law (here there & everywhere) hence the short journeys. Asda run regular, folds down for junk to the tip, tows my son’s car when it breaks down and as long as it’s checked out regularly (Normal checks) then it keeps going. All in all I would buy another one. By the way, as I have had a hip replacement it is brill as I don’t have to collapse into a low seat.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2004

I like the van but I recently had problems with the clutch, changing gear was hard and I had to force it into gear, especially when it was cold. I changed the clutch, slave and master cylinders but it was the same if not worse and I had a nightmare bleeding the system, any ideas what is wrong please?

Responses to this review

Hi! I have same problem on my Vivaro 04 plate, it recently had new clutch and master cylinder etc., but is now hard to get in gear when cold. The garage says that it might now be the linkage cable, but I need to find out more - Colin Steel from Wiltshire

I have 54 reg Vivaro, I struggle to get mine in gear aswell, I’ve had the gear linkage changed and it’s still doing it - Michael Appleyard from England

Hello, I have never had any success with my van 02 1.9 dti only has 56k miles on clock. Power stearing pump failed at around £700 to replace, was never the same again, heavy to stear and fails when cold on a fast turn of the wheel. Have to have pads and disks changed every service, but I only drive 8k miles a year. Just had a new clutch fitted at a local garage (took them 2 attempts to get it remotely like it was) Now the gears are very hard to select when cold and have to force it into second gear. Also the garage have crushed the wiring loom when putting gearbox back in so revs stay at 3500rpm or just die totally. Took van to Vauxhall diagnostics to find this out. Although interestingly they said the gear change was fine even though they kept it for 4 days to do cold starts. I am very suspicious of this because it blatantly wont go in gear. Now I’ve read your same problem here I think it must be a major fault and Vauxhall are denying it - Steven from Warwickshire

Vauxhall Astravan 2008

I drive 25-30k a year. The company fleet is Astras, but I also often get hire vehicles, so I try pretty well everything on the market. Like a previous respondant, I am taller than most, and seating is pretty poor for more than a couple of hours. The long load-space makes getting at things a chore. The cab also is cramped, with small door bins etc. I tend to be away on site all week, and need room for odds and ends. On a motorway, yes it’s OK, but the high overall length is a pain to drive and park in London. Has it’s good points, but I’m not a person who goes for a van on it’s looks. The comfort and practicality is a let-down compared to say a Berlingo or Transit Connect.

Vauxhall Corsavan cdti sportive 2008

I’ve had this van for coming up to 2 years and covered about 25,000 miles without a glitch. Performance is great with 50-70 miles to the gallon. Bit of turbo lag at first but you get used to that and know when the power is going to kick in when you need it! 6 speed, aircon, heated mirrors; well come on eh, what small van has that?! Purchased mine from Greenhouse Vauxhall in Shrewsbury. All in all as far as vans go this little beauty is a cracker and well worth buying.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 16V BASE MODEL 2000

Got the Zaf at 3 years old, ex-mobility. Fantastic reliability it has never let us down. I bought it with 24k on the clock and it’s now just passed 60k after 7 year of ownership. It’s had 1 trackrod end 4 tyres and an as new radiator. Just had to put a full exhaust system including cat converter in so 7 years motoring with about 1000 quids worth of parts is pretty good. I must admit that it’s a bit under powered and drinks petrol and oil a bit more than my Corsa 1.4 Sri, but my Corsa can’t take my family in the comfort that my good old Zaf can.

Vauxhall Zafira life 2005

Versatility fantastic, seating and load space great. Bought when 3 years old in Feb 2009 with 20,000 on clock, have now done 34,000. Since purchased glove box replaced. Coil packed up and replaced along with spark plugs. Battery kept going flat, due to glovebox light staying on. Then car required new ecu, this replaced but within a day warning light back on and now back with dealer to try and fix. Not impressed. Lack of reliability means car has to go as network Q’s 12 month back up has nearly expired and I’m wondering what next?

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch 1.3 CDTi 2008

A suprisingly good car, the 1.3 diesel engine with 6 speed gearbox is excellent and not at all under powered as reported by some owners of earlier Vauxhalls using this engine. Probably not the best (nor expected) motorway transport but a good value for money all-rounder.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.9sri diesel 5dr (hatchback) 2007

This is my first diesel, I am very pleased with my Vectra, it drives and handles really well. This car is a lot better than my old Vectra Sri, but I have a problem, the indicators, they seem to have a mind of their own. When I indicate to turn left or right they have a habit of knocking off before I have turned, they don’t do it all the time. I rang Vauxhall and told them about the problem.they told me to take my car to a vauxhall dealer .to find out if it was a manafacture fault, they checked the software and said everything was ok. I asked "did you take the car out for a run and try the indicators yourself?" They said no. I like this car a lot it’s just a shame Vauxhall don’t care if you have a problem after you have bought the car.

Responses to this review
I've just dropped off my car at the dealership as I`ve developed a fault with the windscreen wipers; no power getting to the washers and once only option when you pull the stick down doesn`t work automatically it goes into a manual mode. I have looked on the net and it seems the low temperatures have some sort of effect on it, which i don`t understand!?? - Mark Buchanan from West Lothian (Linlithgowshire)

I have a 2.2 petrol Design Direct and also had this problem when first driving it. It seems that I hadn't been pushing the indicator arm down low enough to engage properly. What you are experiencing is a 'first position' for short term indication (overtaking). There appears to be a 'second position' which should engage longer for turns etc. ( though it doesnt seem to noticeably 'click' into place. If I remember this was mentioned somewhere in the manual. Good luck! While I am here could you tell me what tyres you have as I need new ones and am trying to find out Vauxhall standard fit for a Vectra? - Leo from London

The indicators are normal. They flash 3 times when they are touched lightly and when pressed properly they stay on - Nicola Lay from Lancashire

Hi Philip, not sure if you know this but the Cectra has 2 types of indication, if you just lighty push the stalk you will get the motorway indication which means its flashes 3 times an then shuts off this is just for changing lanes on the motorway. If you push the stalk all the way this is a full indication and will stay on until you straighten the wheel or you turn it off. You are probably not pushing the stalk hard enough so it will shut off after 3 flashes. Hope this helps - Carl Taylor from Cheshire

Vauxhall Insignia TDI automatic aircon satnav 2009

Incredible spec for the price. Awful implementation of that spec. Flashy looks, expensive looking cockpit. The complete triumph of form over function. Terrible all round visibility for the driver with tiny tiny windows, view obscured by pillars and headrests and even a great bulge in the roof right in the middle of the windscreen. Electronic everything - from handbrake to aircon, to seat adjustment to wing mirror adjustment - with no manual override. The electronic handbrake and ventilation system in particular were a nightmare. The doors are so wide and curved outwards (with thick curved plastic mouldings on the interior that it’s often impossible to get out of the car when close-parked in a multistorey car park. To add insult to injury the central moulded drinks holder and armrest separating the driver from the front seat passenger makes it impossible for either of you to get out of the car on the opposite side. Can’t fault the roadholding or actual performance, it was as smooth and sweet at an illegal 90 as it was at 60. No question, you get a lot of flashy-looking swept-back car hight performance diesel for your money. So if you want a car to impress and drive fast in, go for it, but if you want a well designed easy to use, practical, safe and easy to understand vehicle at this price don’t get blinded by the spec. Go rent one for a couple of days from Europcar, that way you can endure the weeping frustration of it’s castastrophically impractical design and baffling user interface for yourself.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2004

I am a fully skilled motor technician, I’ve worked for 31 years in the trade. I’ve had experiance with 04 van, starter fault ,track rod ends with the most movement I’ve ever seen ,ball joints worn badly,gearbox faults, oil leaks. We recently serviced 04 van, used vauxhall engine oil and filter, now oil pressure light and stop light illuminates on dash and after road testing and parking van brake servo now not working due to vacuume pump fault.I would not have one of these vans if it was given to me. Utter crap. I feel sorry for people who rely on their van for their work, spends most of its life in the garage for exspensive repairs. Much better off with a Toyota Hiace and no garage bills.

Vauxhall Meriva 2008

I agree with Alan in Yorkshire, I have had no problems with the car in general, but with my car at a similar mileage, i now need a new steering column due to power steering faliure, new tyres and track rod ends.

Responses to this review

The indicator light failed to come on whilst turning left, tried changing the bulb, no joy with that, turned out it was the control unit, cost £150 to sort it out at the garage, now the indicator fails to knock itself off after a left turn, anyone any ideas as to what it could be?! - Pete Harrison from Lancashire

I’m having a nightmare with this car, the power steering keeps on cutting out when trying to park or turning a corner. The car is only 4 years old and has only done 3000mls - Estelle Crosby from England

Vauxhall Corsa 5dr 2002

Well our Dear Silverbelle, is no more but if we could have her back brand new we would. In just over 7 years, I broke a front spring on a big pot hole. The usual gear box linkage went. My biddy 1 ltr engine did 10 miles to the litre, 113,000 miles, never a day she didn’t start. Took her off franchase once for a service at 6 years, bloke put wrong oil in her which blew the oil pressure switch and somehow messed up the heater which i had to pay around £200 to repair. Been looking for a long time for a replacement car worth buying and been very diappointed and confused. I have driven for 23 years without a scratch but this year have been involved in 2 non fault accidents in the Corsa, she saved us twice. Fist time an idiot ran striaght into the back of the car doing about 35mph, caved the boot in, jamming the spare wheel in the holder. it was repaired. Six months later, a 17 year old with a car full of mates ploughed his saxo striaght through the traffic lights into the front of me, agin she saved us. She has now been classed a total loss, shame, i had just put new brakes on the front. This was a car for taking it easy in, she was never trashed, always serviced, never needed any top ups of oil. tyres did 35,000 a time. one exhust in 113,000 miles, original clutch. no major componants ever failed or replaced. A dream car. Dreading buying something new, have looked at alsorts, there is no joy in it, then try to buy something safe, theres ncap 5 and ncap 5, they vary enormously. Any way I shall plough on with reviews. Not sure I would buy another Corsa, read quite alot about steering failing on new models.

Vauxhall Combo 2005

I have had a combo for quite a number of years and had very little trouble with the engine.Done about 75000 miles over the last two years this van has been excellent value owes me nought. The combo has been a right work horse and usually got around the 50miles to a litre of diesil out of it around town. In my oppinion this van has been the best small van I have ever had. I have been looking for a bigger van just lately and after reading some of the oppinons on some bigger vans has had me thinking not to change from the combo due to it being so reliable over the years i have been driving it. Its a shame other bigger vauxhall vans aren’t as good as this little bute as I would buy one tommorow.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6. Petrol 2005

It is now December 26 2009 and I have had THREE coil packs since April 09. Last New coil Pack fitted December 22. I have had fault codes deleted. Then the warning light on the dashboard came on the next day. The car engine cut out and failed on a busy dual carriageway. The AA towed the car home. AA told me the coil pack fault is showing as fault up on diagnostics. Not sure what to do now, get repaired or get rid?

Responses to this review

Get Rid! That Engine is notorious for ECU problems .... very expensive!!!! - Shelley from England

Vauxhall Vectra 2005

I’ve had the car for 5 years, it’s only needed regular services and a steering rack and about 300 quid for other little jobs over the period, also done 160,000 miles.

Vauxhall Combo 2002

I’ve had my van for five years now and only just started having the odd problems, but i do, do around 100 miles a day.

Vauxhall Vivaro cdti 2009

The best van I’ve ever owned, but i must admit I am concerned about 1st and 2nd gears when my van is cold, they can be difficult to engage. Anyone got any advice?

Responses to this review

Had the same problem with my 52 plate Vivaro for about 2 weeks, now it’s in the garage needing a new gearbox - so get it looked at soon. So far it could be £1600 for new gearbox and clutch and I am not sure if that includes the VAT. Reckon one could be £1300 plus the VAT. This is the worst van I have ever owned. I had it two and a half years and it’s already cost me nearly £2000 in lots of different repairs - Barry Howe from Essex

Treat it gently until the oil warms up. Many modern vehicles including some Ferraris have this problem!! - Steve from Northamptonshire

Vauxhall Meriva 1.4 2009

I have recently bought a new Meriva 1.4 in October 2009. I have had the car back at 3 different dealers with a list of problems and they are not interested: 1. steering wheel not straight and moves to the left if you let go of the wheel. 2. dashboard making a rattle and squeaking noise constantly whiles driving. 3.drivers window won’t go back up, need to pull it up. 4.banging noise from front suspension when going over speed bumps. 5.left indicator won’t cancel after use. As you can tell from my list it is not good reading for the Vauxhall Meriva and Vauxhall, I’m not a happy customer. It’s the first time owning a Vauxhall and I won’t be buying another again. I hope everyone else has better luck than me. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Vauxhall Meriva 1.3 cdti breeze 2008

Great car for practicality, ideal for family as the space and flexi seats prove worth their weigh in gold but seats are hard and meriva is horrendous in snow. I have been grounded since Sunday as car will not move in snow, nearly had accident on way home on Sunday as car lost control and I am a very experienced drive, over 20 years driving experience in all conditions, this is my first MERIVA AND IT WILL BE MY LAST DUE TO THE SAFETY ASPECT & PERFORMANCE IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. I have always had VW and Peugeots and have never had any problems with their handling even in more sever weather conditions, anyone else has the same experience?

Vauxhall Meriva 2003

We have the oldest Meriva here, a 1.6 Enjoy, yes the rear folding seats are hard on a long journey and we have had a lot of irritating problems with interior and rear lights - mainly bulbs. Now reached 45K and the eps light has come on at full lock twice, garage recommend replacing steering column, at an eyewatering Å�700 plus so we are just living with the problem! Lost confidence in the car somewhat, people who have had the power steering ’fixed’ seem to complain of it still being a problem at a later stage.See Vauxhall Owners Network site and search under ’Meriva eps’ - your experiences can help others and there is quite a lot of info there.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 club 2008

First of all how can anyone moan at the performance when its only a 1.4 - its not going to be the fastest of cars ay. Overall I am happy with my Corsa, a few problems though; I seem to be getting a strange sound like a squeeking when driving on rough road surfaces and the brakes don’t seem to be as good as they should. Other than that I find the power ample (although it would be nice to have more) steering very sensitive and the quietness of the engine is astounding.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 Design A/C 2009

I have this car at the moment while my usual vehicle is in for repairs. What a disgrace this is! I’ve never driven an automatic before, but I hope they aren’t all as bad as this. Fuel consumption is dire, 30mpg AT MOST on long distance journeys, atrocious compared to my own car (a 2003 Deisel 1.7 Dti Corsa, which gets at least 45-50 mpg on long distance trips). The car constantly revs like a beast, especially on hills, which it struggles up, not good when driving around Wales! The noise from this constand over-revving is ear splitting and sounds like I’m a boy racer tearing up the town rather than just driving normally about my daily business! A few minor positives; nice interior, nice looking dash. Good driving position and nice to have adjustable steering wheel and seat height. These in no way make up for the poor quality of this car! I can see that when my current car needs replacing, it won’t be with a newer model Corsa.

Vauxhall Zafira TDI 2006

I loved the car when I bought it, a week later the EGR valve had to be replaced and then there was a problem with DPF turbo and I was told I was not driving it the way it should be. I’m so disappointed. I would advise anyone to get rid before the vehicle is out of warranty. Mine is costing me £1550 approx to repair. I’m going legal. Is anyone else or if you have already phone 07788742174. Will not buy Vauxhall again, I’ve had very little help from the Belfast dealer.

Responses to this review

I too have a Vauxhall Zafira cdti sri 2006 model it has 29,000 miles on the clock. I bought it back in July via a private sale it was a reasonably good price especially with optional extras such as leather seats, sat nav and dvd player. I bought it for practicality and it really is great on this but I too have had exactly the same problems. The turbo went on my car as the oil light just appeared and upon checking the oil there was none. When I took it to a respectable garage (not dealer) I was informed that the turbo had gone and it was dripping oil, total cost £750 before Xmas. I have never had great fuel consumption, I think the best has been 38 mpg, quite poor for a diesel and I am too in the same position as to whether to get rid or not!! It’s just not the same. I loved it too when I got it but now feel it’s just not reliable - Louise Turner from England

I am writing to let you know that we bought the Zafira in Ocotober 06 and have had the egr valve replaced twice and the dpf valve once and they are now saying that we may need it replaced again for £1000. They say it is because of short journeys and you should drive it every so often 20-30 miles to give it a good blowout. We are thinking of going legal, have you had any luck yet or do you think it will take awhile? Please et me know, thank you - Jayne Ferguson from County Antrim

Do not listen to this b**ls**t about short journeys. My SRI 150 was being used for a mixture of short 3.0 mile trips and 1 out of 4 longer 11.5 mile trips. No problem until travelling down to the Norfolk Broads in June 2009. Stopped at the last services A1(M) set off 15 miles later engine started losing power. Struggled all the way down to the boatyard it was like driving a fully laden lorry, I am a HGV driver by the way. This on a car with 11000 miles on the clock. Diagnosed by the AA as the EGR valve, they did a temporary repair to get me home. It was fixed at the dealers under warranty. If the car is only fit for a certain type of use why is it not advertised as such. The Zafira is marketed and sold for general use and what you are being told is ’The car is not fit for purpose’. Incidentally the car was 2.5 years old at the time of failure. I have struggled to get above 37 mpg even driving steadily on motorway trips - Arthur Marsh from England

Vauxhall Meriva 1.7cdti Design 2004

At first I was happy with the Meriva, it was spacious,comfortable to drive and still is. The problem is the car is only 5yrs old and has only done 42k miles and now it needs a new fuel pump. This comes after it has had a new steering column, recent new discs and brakes, new track rod ends and several new tyres on the front. Surely a fuel pump should last more than 42k? Needless to say I shall be getting rid of this nightmare and getting a Peugeot.

Responses to this review

Hi, I have the same vehicle as you and some of the problems like tyres 7000mls then again at 10000mls new psr, only I had to get mine refurb as they didn’t make my type anymore, then rear discs as they stick on but I have done 135000mls. Watch out for the ERG valve (1st sign loss of power)light on dash LHS, mine has just cloged up and the cost to replace was £360-400, shop around as it’s a full day’s job. As soon as I can get rid I will not buy another one. Told by my garage to buy A SKODA. Sad to say I will - Bob MacKenzie from Yorkshire

We too had to replace the petrol pump last year at under 48,000 miles. Then the steering rack went. The garage told us this was a common fault as the racks were designed for a lighter car. The left stalk indicator rarely cancels itself, the steering wheel doesn’t centre and the ERG valve needed replacing this week. Last week the drivers side suspension spring snapped in half and damaged the wiring. The ABS light comes on every few weeks. It is a pig of a car and still only 50,000 miles on the clock. Total rubbiish - Craig Hanson from England

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 dti 2002

I think I must have a different van to everyone else! I’ve have had mine 2 years done 130,000 miles, I bought it 40,000 mile on the clock. I’ve only ever had to replace tyres, ball joints and brake lights, power stearing pump also went but was a 70 quid fix. I have repaired a few of these gearboxes 200 quid for the bearings and a days job not to bad, but I have never had to do mine.I owned a Transit before this and a Vito and i would say it is as good as they were.

Responses to this review
Steve hi, I think my box at 53000 miles is starting to go?? No grinding but gear location difficulties. Does this sound like the box or the clutch? Would you undertake a repair?? Thanks - Alan from Cheshire 07960 390334

Hi mate, I’ve got the same problem. Do you fancy doing my van? 07976 783134 simon Luke from England

Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi 160 SE 2009

I’ve never owned a Vauxhall before but this has surprised me. Very capable overall with the main highlights being refinement and ride. It’s a heavy car and as such don’t expect anything more than average performance. The interior is superb, I wasnt expecting 1/2 leather. Overall, a top all rounder. Ive had Mondeos (previous and newest model) and many other cars over the years but this would be my top choice again.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 1.9cdti design 2008

My twintop has been in the garage ten times since new, I’ve had problems with the keyless ignition, problems with roof rattles, problems with roof leaks. Vauxhall sent my car to Edinburgh to fix the roof rattle and they added two water leaks in the roof then sent the car back to go straight to another two garages to try and fix the leaks with no luck. Now Vauxhall want to send the car to Luton to have another look. My car has been of the road for 10 weeks so far, Luton say they need the car at Luton for four or five weeks; 15 weeks to fix a water leak? That has to be a record. P.S. Tech centre in Edinburgh put 395 miles on my car test driving.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop twintop 1.8 design (petrlo) 2006

I have first hand experience of the TwinTop boot/roof seal problem. Approx. one week before the three year warrantee was up, I brought a water ingress problem in the boot area to the attention of my local Vauxhall service centre, they explained that the seals had gone. With a replacement costing £650 I told them that I would tackle vauxhall direct, however, no joy. The rep from the customer service centre told me that seals were only covered for 12 months and I would have to pay myself. I now intend to pay for the work but still carry on pursuing Vauxhall on the grounds that the car is not fit for purpose under consumer act. When are these companies ever going to admit design failures? It’s a shame, only for this problem the car would get five stars.

Responses to this review

I too have a 2006 Twintop that all of a sudden leaks like a sieve, predominately filling the nearside passenger well and the boot area. The seals cost me £582 and I’m waiting for more to be fitted. I too am pursuing Vauxhall via Customer Care Head Office which is a waste of time. They will not respond to the Sale of Goods Act 1979, i.e. not fit for purpose, they keep banging on about the warranty. I’ve told them the warranty is irrelevant this it is not fit for purpose!! Looks like I’m off to the small claims court and BBC Watchdog if they’re interested. This case is clearly not a one-off, people all over the country are suffering the same fate. I am so angry!! - Graham Essery from Hampshire

I bought my Twintop in June last year. It has been back to the dealers numerous times now. I have had their loan cars more than I have driven my own. They apparently fixed the leaks at the Dudley branch (four times) and it has been sent to Redditch for the third time. The guy at Vauxhall direct when I called to complain asked me what the weather had been like. When I told him it had been raining & snowing he asked me if I had had the roof down at all in this!!!! I too am thinking of seeking legal advice surely this can’t be acceptable? Good luck hope you get somthing sorted!! - Ann-Marie Marsh from England

Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 tdi 1998

Hi there. I have a Vectra 98 2.0 tdi in good condition but the airbag/seatbelt light came on the dashboard the other day, I have disconnected the wires under boths seats in the front cleaned them and reconnected them but the light is still on. any suggestions please?

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 active 2009

It’s not very good on hills, I’ve just driven it back fron Somerset on the A303 and it was very sluggish. Also, I can’t change down from 5th gear to 4th, a bit of a problem. Next time think I will buy a Nissan or Mazda.

Vauxhall Tigra 2007

I’m only giving the car a three (despite really loving it) because the bloody thing leaks like a sieve and yet no-one is able to find out where the water is coming from. Every time it rains the drivers side footwell and the area behind the seat are soaking. I’ve been told it’s over zealous car washers, parking on a hill, the direction of the wind (???). I know it’s a covertible and the odd small ingress of water unavoidable but right now I feel like I’m driving around in a very expensive fish tank!! The dealers have been very unhelpful. I certainly won’t buy another Vauxhall of any description as it seem to be a common fault they refuse to acknowledge!

Responses to this review

I agree entirely with your review. Bought a 2005 model and had problems with the passenger side door leaking on occasions, usually only during heavy rain. Revised door seals were fitted but a year later the problem returned. Dealer said out of warranty despite having had the problem originally after only 6 months of ownership. They wanted hundreds of pounds to replace all the seals(windows, roof and doors) to attempt to cure the problem. Other problems included knocking noise associated with steering, nut and bolts replaced under warranty. Had the car 5 years now and less than 30K miles on the clock and oil warning light came on today. Stopped the car immediately and was towed off motorway by the AA, could be just an oil pump failure but this could also have wrecked the engine. I too am put off buying another Vauxhall - Steven Mills from England

Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0 cdti sportive 2008

I bought this van brand new. On delivery it had a puncture in os front tyre. When the tyre was removed for repair it had been repaired twice already (very poorly). Not a good start. After 7000 miles the gearbox became noisy at 13000 miles, it was very bad, then the gearbox was replaced under warranty along with os wishbone assembly and droplink with the total cost over 5k. After a further 1k miles the driveshaft failed, which was replaced under warranty again. I’ve got to say that the van drives like a car and as it’s the 115 psi version it goes like hell, it’s not that good on diesel though doing about 33mpg on a run. The seats are nice and supportive and the power steering is nice and light with decent feedback, although it tends to spin the driving wheels on anything over than bone dry roads. Would I buy another? No, I will go for a Transporter or Vito next time.

Vauxhall Astravan Sportive 1.9SE 2009

This only looks like a van. It’s really a sports car, fast and agile with no down sides for me, just great fun and FAST.

Vauxhall Corsa 2002

I have a Corsa and have had a few problems, like any other car, but it is well worth it even though it takes a lot of oil due to its 3 pistons and small engine. It gives 80 or 90 miles on a tenner and is a really good car. I think it is a great first car to keep your speed down and not get those six points in the first 2 years so I would recommend it for all you first time, new leaner drivers. I have to say we have three corsas in the family and they are, God willing, really good runners so far.

Vauxhall Corsa active limited edition 12v 1 litre 2009

The car runs and accelarates well, responds when asked to. I must have got one that was built on a good day as the reviews I have read are mostly bad ones.

Vauxhall Combo 1.3 CDTi 2007`

The most uncomfortable vehicle I have ever driven. The drive is so hard, at first I thought the suspension was broken, but no. The Vauxhall garage confirmed that it’s supposed to be like this and they cannot do anything about it. The cup holder spills your drink behind the seats when you accelerate, the map light will only come on when you open the door and it is impossible to stretch your legs fully out, even with the seat all the way back (I’m not a giant either, 5’9"). On the plus side, the Combo van does corner well. If you’re considering this vehicle, DON’T. Get a Citroen Berlingo instead.

Responses to this review

The map reading light should come on when you push the light switch in. Someone pointed that out to me thank God - Alan Clarke from Middlesex

Vauxhall Zafira 2006

I bought the car second hand two years ago with very low miles on approx 20,000, the major problem with it is it keeps dying, literally, at high speed or at any given time with no apparent warning. I recently ground to a halt in the middle of carriage with a car that appeared completely lifeless. I usually call the AA but find by the time they get to me the car comes back to life and we carry on as if all is ok again. This happens now once a week on average, what should i do and what’s the problem? I see and hear this story from many other vauxhall owners with brand new cars mainly the vectra 2.2 diesel.

Responses to this review
This happened to me on the M5 about 18 months ago. Breakdown truck took me back to the garage, plugged in their engine monitor and found many errors logged. They cleared these and it's been fine since - Mark Sims from Gloucestershire

The same thing happened to me, but I couldnt re start it. I took it to the garage and they said it was the piston rings and would cost me approx £900 - Daniel Shepherd from England

Vauxhall Zafira 2.0tdi 2004

The problem with the gear box is internal where thrust bearing fits on my gear box it is flush with bellhousing, on all the replacement ones there is a 10 mil lip. They are all out of a zafira and coded f23

Vauxhall Vivaro 2004

Used 6 x days a week, bought it with 20,000 now at 64,000. It is the 1.9 CCTi version. No problems with g/box. In fact no problems at all. Best van I’ve had and beats the Vito that cost me a damn fortune to keep on the road by miles. I’d definatley buy another one down the road.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.0litre life 5 door 2009

I got this Corsa on a 3 year contract hire for the wife to use during the week as a run around for shopping and school runs. Overall it is a nice vehicle with great build quality for a small car. Very economical, especially around town. The downside is you need to rev the car a lot when changing up from first as it judders horribly. Quite surprised this is happening on a new car that has only done 3500 miles. I don’t think i would go for a vauxhall again, I just wanted a change from japanese vehicle. Big mistake!

Responses to this review
I had the same problems with mine; the clutch has been replaced once and the car still judders, i am seriously thinking of taking legal advice - Lindsey from Northumberland

I see what you mean but if it doesn’t make a smooth take off changing up the gears look out for signs of your head-gasket going, not a nice job. I have had no problem with my Corsa and it’s really old. I find this a good reliable car with cheap, available parts; you can do most odd jobs your self with the manual :). A good car that I would recommend! - Kasia from Nottinghamshire

Vauxhall Corsa Design 1.4 2009

Oh dear! I must be among the few satisfied Corsa owners. I bought a Corsa two months ago and after reading the previous reviews wonder if we’ve got the same car! I’m not a good driver (60 years’ behind the wheel and a score of accidents) but I opened the car out on the M25 and got an easy 80 with more to spare. Petrol consumption seems to hover around 40 to 45. The only major niggle is the reflection from the large windscreen and the totally inadequate parking lights. And we could do with a vew more dashboard pockets. Sometimes I wish I had bought a Fiesta but then friends point out there’s more gadgets to go wrong. So please don’t close down your Spanish assembly plant!

Vauxhall Vivaro 2004

For some reason every time the van has an M O T it needs new brake pads and discs, but other then that it is a great van, it has never let me down and it is on the road 7 days a week. Fuel consumption is fantastic. The only thing that worrys me are the reviews on here about the gear box. The van has done almost 79,000 and I don’t really want to spend all that money on a new gear box but I really don’t want to get rid of the van.

Vauxhall Astra Estate Design 1.8 Automatic 2007

For me this car, which I’ve had from new, was a good choice. It’s comfortable to drive and is a good motorway car. The general road handling is better than the 3 or 5 door versions because of its longer wheelbase. It’s been a reliable vehicle. The only time it has seen the garage is for its annual service. My only complaint with this car is that the heating and air con controls are too small and set too low on the centre panel, an error that appears to have been corrected on the new 2010 model.

Vauxhall Zafira SRI 2007

I have this funny creaking clunky noise that happens when i set off in my 2007 zafira sri.

Responses to this review

We too have a clunky noise coming from the front when we start the engine, has done this for over 12 months. Took the car in to replace fuse for boot, and washers and break warning light coming on and they came back with a report to say flywheel noise so to investigate it will cost us £275 to strip clutch and then £1,660 to fix problem!!! We got it from new in 2007 and they say it may be under warrenty but we have to pay this first and if its down to driver error then it will not be covered. How do we know they won’t say that anyway! We too had the problem of them saying we don’t drive it correctly on a previous issue. Now also looking into getting rid - Paula from Cheshire

Vauxhall Corsa 5dr 1.4 design 2008

My Car is 18 months old and has 10000 miles on the clock, with one service under its belt. So far I’ve had no other costs or problems. The pro’s are: good performance, economic fuel consumption, ample comfort, no rattles or squeeks, very good handling. The Cons are: engine needed 8000 miles to loosen up, windscreen and rear wiper controls can be confusing and it’s easy to kerb those nice alloys.

Responses to this review
When you say ’loosen up’, what exactly do you mean? I’ve had mine 3 weeks, and the performance is shocking. I have never had to switch to 4th gear on a gentle hill on a motorway. Will it improve with time, or have I been duped into buying a car that should only be used for going to the shops and back? - Georgina Bray from Yorkshire

Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 2004

The biggest load of rubbish I have ever owned. Only 23000miles on clock yet Oil leaks from the engine, which garage cannot trace the reason for. It gives 38 mpg if you are lucky. Leaks 5 pints a month, burns 1 pint per 1000 miles. The clock refuses to work. The driver’s seat is difficult to move except when you are driving along, when it decides to move under its own power. I will never touch another Corsa, I have seen better rubbish at our local tip. I would have given it ’no stars’ but the lowest score is 1.

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 cdti swb 115bhp 2006

An excellent van but stay well away from Vauxhall servicing because they’re useless. They tried to tell me i need new discs all round and I only needed rear ones. Bought it in 2007 with 6000miles on the clock and have now done 130000 miles and not one problem, even though it’s always fully loaded and driven quite rough some times. Find yourself a decent mechanic and it’ll give you no problems. The biggest problem I’ve had is when i filled the tank with petrol! - Jonny from Yorkshire

Vauxhall Zafira elite 1.9 cdti 2008

I looked in to this car before I purchased it second hand. Certainly the post 2007 cars are better. Programming for dpf and improvements in dual mass flywheel are a few things that are better on this age of car, but I’m disapointed with the mpg. On urban i just scrape into the 30sand 40s on the motorway. The diesel clatter isn’t as bad as some people say! it handles superbly and pulls like a train, the power is more than enough for a family car. The a pillars are worse than the previous car, which is sometimes scary on roundabouts with cars disapearing totally in your blind spot making you crane your head round to see around the pillar. On the whole though a good comfortable family car. I also tow a caravan with this car which is excellent as a tow car. 22000 miles and lookin good,should just be run in now.

Vauxhall Movano swb 2.2 dti 2002

I bought my Movano 2 years ago when it had done 98,000 miles. It’s now done 143,000 miles and has been a very good van. It can carry loads of weight and has always been reliable. I think it looks good too, and the cabin height is fantastic, much better than a Transit etc... Fuel consumption is OK for a 2.2 turbo diesel although it does take a lot to fill the tank. The ride quality can be a little bumpy at times but isn’t as bad as my previous van, a LDV Pilot. The body work is actually in amazing condition and as I said it’s always been a reliable, well built van. Personally, I think that when it comes to changing it in a year or 2, I will stick with the Vauxhall brand.

Vauxhall Insignia 1.8 SE Saloon 2009

I find the electric hand brake system is a problem and difficult to operate in some traffic situations, i.e., at traffic lights and on a slight incline. Also, the automatic lighting system is a constant annoyance - always on, every time you start up the car. The wide window frame to each door panel obscures vision and there is a some road & wind noise when driving on motorways & A roads.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2007

I have the Nissan Primastar version of this van. It’s an 07 plate with the 2ltr diesel version - it’s done 126,000 miles and its falling to bits. The dealerships are poor, good van body, the rest is c**p. 1 day old, no reversing sensors, dealer unable to repair, possible driver fault? Four months old, no air conditioning, not covered under warranty (stone chips)? 36,000 miles, four discs, two sets of pads; 40,000 miles, rear anti roll bar fell off, garage said caused by poor servicing, they serviced it. 72,000 miles; 4 discs, 2 sets off pads. I say it’s got a year’s warranty on parts, reply not for brake parts. 74,000 miles, put van in garage for new timing belt, was told its takes 2 days to change belt at approximately £400. I called to pick up van to be informed the engine does not have a timing belt but your fuel pump is leaking fuel, your turbo is suspect, and your power steering is leaking, estimated cost £2000-£2500 - it may be more. A van at 19 months old will cost me £4000 in repairs, these vans are c**p, if you’re only doing 3,000 miles a year they are OK otherwise avoid. But the good news is the gearbox is OK.

Vauxhall Combo Combo 1.7d 2004

Well, I have to say what a great little van. This is my 2nd one now and it’s done nearly 109,000 miles with no problems whatsoever. My only concern now is that it’s getting a bit small for my work needs but, if your just starting out on your own then I couldn’t recommend one highly enough.

Vauxhall Zafira 2008

Car broke down with exhaust emission light on after doing only 24,000 miles. The dealer tells us that it will cost £2,700 to correct. We have experienced some problems since it had its first service such as stalling and suddenly losing power during the first few miles. Buy another Vauxhall? You must be joking.

Vauxhall Antara 2009

Could anyone tell me if you can update the software so that I can put postcodes in. As I do a lot of travelling it is a bit of a pain not being able to put in postcodes.

Vauxhall Zafira 2.2 Design Auto 2006

Company lease vehicle. Approaching 80,000 miles over 2 and a half years. Climate control did not work from new but resolved without fuss, but I can never get the vents to close properly. Performance is not blisteringly fast, but more than adequate, even when full of people. Handles extremely well and returns about 30mpg on mainly motorway runs with just me in the car. Glad I got the automatic - that handbrake really is a triumph of style over practicality. Comfortable enough even for 7 average-sized adults. Build quality seems pretty good but GM seemed to have run out of money when it came to soundproofing - road and wind noise are abysmal. A front blowout proved that the tyre repair device was a BIG mistake - it doesn’t work when half the sidewall is hanging off the tyre. This meant calling for the RAC to arrive and carry the car 150 miles home - for lack of a spare wheel! Another gripe I have is with the rear lenses. Before I got this car I thought what a great idea it was having cheap clear plastic covers to protect the rear light clusters. When I reversed into a wooden post and cracked one, I learned that that cheap clear plastic cover was actually a fixed part of the entire cluster and is going to cost me about £80 to replace - when Vauxhall can get one. That was 6 months ago and the part is still on order. I gave this a 3-star rating because although the car has proved reliable and practical enough, there are better (and certainly quieter) MPVs of this size available now. I don’t want another one. I have had enough of having to shout at my passengers to be heard above the cabin noise.

Vauxhall Zafira Club 2003

I bought my car in Feb 09 (3rd owner from new). I had the car 3 months when engine light came on - £300 later and new coil pack, plugs and oil all seemd OK. 4 months later the engine light on again; same problem of losing power on acceleration. Mega bad oil and fuel consumption. Back to Vox garage and they replace EGR valve and plugs again. Drive it off garage forecourt and problem still there. Back on ramps and they say no fault but Vox tell them to disable the egr valve. 24 hours later problem still there. Now booked in again but have to wait a week, and they expect me to drive a car that can’t get 5th gear and struggles with 4th!!! Anyone got any ideas because the VOX garage haven’t got a clue!

Responses to this review
Could it be the air flow meter? I had the EGR valve replaced under warranty on my 1.9 cdti (55 plate) last year. This week the EMS light has come on and I have loss of power, no acceleration at all. The local garage thought it was EGR again but turns out its air flow meter, which will cost £250 for part alone. Eek! - Marion Morris from Wiltshire

Vauxhall Corsa Ecoflex 1.3 diesel 2009

I bought a new Corsa from a main agent. It is the worst car I have ever owned. The faulty steering locked up on me, the engine kept on stalling. I took it back to dealer who said that there was nothing wrong with it. I’ts locked on me again, I was only doing 20 mph, it was lucky I managed to brake to avoid mounting pavement. The agent then agreed it was a fault with electronic power steering.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 sri 150 2006

I bought the car used from a franchised dealer in Cannock 7 months ago. When I test drove the car I was impressed with the comfort & performance, styling & practicality. There was a minor scratch on the o/s rear bumper which I asked the dealer to smart repair before delivery, they got spray all over the windows, then the horn stopped working & various other interior electronics. After 4 visits they replaced the SIM. Moisture then appeared in the rear light cluster, after a botched repair sealing the moisture in I insisted on a replacement which they did under warranty. I like the car but not impressed with the dealer, from a cocky salesman to the service staff having a couldn’t care less attitude to sheer incompetence. In my experience Vauxhall produce great looking & driving cars but reliability is an issue, not only that but the dealer I dealt with, although a network Q agent, left a lot to be desired. I would probably buy a Toyota or Honda next time. Vauxhall must do better!

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!!!!!

Vauxhall Zafira Design 2.2 petrol 2006

I purchased my Zafira design 2.2 petrol and I was so pleased but now i’m so, so disappointed. I love the look, the seating is amazing, just what I wanted with grandchildren. I bought it 6 six weeks ago, first 10 days were great, then the little yellow car light came on, AA cover said take it to a garage, as not a main dealer they couldn’t read / understand the code, so off to main dealers. The "investigation" is not covered in the AA warranty so £50 quid and 10mins later the diagnosis was "sticky swirl flaps". I was told that they are "OK now and will probably will not be a problem". 24 hours later car dies in the middle of a busy road, Scary or what?! I get AA (road assisantance, again not under the warranty) to tow to main dealer. £109 later, with a new fuel regulator, happy motoring? 10 days later the little yellow engine light is back on... if it’s the swirl flags that require replacement then its £1500 as the AA say it’s not part of the warranty.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Design 2007

I bought my Twintop Design 1.8 in power red with leather in July 2007 and have just completed 10,000 fantastic miles. The recall work on the roof and rear boot light was completed by Grasmere in Macclesfield during the first year of purchase and the only other issue was in year two when the power steering pump had to be replaced FOC by Arnold Clark in Manchester from whom I bought the car. They have been great. I am a regular contributor to astratwintop.net (service temporarily unavailable as I write, but try later this week) and you can find all my hints for how to care for your Twintop on that website among the many tips and blogs of other Twintop enthusiasts. These include how to look after the roof seals, how to protect red paint and prevent it from going pink, how to use the load assist mechanism, how to prevent stuck parcel shelf fins (tip - keep engine running at 1500 rpm, use the roof switch, not the key fob) and all sorts of things like this to keep you safe. There are also hints and tips on where to find a space-saver wheel (tip - look for those from a second-hand Vectra) and how to stow it alongside the tyre goo that Vauxhall provide as standard. Invest in a windshield - only a small % of the value of the car and inceases the number of top-down miles you can cover. Best wishes, P2.

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.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 Life 2005

We have had the car three years. It has been OK. The extra seats have been helpful with a family. Lacks a little power. Fuel mileage not very good around town Thinking of changing it. Concerned by some of the weakness that may start to appear. EGR values, drive chain etc... Any advice welcome folks? Email: tomj4088@hotmail.co.uk

Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 Design 2008

Owned mine for 18 months now. I bought the 1.4 Design 5 door. (don’t like any oil burners!!!). Love it to bits and cannot find the time to drive it enough! I have cruise auto lights and wipers, electric sun roof and climate etal... get 44 to the gallon on a run. We have lots of hills in Devon ,so more power could be desired, but the low road tax was more important. If you put your foot down it will respond so I don’t know why a previous review had issues about joining the motorway???? As I am retired from work I don’t need to drive around like a lunatic, and it is nice to relax in an enjoyable car and watch all the idiots living on their nerves in case there is a tractor is around the next corner... because most cars wouldn’t stop in time but my Corsa would!!! Good build quality, I have no rattles, and can fit four adults and good amount of luggage in for weekends in Cornwall. Good car and I have owned and driven a lot over the years. I used to drive 20,000 per year as a rep so I could not tolerate a rubbish car!!! If you want a sensible car and don’t want the next class up then you could do worse than trying a Corsa.

Vauxhall Astra Convertible 2002

I love my Astra convertible although I agree with Kerry that the visabilty all round is rubbish for a 5’ 4" female which is why as long as the weather is dry I drive with the roof off !!! My Astra also likes its petrol but that’s the price I pay for not being happy driving round in a 1000cc economy car.

Vauxhall Astravan 1.7 cdti Sportive 2009

This is my eighth Astravan since starting with an Astra max in the 90s. I have to admit the one problem I have with this latest shape (this is my second) is the noise from the tyres, it’s very noisy but after I have been to the tuners and remaped the ECU I soon forget about it. The van with a remap is fantastic; MPG is better, 5th & 6th pick up is so much better. The one other thing with the Astravan is the reliabilty - I have never had a fault or problem with any of them.

Responses to this review
Hi, what’s the name of the garage you went to for a remap? Cheers - Dean Rayden from Lancashire

Vauxhall Agila Club 1.2 Automatic 2009

The smoothest automatic I have experienced. Very pleased with the car. I only use it as a two seater and with the rear seats flat it’s as good as a furniture van! Blind spot at rear nearside quarter. Take care when pulling out into traffic from RH side of road. Without the blind spot it’s a 5 star car.

Responses to this review
Thank you to the people who have taken the time to write a review on the Agila. I am awaiting the arrival on my New Agila automatic. I will take into account the "Blind Spot" on the RH side when pulling out. Any more Infomation on any possible negatives? What about repair or replacement costs? - Evelyn Bear from Lancashire

Vauxhall Meriva Life 1994

With a baby on the way, the Meriva seems like the ideal buy, with plenty of boot space and cabin room for all the essentials and more. I was more than impressed at the beginning. However after a few months driving, the novelty wore off. The front pillars are a real hazard and you have to stop and lean forward at every junction. As you soon learn, by not doing that you are taking your life in your hands. Fuel consumption poor with 30 mpg, the air conditioning is poor, indictors do not automatically turn off which is maddening. Numerous brake lights bulbs replaced. Problems with the ABS braking. Would never buy another Meriva or indeed a Vauxhall. Would-be parents, think very carefully before buying this car.

Responses to this review
My Vauxhall Meriva is a 55 reg and I have done 21000 miles. The cam belt went, I needed a new camshaft, cylinder head etc. The bill was £2014. I will never buy another Vauxhall. Customer care say it’s out of warranty. You’re right about the column on the side of the windscreen, it’s really dangerous and I have had a few near misses - Kath Paterson from Lancashire

Vauxhall Insignia Diesel 2009

No matter how you look at it, there’s nothing vexing about the new Vauxhall Insignia. It pulls a clever trick, appealing to everyone, offending no-one and yet emphatically escaping the clutches of blandness. Styled to signify swift and sleek executive authority, it nonetheless embodies enticement that would not make it displeasing to any enthusiastic user of our over frequented roads. It has the panache to please the sleek wine bar afficionados and the dash to awaken longing in the fume filled chest of the young petrolhead. In short, there can be few motorists on the road today who wouldn’t feel, not just "at home" behind the wheel of this superior machine, but, indeed, empowered to impress - not in a showy way - but a sophisticated way. The cabin is a comfortable business-like place to be. Emboldened by contemporary flashes of cool minimalistic chrome with touches of black and grey, it’s like an expensive suit tailored for comfort. Yet it’s designed with a subtle flair for the progressive boundaries of taste that serve to enliven the sheer ergonomic excellence of the overall concept. The external proportions are certainly not modest, but the contours bespeak purpose. Smoothly aerodynamically clean, even at rest the impression is gained of an automobile that will simply swim through the air with the least possible resistance like the terrestrial counterpart of a regal marine mammal. "Wow!" exclaimed my Fine Art trained neighbour whose cynical critiques of all my press cars make me think that he should really have directed Pininfarina: this was indeed an accolade. Anchored to the road on large tyres, the Insignia propels itself forward in a long legged eager manner. A Gucci shod ballroom dancer would not glide across the polished sheen of a fine floor with less fuss or more poise than this winning machine. The 2.0 litre 4 cylinder 130bhp diesel engine (there’s a 160bhp version of the same engine) drives through a six speed gearbox with well chosen ratios. Sixth gear is almost an overdrive ratio so motorway cruising is effortless. Despite this, however, economy is nothing to write home about and an overall consumption of 49mpg is certainly not class leading. On twisty roads it’s easy to handle and good to drive. The ride is smooth and the car remains composed even if you do hit bad surfaces. The most popular model is the one described here, but the range of choice is wide with four petrol engines ranging from 1.6 to 2.8 and one 2.0 diesel. Prices start at £17,130 rising to £29,755. On todays troublesome, stress inducing roads the onus is increasingly more and more on the vehicle and the technology it embodies to relieve the strain on the driver through lots of electronic jiggery pokery. I can tell you, having subjected myself to every possible mode of tribulation from tailbacks to road humps and having experienced in one journey a lifetimes quotient, courtesy of highway contractors of every description, and forbidding detours, that the Insignia is an enjoyable car to drive.Thankfully it is not bland and uninspiring like so many cars today and when pushed hard it can offer an involving experience. I arrived at my destination with every remaining hair on my thinnining pate in tact. In a lesser model of car I might have torn out every strand. As it was, I simply settled myself more comfortably in the very supportive upholsterey, adjusted the ventilation to cope with rising blood pressure and laughed at the idiocy of the outside world, secure in the splendid, rationally conceived safe haven that was my Vauxhall Insignia. Better than a Ford Mondeo I concluded.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 Petrol 2002

Juddering / spluttering / cutting out; EGR VALVES / COIL PACKS... IT IS NEVER ENDING... I had the car for 12 months and all was fine. I replaced the coil pack but still have problems. The egr valve was replaced then ran ok for about 3 months. Then the same cycle again. Even though I done a full oil / plugs air filter fuel, etc etc... I’m sick to death, there have been so many diagnostics and they show nothing. The first time the diagnostics showed up egr valve. My wife seems to have more problems than me though maybe because she revs it higher in the gears??? I will be selling it as soon as it is fixed. I don’t want any buyer to experience what I have so I want to find the root of this before i sell. GOOD POINTS - :0 BAD POINTS - NO POWER; FAILING EGRs; CAN’T SEE PAST FRONT PILLARS; SEATS UNCOMFORTABLE; FUEL CONSUMPTION; DONT BUY A PETROL ZAFIRA!

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch sxi 1.4 black 2007

Great car, very realiable and good fun to drive for a 1.4. It looks good handles well at speed and is comfortable to drive. Cheap to run, around 45 miles to a gallon. The only downside is the very noisy air con and the poor demister takes ages!!!! (especially on cold frosty mornings). Other than that it is a great little car that looks great and drives well.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9CDTI 2007

Looks good, drives well but fuel consumption is worst than some of its petrol models. Can achieve 55mpg on level motorway or dual carriageway as long as no cars are in front. My combined figure is never higher than 37mpg and running around the houses 31mpg and this is in a quiet area, not a congested town centre. Customer service is poor and is based in Hungary, car produced in Poland, need I say more? Even if you do get someone at Vauxhall UK they are not helpful, the service manager at franchise has been helpful but the best advice I get is to drive in low gear at high revs to clear the particulate filter. When spanner light came on I took the car to the garage. Later, when I picked up the car I was told it was the particulate filter and whilst this time I wouldn’t be charged I would in future. I pointed out that when problem arose I did follow the procedure so why had it not cured the problem. There was a deadly silence... I also pointed out that the car was then only 18 months old so still under warranty.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2.5cdti sportive SWB 2007

Do not buy one of these vehicles! On the face of it the van is excellent, fast, quiet, loads of extras and looks really good. Have owned the van from new and have done 32000 miles. In this time the van has put itself in limp home mode a total of 7 times. Each time the van needs an oil and filter change due to ’poor oil quality’. Apparently this is due to it needing to regenerate but regen light has never been on! The Vauxhall dealer thinks there is something wrong with it but Vauxhall technical say it’s my driving style. How do they know it’s my driving style? Have they been following me driving down the motorway? Most of my mileage is motorway, the dealer asked me to take a log of my journeys which I’ve done but technical aren’t interested and will not contribute to the oil changes (£100 a time) and will not send a technician out to assess the vehicle though last time it happened they said they would & Vauxhall care are unable to overule the decision made by technical, oh yeah and I am not allowed to speak to technical! So I’m stuck with a van which is under warranty which Vauxhall won’t fix. It looks like I’m going to have to get stuck into a legal battle! My advice buy something else and stay well away from Vauxhall!

Responses to this review
This is exactly the same problem as I have got with my van. Have they sorted anything out with your van yet??? My van is still in the garage now! I think a charity shop has better customer service than any Vauxhall dealer - Gaz Gaz from Swansea

Vauxhall Astra Coupe 2007

I bought a Vauxhall Astra coupe cheaply online. The car was in an excellent condition with a full service history.

Vauxhall Vectra 6 speed automatic 2005

At 65k the gear box has failed I am at present ready to have it reconditioned at a cost of £2,600 after Vauxhall is refusing to help me. They say the warranty has run out @ 60,000miles and thats it. Sorry but we had your £12,500 18 months ago and we just dont care. That is what your told from a call centre in Hungary, you try and speak to someone at Luton Beds & they just direct you back to Hungary. I was told to write to the Director at Vauxhall by the dealer I bought the car from. I did three weeks ago, still no reply so in my opinion I would advise people not to buy a 1.9 Vauxhall 6 speed automatic as Vauxhall seem to think in this modern age of the car that 65k for a gear box is OK. DONT BUY ONE

Vauxhall Antara 2007

Driving an 07 Antara and in less than one year, the ecu light came on 7 times. 3 times on one day then goes in to safe mode. Can you get speeding ticket for driving to slow by the look of things? I may get quite a few. One other thing I would like to mention when I left it in dealers woorkshop there was 7,000miles on clock when I got it back the salesman told me he put the miles back to 3,000miles. I asked him why he done this and he said not to worry as this was their display vehicle it would not come up on the computer. I am starting to wonder was there some other reason for doing this and was there only 7,000 on this when I purchased this vehicle? I suppose I only have the dealership’s word.

Vauxhall Combo 1.7 DI 2002

Bought the van from vanmonster which was fine initially and then the problems started with power steering and the steering rack. The steering was pulling off and juddering. Vauxhall could not find the fault with it... it cost me £1700 replacing various parts and still not sorted. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 Club 2001

Nothing but problems. Apparently from 2005 they are better. If you do buy one make sure you have a healthy bank balance for all the EGR VALVES you will need to replace!!..... SHOCKING!!

Vauxhall Corsa 1.7cdti Design 2007

Just traded this car after 30 months and 50,000 miles. Overall I was pleased with the car, it was quick and reasonably economical, averaging 45 mpg according to the trip computer. Actually the difference between long journeys and around town was very small. This car had auto lights and wipers, I have had these features on other cars and I have to admit that they worked perfectly on this Corsa. Now to faults. Rear nearside wheel bearing replaced after 12 months, 24 months and gone again when it was traded. Gearbox replaced after 2 years and 40,000 miles. Half leather trim on drivers seat split adjacent to airbag after 12 months and going again at time of trading. All above were repaired under Vauxhall warranty very quickly with no quibbles, so overall pretty good but watch the wheel bearings and gearbox (loud wine in 6th gear).

Vauxhall Meriva 1994

This was the first brand new car I ever bought. Apart from the ’blind’ spot on right front corner of window I really loved it. The tyres lasted a long time and I love the interior space. It’s great for carrying large items and has great storage. This year however, my EPS light went on and remained on. I could hardly drive the car and felt really unsafe. A part from the Vauxhall dealer cost £600. Now my EPS light is coming on occasionally. My Vauxhall dealer believes it might need a new pump. After researching on the Internet I discovered that the EPS is a common problem with the Meriva. I am now very disappointed in Vauxhall’s attitude towards the problem and hope they will rectify it. All the reports of the EPS problem indicate that the Meriva can be dangerous if this EPS fault continues.

Responses to this review
Hi! My 2004 Meriva had the same fault as yours in June 2006 and i had it replaced at my own cost as Vauxhall did not want to know and now the same as happened again. I like my car as i have a knee problem and find it easy to get in and out of. But at a cost of £600+ I can't afford to have it done - John Williamson from Cheshire

Hi. I have just started having the same problem with the EPS locking & I am looking into it; these reviews have been helpful. I agree about the front column but love the car and as I have bad knees also think it is easy for getting in & out of - Joan Williams from Cheshire

Vauxhall Zafira Design 2008

I also love my Zafira, nice and roomy and reliable... smooth ride and no power problems even though it’s only a 1.6 petrol... a great invention is the back seats folding down to give a large storage space... lots of different options... not bad on the juice either, I get about 35 miles to the gallon about town and more on the motorway... plenty enough for my 3 kids who get to choose what seat they want to sit in on a daily basis... would highly recommend and when I’m done with this one I shall be buying a new shape one... I won’t have any other type of car from now on... I’m hooked on Zafiras...

Responses to this review
I can only advise that you stick with the petrol engine as I have a diesel and get less MPG than you on motorways and dual-carriagways. I can achieve 55mpg but my combined figure is only 36 and around the houses 31mpg. I have received no satisfaction from Vauxhall, and customer services is in Hungary so you can imagine the problems. Did you also know Zafira’s are produced in Poland? - John Forsyth from Northumberland

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Twintop 1.6 2009

Had car 3 weeks the roof jammed halfway down. Reg Vardey had car for 10 days; got it back now and it rattles on every slight bump. I will have to take it back in but I cannot afford the car to be stuck in garage all the time - very unhappy. It seems when anything goes wrong with the roof it has to be sent to Edingburgh. Worst purchase of my life and I still have 30 months before i can change :-(

Responses to this review
Good luck sending your car to Edinburgh, they had my twintop in to fix a rattle; one week they said, it was there for five weeks and it came back with two water leaks and 395 miles put on the clock. It still leaks and after three garages Vauxhall now want to send the car (19cdti design 08) back to Luton for four or five weeks to have a look. Good old Vauxhall, take your money then you take your chances, good luck - George Bowman from Scotland

Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 Design 2009

Got my hands on this when my 2007 Saab 9-5 1.9D conked out just before driving into the Lions enclosure at Longleat. Where I lost the chance to get the wife to get out and push. I thought it rode pretty well and was decently packaged. But, oh dear - the performance. Which isn’t the be-all and end-all of everything, but do bear with me. It was really hard work to get it to go above 60mph and overtaking was a complete no-no. Joining traffic on a busy motorway - even going flat out down the slip road - was worrying, as there was no chance of speeding up to get into that elusive gap. You had to take it or leave it once the road ran out. Changing lanes wasn’t easy either. In fact I would say it is bordering on the dangerous to take this car onto the motorway. God alone knows what the 1.2 must be like. This isn’t a case of not being used to a less powerful car. I never had the problem with an 04 Fiesta 1.4, which on paper gave away 10bhp, and which I owned until recently. In fact it took me back to a day when I went haring along a windy back road in said Fiesta in order to convince my know-it-all teenage son that you didn’t need big engine to have fun if you drive properly. I am quite certain there is just no way I could have done anything like that in the Corsa, it would never have recovered from the loss of momentum at the bends. In fact come to think of it my, 92K Toyota Hiace diesel van was way faster than this sad little thing. It also strikes me from the rewiews here that the old Corsa gets far better press than the new one. Which brings me back to my Saab (broken down at 30K miles and 2 years old, you may recall). I had a previous generation Saab 9-5 (2000W) and I have to say the quality was far ahead of the current model. The interior plastics were superior, as was the quality of leather, carpets, even the ’superior’ stereo in the new car was far inferior to the ’standard’ stereo of the older one. They even took out the bit ot hardboard beneath the load compartment which must have saved all of 50p. My brother still has my old Saab and the difference in quality just gets more noticeable the more time passes. Of course, both the Corsa and the Saab are GM products, that company that is well known as being more interested in making money than cars. Seems that, after all, maybe it isn’t particularly good at either. A friend once advised me never to do business with someone who is skint. I think these reviews are a good example of why this is a sound principle .

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!

Vauxhall Antara SE 2009

I have had this car for 5 months, and have done 10000 miles with no problems. Good SUV on and off road, and for distance driving (600miles in one trip) again no problem. I’m 6ft 3in and find this car very comfortable, and very good value for money.

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.

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch 1.6 16v v.v.t club 2008

I had a 2001 Astra for 5 years - a club 1.6 8 valve. I’ve just got myself a 2008 club 1.6 16v . v.v.t. with more bhp and torque. But I find in 1st and 2nd gears it’s no faster than my previous car... a bit dissapointing really. But once you get the revs up it really shifts. I think it might be because of the low ratio gearbox. Anway, a smoother and tighter drive allround, better quality build in the cabin but not much storage room and a smaller boot than my earlier Astra. Overall a nice motor.

Vauxhall Zafira 2 litre dti

I’ve not long since bought my Zafira 2 litre dti. It was running fine until the other day when my turbo stopped working all together and at 60mph a light is coming on the dash of a car with a spanner through it! This only comes on at 60mph and if I allow the mph to fall below that then it then goes out again. I’ve changed my airflow meter and this hasn’t made the slightest difference. If anybody can help me with advice to fix this problem then please email me jhn_blick@yahoo.co.uk. Many thanx.

Responses to this review
I think the trouble is the EGR valve - Derek Montgomery from County Londonderry

Just recently occuring with 54 reg dti and 55k milage have same control indicator for immobiliser illuminate and accelleration/turbo dies. Only appears on long fast runs after 30+ miles, disappears if ignition switched off and restarted and more prevalent on one of two ignition keys - Bill Brownlie from Berkshire

Vauxhall Zafira Design 2L Dti 2004

A very good car indeed, especially the engine. No need to worry about the timing belt (chain driven). The only bad point is that it drinks quite a lot of oil. It needs to be topped up every 1000 miles.

Vauxhall Antara E Auto 2009

A little update on my alarm issues... I got the car back on Sat 1st Aug and was told that after 2.5 days the alarm was fine and there were no problems. It looked like faulty "over sensitive" tilt sensors. They had been reseated in some "special foam". Sounded like a load of bull to me but as long as the car no longer screamed for attention whilst parked, I would be a very happy man. 5am this morning I was rudely awoken by my car alarm going off, and I’m a heavy sleeper, so who knows how long it had been going off for before I woke up! I was straight back onto the phone this morning to the dealer and I’m awaiting a call back to get it booked back in. Does anyone know if escalating this to Vauxhall will help or hinder my relationship with the dealer/ get the problem sorted?

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 LS 2004

The Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 LS 2004 39,000 miles. I have read multiple reviews of the Vectra over the last month or so and each seems to contradict the last; very confusing and conflicting reviews. Here is mine: I had always considered a Vectra too big therefore consuming too much fuel and costing far too much to run. I thought they looked good but would be too pricey. I thought a car of Vectra size would be sluggish and have the turning circle of an HGV, I thought they would be insurance group 5673!! However, 3 weeks ago I test drove one as I had seen a real bargain! £3490 for an 04 plate car with 39k miles, air con, remote central locking, CD/radio... I had to try it at least. The car seemed perfect for me. The steering was responsive, the car looked good, it had enough power... I bought it! After owning the car for 10 days these are my conclusions. Steering and handling - responsive and agile for a big car. The turning circle of the car is great considering the length. It banks well at speed and gives you a good feeling of road holding. Power and acceleration - it seems to be sluggish from a stop start compared to others in its class but once getting up through the gears and over 2000rpm it’s full of life and has enough power to jet past Aunty Doris in her Kia Piccanto doing 15mph on a 30mph road. If you’re looking for power at more speed then the Vectra has that too! On a motorway it cruises at 85mph in 5th gear at 2500rpm and can fly by most cars driven by boy racers without any trouble, drop it down a gear and wave as the go faster stripes become a blur. It’s no M3 but it has more power than its credited with! Road noise and suspension - there is more road noise than I thought after reading many reviews but still extremely quiet. You can whisper when driving on the right road and a person in the boot would hear you! The suspension is OK, but not great. It does glide over most bumps but I feel this is an area that could do with some improvement. Interior - plenty of room in the front and adequate room in the back. The gadgets as standard are very good but it still has rear wind up windows! The cup holders up front are handy and the arm rest/storage unit is a blessing - holds all you need in terms of sat nav, phones etc and so comfortable to lean on when cruising! The boot is gigantic!! I could live in it - and the cubby holes are handy also. There is a problem with dog guards fitting though. The seats come back to the window so a general dog guard will not fit. After trying 3 dog guards I finally found one that fits! Its £67.99 at Halfords (on sale for £44.99) and fits onto the rear headrests! Perfect as you can still fit the parcel shelf! MPG - I get around 32MPG around town which for a big car is good! I drive like any other 28 year old man - a cross between Grandad and cousin Chav in his Clio Sport so a real mixture. I have yet to drive at distance on the motorway but am guessing at around 39-40MPG. Conclusion: - I would give my car 8.5 out of 10. It has everything I need and does everything I want - but then if you can afford an Audi then get that instead. This car is the perfect £3000-5000 car for what I can afford but it may be different for you. I have given my honest opinion and hope that you make the right choice for you.

Vauxhall Zafira 2008

I bought this car in August 2008 and have had so many problems with it. It’s a 1.9 diesel and it’s had new boot catches fitted, new fuel injector, and now when I reverse the near side front brake housing clunks yet Vauxhall say there is nothing wrong with the car, saying that the clunking doesn’t happen all the time. The engine management light stayed on and took weeks to get the car into vauxhall. All these problems aside the car, when working, goes really well; it drives like a dream but could do with more cubby space and a better sound system, and alloy wheels as standard. Does anyone else think the folding seat handles are poorly made?? Mine have come off plenty of times.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Auto 2007

I can’t believe Vauxhall have produced such a NAFF CAR. I am currently enduring the misfortune of having to drive this heap whilst my car is in for repair. So, lets get on with it. 1. Badly thought out position of lights switch 2. Odd automatic gearbox. Spring loaded gear stick that returns to the centre when appropriate position selected. There is no ’P’ for park, the ’D’for drive has been replaced by ’A’? What for? Automatic? Why not ’F’ for forward as ’R’ is reverse? 3. When in ’A’ the car on occasions appears to have problems in selecting the right gear so losing power! In addition when changing gear there is a definate jerk and no smoothness at all! 4. Easy to select ’1’ instead of ’A’. 5. Strange dashboard that reflects in the sloping windscreen! 6. This car warrents one star because I admire Vauxhall for having the nerve to put such "CRAP" on the road! 7. Please don’t waste your money - this car clearly needs to go back to the drawing board as Vauxhall clearly haven’t tested this car.

Vauxhall Antara 2.0 CDTi SE 2009

I’ve had this car about 3 months now. I have the SE model which is fully loaded, and at £240 a month lease it is a bargain for what you get. Wery smooth ride, lovely and comfortable with full leather interior, great bluetooth sound system that allows you to use your phone hands free and sat nav that is very good also. My only bug bear was that it seems very gutsy on diesel, whilst it seems as if there was is some sort of acceleration surge intermittently. I have just had it back from main dealer after asking them to look at this problem for me. When I picked it up I was informed that Vauxhall know about this small problem as they have had a few like it. All that needed doing they said was a SOFTWARE UPDATE. So if anybody has this sort of problem then get it in to be done free of charge. Apart from that everything is as I expected and I look forward to having 3 years problem free motoring. Fingers crossed.

Responses to this review
Hi, we are looking at doing a lease deal on an Antara. Does this £240 include VAT? If so, who did you get this deal through? Thanks, Anthony - Anthony from Kent

Vauxhall Antara E Auto 2009

I’m having similar problems to Andy Dunk, Kent. My alarm keeps going off but only on hot days? Not extremely hot days mind you, just about 18 degress and over. The hotter the day the more the alarm goes bananas! Only had the car 6 weeks now and covered 2,500 miles. Some of the worst days I would hear the alarm going off several times. When you’re in a meeting and your new pride and joy is parked near the window screaming, its not fun! So far the car has been in 3 times, including right now! The first time was a "reset" of the alarm. Second time after running my weekend up north with family and much complaining to the dealer I got an entire new alarm (or so I’m told). Two days after the "new alarm" and I’m right back to square one, great! I gave up and yanked out the fuse, so peace and quiet for the past few days whilst I waited for a slot for a courtesy car from the dealer. The dealer called today to advise that some sort of foam has reportedly been causing the alarm problems as when the interior of the car heats up it in turn warms up the sensor, therefore thinking someone is in the car. The foam has now been replaced and the car will be taken home and monitored by their head technician tonight. I did explain that the alarm is fine over night due to the temps, but they still wanted to test it themselves. Im rather dubious of insulation being the cause and wondered if anyone else has had this excuse used? Another strange thing is that my fuel gauge doesn’t illuminate when I am in the red? At what point should it go on or does it not? All cars I have been in have illuminated on the dash a symbol to tell you you are running low, along with usually an audio alarm or beep. My Antara has neither and I’ve tried running it down to near the two red bars, which Im assuming to be empty and still nothing! I’m loving the car as I’m 6’9" tall, and leg room is a serious issue for me in almost every car I get into. The Antara isn’t 100% perfect but I am very comfortable, love driving position and styling. Not sure about the fuel economy though. I have the diesel auto and its pretty heavy, although saying that I am finding a quick improvement in economy. The first £20 lasted 75 miles, OUCH! I’m now getting about 350 miles to the tank, but it’s still getting run in and I’ve read some reviews stating it will go up to 540 - 550 miles per tank. Any advice regarding my alarm and fuel gauge would be appreciated.

Responses to this review
My alarm would go off when the dogs were left inside. If you switch interior detector off (switch above interior mirror, second from left) this would solve the problem - Colin from Moray (Elgin) and Nairn Shire

Same problem with car alarm, likes going off in the middle of the night for no reason. Has spent two weeks at the dealer with no fix in sight. How did they resolve the problem with your car? They have changed sensors and replaced the keys etc.- John Leask from Fife and Kinross Shires

Vauxhall Vivaro Combi 2008

I bought a Vivaro 2 litre 115 ps combi ( minibus) in April 2008 brand new. The steering made a terrible noise and they replaced the steering pump under warrantee. The battery (varta) packed up without warning after a year which was also changed on warrantee. It’s done 25k and so far has been good. It’s really quiet at speed and does about 600 miles on a tank. I have heard about the gearbox problems but these seem to be the old euro 3 1.9 engine ( I hope).

Vauxhall Vivaro 20cdti 2007

Fast, reliable and quick. Highly recommended but would advise post 07 model as the gearbox problems have been sorted.

Vauxhall Zafira 2.0 DTi 2000

Wonderful car. Bought from local Ford dealer in 2005 at 55,000 miles. No problems at all until 103,000 miles when engine management light occasionally came on while driving - garage read fault code off ECU log and replaced camshaft position sensor (£30 + £30 labour). Now drives as new again. Very economical - lowest I’ve had around town with its ECO diesel engine is 28mpg, but any runs over 5 miles once its warmed up, I get 50mpg easily. Brilliant for load-carrying - takes 8ft. x 2ft. sheets of loft boards with tailgate shut, large upright freezers, sofas, you name it - it takes it! Saves a fortune in delivery charges. 105,000 miles now and still cheap to run. Essential to change engine oil before each 10,000 miles is up, otherwise you are almost guaranteed to have problems with clogged-up EGR valves & turbos - a buggered turbo will set you back £800+.

Responses to this review
I totally agree: mine is a 2001 1.8 Auto, bought five years ago with 73k miles. Only problems were with a front wheel bearing, and yesterday when it ran on three cylinders only. Changed the plugs (which I’m sorry to say hadn’t been changed for 63k miles, since I bought it) and now running perfectly again. Cost me £20 to have the engine warning light turned off. Consumption is not too good at the moment at 33mpg, but then, I pick the wife up from the station every night, about half a mile away, so that’s not surprising. I did a ninety mile trip once and got 44, the official mileage! I’ve used the car to transport half a ton of hardcore, tree branches, rubble of all kinds ... and one time six passengers on a regular basis. Yes, it’s a true all rounder, maligned wrongly in my opinion, and I would not hesitate to replace it with another Zaffy, should that dreadful day arrive - Jay Holmes from Essex

Vauxhall Zafira sri 2006

I’ve had my Zafira 56 plate sri for 2 years and had no problems at all. Lovely car, loads of space. Performance OK; especially when in sport mode.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 16v

Bought this car and have nothing but problems for the last 18 months. Car keeps juddering and loosing power. We have had 3 air mass flows, 2 egr valves a new throttle body, a new new coil pack as well as other small bits like plugs and the car is still juddering and has no power. Been to Vauxhall on a number off occasions and they haven’t got a clue. This car has cost me an absolute fortune on repairs. I wouldn’t recommend this car to anyone. Apparently the juddering is a common problem with these yet they are still producing the car without trying to rectify the problem.

Vauxhall Antara 2.0 CDTi 2009

Great car with Xenons, leather, heated seats, European sat nav, bluetooth all as standard. Upgraded 20" wheels with irmscher chrome side steps. Been to Disneyland - sat nav a joy. Guided us in Paris, found restaurants, petrol stations and general points of interest. Not great on fuel but it depends what you compare it to. I manage approx 26 - 28mpg. Not bad for a big truck. Kids love it as does the wife who has a Chevrolet Captiva LTX auto. She needs the seven seats apparently. To summarise: try and find the same spec as standard on the opposition and then check the price.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9CDTI 150 Design 2006

Nothing but problems with repeated particulate filter blockages, EGR, oil leaks. Avoid....

Responses to this review
I have the same problem, over the last year EGR valve DPF ETC., It is in garage at the moment and is costing me £1550 as ran out of warranty in July. I am going down the legal avanue to try and get some money back, did you? - Terry Mckeown from Northern Ireland

Vauxhall Omega 2008

This is also my second Omega, the first got wrote off in December 2007 - she was a 2.6mv6 gold and in a1 condition. I bought my present car in February 2008. It has a full irmscher body kit, twin pipes, 18ins irmscher wheels, and the best of all is a duel fuel job. I’m paying 40.9 per litre. When i saw it I’d already made my mind up to buy it. Both cars have been totally reliable. I just love the shape, the room, the price; it handles well and of course has all the toys. I will be keeping her for as long as I can because it just does so many things so well. Variant: cd. Year Of Make: This vehicle was bought.

Vauxhall Vectra LS 2.0 Dti Hatch 2008

Great car! Best one yet!

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9tc 2003

I have a 2003 Vivaro it has done 140000 and the gearbox has just about collapsed. It’s going to cost me about a £1000 and that’s doing it myself. I was warned of the problems with Vivaro’s by an AA patrol man who uses these vans but still went ahead and bought one. They also have a problem with the speed restrictor in second gear. They are gutless when you want a little bit of power pulling out of junctions and trying to get up to speed; apparently this is incorporated in the ecu specifically to protect the weak transmission bearings. Very overrated van - stay clear.

Vauxhall Vectra 2007

Vauxhall want to take the car out for another road test - that makes it three times now. So I will see what they do again on Tuesday. Will they want to keep it again for a few days?

Vauxhall Omega 3.2 Elite 2002

This is the best car in the world. It is shame that they are no longer for sale new.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 SRI 2007

I had a oil leak from the clutch area on my car and the clutch was replaced. Now the car makes a noise when you use the clutch peddle - it’s been back a few times and Vauxhall still can’t fix it. I am not happy with the service I get even though i like this car a lot!

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch sri 1.9 cdi td 2007

Further to my report of the front discs and pads scored and worn after just 16,000 miles. Vauxhall admit there is a problem, and they re placed both front discs and pads, they also admit there is a LARGE problem with the Astra rear springs failing, and breaking, and as such, they have extended their normal 3 yr warranty for the springs to 4 yrs, however, they refused to uprate the springs on my car, so BEWARE if cornering/braking hard.

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 Sportive 2003

Well, what can I say? After reading these reports, I’m in the market for a new van and it will not be a Vauxhall Vivaro. Over 6 years of motoring I stuck by the Vivaro thinking it was just one of those things. I’ve now had enough - 3 gear boxes, injectors, turbo... the list is endless. Only done 75,000 but enough is enough.

Vauxhall Zafira Life 2004

I purchased my Vauxhall Zafira Life 2004 model in August 2007 from Phoenix in Wimbledon. My biggest mistake. It was from Network Q. Just been informed that I need another engine already as I am having engine valve problems. Only 30,000 miles on the clock and this car has caused me problems from day 1. When it rains water gets in the inside of the doors. Door strips were changed but I still get water on the inside. The car is a shambles.

Vauxhall Corsa Design 2009

Well, deary me. I bought a 1.2 Design A/C for around 10 grand (with extras) a few weeks ago. And I am deeply deeply regretful. The interior has no feel to it, that it is manufactured to make money. Not many people happy to own it. Cheap plastics, eugh. And I know, 10 grand isn’t a lot of money nowadays for a car. But lets not forget that the Fiat 500 is a cracking car, nice interior all for 1500 quid less. Also, its not a car you’d ever drive on long distances. 2,000 revs in first gear make your flipping ears bleed. You put your foot down and it decides whether or not it likes you enough to even attempt any acceleration whatsoever. It’s like my ex-girlfriend! I will admit however, that it looks quite nice in the right colour and alloys, and nothing has gone wrong with it... yet. But that can’t excuse its useless engine and stupid screaming everytime you want to give it some. Its not that economical either, I average, on a good day 28-30MPG. My say? look for something else.

Responses to this review
Hear hear......I’ve purchased a 2009 1.0 Corsa, a wee run-a-round for taking kids to school. It’s got three thousand miles and already I’ve topped up on oil three times... seemingly, according to Vauxhall. it takes a litre of oil every thousand miles... honestly! The fuel consumption is also rubbish. £42 to fill up and get 321 miles. I took it to garage but seemingly this is normal... NEVER AGAIN!!! Can’t wait to get rid of it! - Annie Ritch from West Lothian (Linlithgowshire)

Vauxhall Omega 2.6 Elite Auto Saloon 2003

As a Carlton and Omega owner of many years this, the last of the line, was one of the best. It’s 2.6 V6 is punchy, lifting up its skirts and flying when the tacho hits 4000rpm. Beautiful motorway cruiser with cruise control as standard. The spec list leaves most 2009 cars in the cold. Heated front and rear seats, auto wipe, reversing sensors. Xenon lights, Sunshine roof and his ’n’ hers climate control. The back is so spacious that with the rear seats folded down I can fit a full size door in the boot and shut the lid! Most reliable - never broken down. Had one oil gasket changed on the front crankshaft and one broken coil spring at the rear - but I never noticed until the MOT! If you control your right foot it will easily return 30+mpg. Beautiful BOSE sound system with multi CD player. All electric leather front seats with autodim rear view mirror. The list goes on and on. The car is smooth ride makes my son in law’s new BMW 5 series feel wholly crude. The Omega is fitted with an excellent auto gear box - sport and snow mode too if you need it. Rear wheel drive and very good turning circle. It came with Pirelli P6 tres that tramlined badly, now has Mitchelin’s on its 7 spoke alloy wheels and they are much more supple and don’t tramline. Even has a proper spare wheel. For those snobs who believe they value German engineering and buy a Mercedes etc for that reason, well this is all German too, in fact a lot more German than those Mercedes that are built in America, or the Audi’s built in Hungary! I will miss it when it goes.

Vauxhall Vectra SRi VVT 2008

Low profiles and 19 inch alloys make it a firm ride. But it goes round corners like it’s on rails. Plenty of gadgets and a nice stereo. Only slight problem is the accelerator has slight lag and the indicators take some getting used to, but otherwise very pleased.

Vauxhall Vectra sri cdti 150. 2006

I’ve always liked Vauxhall but I bought this one 8 months ago and its had 2 EGR VALVES , a WIRE HARNESS fitted and it still has no power at low revs. you need to rely on the turbo all the time but still my turbo seems to hesitate, its been in the dealers 4 times now and they still cant find whats wrong !!!!! I’ve only got 2 wks warranty left and I know im going to have to fork out money when my warranty does run out.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 1.9 sri tdci 150 bhp. 2007

I purchased this car NEW two yrs and one week ago. It has been driven only 16.000 miles. It just recently went for a full service, and the mechanic at Nationwide service centre Kings Lynn called me into the workshop to look at the inner front brake discs. Whilst the outside of the discs were nice and smooth, the inner side of the discs were heavily scored!! and the inner pads heavily worn down. The mechanic stated this was a common fault on these late models. I was also told the rear springs had a tendancy to break without warning. I immediately visited a main Vauxhall dealer, who said he had never known this to happen before!!. ditto rear springs. Vauxhall will guarantee the front discs and pads for 18,500 miles under warranty, but after that, it’s classed as wear and tear. But at 18,000 miles, NEW DISCS AND PADS?????, I had a Sierra that did 250.000 miles and needed one set of new front pads. Whats the cause, and the cure, and why havn’t Vauxhall had a re- call, or admitted this is a potentaly dangerous mechanical failure, which could cause a fatal accident and do something about it?. JC

Vauxhall Omega MV6 2.6 Auto 2001

This is our 2nd Omega, its a facelift 2.6 MV6 auto. These cars are totally under-rated in my opinion. Neither of our Omegas have ever let us down in 3 years of ownership. The 2.6 MV6 is great fun to make progress in, it loves motorways and twisty B roads alike. Very well specced, inc cruise control, traction control, climate control, electric everything etc etc etc........ Perfomance is brilliant, especially when the multi-ram intake system comes in at 3500 rpm........Left many a hot hatch behind....... Looks lovely too in light green metallic and a joy to own. My car is 8 yrs old now but still looks modern and smart on its standard 17" alloys. Take proper care of it with regular services and genuine parts and an Omega will last years and years and years, V6 is bulletproof.......... Overall.........Highly recommended.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2.5cdti. 2005

I’ve had the van from new and it’s just turned 150k miles, quiet,fast and reasonably economical if driven right, apart from service items all it’s had is an egr valve,rear brake caliper and a track rod end. The gearbox is just starting to get a bit sticky but it’s still on it’s original clutch so it’s probably that. It has to go back to the lease company soon and I will miss it, best van I’ve had in 20 odd years.

Vauxhall VXR8 2007

Vauxhall. Just mention the name to me and it sends a horrible shiver down my spine. But hold on a second, Vauxhall has been on a roll since the VX220, and now that the Vectra is gone, the only turd in the range is the Meriva. Vauxhall has always been associated with people who couldn’t give a stuff about cars, had next to no imagination whatsoever and you would NEVER invite a Vauxhall owner to dinner. Oh how have things changed. The soon to be replaced Astra was a million times better looking than anything else in the family hatchback market and not a bad steer either. The Corsa was funky and had grown up considerably without sacrificing fun, the Zafira is pretty fun to drive (especially in VXR form), and the Insignia is millimetres behind the Ford Mondeo in terms of being the consummate all rounder. The Monaro was a snarling beast of a thing, especially in VXR500 trim, and how I cried when it was killed off. I was wondering what kind of idiot in the marketing department decided it would be a good idea to drop the Monaro, but good news came in the form of the VXR8. What a monster. Mine was black and it was a glorious looking thing. Those 20" alloys filled the arches with a real purpose, the front end looked mean and moody, the rear ’afterburner’ style lights looked menacing, and the rear wing looked slightly ridiculous. No matter. As a package, it looked magnificent. It’s not pretty mind you, but pleasant enough to look at. Who said that the Australians didn’t have a sense of humour? Inside, the sporty and menacing theme continued. Huge sofas made by Recaro hugged you intimately (and I’m a pretty small guy), the steering wheel was wonderful to hold, the pedals were well placed, and the quality of the materials used were pretty good, considering it cost ’only’ £35,000. Spacious too. The boot will easily hold a few bodies, if that’s your kind of thing. I was starting to feel pretty good about the car, until I started it up....then I gurned in excitement. Good Lord it sounded good. The 6 litre V8 jumped into life and rocked the entire car on its suspension. I didn’t want to believe what I felt, so I switched it off and started it again. Oh yes. I was gonna have me some fun here. Performance figures speak for themselves. 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds, over 400bhp, and a top speed of over 170mph. Lovely. The one thing that immediately hit me was how docile it was. You could easily pootle around in town in 4th gear at 30mph all day long, and it’ll never kick up a fuss. Just a distant little V8 rumble in the background, being soothed by the wonderful climate control, with Sade coming through the Blaupunkt stereo system. Nice place to be really. Jump out of town and head to the motorway, and it’s still wonderful. Quiet, refined and comfortable. Not bad for a car they claim would rip your head off. I wasn’t scared at all, until I decided to take it onto a country road. Traction control off, 2nd gear and a bootful of throttle, followed by the sound of tortured tyres, a lion being tortured through an amplifier from the exhaust, and a 26 year old man screaming like an 8 year old! Last time I got this sensation from a big car was back in 2001 when I had the pleasure of driving an E39 BMW M5. So it’s got speed. Lots of it. (of course I’m not going to tell you how quickly I was going. I’m not that stupid) Handling on the other hand, I’m afraid to say, is wonderful as well. It’s not quite as razor sharp as an M5 but it’s always willing to have a play. Be reckless with it and it will most likely spear you off the road at illegal speeds killing you in the process, but treat it gently and it will reward you massively. Oversteer is only but a toe twitch away and winding on opposite lock is as natural as tying your shoelace. It’s wonderfully composed, if a little crude in it’s execution. The gearbox is a little dimwitted in its action, quite clunky and over heavy. Cannot complain about the brakes at all, which are huge. They will easily whip the car from 60 - 0 in the claimed 2.8 seconds, and take your internal organs with it. Braking is a rather painful experience in this motor, which isn’t a bad thing at all. As far as reliability and costs go, this is where it falls down ever so slightly. Fuel consumption is pretty bad averaging about 24mpg on a good day, and closer to 14mpg on a playful day, which one can argue is also a good day. I had a couple scares with the engine management light coming on every so often, but the diagnostics showed nothing. Servicing isn’t too bad either, costing me about £250 - £350 per service. The amazing thing about this car is that it only costs £35000, but offers M5 levels of fun. My only regrets are not opting for the Walkinshaw Performance packs, which make the car sound even harder and go even better. No matter. I still fell in love with this charming beast and I never thought I would say that about a Vauxhall. If you were to ask me about which I would choose between an M5 or a VXR8, I wouldn’t be able to give you a straight answer. The M5 is Muhammed Ali, the greatest ever, moves like no other, and is a bit of a showoff and pretty. The VXR8 is Mike Tyson, brutal, scary, menacing and would probably lose his temper and bite your ear off. I love both cars to be fair, but the M5 is a better car plain and simple, because BMW are masters at making fast executive saloons. The VXR8 is just a copy, but as far as copies go, it’s a pretty impressive one. Would I recommend it? Oh hell yes! £35000 for a Corvette engine, in a comfortable 4 door executive saloon, that will keep an M5 honest . It’s a no brainer really.

Vauxhall VXR8 2007

I have driven all BMW have to offer...a nd yes... you get a nice "solid clunk" when you close the doors, expensive Vanos repairs etc. But with the VXR8... it truly is a phenomenal car! I bought mine just two weeks ago and the smile still cannot be wiped from my face. Went touring in the North of Scotland and returned 27.6mpg! Wasn’t hanging around either... amazing! If you can afford to buy one of those Supercars then why would you even consider MPG, Road Tax etc? You buy this Car to have fun, live life.....ENJOY! If you want Two Cities per Gallon, buy a Micra. Supercars don’t come any better than this... and I love it!!

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!

Responses to this review
Steve , sorry for the big delay, just posted another review, have a look a my response to your question there - Andy Dunk from Kent

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 2007

Anybody out there with am Astra SRI that gets a clonking sound between 10 & 20 mph? Vauxhall say that’s what they do!

Responses to this review
They all make a clunking noise. I was told it was the ABS - Ian Finlay from England

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v LS 2001

It is a nice all round car, room in the back seats and boot. They are cheap to buy and fix (if you don’t touch the Vauxall dealers, they will rip you off). The 1.8 LS is under powered but there is hardly any noise when driving at 70mph. They come in ranges like box standard, posh, and sports. Just watch out on the electrics, that is Vauxhall’s worse problem. The basic ones are the best to buy due to less electrical things to go wrong.

Vauxhall Astravan 1.9 2008

I really wanted to like this van as I currently drive a 2005 Astravan 1.7 CDT and I badly need to replace this soon. My mate has just bought a 1.9 Sportive so I had a chance to try before I buy. For a van it has a very luxurious cab with all the toys. Quite quiet around town but it became very boomy on the motorway, more so than my existing model (which has much thinner tyres). But what else can you expect - the 1.9 has large tires and they have a big unsound-proofed box to resonate in ( laws of physics innit). It was a lot more bearable laden. It handles really well and had plenty of power but I came away wondering do I really want out of a van. If I need a sports car I will buy a sports car. If I need a small van the 1.3 CDT might be a more sensible bet as it has 20% better fuel efficiency, it is still powerful enough to carry a full payload - you can drop a gear on the steeper hills if it’s struggling (that’s what gears are for I thought) and it’s probably quieter too.

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.

Vauxhall Vectra Estate 18 vvt 16v sri 2007

I bought this car when it was 10 month old and saved 10 grand on the retail price. The sheer size puts some 7 seaters to shame. I love it for what it is; OK, you have to rev it to make it shift and there is no turbo performance but it will do everything you ask of it with ease and has a top end of 130mph. I don’t understand why people slag the Vectra off; you try and keep up with me on a bendy road in your people carrier doing 70mph and then you will see that the Vectra Estate isn’t as slow as people think... if you want a boy racer performance buy the 20 litre turbo SRi Estate or the VXR...

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 sri nav 2007

Nice looking car, however... interior is made of cheap plastic (squeaky sounds fixed under warranty), the back shelf is making noises on the bumps, noisy while on the road. When the first gear is selected the engine makes funny noise like as if something was tearing inside, the engine is underpowered for a 140 bhp, not very economical in the town. The maps of Europe cost about £100 - I had 1996 Omega 2.5 V6 - I have to say that this 15 years old car was in a better condition than my 2 years old Vectra and far more powerful and comfortable - I would really have a second thought when buying another Vectra - maybe 2.8 V6 engine is better but 1.8 is a crab.

Responses to this review
I hear what you’re saying but the comment about the new 1.8 not being as powerful as your old 2.5 V6.... I wonder why you’d be surprised by that! - David C from Lincolnshire

Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0 cdti swb Sportive 2007

I have had the Vivaro from new, and after 2 years I am very pleased with it. Its only been back to the dealers for servicing, replacement arm rest and A/C condenser (all at service). The new engine and gearbox have not proved problematic like the earlier model. I use this for work and it has not let me down or cost me any time. I had a VW T5 before this van and it had 22 warranty repairs in 3 years!!! It is averaging 37 mpg (loaded with tools), is quiet and will get to motorway speeds with no bother. I know it is widely accepted that these vans have gearbox problems, but I think these have been sorted out with the new model. I have 3 friends who have the pre-2007 Vivaro’s and they report no problems even after many miles. I would recommend this vehicle.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 VVT Life Petrol 2007

I have had Vectra’s for 8 years. I previously had a 1997 1.8 LS. So I bought the 1.8 Life (being the replacement). Although I’m generally happy with the car several issues do annoy me: Clutch - judder is terrible and erratic from standing start or whilst gear is moving and in stop and start traffic. It gets progressively worse. It sometimes seems impossible to pull away smoothly; you tend to get a kind of da da da da (my car does not have T/C). The clucth/ accelerator never seems to have the same sensitivity (I’ve driven 50 or so cars/vans and always quickly got used to whatever I was driving). I was kind of hoping this was due to it being a new car/clutch but nothing has improved. Indicators (touch sensitive) good idea in principle but when lightly touching the stalk to cancel, say L, the R then comes on. The signals cancel early before you’ve gone round the roundabout and then never cancel after turning at a junction. Acceleration is fair/OK but it has been slightly improved by fitting a K&M panel filter (gives a bit more poke) and for gods sake Vauxhall; if you do keep using this engine please put a 6 speed box on the end of it - it seems to rev very high when cruising. Overall a decent car - nice ride, comfortable cruiser and it can be chucked round corners when you get used to the feedback. True MPG from me - motorway; I’ve had 53/mpg but combined is about 38/40 mpg.

Responses to this review

Well folks gotta say it after some silly bint crashed into the side of my Vectra and having had a Ford Focus courtesy car for 2 weeks, I’m very glad to get my Vetra back. THANKYOU - Pauly C from Durham

Vauxhall Zafira 2008

Lovely sized-car, but had nothing but problems inside 12 months. Car began losing power and would not change up through gears and the emission light kept coming on and Vauxhall dealership said they had fixed that during first service around six weeks ago. Then car started losing power again, same problem back so off it goes for a second time. They spent two weeks telling me it was the EGR valve and that no parts were available (due to this being a common fault). When it arrived and was fitted, they then told me that the EGR valve problem had knackered the rest of the exhaust system and that it needed a full replacement. Which is on order. And has been for another two weeks and is still not available. Crap build, shoddy after-sales workmanship at local dealership. Needless to say I will not be replacing with a Vauxhall car when this car reaches its third year. Is it any surprise that GM are in trouble?

Vauxhall Zafira 2003

Owned a Vauxhall Zafira for 6 years. Good family car, plenty of room for going on holiday. Doing 25-35 mpg - not so good, and having problems with egr valve. Just been diagnosed with the same problem again which will be my third egr valve. High revs and cutting out, drinking fuel for fun, juddering when power is applied. These problems have put me off Vauxhall’s.

Vauxhall Vectra Elite 2006

Bought directly from Vauxhall Management, so this well-specc’d car had the luxury of every other available option factory fitted. I downgraded from the V6 SRi for tax reasons, and was extremely disappointed with the 1.9 Unit initially. It had to go back to the Dealership so many times that they eventually sent a Field Technician out from Vauxhall directly, and he couldn’t cure it either. Resigned to the fact that I was stuck with a good looking and massively equipped car with no decent performance to match, I took it to the VXr Performance Centre in Banbury.....the result from their Software remap is incredible. Not only do I now get high 40’s/ low 50’s MPG, it rockets from 0-60 in a shade over 6 seconds!! So there you have it - a luxury motor with every conceivable gadget, with a performance that will leave (most) others for dead on a sprint. I was planning on chopping it in after 3 years, but given how much I love driving it, I now plan to run it into the ground...however long that will be!

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?

Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 Cdti Elite 2006

An excellent vehicle which I bought in UK and exported to France. Headlight change was no problem as was re-registration. I found it no problem getting the European Certificate of Conformity from Luton. It gives me an average mpg of over 50 and on long runs even more if you do not use the air con too much. The 6 speed gearbox is magnificent in either mode. I regularly travel back to UK from home in Brittany, a distance of nearly 500kms to Boulogne and it behaves impeccably. I use the cruise control for 80% if the journey and it behaves well compared to the system on my old Senator. I have done two return trips to southern Turkey and it behaved impeccably. Whilst in Turkey the EGR valve needed replacement as the warning engine management light came on. The local Opel dealer in Alanya got the part within 24 hours and all was fitted for half the price in Europe. I even got a full 4th service done while I was supplied with tea and cakes in the showroom! On the downside, I found it took quite a while to get the drivers seat into the right position. Also I am not too keen on the in-built SatNav as you have to buy a Disc for each country so I only use it in UK and use my TomTom elsewhere in Europe. The only change I have made is to replace the Vauxhall badges with Opel Blitzes which are more modern than the Griffin. Prior to my Vectra, I had a Megane Cabriolet which was a problem for my Greyhound to get into and before that a Senator for 10 years. What a vehicle!

Vauxhall Zafira 2002

Absolute waste of time! After all the hype I bought a 2-litre diesel - it was OK for the first few months; the usual minor problems like a light staying on the dash, then when you went over a bump it went out again. Mine was a turbo, it was very quick when it finally decided to kick in, but boy did you nearly s--t a brick when you were overtaking, also I never prayed as much! Please be aware the starter went on me exactly 2 weeks after the warranty ran out, and it cost me £345 in a garage in Boston in Lincolnshire. I still have the receipt to prove it.

Vauxhall Antara 2009

C**p on fuel, and I mean C**P!

Vauxhall Vectra 1.9cdti sri 150 2006

Hello all, I bought this car 7 months ago from a local garage and loved it as soon as i saw it. Me and my family went on holiday to Devon and the car let me down massively - I took it in to a garage in Devon and they put it on the diagnostics and for some bizarre reason it had no fault code until it broke down again on holiday. I took it back and they plugged it back in and it came up with E/G/R valve so we phoned Vauxhall dealer up in Plymouth, which was not very helpful at all, but what they did tell me is that the E/G/R valve is a common fault and there is lots on back order so if your cars suddenly loose lack of power engine management light comes on lots of black smoke out the exhaust its most likely to this and was told this might happen again sometime. So, I’m not very happy with this car - steer clear and buy a Mazda, Honda or Nissan; much more reliable cars.

Vauxhall Astravan 1.9CDti Sportive Automatic 2007

Why don’t Vauxhall ever quote the mpg for the Astravan? Maybe here’s why... With tyres pumped up to the 40psi max and cruising at 65 to 70mph I’m getting up to 51mpg. But the road noise is unbearable and it’s not at all comfortable (ear plugs required). Drop the tyre pressure back to 35psi and the road noise becomes (just about) liveable with again, but the mpg drops to 40 - 44mpg (my wife’s 2.0litre turbo Saab 93 can manage 40mpg). A bit disappointing as I’d hoped for the 50 to 60mpg that you can get out of the VW 1.9 turbo diesels. However, build quality is good, handling is exemplary, it’s totally reliable... and no-one else makes an estate-car based van.

Responses to this review
That’s because no one else makes an estate car-based van. The Astravan is the only one - Chuck Chapman from England

Vauxhall Corsa 2008

The car was very nice to look at, great design and the interior was just as good. The stereo controls on the steering wheel was great and the ipod dock, although it took me a while to work out how to turn it onto ipod mode and wasn’t clear. The seat was very low even when you raised it i still found it to be quite low and being 5 ft 6in I still felt I was looking over the top of the steering wheel. The power on this car was a serious downside, it hated being in 4th gear and even in 3rd on hills it struggled to even hit 30 and if hills were attempted in 4th it would just come to a standstill. Overall it was a nice car but the power was irritating and I wouldn’t buy one myself.

Vauxhall Zafira 2004

Fantastic family car, lots of room, smooth, efficient and excellent performance.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 life 2007

Bought this car just under a year old with only 18 miles on the clock. Nothing wrong with it apart from being hopelessly underpowered. Struggles to get up the slightest of hills and was downright frightening trying to negotiate Pembrokeshire coast. With just the driver very good performance; upwards of 45 mpg. When carrying 3 passengers this drops to 30-32 mpg. Seating system is fantastic and versatile but with all seats occupied there is room in the boot for one Tesco carrier bag! I am getting rid after a year. Shame really I’m sure the 2.0 would be excellent.

Responses to this review
We have a Vauxhall 1.6 and totally agree about the car being underpowered, ours also struggles to get up hills. Bought from new with only 24,000 miles on the clock, the car failed last week and we’re facing a £2,700 bill to repair it. We’re not buying another Vauxhall ever - Chris Booth from Essex

Vauxhall Corsa 2008

This is my first and last Corsa; it’s the worst car I’ve ever had. Yes, on the outside looks nice and stylish but my god its a c**p car to drive. Mine has been into the garage 3 times for modified brake pads and still the same, it suffers from clutch judder and its suspension is very poor. My husband refuses to drive it because its a tinny, whinney useless pile of cheap metal.The sooner I get rid the better. Don’t waste your hard earned money.

Responses to this review
I agree. I have a Corsa sxi and I’ve had the pads replaced 3 times, a new clutch and Vauxhall are not interested. What a waste of money - Mark Cornhill from England

I bought a 58 reg 1.2 life and had the same problems with the brakes. The car has had the clutch replaced after 4000 miles on the clock and still judders from cold. The worst car i have ever had - Lindsey from Northumberland

Vauxhall Vectra SRI 2006

Good all round performance from a 1.8. Excellent gadgets and plenty of leg room. Averaging 45 mpg overall covering country roads & fast motorway driving. As Andy (Notts) has said - far better than any Skoda.

Vauxhall Corsa 1996

Because its an older model, it doesn’t have central locking, which is bit annoying when trying to get 2 toddlers into car and stop them running into road! The build is poor and ’clanky’, also the boot lid doesn’t fit very well, causing rain water to get in.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 1.8 SRi 2007

Great little car. I bought it after enjoying a 1985 1.8 SRi for 14 years. While the old one was a racing roller-skate, the new one is heavier and slower off the mark, but once on the move this thing handles like a dream. I’m getting a steady 34 mpg as a commuter/shopper. There are no problems yet after 18 months/10,000 miles. Rear visibility is very bad, but I knew that when I bought it, so specified the reversing sensors as an essential extra. The leather pack was a worthwhile add on, as was the auto climate control. I have only two observations/complaints. Maybe its the angles of the window frames, but I can never park this thing square in a car park slot. The choice of colours is sad. Unless you’re buying a VXR, you can get it in 11 colours, most of which are shades of silver.

Responses to this review
I get the same clunking noise, did you find out what it is? - Michael Horn from Dumbartonshire

Vauxhall Omega 3.0 Elite Auto Saloon 2000

Similar problems to Patrick Mitchell - CD radio failure, drivers door lock-multiple failures, front brakes overhauled, left cylinder head oil leak, self-levelling rear suspension shot. Despite all of that, it has only broken down once in 7 years, due to a fan belt idler gear failure. I bought it to travel regularly between Lincolnshire and Berlin. Its ability to sit on cruise control at 110 mph on the autobahn makes the journey bearable, if not fun. It still raises a grin when I floor the throttle at 125 mph, and it changes down a gear, and it will show its rump to many a BMW. This is the best car I’ve ever had, and I’ll keep it until it dies but, due to the fuel consumption, I have to run a second, economical car, which is also a Vauxhall.

Vauxhall Signum 2.8 V6 Turbo 2006

Having previously owned two Omega’s, the last being an MV6, I decided that I would stick with Vauxhall, but wanted something a bit different. As soon as I got into the Signum for the test drive I realised it was a bit of a tardis, and was much bigger than expected, which is good when 3 of the family are over 6ft. The 2.8 V6 Turbo charged engine kicked into life with enough of a growl to get it noticed, but without drawing any unwanted attention. When you put your foot down you realise that you really do have a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Oh, I nearly forgot to mention, it’s really comfortable too. All in all it’s a really good car with enough room for the family, and enough power for the boy racer that’s hidden in all 40 something men!!

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?

Vauxhall Corsa Club 3 door 1.2 2006

Bought this car new when new model was released. I have had it for 2 and a half years and have no regrets. The car is very underrated, can’t really fault it. Smooth, quiet, drives like a larger car although probably smallest car I have ever owned. Great fuel economy and I do not think it lacks power: perfectly adequate for it’s class, certainly out-performs my previous car (Rover 400, owned for 10 years). I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 2007

Just bought my Astra Twintop and it feels great! This is the first nearly new car that I have purchased and I’m so pleased with it. I didn’t want a sports car, but I did want style and that comes as standard. Fuel consumption is good and when the roof is down it’s simply fabulous. In short, I love it!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vauxhall Signum 3.2 v6 elite 2004

What an amazing motor,the Signum 3.2 v6 elite is roomy and very comfortable. It’s fast and well equipped plus it gives 28/30mpg overall and it looks the dogs b******s. I have owned Jaguar’s, BMW’s and Alpha’s plus a 3.7 Jeep. Would I swap my Signum for one of these? WOULD I HELL!

Vauxhall Zafira 2005

Same thing happened to me last year mine failed it MOT on emissions and the garage said the same as yours. I got the CAT changed by someone else and got through the MOT. It ran perfectly until now - has been into a Vauxhall dealer twice so far; £750 and they still don’t know what’s wrong - CAT has disintegrated. I have refused to pay anymore money. I took it to them because it was misfiring; they put in new plugs, EMU and have said the CAT was blocked even though it wasn’t there. Now very upset and looks like I have a battle on my hands. They even charged me £170 for diagnostic check, they are now looking at it free of charge. Kwikfit will do the CAT for about £320.

Vauxhall Vivaro 20 cdti 2008

I’ve now had several Vauxhall Vivaro’s (now leased throw Europcar). It is the best van I’ve ever driven, I’ve never had a problem - comfortable, fast, very economical. A great van, I spend most off my days in it and do many, many miles each year. I recommend it highly - drive it right and it will look after you. Forget the Transit (c**p), Transporter’s (slow and use to much oil), LDV Maxus (forget it). 5 stars for the Vauxhall Vivaro!

Responses to this review
Transporters slow? Don’t think your 2.0 cdti will keep up with my 174, and I’ve never needed to top up the oil - G B from Cheshire

Vauxhall Vectra CD 2000

Have had 2 years trouble free motoring. Excellent flexible gearbox, brakes to match and reasonable economy. Interior as good as Mondeo and good sized boot. Handling as good as any in class especially off motorways...

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 Club 2001

The car was 3 years old when I bought it with just 27K miles on the clock. Ex mobility. Nice looking car, love the ease at which the rear two seats fold into the floor. Just have ongoing issue with the car and that is the ’Engine light’ has been lit for three and a half years. Two months after I got it it appeared, took it back to the garage who used computer diagnostic, apparently nothing wrong so they reset the on-board computer management system. A month later it appeared again, took it to Vauxhall and was charged £60 plus VAT and same diagnosis (nothing wrong) and resolution (reset computer). A month later it was back on. Having checked the handbook it said if the light is flashing you need to take it to the garage, as it was not I have continued to drive without any problems. DOWNSIDE at 30-35 mpg it is a very thirsty car. OK if like me you don’t do excessive mileage.

Vauxhall Vectra 2008

Fantastic car, comfy, reliable and very economical.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 16V Comfort 1999

This car has so much going for it, the 2 rear seats are a great idea, its cheap (ish), runs OK, loads of space... Bought mine second-hand about 8 months ago, its only done 38k, full Vauxhall dealer history, even had GM washer fluid... BUT, its also had a coil pack, head gasket, thank %^&* for warranties! Blew an inlet manifold... then there is the poor MPG (partly my fault, should have got the 1.8...) You can’t get two child seats in the back with a passenger... Can’t disable the air bag (Vauxhall went crazy at the thought...) But overall its so much better than the Scenic I had before, cost me 4x as much as I paid for the car on repairs.... Shame Galaxy’s are so expensive to insure...

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CDTI 150BHP 2006

With a wife, 2 kids and a dog, the space offered within the Zafira is ideal. However the build quality certainly leaves a lot to be desired. I have just had the EGR valve fail for the second time in 14 months. My local Vauxhall dealership are telling me that there are so many EGR valves failing at present that there is a large order back log. In fact they are suggesting that it could be up to 2 months before they get the replacement valve in stock. They have at least loaned me another Zafira. As the car will be out of warranty later this year and with serious concerns that the EGR valve will fail again in the future, I’m not intending to stay a Vauxhall owner for too much longer!

Responses to this review
Get rid!I have the same problem, over the last year 3 EGR valves fitted, PDF at the moment plus Turbo, will cost £1550. Going legal, did you? - Terry Mckeown from Northern Ireland

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch Astra Sport Hatch 2008

I picked up my new car with great anticipation, only to bring it back the very next day. I had a added feature of a swimming pool in the boot of my car. so for a week or two I was without my brand new spanking car. Now six months down the line I am now told I need a new gearbox. As a lady driver I don’t reckon I would be classed as a racing driver although I do like to put my foot to the floor on occasions. So a six month car having to have gear box replaced doesn’t do much for its reputation. I really am very disappointed with the car on the problems I have encountered.

Vauxhall Zafira SRI 1.9 CDTi 2006

Where do I start my tale of woe? Oh yes, when I bought it.. 2006. Day one...car judders every couple of months quite unnerving + burning smell, stops out of gear, continues back in. Ok next day.. Garage can find nothing. This carries on for a couple of years.. meanwhile I put up with abysmal fuel consumption. I moved to Ireland 2007.. eventually car packs up, towed away. They replace the turbo, the computer control system various others then modify the EGR valve. This has no effect. They then replace the swirl actuator. They then replace the the EGR valve, thank the lord for a warranty. Ok none of this works, car goes back in after numerous emails, test transmission oil, looks bad chaps, OK, they replace the whole transmission!!! £5k they say. Ok it is done, I get the car home, the even washed the filthy thing, guess what our demon friend the judder is back, oh yes, and I have 2 weeks left off warranty!! Any one any ideas? I only did 22k miles! My advice even though this is my 2nd Zafira is avoid at all costs!

Responses to this review
I have the same problem as you, in garage at the present getting fixed, turbo, EGR, PDF, £1550 as out of warranty, get rid! I’m going legal, phone: 07788742174 - Terry Mckeown from Northern Ireland

Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi 2008

This car can only be discribed as "s***". I bought the 05 plate Corsa 1.3 CDTi and the car was fantastic, the interior was just quality. I had it 3 years and then bought the 58 plate in 08 and what a 100 per cent let down, I think with the Corsa c Vauxhall packed everything they could into it and duped the public into thinking that the next model would be even better therefore getting rid of their new stock and making a mint on the disgustingly cheap and nasty made new model. OK yes I got duped and yes people will be saying that I had the chance to go for a test drive or to look round it but when I was shown the vehicle in Reg Vardy in Leeds. I was shown inside the CDTi model and was told that the only difference would be the engine as this time round I wanted the petrol engine to cut overheads due to fuel inflation. Finally all I can say is I’m looking forward to a new SEAT Leon 2.0 TDi which I’ve just recently put a deposit on and there will be no more Vauxhalls for me, I’m finished with this company. My 58 plate is now up for sale.

Vauxhall Astravan sportive auto 2008

I have had 3 model Astra Vans in the past so l think l know a little more than some! The road test doesn’t mention the the amout of outside noise from this model, if you have a passenger and are traveling on the open road, limit the conversation because you will have difficulty in hearing each other, much more noisier that the previous model...Jeff

Vauxhall Zafira 2001

We have had our Zafira for five years now, it was three years old when we got it as an ex mobility car. I had to pay to have a three year warranty on it. Just before this expired I had to have the EGR valve replaced and one of the back doors was not locking. A year later I had the sane problems many are having with the loss of power when you go over 40 miles an hour. After three mechanics looked at it and bypassed the EGR valve, the problem was not fixed. I went back to Vauxhall who took it in for the day to find that it was the wires leading to the EGR valve that needed replacing. The engine management light did nit come on after this and touch wood, it has been driving OK since. My back door also is not good as the metal bracket has come away from the door, must be a weakness there. Hope this helps.

Responses to this review
2001 dti problems with back doors as the metal bracket has broken away from the door itself on both doors. I’m not sure if its the age of the car or is there a design fault. Any ideas - Steve Hobbs from Cornwall

Vauxhall Zafira 1600 club

After 70k service I drove off garage forecourt and power steering pacted up. Was this checked in service I wonder? Garage said they would not charge to rectify problem then when car came back they wanted £200.00. steering had been fine before service, are garage at fault? Please could someone help, thanks.

Vauxhall Corsa Breeze

No review submitted.

Vauxhall Zafira Elite 2008

I purchased this car a month ago and so far am happy with all aspects of the Zafira, except the fuel consumption. I am disappointed with the 31 mpg which I get on a combined run. Before buying the car I read the road tests, which claimed it would return 35 mpg.

Responses to this review
I have the same model and never get less than 35 to the gallon even with a very heavy foot. At best on a drive it returns 39. I can only say to check the fuel used by filling up at petrol station as I don’t think the inboard readings on the dash are ever correct. I also put in some petrol additive now and again and it seems to help. It then shows that I am getting 38-42 on average - Jack from Scotland

Vauxhall Meriva 2008

I hired a Meriva to go to Edinburgh and I can’t believe all the positive comments I see in reviews. I’ve just driven it up the A9 in a gale and if you put it in fifth gear it slowed down. It was tinny, cheap, had hard uncomfortable seats, leaned alarmingly going over the Forth Road Bridge, had negative acceleration and was basically frightening. I normally drive a six year old Golf and frankly the old Golf puts it to shame. I often drive an Astra which is also fine. I just couldn’t believe the fragility of this car. I really didn’t feel safe!

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9cdti 2004

Had the van since new. Reassuring to hear I’m not the only one with gearbox and clutch problems... mine went at 32,000 miles. I live in a very hilly part of Scotland and am now on my 3rd set of discs. Comfy enough van but I’m getting a Transit.

Responses to this review
Dear Bryan,I work in a garage so I feel sorry for Vivaro owners. My son came in six weeks ago with a smile on his face, "look what i have bought a smart 55 plate silver vivaro 1.9d" My manager and I just laughed, "well we wil be seeing you a lot more" my manager said. The first thing to go was the clutch master cylinder, then the fan belt snapped and wrapped around the timing belt; luckily the cam gear gave way. Next the clutch master cylinder again and clutch. Now for some reason the cam belt has; it feels like engine trouble. Thats just his! I could go on for ever over repair on these cars in the last few years. I would like a tenner for every gearbox and disc and wheel bearing I have changed. He slagged his transit but I never layed a spanner on it, except for general service parts. The Vivaro is not a good van - Nigel Bainbridge from England

Vauxhall Vivaro lwb/hr 1.9cdti 2004

Contrary to my previous report, never again will I have one of these. Once it reached 100,000 miles everything went pear-shaped - starter, alternator, steering rack, all front ball joints and bushes, drive-shafts, and now gearbox whining in third. It’s paid of in 2 months thankfully, by that time there will be a box of matches and petrol can waiting for it... if it makes it that far. DON’T BUY ONE OF THESE IF VALUE YOUR BUSINESS - THIS HAS NEARLY FOLDED MINE DUE TO UNRELIABILITY!

Vauxhall Astra Coupe 2.2 2001

What more do you need? It has everything. Wouldn’t sell it even if I won the lottery. Future classic car. This is not a car for snobs though.

Vauxhall Vivaro SWB1.9 CDTi Sportive 2006

Bought at 6 months old, 2 and a half years ago. 43,000 miles later and it is the best buy I have ever made, I’ve had many types of vans, the only reason I’d change is for the facelift model.

Responses to this review
Maybe you’ll change your mind once you ve done another 50,000 miles!- Lewis Restall from England

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 GLS 1998

I bought my Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 GLS for £300. I find it to be a good car; its comfy, it looks nice in and is quite nippy but the only thing that bothers me about Vauxhall’s is that there is always something going wrong with them. My manifold studs have just snapped and I have got to get them drilled out but I think the car is worth sorting out so I will get everything done to it. Normally if something goes wrong with a car I just sell it and get a new one but I want to keep this one.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2008

I have got the basic model,s eating very hard, no aircon - temp reaching 50c; cloths soaking wet with sweat, bottom bleeding - its like sitting on a wooden bench all day. Give me a Transit any day!

Responses to this review
Why didn’t you buy a van with a/c then? Seems a bit odd to blame a vehicle for not having a/c, transit without a/c would be the same, you need preparation H - Peter Bean from Devon

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 16 valves 2001

I have a Zafira 2001 1.6 16 valves and it has had loads of minor and major problems but the one thing not to do is go to the Vauxhall you got it from. Mine was used and it has 7500 odd miles on it but way before that it still had loads of problems. I took it to Vauxhall and they said it was the egr valve and one day my wife was picking our son up from school and the engine blew up. She pulled over with no power steering, shouting get out to my other son and daughter - it was the starter motor. We STILL have it and now there’s a problem with the acceleration. It is like a tractor and when you’re at about 60mph and brake (which is what my wife had to do on a motorway) - it cuts out! Don’t buy a Zafira!

Vauxhall Vivaro 2.5 DTDI 2003

I have had this van for about 4 years and bought when it was 1 and a half years old. Overall it has been brilliant. I have put on about 60,000 in this time, which isn’t much for such a capable engine; maybe not the best on juice though. It pulls well although there has been a noise from the gearbox when pulling in second. This has been the case ever since I buying the van and hasn’t got any worse??!! I am not so sure about the Vauxhall service agents though as when my warranty was about to run out I took the van to sort the noisy box out, they messed around for about two weeks until the van was out of manufacturers warranty then refused to sort out the noise. Now changing to a 2.0 cdti lwb, from what I can gather the bulk of the problems seem to be with the earlier vans. Buy with lots of warranty.

Vauxhall Meriva 2006

I bought the Meriva 1.3cdti in Feb 2009. I had a Skoda Fabia before and was used to thick front pillars. This vehicle is a dream to drive, loads of room and very economical as well - 46 mpg combined.

Vauxhall Omega 3.0 Elite Estate Auto 2000

Fantastic load lugger, and very practical and comfortable. Particularly good motorway cruiser, which is essentially what I needed. Fuel economy is appalling (realistic 70MPH motorway driving delivers around 23MPG, dropping to 18/19MPG on urban drives). Lots of bells and whistles on this model but during the 4 years I’ve owned it I have lost count of the number of niggles and faults, which have been surprisingly expensive to fix for a Vauxhall: - Cambelt sensors changed - Front door locks broke and replaced twice (could not unlock car with key, brute force, or anything, had to climb in from the back!) - Vauxhall dealer told me they have redesigned the solenoids and locks three times and still can’t fix this known fault! - Alternator @ £230 for a re-conditioned unit! - Shreds front tyres so got through plenty of those - Stereo developed several intermittent faults including jamming CDs inside it - Auto box kept sticking in 4th gear. Vauxhall said need new ECU but WD40 on the ECU connector sorted it - Front brake wear sensors shredded 3 times (and Vauxhall dealers don’t have a clue which ones to give you as replacements, I had to take several versions each time and bring back the ones I didn’t use) - Two lots of front disks, 1 lot of rear - Front suspension/steering nearly collapsed at 6 years old - Front subframe mounts rusted through to the point that the car almost became permanently un-MOT-able .. and the list goes on! Great, large, comfortable car when it works, expensive when it goes wrong, which is frequently. Unfortunately that will be the last Vauxhall I will own!

Responses to this review
You say that the car shreds front tyres? How can you do that in a rear wheel drive car? Do you mean that the car wears out front tyres because of incorrect tracking? - Colin Fairhurst from Conwy

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 SRi VVT Estate 2008

Painfully underpowered and thirsty as a result. I managed 24 MPG. How anyone can describe this model as lively is beyond me...

Responses to this review
Sounds like you should have bought a sports car!! - Seasider from England

Vauxhall Movano 2002

Same problems as the dreaded Vivaro. Eats brake discs and gearboxes, clutches , slave and master cylinders are not up to the job. This van will cost you a fortune in repairs as opposed to earning you money. Avoid, and buy VW, Mercedes or a Transit instead!!!

Responses to this review
Having just sold a 2001 transit 280 I so so question your review. It is unfair, that transit cost me 1000s of pounds (diesel pump, lower coolant pipes due to leaking diesel, Gearbox remote selector unit, Alternator, starter motor, Rusts like an old tanker, leaking windscreen due to rust around the windscreen) These vans have serious issues and its not just me, the breakdown man rattled of the same list of failures on his own van. So guess what I have now? A 2004 2.5 3500 MWB MAXI roof Movano, to be honest it drives well, loads of space cheap spares. Please get out of the Mercedes/Volkswagen mentality, 4 -5 grand for something that has done 150000, miles Hmmm I don’t know a single sprinter owner that hasn’t bought them because they go like a rocket (what does that tell you!) And those engines are bullet proof (well they are if you look after them, but not many people do!) If you want to guide people towards a really good van perhaps an Iveco daily might be a step in the right direction. And don’t forget the Movano has been around for a long time and with many different makers sharing their parts and knowledge to create it. I know a plumber who has one that has over 260,000 on the clock and it still goes well. Perhaps you just got that Friday afternoon nightmare, but I can guarantee you one thing there will be just as many sprinter drivers out there who have been equally let down by their bullet proof 311s as you have with your Movano. I think the order of the day is there’s good and bad in all vehicles; you have been unfortunate and got a bad un - not fair review from Lothians

Vauxhall Vivaro 2002

Avoid at all costs, gearbox is rubbish. Clutch and master / slave cylinders are not up to the job. Discs are hopeless, this van is no workhorse, it will cost you a fortune to maintain instead of earning you money. Buy a Mercedes, VW or Transit instead and you will be better off!!!

Responses to this review
Hi, I have a 02 van bought at 40,000 miles, now done 53000,but sadly the gear box (I think) is going (?) I’m finding it hard to locate gears but no grinding of any sort, goes up easier than down, is it the box or the clutch? any help, please?? - Alan from Cheshire

Vauxhall Corsa Corsa Twinport 2004

I bought this lovely little 1.0 12v Corsa Twinport for my Xmas present on 15 Dec 2008. Previously, I had a beloved old P reg Fiesta. It had blown up on the M42 motorway the week before (my fault, didn't service the poor car!!), so when the chance came up to buy a 2004 Corsa, I couldn't turn it down! I had an R reg diesel Corsa, a diesel dog, it was so slow, but a good ride; I part-exchanged it for the 04 Corsa. This little Corsa is a revelation, it drives like a dream, it is economical and cosy. The best features are the gorgeous alloy wheels, its brilliant tiny turning circle, its economical 1.0 12v engine, and low road tax. I couldn't believe the drive quality, the Corsa is a bit skitterish over rubbish road services and surprisingly very fast for a 1.0 litre. The drive quality is good and decent for such a small engine. The Corsa drove very well to central London and back in Feb 09, it drove like a dream. Even the Aston Martin DB9 Cabrio that tried to race me on the M1 past London couldn't beat my little Corsa!! Ha ha!! The only complaint is that it is quite a light car; it should be a little heavier to cope with the rubbish road surfaces. And it's got a bigger tank than the Fiesta, so it needs a service now. I like the Corsa. It has pas, e/w, c/l, gets admiring glances wherever I go. And its economical, I bought another car, a 1.0 Micra 2002 52 plate; it is a gorgeous little car, so the Corsa is up for sale, offers over £2200 please.

Vauxhall Zafira 2003

I also bought a second hand Zafira, problems from day one, engine management line being on, had a new coil pack, erg valve replaced, still hasn’t corrected the problem. Car is stuttering too, scared to go out and about in it in case I make it worse; the garage doesn’t have a clue if its piston rings or burnt valves. They say they’d have to strip the whole engine down to see what the problem is, and he reckons we’d be cheaper putting a new engine in, heart breaking. Anyone have any ideas what could be wrong, or similar problems?

Responses to this review
Your problem sounds very similar to mine, I’ve had 4 coil packs now and been told the same things as you. Have you had any luck since Feb? - Rebekah Brown from Lancashire

Vauxhall Zafira 2.0dti Elegance 2002

The only redeeming quality I think through my rose-tinted glasses is the flexible seating; the ability to transform from a school bus to a DIY van without having to carry seats in and out of the house was brilliant. As for the reality of living with the Zafira 2.0 Td Elegance: new brake pads and discs needed all around 3 weeks after having purchased it from a Network Q dealer. New MAF, radiator, leak off pipes soon after. Rattles and creaks were a constant companion, the AA man became a familiar friend and the local Vauxhall dealership were "%7H*(&? - my previous BMW 3 series was cheaper to service at a BMW dealer and I got a BMW courtesy car too! The door check straps cracked away from the door and the power window motor died too... I feel too many painful memories coming back. I have vowed to never by GM or Vauxhall ever again. The oil consumption was very high and the fuel economy for a diesel was terrible - barely 30mpg. I miraculously managed to get to 40,000 miles and sold it... but we did have some great trips in spite of this.

Vauxhall Corsa

Good car all round.

Vauxhall Corsa 2005

Bought this car when only one year old from the local main dealership. Has been reliable but lots of niggly problems, for example went back 3 times for faulty electric window, the seat on the drivers side gets stuck and has to be punched to move it and the dealership have been unable to repair it as it is an intermittent fault. More seriously it leaks when it rains, and has again been back to the dealership 3 times and has still not been rectified. Finally the electronic control unit has now gone and I have been quoted £703 to replace it and it is now out of warranty. I would not recommend a Corsa after my experiences, I feel very disillusioned as I chose this car for its reputation of being reliable and economical. In my opinion it would be ideal for a very wealthy but incredibly dull person.

Vauxhall Meriva DESIGN 2007

I bought my Meriva to replace a Zafira 1.6 which had a fault from new that Vauxhall couldn’t fix (the revs always dropped off when pulling away). Well, this Meriva has the same problem and I totally hate this car. It’s power is crap for a 1.6 design, 5th gear is almost useless. The seats are rock hard, seating position crap, the interior condenses up far to easy, especially the rear windows. The blind spot is a total disaster. The stereo jumps from station to station for no reason. Long after it’s stopped raining you got to use the wipers because of the water running from the roof. I’m constantly having to keep the steering wheel in the middle, if I let go the car veers to the left (the garage swears the tracking in ok). I can honestly say this car is nowhere near as good as the Zafira... I will never buy another Meriva. I have totally lost confidence in Vauxhall and am eager to sell this Meriva and again accept my huge loss in money. I’d advise a good long test drive... then say NO THANKS!

Vauxhall Signum 19dti Elegance 2004

Having owned old but reliable cars for years I decided it was time to upgrade and opted for the Signum. Everything was fine until it reached 50,000 miles when the duel mass fly wheel went. It cost a small fortune to replace that and the clutch, having not owned a car in the last 30 years that’s ever broke a spring, this one had two replaced for the last MOT. I think I will go back to the old reliable cars.

Vauxhall Corsa Comfort 3dr 1.0i 2002

I bought my blue 3dr Vauxhall Corsa, 2002 plate 4 months ago. I haven’t had any problems with it except the fan belt screeching but had it tightened and was fine. Overall a very spacious car, big-ish boot, nippy car even though only a 1 litre - cheap on insurance and a very high spec. Great economical engine and I would recommend it, especially for younger lads and girls. It is really economical and ace to drive, smooth and clean. Would definitely recommend to buy used as I did but make sure you bargain... especially in this credit crunch!!

Vauxhall Meriva 1.7 cdti 2004

Well made, comfortable, reasonably quiet and does just under 60 miles to the gallon. I’ve had it since new (5 years) and absolutely nothing has gone wrong. The only expense has been servicing (budget about £100 per year). Would I recommend it? Certainly - but take a test drive first to check the rather notorious blind spot to the right hand front.

Vauxhall Zafira 2004

I love my Zafira - it is the best car I have ever had. I bought it 12 months ago and have had no problems whatsoever. I have four children and the Zafira has lots of room for them and their mates plus the shopping. I think if you’ve got a red herring; you are unfortunate but I think they are fab.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2007

Problem after problem... now gearbox has gone after 30,000 miles. This is costing over £1,000 for reconditioned replacement.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CLUB TD 2007

Good looking car and a good driver when it goes. In the last 18 months we have had to replace turbo twice and had a new radiator fitted - off the road for seven weeks in the last 18 months. Not impressed by reliability.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 1.4 sxi 2008

I’ve recently bought an 08 Astra a 1.4 sxi - quite impressed although the back window is very small and hard to reverse with. With a top speed of 112mph - it is smooth on the motorway at 100mph. Great sporty look and fuel consumption good too.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2700 cdti 2006

Comfortable drive on long distance; fast and economical to run; elegant to look at and uncluttered interior.

Vauxhall Vectra DTi 2004

My first (new) 2004 Vectra had problem with the clutch pedal sticking down occasionally (with the clutch engaged) from new. Local dealer was very helpful and after changing various components the car went back to Germany for further investigation and I was supplied with another new Vectra. I drove that car for 80000 miles without a single fault - it returned nearly 50 mpg in general use and 60+mpg on the motorway (yes - really) and still drove like a new car when I parted with it. I found it well equipped (included cruise control) comfortable to drive even on several 400-mile journeys, quiet, plenty of space for passengers - and the boot is absolutely cavernous - ideal for my work. I was pleased with my previous S-Reg Vectra - this one was superb.

Vauxhall Agila 1.2 club automatic 2008

A wonderful small car, good in town and motorway, driving is economical.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2005

Do not buy one of these vans- stick with transit, only 43000 miles and had 2 new gear boxes and 2 new cluthes, van spends more time off road than on it even the vauxhall mechanics say they are rubbish. DO NOT BUY ONE OFF THESE TERRIBLE VANS IT HAS NEARLY PUT ME OUT OF BUSINESS AND VAUXHALL DO NOT CARE IF YOU PHONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY CAN’T SPEAK OR UNDERSTAND A WORD OFF ENGLISH.

Vauxhall Combo 2000

No review submitted.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.6 club 2002

The final incarnation of the vectra ’B’ has remained an average family hatchback in an un-involving sort of way. It does most things well enough and is probably as reliable as most other cars in its class. Other than regular maintainance the car has only needed one item due to failure, a coil pack after 5 years! On the plus side the car regularly returns a very creditable 43 MPG fully loaded on a good cross country run and on a personal note I like the BLACK (not grey,beige,cream or any other new fangled colours !) interior colour. The boot is a good size although this is obtained, I suspect, at the expense of rear seat legroom. Overall, this is a good but uninspiring motor suitable for anyone who is not actually a motoring enthusiast.

Vauxhall Zafira 2000

Like everyone says Vauxhall should do something about the quality of this car. Well maybe they are. Crawling to the government for a multi billion hand out to keep producing these heaps of c**p. DO NOT BUY ONE!

Vauxhall Vectra 2.0dti 2003

I paid 3 and a half grand for it over a year ago with 56k on the clock - now that’s what I call value for money. I tried the Mondeo and it was just too tinny for me - I’ve always hated Ford’s - the Mondeo didn’t even have a digital clock - just a clock that looked something like an old man’s wristwatch. I get around 49/52mpg which is great considering fuel prices and as a tow vehicle it performs well too. I get around 29/31 mpg dragging 1200 kg tourer - now that can’t be bad. People seem too quick to slate it but compare them to vehicles that are far more expensive. Thumbs up from me!

Vauxhall Astravan Sportive 2007

Uncomfortable as hell - can’t move the seat back enough. I’ve had to remove black divider and still can’t stretch my legs and I am 1.85m tall. Unless you have really short legs your hips and knees are going to be in constant pain. Fuel economy is quite poor from a 1.7 - had it as low as 37 mpg, got 48 mpg last summer but that only happened once. Very very noisy in the cabin from all directions. Also there is no arm rest which is a huge disappointment. I drive quite a lot (35 -40k a year) and an armrest is a must. The sports bucket seats are way way to narrow I am a skinny guy but my arse physically cant fit in the seat because it’s too narrow. What’s wrong with the normal seats - it’s not like 1.7 diesel going to shake you out from it. On the positive side it handles well. PS, I miss my Mondeo with the normal seats and armrest.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 Ls 2004

I love the Vectra ( 02 onwards), nice looking, refined to drive and there’s something Audi-like about them. Good value second hand too.

Vauxhall Astravan 1.7cdti 2007

I bought this van brand new. It was the size I wanted and it looked a smart van. The cabin itself is not any different from the Astra car and is smart. The ceiling itself is different and has a cheap cardboard feel about it. It is a Sportive model so the air con, heated/electric mirrors etc are handy to have and it’s a nice interior. It is only a year old and has done 14,000 miles. On the road it isn’t that great on fuel. This 1.7 engine isn’t any better than the 1.9 regarding fuel consumption and I only get around 44mpg. The handling is great and I have no complaints there. The engine is not underpowered but there is hardly any response in 5th and 6th gear. The engine is rather noisy at low speeds but becomes a muted hum once you get above 70mph and is hardly heard on motorways. Sadly when you up the pace and engine becomes quieter road noise becomes a BIG issue. Regardless of what speed and road you are on the tyre noise from the rear becomes far too noisy and becomes a major pain when you get faster. This makes the cabin an extremely noisy place and even with the radio up loud it does not shut the noise away. Even with a bulkhead and ply lining the noise is still there. Wind noise and exterior noises coming through the back are a pain. For me a van that handles the road well and has the best interior of any van. But the road noise let’s it down big time and really the headache pills and earplugs are needed. I won’t buy another one as i don’t think it’s worth the money.

Vauxhall Astravan 1.7 Diesel 2007

Compared to my last 6 year old 1.7 diesel which covered 120000 enjoyable trouble free miles, never returning less than 55 mpg, my one year old replacement has been a big disappointment. It drives ok but is let down by a crude common rail engine which is noisy and uneconomical. I have yet to exceed 47 mpg which is no where near quoted figures. I believe the last engine was an isitzu unit - why did they change? I have had little joy with my dealer or with Vauxhall. Long journeys are tiresome with the radio full blast - what a shame as the Astra is the only estate based van available.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 LS

Can’t fault it. Owned for 4 years now. Cheap to run, comfortable and ultra reliable. For those that want a car that drives like a BMW or Audi ... buy a BMW or Audi and pay 3 times more for it than the Vectra. This car is a fraction of the price so ... don’t expect more than you pay for and you will be well rewarded. Mine is now at 55,000 miles with only servicing and tyres to pay for (and timing belt). Had a Jag S Type before this - it cost far more than the Vectra and was THE most expensive and unreliable car I’ve ever had. Also had an Audi before that - nothing but trouble and expense from that too. So the Vectra is highly recommended in my book.

Vauxhall Vectra 2004

Reference tyre noise. I swapped my tyres to Good Year yesterday , 3/12/08 and surprise , the road noise and wobble has gone (for now maybe) Had the wheels balanced several times previously, and made no difference. Also anybody else had coil spring failure. 2nd failure yesterday, ripped front tyre to bits, but fortunately I was only travelling at about 20 mph at the time, so managed to stop. Normally travel on the motorway at that time of day, so what would have happened, I hate to think.

Responses to this review

My passengers side coil spring was replaced two weeks ago, roughly a year after the drivers side was replaced due to snapping as well. The gararge where I purchased the car said, it is fine to drive with a snapped spring LOL!!!! You will probably get a kinda scraping noise when you go over speed bumps, but noone can supposedly find a fault. Should be a vauxhall re-call. The fault is the bush, situated to the right of the engine. I now have a loud whirring noise coming from the engine I think, though it only does it when you get to about 3000rpm. This happens in every gear now, just out of the garage where I work and they cannot find anything, said it will have to go to Vauxhall. If anyone can help with this problem please. Would not buy another one ever - Gemma from Dumbartonshire

Failed Mot today on fracture off front coil springs 55 plate sri 150, seems a common problem on vectra vauxhall, should help car only got 36k miles and also had to replace alternator maybe get a skoda (lol) anything but vauxhall - David Taylor from Cheshire

Front coil spring went at 33,000 miles, replaced it then a week later the other one went exactly the same and fractured in exactly the same place. Definitely something not right, worth a recall - Alan Young from West Lothian (Linlithgowshire)

Vauxhall Vivaro 2004

I’ve had this van 4 years and the gearbox has gone at 34,000 miles. I’m not happy about it - what will go wrong next?

Vauxhall Meriva Enjoy 1.8 2006

The space use is brilliant, love the cup holders and trays in the rear for my Mum and my son alike. The boot, with its extra under floor storage is really good. The acceleration/pick-up is swift which makes it good for motorway and town driving. The leather interior is easy to keep clean and warm to sit on. It’s a little costly on fuel but you can’t have everything.

Vauxhall Agila Expression 1 litre 2005

ONE of the best small cars I’ve driven, yes it may look like Postman Pat’s van but who cares? I’ve had it just over 3 years; the longest ever I’ve kept any new car and I’m going to keep it for possibly another 3 years. I get almost 50mpg petrol, the reason being the versatility it has and there is loads of room even without the seats folded down. I use it to take people to hospital in my spare time and everyone says how easy it is to get in and out of this car.

Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.3cdti 2006

Got as a company car. Fuel consumption was 55mpg on a trip, but car cut out all the time, on motorway, in town, everywhere. Took to main dealer for service, drove 300 yards after collecting car, big bang & car stopped. Dealer collected it, kept it for a week, "fixed" the gearbox (why I don’t know) and it now does 150 miles less per tank, average 37.7mpg on long trip, grinds in second & sixth gears, and now needs to use 2 gears lower for the same hills that it managed in sixth. Had to take it back to get pollen filter changed (supposed to be done on service). The car is a joke to drive, even a Transit pulling a trailer will out drag you at the lights (used to go really well before service). Good news is the stalling is cured! This is my sixth Astra estate and they are great until the dealers touch them. They have ruined my others eg serviced & left dipstick out, fitted wrong fuel cap so tank & filler neck collapsed, on my first one, brakes failed in dealer car park after brake repair. Only by this car if you service it yourself! Basic design seems good & robust, but dealers lack basic skills & will wreck anything they touch.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2.5 DT 2003

This van saved my life, I had an accident a week ago, I lost the back end on a wet road, I ended up on the side on the van in a field, just off the road. I walked away from the van with only a cut knuckle and that was because a wooden stake went through the small little window on drivers side n into the steering wheel. (I was quite lucky there really, I could have ended up a lot worse). The van was a write off because another stake had pushed in the corner of the roof but other than that a perfect van. The 2.5 TD 2900 I had was a flying machine 147bhp 300NM of torque, I’d get another for sure!! Well recommended van! More solid than a Transit, and I’ve owned a Transit!

Vauxhall Vectra 2005

Excellent car, very smooth drive. Handles the road very well and very spacious. Very good family car and a pleasure to drive. We bought the Vectra Breeze and are very happy with the purchase.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9CDTI Breeze Plus 2008

Good points - excellent drive and a good looking car. However, buyer beware, the fuel consumption on my car barely reaches 35mpg overall - way below Vauxhall figures and surely one of the most expensive cars in it’s class to run. As for the trip computer mpg - well ignore it - those of you out there who think it’s accurate do some manual checks - you will be shocked by both the inaccuracy of the so-called on board computer and how much fuel you are actually using. Zafira = thirsty!

Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.3 CDTi Life 2005

A cheap second-hand buy to replace a lovely but rusty Skoda Felicia Estate. The Vauxhall looks great & does things well enough, but it feels designed for a sales rep in a hurry rather than for a man who prefers taking life easy. It’s at its best on motorways & main roads & at its worst around town. It just doesn’t drive like a diesel! Acceleration is excellent as is fuel consumption but you have to get used to using the gears to keep the engine above 2000 rpm, otherwise its dead. Sixth gear is a waste of time in the UK as the car needs to be going either downhill or well above 65mph for the engine to maintain speed. Also unlike most diesels it’s not happy climbing hills with a full load & a cold engine. It struggles to leave our driveway in first gear - a hill the Skoda could happily take in third. On the practical side, the boot is rather shallow for an estate car and the roof rails are so close together at the back that my roof bars won’t fit. On the other hand, the car’s just narrow enough for my wife to get her motorbike past it when it’s parked on the driveway - a very important issue for us! There have been just 2 reliability problems, both to do with the brakes. A hose from the ABS system needed replacing which was done under warranty, but just 2 months after the warranty expired, the back brake pads were worn down (56000 miles) & all 4 brake discs need replacing - due to rust - at an estimated cost of over £300! How long will we keep it? Probably only a short while as I really think I’d prefer something less racy & more of a carthorse.

Responses to this review

Wow, Glad I read this review, I have a lovely old 1.9 diesel estate, Felicia, fabulous old motor, go anywhere, 55MPG on motorway runs. Never let me down in 4 years. I was thinking of changing her for a Vauxhall estate !! not now. What is up with you lot at Vauxhall? You used to be real reliable plodders - Paul Schorn from Hampshire

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 cdti 2006

I am achieving 42-46 mpg without being light on the old right foot! My route is far from flat and has both town and motorway and just about legal speeds so I would recommend going for the 120ps as it’s far from slow and ride and stability is fine as long as you don`t think its a sports car. On a twisty road you wont have any trouble. The rear seats are as expected for small people or short drop- off’s. Having changed from a BMW 330 petrol I expected to be tearing my hair out but I am pleasantly surprised. Would recommend to all new dads of multiple children - only thing that bugs me is the stupid touch indicator stalk - why did Vauxhall put these on!! Its the only bad thing on the car!

Vauxhall Meriva 2004

We got the Meriva one month after our daughter was born. We owned a KA then; we couldn’t get the pushchair in the back and it gave you back ache to put her in the car seat! This car is perfect for a new family or if your adding to your family. In fact, my parents like the Meriva that much they now own one the exact same colour. Overall: brilliant for space, smooth drive and easier for families.

Vauxhall Vectra 2003

It’ll do for me!

Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 Auto 2003

Problems with engine management light since bought as used in 2006. Despite 5/6 trips to the dealers this is still not sorted but loads of probably unnecessary parts fitted. Brought to original dealer this week who informed me that the car might need new throttle or ECU or 2 new front wheel bearings. SAID THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHICH PART WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT ONE OF THEM SHOULD DO IT AND ALL FOR A PRICE OF £1500 + LABOUR. Absolutely fuming. Wondering if anybody else has had similar problems.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Club 3-dr 2007

Purchased a year-old Corsa 3 months ago. Have had niggly problems, some of which the fault of the dealership not fixing them after the car was a courtesy car, e.g. broken air vent, but in addition there was a clunking noise on the back left side of the car when going over bumps or round corners. After persistence in getting the dealership to look at this, it later turned out to be a shock absorber needing to be changed (after 1 year - ?). In addition, the electronic clock reset itself randomly on a particularly cold morning. It did this again in the last few days. Vauxhall couldn’t originally find a reason for this but at present the car is back with them and apparently ’a part is on order’, so watch this space. I parted with a much loved but older Toyota Yaris and I really do want to love the Corsa. I need to get to grips with how to work the relatively small engine for a very heavy car, as this makes hills much more of a challenge than they should be. Economy doesn’t seem too bad so far but I would definitely agree that I find I’m in a lower gear than my old Yaris for most instances, even having to slip to 4th on the motorway which I never would have had to do in my old car and this makes a big difference to fuel consumption. Guess I would summarise that the car is a nice overall ’package’. One more thing - and this may be incredibly obvious! - I would recommend pushing any dealer for an extended test drive of any car you’re interested in, or perhaps even hiring one for a weekend. Sounds obvious but definitely worth it.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 Life 2006

29-10-2008 - Well I’ve recently bought a 1.0 Club on a 06 plate (not the new shape) with less than 10k on the clock. It’s immaculate both inside and out. I am firstly amazed by it’s tiny motor. Having driven many small hatchbacks over the years and being less than happy with their respective engines. The tiny motor in the Corsa is a revelation, no doubt due in no small part to it’s 4 vales per cylinder design (twinport). It’ll win the traffic light Grand Prix (if you want it to). It’ll pull like a train up-hill. Also it’s so flexible that you can be in 5th gear running less than 1000rpms and it’ll still pull away smoothly and swiftly, of course if you need to accelerate sharply you’ll need to change down, but for normal day to day driving it’s more than happy being driven this way. So it may only have 60bhp but how it delivers it is spot on. Ride comfort is also quite good, soaking up the majority of bumps with no fuss. Sleeping policemen too can be tackled with no need to slow right down, as has been the case with other cars I’ve driven. Parking is so easy it’s almost laughable, with plenty of glass and excellent wing-mirrors it’s an absolute doddle to parallel-park in even the smallest spaces. Also here is where the speed sensitive power steering comes into it’s own. I’ve already said that going is good, but stopping is better, with ABS and Brake Assist fitted, it really does stop on it’s nose. At first the brakes seem too sharp, but after only a few miles you wonder how you ever managed without them. Cornering is sure-footed, but the skinny high profile tyres don’t really lend themselves to great road holding, however, I’ve no doubt that if you’ve a mind to that a new set of alloys with wider rubber would cure this issue. For me personally the car pulls and stops so well that it’s no chore to slow down that little bit for a tight bend. All the controls fall easily to hand and have a nice positive feel to them. My only gripe is that the clutch feels slightly off-set to me, in as much as I have to move my leg more to the right than I have been used to, but I have adapted to this too. The upside if this is there’s a massive amount of room for you to rest your foot in when not using the clutch. Being a 3 door car access to the rear is always a problem, but the car helps by virtue of having seats that fold well out of the way, maximizing the available room for you to get into the rear seats. Now it’s a small car so rear space is never going to be good, but if like myself you have small kids then it’s not a problem and you can even (when parked) turn around to hand them things as their never far away. The boot too is on the small side, but it’s deep and a good shape, again making the most of the available space, You’ll get 3-4 of those blue bags that Tesco sells (called big green bag) in there, but little else. The seats are easy to fold down though so increasing the space is easy if needed. You’ll be making less stops at the pumps too, with 50+MPG achievable. So to summarise... 1. Goes well 2. Stops better 3. Easy to park 4. Comfortable 5. 50+ MPG too So what have I learned from owning a Corsa? Ignore the press and test drive one yourself and make your own informed decision. Why? Because most car manufacturers develop their cars constantly and on a 06 plate the Corsa is arguably better than it’s ever been, but the consumer will never know this because the press are to focused in reviewing the new model. (which btw is not as good as it’s made up to be).

Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 gls estate auto 1998

Very easy and comfortable to drive on motorways and country roads alike. Acceleration is very good and the sport switch is useful at the lights. I used to drive a Ford Focus Zetec but find the Vectra more driver-friendly as I am now disabled.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2.5 cdti 2005

I have had this van from new and with 52k on the clock have had little trouble. The service costs have been high on the 2 services I have had, they insist on renewing the brake discs all round which I am sure is what they say to everyone. The power is more than adequate from the engine and I also got mine with an extra side loading door which has been a god-send. I am thinking about renewing soon and was thinking about a Transporter but after reading the reviews I think my search might see me buying another Vivaro.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Auto Sport 1.8 16v 2008

I have had the car 5 months and compared to other convertibles on the market it’s a lot of car for the price. It looks stylish with the roof up and looks fabulous with it down; equal to the look of the Saab convertible which will cost you a lot more. The car seats 4 which is really handy unlike most convertibles which only seat 2 unless you pay a lot more. Leg space behind the driver’s seat can be a little tight but is manageable. The automatic is great to drive and the 1.8 engine is very responsive. The sports function is easily engaged with the press of a button on the dash and this really turns it in to a sports car, dropping the engine throttle and damping the suspension makes road handling really effective however this does consume more fuel. Driving with the roof back is enjoyable and one of the best features about the car. When the roof is stowed in the boot I can still get the family shopping in. This is a good looking convertible, a lot of fun and a great drive.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 SRI 2007

Fantastic car, very comfortable, lots of leg-room in the back, large boot and loads of gadgets. CD player, cruise control, automatic electric windows from off the key fob, fully loaded. Does very well on fuel, I’m getting around 46mpg. Road noise is a little disappointing, seems to be lots of road noise coming from the tyres. In regards to Mark from Derbyshire’s comment - you must be driving a white stick with a walking stick if you prefer a Skoda to a Vauxhall; and on top of that you need to open your eyes when looking for gadgets because even the most basic Vectra has many, try reading the manual you might figure out where these devices are.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 Life 2008

This is the first brand new car that I have ever bought for myself, due to illness I have finally had to admit that I’m getting too knackered to go crawling under cars. The Corsa looks fantastic and I’m delighted with what I got for my money. It’s now done 650 miles, and so far so good. It’s comfortable to drive and good enough for going on a long run as long as you are not in a hurry. I find that I have to keep the revs a bit high on the hills and change down a gear sooner than I’m used to. Drivers visibility is an issue both through the tiny little front "portholes" and the rear pillars which are a little on the large size ( 3 door ). I want to service the car myself when it’s time but service information is minimal and warranty issues are a problem. Dealers seem to have the upper hand and service charges seem a bit on the expensive side for a very simple "oil change". Otherwise an excellent car.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2002

I have had this van 42 months and what a nice van to drive when running ok !!!! At 35,000 the fuel pump went a £3,000 bill at dealers and now at 38,000 the gearbox needs replacing. I wouldn’t buy again - get a Transporter!

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Auto Corsa sxi 2001

Just bought 01, 1.2 Auto Corsa sxi. Love the car, drives great but I am now sitting here without it because it broke down on me today. While driving along the engine just cut out and it stalled to a stop. Why? Well the breakdown company said it needed to be plugged into a diagnostic machine to find the problem, more money and I have only had it for a week... Hope the garage can solve this minor problem.

Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.9 cdti design 2008

Having owned three Alfa Romeo’s buying a Vauxhall was hard to do but with two dogs and a baby on the way I needed practicality, safety, reliability, comfort and looks, so getting an Alfa Sportwagon would only get two of these! So I looked at Vauxhall and got all five, this car is amazing.....it’s black so looks cool, has 150ps so plenty of power, handles almost as well as my Alfa 156, lots of little toys to play with, reliable, has a sport button which actually works so as you notice it.....the one and only drawback is that this model doesn’t have an on board computer which for a car that cost this much should have, but other than that an all round excellent car.

Vauxhall Vectra Life 2007

I recently bought a Vectra 1.8 Life - clutch judder when reversing and the accelerator has a slight pause - this is something the dealer is unable to rectify. Good all-round car but spoilt by this fault.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 SRI 2008

Pro’s:- Reasonably quick 140ish BHP. Great flexible seating. Sports suspension on the SRI particularly on sports mode is great around corners and doesn’t roll much. ESP and traction controls also very good. Good sound from stock stereo. Sports seats on SRI very comfortable. Cons:- No CD mp3 player as standard (just normal CD player) even in SRI. Rear seats (very rear), don’t give enough room for larger teens or adults to sit comfortably. Fuel Economy - gas guzzler extreme!!! At best driving very lightly at around a constant 60mph 32mpg. On average I get around 26 - 29mpg which means filling up every 300 miles. Even on a recent trip to Spain of over 2000 miles (mainly motorways), I only averaged 28.2 mpg. Around town expect 18 - 19mpg!!!

Responses to this review

I can’t agree more with what you say, I just wish I could manage to get your MPG the best I have seen in the car is 22MPG now it’s got cold with lights and heaters on I’m only getting 15MPG (steady driving with revs not touching 3K) - Chris Turner from Yorkshire

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 CDTI 2004

Just gone onto a mere 29.000 miles and the gearbox has had to go in as the bearings etc have gone, have never ground the gears and have always changed gear smoothly, now find out its going to cost about £1500 to fix really ******* off would have bought a Transit as before so will never buy one of them again, haven’t even paid for it yet. Beware, the running costs are expensive, also turbo sensor went - £120.00.

Vauxhall Zafira 2003

The car is roomy and a beautiful family car. Have had problems of it just cutting off at slow speeds with sporadic bursts of power. Been fixed now and running very well and am hoping it stays that way.

Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 Dti Active 2003

I have recently purchased a Vectra 2.0 turbo diesel. It has had 2 previous owners and only a recorded 38,000 miles on the clock. Overall I have found it to be a good, comfortable car, classy looking with plenty of gadgets to play with. I have been returning about 44 mpg, mostly town driving with occasional blast round the dear old M25. My only concern is the noise coming from the tyres. I have had the steering, suspension, wheel bearings all checked and are ok. The rumble from the tyres needs me to turn up the radio and apologise to any rear seat passengers. Has anyone else had the same problem, and more importantly- what is the cure...... new tyres or a change of car!!!!!!!!

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXi 2004

I would give it 0 but 1 is the lowest. This car is the WORST car I have ever owned and I have only owned 2. At 35,000 miles, a valve fell into the engine and was wrecked. This happened while going 60 mph in 5th gear. Vauxhall didn’t care because the car was 9 months out of warranty. This car was FULLY maintained at Vauxhall and as they don’t care, they build these cars to fall apart just as the warranty runs out. I would advise against ANY Vauxhall vehicle as they are badly built and their dealerships are the most unhelpful people you could ever meet. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

Responses to this review

Completley agree! - Vicki Malpass from Staffordshire

Vauxhall Vivaro SWB 1.9dcti 6speed 2004

Well my experience of this van is thankfully short, but not sweet. I started a new job 5 weeks ago, picked up the van from Arnold Clark van centre in Glasgow, 4 days late after a set of injectors, clutch and MOT @99,000 miles. I drove 2000 miles and the gearbox packed in, wouldn’t select 1st, 2nd, 4th or reverse!! The lease company have pulled the plug on the contract as it’s too expensive to run now, being a 54 plat and now over 100kmiles. not a bad van to drive, a bit lacking in the oomph department and if you don’t like courtesy cars or motorway hard shoulders its one to be avoided!!!

Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 Auto. 2005

For a petrol auto it is good on fuel with 37mpg at motorway speeds. Quiet, smooth, reasonable feedback from steering. Quick acceleration from standstill but less so at higher speeds. Auto box in stop start traffic can change with big "clunks", I had same problem on a 02 model Vectra. Reliability has been good only wiper motor needing replacing & a fuel sensor. Previous 02 car had big problems with ECU & was never really sorted out. This model has an improved wiring loom apparently that has solved the problem. Seats are a minus being hard & uncomforatable. Dash is uninspiring but there are no rattles after 3 years & 50k miles. After 50k miles still just on original tyres previous model needed replacing at 20k miles. Having had the luck to try the Insignia, it really leaves the Vectra way behind but it is even bigger.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2003

Had the van 7 months, its only done 47,000 miles and the gearbox has gone, wish I got a transit now !

Vauxhall Corsa 2001

This car is such a pleasure to drive!. I’ve always driven corsa’s since I first passed my test two years ago. The 2001 model is absolutely fantastic. But.. having said that i just found out my windscreen washers aren’t working on front or back? is this common? why does it happen?.

Responses to this review
I believe this is a common fault in Vauxhall cars, although you can get it fixed I’ve heard - Najma Patel from Lancashire

Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 cdti design 2008

I am very happy with my car, it is very smooth and nice to drive. It handles very well. The fuel consumption is excellent. Also the car is very spacious and the car has a spacious boot. Overall i wll give this car ten out of ten. It is superb. I give credit to vauxhall for making this car.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8vvt sri hatch 2008

Having moved from the vec b v6 sri to this four pot version I am pleasently surprised - the handling is quite good and the ride is not too firm the steering is lighter but still with a driver feel about it the vvt engine rev well through the gears and can hit the legal limit with ease. I am happy with the driving position as the drivers seat is multi adjustable and the steering adjusts to suit the rear leg room is not as much as i would like for an adult but the boot space makes up for this downfall in my books. Overall I am one happy Vectra owner.

Vauxhall Combo 1.7 di 2002

What a great little van - 500 miles to one tank of diesel - fast, reliable, has only needed the oil and water topped up twice in 8 months. Cheap to insure, more than enough space in load area + spare parts are cheap and readily available. Would definitely buy gain.

Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.7 CDTI club 2005

This car does what is says on the tin and also looks quite good too. The diesel returns 55 mpg on long runs, is not too obtrusive if you keep to 60 mph. It is not as quiet as the French diesel engines that go in the Focus, Citroen’s and Peugeot’s. It is well built, it handles very well for an estate (it has a longer wheel base than the hatchback). The loading entry for the boot is excellent, no obstructions and low. it has a comfortable cabin. safety equipment in the club version is very good.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 2.0 gsi redtop 1991

Handles like a go kart!

Vauxhall Meriva CDTI 2006

I have used the car for 2 trips, from the UK to Lisbon and back. On the superb roads - Santander onwards, I used up to 95 mph where circumstances permit. 100 mph needs 3650 rpm (approx), hence at 90 mph it is not overstretched. Diesel consumption for those journeys averages 47 mpg, which to me is fantastic. With driver only, but with a fully laden / back seats flat Meriva. The only gripe being the thick pillars either side of the windscreen and they do obstruct peripheral vision. I have also used my Caterham CSR 260 for that journey, but the Meriva is a far better and relaxed proposition for such long journeys.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i Club 2003

The best car we have ever used. Very versatile inside - space for family use. Packs well and drives well loaded. Vauxhall in Stockport have been exceptionally helpful in warranty period replacing an EGV valve 2 weeks after warranty finished. Never needed any repairs. Original battery and exhaust after 80000 miles. Stands up to round town wear and tear. Daughters learnt to drive in it and handles well for them. Cruises well on open roads. Climbs hills. Second gear very responsive. Only downside is that the ECO engine burns oil by design fault and that front post visibility is poor. Would buy again but we are going to move on and downsize.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2002

Bought my van 2 years ago second hand in good condition. Wish I had spent my money elsewhere. in the past 18 months I’ve had to have new master and slave cylinders, new clutch and the gearbox has just gone for the second time! Great van when it works but unfortunately it doesn’t work for long. At least I’m getting my money’s worth out of the RAC...

Vauxhall Zafira 2001

I have had nothing but problems with this car - I have had 3 starter motors, the stereo has locked and I can not get the code. I had diesel leak back into the engine; I wish I had never got it - spent more time off road than on it. One word describes this car - C**P .

Vauxhall Zafira 2.2i Elegance Auto Duelfuel 2001

Looking at some of the other reports the newer Zafira’s aren’t so good. My 2.2 petrol is gas converted and presently has 191,000 on the clock and is as comfortable to drive today as when new. There were problems at 45,000 and 83,000 requiring top end rebuilds but both were covered by warranty. Since then only had to replace one front wheel bearing assembly and an ERP valve other than normal wear and tear. Can’t believe so few people are on LPG. Presently runs at less that 10p/mile. Excellent towcar, workhorse and family vehicle.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 Club 2003

Lots of room inside the Zafira. Probably the only real problem with the car is the amount of fuel you can go through. You get between 25 -35 mpg or roughly 400-450 miles to a full tank of petrol. If you use your car a lot like myself its definitely not a car that I would recommend. Sorry.

Vauxhall Vivaro 9 seat bus 2008

Have only done 7000k so far as only had it 2 months ago. It drives ok, went to the South of France with 9 people plus skis at limit. French motorway speeds and did about 36 mpg. I was looking at the Mercedes and the Volkswagen but they are ridiculously expensive. There’s a performance chip available for this apparently and a friend who fitted this was impressed with the greatly increased power. One annoyance is that I ordered factory fitted black windows and it came without them! So I’ve put limo tints over them instead and it looks cool.

Vauxhall Vectra SRI 2008

Very poor - - handling - rear leg room - equipment level - quality. I think Clarkson’s review was far too kind. Plastic is used where metal should be, the interior is just awful. The handling is atrocious, you have to go so much slower round the bends than in the Saab 9-3. Whoever put the SRI badge on this car was having a laugh. Do not buy this car.

Responses to this review
You need to see this car for what it is; fast, reliable, with a germanic quality to it and nice alloys. Read the other reports Clive - Jack Williams from Staffordshire

Vauxhall Zafira 2006

Over-heating on short journeys.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i Breeze Special Edition 2005

I bought the car when it was 6 months old and have not had a single problem. I am now looking to upgrade to a newer model as it is the best family car on the road..... I love them!

Vauxhall Vectra Elite Estate 1.9cdti 150 2004

I’ve now driven this car for over 70,000 miles and it has been outstanding. Fantastically equipped, and with an extremely comfortable ride that easily matches the supposed ’premium’ brands. It’s consistently returned over 50mpg without trying particularly hard to drive carefully. The load capacity is enormous. Can’t recommend it enough.

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch Design 1.8i 2007

Great for fun driving. Handles beautifully and is very fast. I had 1.8i auto that flew like the wind, especially when hitting the sports button. Heavy on the fuel though, only 25mpg and that’s without touching the sports button!!! They lose value very rapidly. Mine was only 10months old when I bought it and I paid only 8k (list price around 16k!!) Didn’t keep it long as it had electrical problems. Took it to Vauxhall 3 times and every time they promised it was sorted but never was. On one occasion I allowed the dealer to keep the car over night and still they couldn’t fix it so I got rid. Even though I loved driving the car I would never buy a Vauxhall again because if dealers don’t know how to fix their own cars how can any other mechanic be expected to know. I guess sometimes you get what you pay for.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2003

Great van, good looking, good on fuel, comfortable, well made, rubbish gearbox , gearbox bearings made out of hardend porridge... BEWARE!

Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 VVT 2007

I have a Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 VVT petrol, its only a year old and twice I’ve had my car condemed unroadworthy by the R.A.C. I have choosen the Zafira as I am a single parent of 4 children - I have two disabled children. Have I picked the wrong the car?

Vauxhall Vectra sri diesel 150 2008

Standard equipment is abysmal - no climate control, no cruise control, no parking sensors. CD player only - no aux port, CD player does not play MP3 disks. Interior design by Stevie Wonder. Just switched to this car from a Saab 93 with same engine and gearbox, hoping to get more space and lower tax. Handling is awful, squirms and slithers around like an Austin Maxi (which on balance I’d rather have). For the money - it’s bloody theft. Am opting out of the company car scheme to get away from this atrocious piece of tat. In the past 6 years I still have not driven anything as good as my old 2.5 diesel Skoda Superb. That includes A4 quatros, Holdens, Toyota Camrys, Volvos, Hondas and Saabs.

Responses to this review

The cruise control button is on the end of the indicator stalk. Click on the top and the car maintains the same speed and you can give your right leg a rest. use brake or clutch and it returns to pedal control. Re plastic interior; surely you looked before buying / selecting / agreeing? Or was the car provided by your employer? In which case it becomes the butt of your work frustrations! - Mike Don from Carmarthenshire

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 design 2006

I bought my Vectra 12 months ago and have enjoyed its excellent fuel economy, it is an excellent car loaded or unloaded, however be aware, Vauxhall have major problems with clutch judder on all petrol range vehicles and it is almost impossible to find a dealership who are competent enough to rectify the problem. This also includes Vauxhall’s warranty department who are the worst people I have ever dealt with, they hide behind phones For only a little bit more more money you can by a Saab, which has a history of excellent customer service, keep in mind general motors own both companies but more importantly has technicians who can and want to rectify problems. I have to travel 15 miles to another dealership to get quality service in Coventry, despite being 2 minutes from a Leamington dealership.

Vauxhall Zafira 2001

I have the Vauxhall Zafira 51 Plate 2001 model 1.6 Club. I have the same cut out problem which makes the car untrustworthy and unreliable. Vauxhall should do something to remedy its effects.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 1.9cdti design (150) 2008

I love this car, I just got one as a company car . The diesel engine is fantastic - economical and quick. I found a lot of information about the car at http://www,astra-twintop.net very helpful when I was choosing which model to go for.

Vauxhall Agila 1.0 2002

A very practical little car, with that higher up mini-mpv feel, and very roomy for its size. A boxy shaped load-bay means it can carry a decent amount of stuff - better than many of its curvier supermini rivals! It’s economical to run and performance is reasonable - it pootles along quite happily at the limit on country roads and motorways. Yes, the ride could probably be bettered, but it’s fine for me. No air con - but heh that only adds to fuel consumption and what’s wrong with opening the windows! I haven’t seen the new more-rounded shape model yet - I just hope they haven’t sacrificed the roominess for looks!

Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTI Design 2006

I bought this car being 9 months old for £12.5k, with 7,500 miles on the clock. It’s the Design variant which is half leather and very well equipped inside. The 6 Speed Gearbox is very smooth and performance is good from the 120BHP engine. Drive it hard and you’ll get 46mpg, take it easy and use the 6th gear whenever possible (55mph+) and you’ll get 50-53mpg. Cruise control works very well and is far superior to the cruise control i had on my previous Mondeo car. The engine is available as either a 120BHP or 150BHP. I went for the 120 purely because i went for a diesel for economy. If i had 150BHP, i’d more than likely use it and defeated the object of switching to diesel! The ECU can be very easily reprogrammed to 150BHP by local specialists. It has a DAB radio fitted as standard which works very well and gives a superb range of station to choose from. The 6 CD Autochanger and FM Radio work well too. First annual service from a Vauxall dealer is £150 and is performed at 20,000 or within 1 year. whichever comes sooner. I’ve had this car just over a year now and i enjoy driving it as much now as i did the day i picked it up.

Vauxhall Corsa 2007

I bought my Vauxhall Corsa Design in October 2007 and totally regret it. One major fault is the leaking of wax fluid from the bottom of each of the doors - it sticks like glue to the ’sills’ and is impossible to remove. I am currently arguing this with Vauxhall who advise that this is a "design fault on all new Corsas" which I just need to live with. They have removed the offending substance with glue remover but say this will keep on occurring. My advice - buy a Renault Clio. I always had Clios and they are a far superior car to the Corsa. Lots of little differences which made it a pleasure to drive - eg: mute button on finger-tip control / lever to put back seat (Corsa has a wind down system - how antiquated is that!!)

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 petrol 2007

Dreadful, awful, appalling car. Noisy, ugly ,fascia looks like a Curry’s Far Eastern hi-fi. 10 years ago it would have been poor, today it’s a sick joke. No wonder nobody pays much for them!

Responses to this review
Why did you buy it? - Will Deer from Lancashire

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Design 2007

Very pleased with the car... however, when setting off in 1st gear and revving to around 1,800 rpm it carries on revving around at 600 rpm after you have depressed the clutch. Is there any way of switching this off? Other motorists at the lights think I am trying to "burn them off " in my 1.2!

Vauxhall Vivaro l900 lwb mini-bus 2004

Bought vehicle new, have now done 126,000 miles and have just ordered another. 2 sets of discs, 1 master cylinder, 2 cam belts at due change and a service every 18000. miles including pads, tyres and oils plus filters, nothing more, and its all stop start work around town.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 Club [ac] 2007

Very good car from a design point of view, very practical, very versatile, good looking etc... Reliability and quality is the complete opposite. Ongoing issue with chemical fumes of some description. Initially thought to be fuel related but actual origin still unknown. We are on our 2nd car now in 2 months and both are the same. It seems to be related to a batch of Zafiras. My pregnant wife refuses the drive the car (quite rightly) not to mention not allowing my 8 year old and 1 year old in the car either. Definitely going back to Vauxhall... may be sooner depending if dealer sorts out the Zafira problems.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 1.8 Auto Design 2007

Brilliant, had mine for 5 months now, just starting to get to use it with the roof down. Really good ride & handling, smooth engine & auto box. Best looking mid range convertible; with the roof up or down. Fantastic car.

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch SXI 1.4 Twin Port 2007

This is my 4th Astra and they keep getting better. Bought ex-fleet at 9 months old for £7k. The drive on this model is a little harder but the handling is very good. My last was a 1.6 CD which I sold with 104K miles on, but this model is livlier although lacking power a little on hills. Engine is quiet but road and wind noise seems to be worse than earlier models. I would like to see a water temperature gauge fitted as was on previous models, though this seems to be more and more common on modern cars. A recent journey of 275 motorway non-stop miles returned 42 mpg (driver onlyon board). Road tax of £120 instead of previous £170 and better mpg means that my running costs should be lower. One big moan is the lack of front storage space, no drop down drawer as on my previous model, I believe to make space for more airbags which seem to be everywhere. Rear seats map storage is a plus as are brighter interior lights. Stereo is adequate but not a quality sound like Sony. Plus point is MP3 CD play and jack for MP3 player. Just as well as there is nowhere to store disks. I’m not keen on the ’plastic chrome trim’ to front and back of the car, already showing signs of pitting which is hard to correct. All in all a great car for the money which is why I give it 5 star rating.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 Elegance 2002

The Vectra handles well but is slow accelerating. I had problems with the cabin dials and knobs but the Vauxhall dealers have not been very helpful... Apart from that it is a decent performer but in hindsight I would probably have gone for a Mondeo.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Life 2008

I chose the new Corsa as I thought it would cope well with the towns and cities. There have never been more than two people in the car at one time - this is for the best as the back seats do not look like they would provide much comfort for an adult - this is not a family car. Vauxhall claim that the 1.2 Life manages 48 miles to the gallon but I was not surprised to discover that this was in reality around the 42 mark - whos journey to work is on a rolling road and doesn't involve stopping?). The limited space in the back is made up for with the large boot space. I paid extra for side-airbags as these do not come as standard - I feel that these really are must have safety feature. Reliability has so far been exemplary and there have been no extra, unexpected costs attached to my Corsa - this is exactly how it should be. I would recommend the Corsa to anybody looking for a great town / city run around that has good fuel economy and low maintenance and insurance costs.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Club 2007

Overall a good car, however a few negative points also must be mentioned.. The driver’s view of the road and surrounding area is severely restricted because of the very wide posts down the sides of the windscreen, especially on the driver’s side. The (very small) switch to activate the fog light is hidden away almost down below the level of the steering wheel... too hard to get at if you actually encounter fog and need to use it safely without pulling over as you have to take your eyes off the road to actually find it. The seats are fiddly to move forward if passengers get into the rear of the car. Poor performance power wise (its only a 1.2, 16v but still could be better) and fuel economy for such a small engine leaves a lot to be desired. Other than that I’m delighted with the New Corsa; however when the next one comes out i think Vauxhall would need to fix these type of things.

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.

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.

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 DTi 2900 2002

The only thing wrong with this van is the fact that the gearbox, clutch and brakes are not up to the job. The gearbox has cheap bearings and at £1000 pounds a pop for a reconditioned replacement this can prove rather expensive. The clutch just hasn’t got the grunt for the job in hand so you can add a few more pounds to the running costs for replacement every 30,000 miles. The brakes just don’t last and the master cylinder is a bit suspect. So if you like spending loads on service and repair this is the van for you!!!!!!!

Vauxhall Zafira SRi 150 Ext Auto 2006

The vehicle is an excellent all rounder with the ability to swallow up a large family comfortably. I would highly recommend to anyone - supplying dealer (Lookers St Helens) had a tremendous salesman who looked after the order from start to finish (8 week special factory build because of the extras lad called John Ashcroft). Only downside is that the vehicle has a cut out, normally when coming off a motorway and for an Automatic could be dangerous because you lose all power, including steering. Not happened for a while now (Thankfully) Vauxhall state, no fault found. Have this logged with the dealer in any event, because it could prove dangerous if my grandchildren were in the car.

Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0cdti 9 seat minibus LWB 2007

Bought almost new from Vauxhall dealer. Covered 6000 miles in 2 months. Very smooth engine. Will sit all day at 90-100mph (abroad of course). We use it as an alternative to the run of the mill MPV’s (old car was ’03 Galaxy) and do not regret decision for a minute. Excellent for big family (6 of us + 2 dogs) who like to travel - loads of space for luggage. Very good for towing large caravan - but keep an eye on your speed - very easy to creep up to 70+. Slick 6 speed box, light controls, nice ride. Handling okay, but remember this is a basically a van with seats ! No complaint about space or comfort of seats. One niggle is that the stereo is not up to the standard of my last car - but for £16k including the alloys and roof ladder that I got added it’s a lot of metal for the money. So far I have achieved about 36mpg.

Vauxhall Combo 1.3 2005

The 2005 Combo is a significant improvement on its 1997 predecessor. It features increased payloads and load volumes and is now a better alternative to the Berlingo and Kangoo than before. The diesel engines are now far more economic to drive and give improved power and performance. A good van, now on a par with similar vans from the other manufacturers - the 1.3 engine offers more than the older 1.7.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.00 TWIN 2004

I just purchased my car on Thursday and it is a great drive but I do have problems with the front and back wipers. Apart from that there are no regrets. I wish I had purchased one sooner even though i had always loved my Volkswagen Polo.

Vauxhall Zafira 2000

I no longer have my safe and 100% reliable Zafira due to my own fault. I was driving through a double lane country road heading up hill to a right hand turn at night time , a car came towards me with its full beam on in which case dazzled me, before I knew it, I hit the banking to my left and my Zafira rolled , lucky enough I was wearing my seatbelt and the airbag worked otherwise I would not be writing this report. I suffered minor injuries so this is why I say that Zafira’s are the best of m.p.v vehicle.

Vauxhall Vectra Estate 1.9 CDTi Design 2007

I’ve had many, many Vectras as company cars and they are typically swapped after 6 months, so I can’t speak of the long-term reliability of these cars. With that said these are perfect motorway cars and will cruise all day and all night in 6th gear without trouble. On the twisty stuff they start the feel their weight but they still stick well to the road especially with a bit of weight in the boot. They are huge inside and the boot is massive. One thing to note is that the rear legroom is much improved over the hatchback. Helpful if you have teenagers with long legs like me. It feels like a very solid car and the doors close with a reassuring clonk. It’s no sports car but the 120PS engine is powerful enough to keep up with most other cars of this ilk. The 150PS is a bit quicker and does benefit from much greater torque for no more tax. If I was going to buy one 2nd-hand I would wait until the Insignia arrives in late ’08/early ’09 and this will surely drive down the prices of the Vectra.

Vauxhall Meriva 1.4 Life a/c 2007

I’ve been driving this car for about 9 months now and I’m very pleased overall with it. The space is fantastic and my little girl loves being higher up and able to see out from her (Isofix) car seat. It can lack a little punch sometimes from setting off but I hardly feel the need to race off from the lights so suits me fine. The only downside are the side pillars on the windscreen, which took a little getting used to as they do get in the way of visibility sometimes, especially on roundabouts. All in all I think it’s a wonderful family car and very flexible. Something I would definately buy again.

Vauxhall Meriva 1.4 2004

I have had several cars over the years varying from Ford Fiesta to Ford Escort and now drive a Rover 45. Due to a crippling illness I have trouble with my back and needed a car that I could get in and out of easily. Also have a 12 year old that I taxi around with his friends. Test drove many cars, including Renault Scenic, Renault Modus etc... The Meriva is far the best car out there and it is large enough to house 3 rowdy teens and hubby along with a large boot for accessories. I am only 5ft and hubby is 6ft so we needed a car small enough for me yet large enough for him. The Meriva ticks all the boxes. No problems with acceleration when at full capacity and I live on the side of the mountain!

Vauxhall Agila 1 ltire Expression 2004

I do 25,000 miles a year. I transferred from a 2.5 ltr gas guzzler when petrol went through £1 per litre. At first I was a little dubious about the switch, but after six months and 12,000 miles, I think the car is marvellous. It's the only 1 litre car that you can get a full stack of golf clubs and trolley in the boot. It has four doors and loads of room inside. I managed to get a double mattress in it to take to the charity shop! Service intervals of 20K miles, cheap insurance, cheap to run with even cheaper fuel bills (45 miles to the gallon) I save at least £50 per week! It pootles along quite happily at 70-80 mph. Once you get over the looks, it's incredible.

Vauxhall Agila 1.2i 2004

I love my Agila; this is my second one, good space inside, good access (Disabled wife) room for shopping scooter. Try one before you buy a great big 4x4 for the school run! "High up" stance, good eye height, pleasant to drive, styling always gives me a smile! 1.2 is better engine for longer distances; mine is hardly ever used as a town car. Only downside is 40 mpg - needs to be a diesel. £4000 for a 9000 miler from local Vauxhall Dealer.

Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 d petrol/LPG 2002

I converted to LPG two years ago and pay 50p per litre with the same consumption and performance as petrol. My Vectra serves as builders van, trailer hauler and touring car Very reliable, cheap to maintain and a good performer.

Vauxhall Zafira 2007

I got my second Brand New Zafira in September 2007. After getting a strong smell of petrol I took it into local dealer ship and was told it was unsafe to drive and could have caught fire at any moment. There was a split in a hose - I am concerned there could be a problem with this current stock and would like others to be aware of this potential problem/disaster. Apart from this I love the design - drive and price of the Zafira although it is not economical to drive around Town and is better suited to longer journeys.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 1.7 CDTI Design 2006

Had my Sporthatch now for just over 2 years and no complaints. Went for 1.7 diesel as economy rather than performance was important. However, she cruises down the M Way at 85-90 with out a problem and has plenty of power to keep me busy on the B Roads. Handles Like magic!!! Just about to change the car so going for the 19 CDTI 150 SRI exterior pack next. To sum up the Sporthatch, excellent value for money and great looks!!!!!

Vauxhall Signum 2004

This car was what I thought was going to be my best yet and at just over three years old I'm beginning to think I may have bought and old Vauxhall Viva or Chevette. At 28000 miles it's had a new timing chain, a new injector module, new rear arms and new rear shocks. It is now booked in to have the rear wheel bearings done and the door seals on the front two doors. I'm glad in a way I'm not paying for the work to be done but its costing me money every time it goes in for work to be done to hire cars for the duration of the work. Warranty people don't pay for hire cars! Anyway, other than all the work and all the money I pay out for hire cars it is a wonderful car to drive, a bit of a fuel drinker around town but on the motorways its a good 40 to 50 mpg at a steady 80 mph, shushhhhhhhh! Did I mention speeding then. Lol. Handles the road very good in all conditions and very roomy inside for all the family. One thing it does miss as a new car and that's the heated front screen.

Vauxhall Corsa 2000

Handles very well round corners and is very nippy; get a lot of problems with the windscreen wipers and washers - front and back. All in all a pleasure to drive.

Vauxhall Corsa Design 2007

Just recently received my new Corsa 1.2i design and can’t really fault it. Yes i would agree with many reviews that the engine is slightly out of puff on hills. This means it needs to be revved in order to get up to speed, subsequently fuel is less efficient. But having had 3 Polo’s previously this makes for a refreshing change. The steering is excellent, along with the grip. And the cabin is as roomy as the previous Polo’s, although the three door rear space is minimal, but then if i needed the room i would have a brought a 5 door. The toys as standard on this model are fantastic, automatic rain sensing wipers, light sensing auto lights, and auto rear view mirror, not forgetting Aircon, electric windows and mirrors, all make for a touch of luxury on a wee car.

Vauxhall Meriva Life easytronic 2007

Like the car, spacious and comfortable. Quirky gearbox with heavy fuel consumption.

Responses to this review
I am thinking of buying a Mervia 2007 1.6 Life easytronic (AC) with semi. auto box. Are the gear boxes ok and when people say heavy fuel consumption what do they mean by heavy? - Ken Horn from Hertfordshire

Vauxhall Antara S 2007

I have had an Antara for a year now and it has performed perfectly everyone who travels in it is impressed by its ride qualities and interior space, off road it is more that capable as an SUV and despite getting it very muddy it has never got stuck, I would recommend anyone looking for this type of vehicle to consider one.

Vauxhall Corsa 1992

I’m in love with my little, bright green Corsa. It wasn’t a car I’d ever really fancied before but my husband bought this one then decided it was too ’girly’ for him, so I ended up with it. It’s a dream to drive, easy to handle if a little heavy on the steering since it doesn’t have PAS. The pedals are close together but that was easy to get used to. The boot is surprisingly roomy and easily takes a weekly shopping load. Overall a nifty little car.

Vauxhall Astra Estate SRi 2007

The 150 CDTi Estate is Spartan in the cabin (it does not even have an engine temperature gauge) and somewhat noisy until warmed up. The ride on those 18 inch low profile tyres result in a hard ride with a lot of road noise. However on the plus side the performance is astonishing. If the ’ sport ’ button is pushed the response to the accelerator is so quick it is a bit difficult to drive smoothly which is not helped by the very powerful brake assistance. Very much a driver’s car which puts a smile on ones face. My wife hates it for its lack of comfort and refinement.

Vauxhall Vivaro lwb high roof 2004

have had this vehicle since 6 months old love it due to good points quick for a van great on fuel cheap to run i.e. road tax and insurance big van inside due to high door handles well good to drive now done 80000mls bad points 3rd gearbox needs no4 now this is an inherent problem have spoken to Vauxhall and Renault mechanics they recon to be changing at least 1 a week eats brakes even though i have had major problems with gearboxes i will buy an other vivaro or one of its variants i.e. primistar or traffic

Vauxhall Meriva 1.7cdti 2006

My Meriva is my Tardis on wheels! I needed a vehicle which for 99% of the year transports just me and my business goods around the country but for 1% accommodates trips out with family and friends spreading into the back seat. A Vectra served me well but the overall length and boot projection made parking and manoeuvring in strange locations a bind. I cannot believe the Meriva is based on a Corsa chassis. The internal space is huge -legroom front and back is phenomenal and is not provided at the expense of the standard boot space (as with some mpvs). Flexspace drops the rear seats in a flash to a massive loading area, with no lip at the tailgate to negotiate and several handy anchorage points to tie everything down (not family and friends!). The car handles like a mini hatchback and the common rail engine provides excellent poke at the lower end of the gearbox. It will cruise for ever and on long, fully loaded journeys returns 45mpg with ease -which is pretty good for the planet and the purse. The solar reflect glass -available on the top models -is an added luxury in hot weather and an essential security feature when loaded up. I challenge any manufacturer to offer me a better vehicle for my needs (however a private helicopter may do nicely!) PS to Peter Mahoney (post 9.11.2007)..... 23 years ago we had a baby + a toddler + all associated necessities (pushchair/ travel cot/high chair/nappies/food/clothes) all neatly stashed in a two door Fiesta for regular 5 hour journeys. Children of today have it too easy!!

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch Standard 1998

The Astra is the best car i have owned No trouble for 9 years...I service it every July the parts costs about £25 and that’s it for another year I’m 68 years and have been driving since I was 14 years old........

Vauxhall Corsa 2007

No review submitted.

Vauxhall Zafira SRi CDTi (150BHP) 2006

Fuel economy of the 150BHP (Euro IV) CDTi engine is extremely poor. Average economy is 20% BELOW the manufacturer’s official NCAP figures, costing me over £1,000 in extra fuel over 4 years. Average mpg varies between 28 and 35mpg, when driven moderately in town (urban) and country roads. My Saab 9000 2.0liter (1998) automatic gives me only 4mpg less, when driven comparably. On a motorway cruise at 70mph, my Zafira returns between 40mpg and 45mpg. But this is way below the manufacturers concocted NCAP figures (measured on a rolling road, with artificial ECU settings) of 36/54/46 mpg (urban/extra-urban/combined). I am sure the Euro IV Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) doesn’t help the economy, but these figures are appalling. Vauxhall have tested my car and verified engine/vehicle is running normally! Which is a shame, as the car is excellent in all other respects. Especially with the Active suspension CDC (Continuous Damping Control) optional upgrade with IDS+, the handling is outstanding. This is helped by the SRI suspension set up and standard 225/45/17 wheels/tyres. The room for a family of 5 is top class, with the Flex 7 seating arrangement which is unbeatable, especially if you have minimum space to store removable seats of some competitor cars. My only recommendation is - avoid the CDTi (150BHP) engine at all cost. The 2.0 Petrol model gives similar economy and performance in real life. Other users have reported similar poor economy, but it does seem to vary between different cars. I will never believe a manufacturers ’combined’ figure again and therefore will never buy new again - until NCAP figures become realistic again.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Design 2007

Had my Twintop for 3 months now. I’m blown away with it.

Responses to this review
When will the astratwintop.net site be up and running again, Red Leader? P2 from England

Vauxhall Signum 1.9 CDTI (150) 2005

Having looked for a car with luxury features but not a luxury price tag - I looked at the Signum. I liked its flexible seating, the large (but not estate sized) boot space and the fact it had a nice colour computer with decent (but not amazing) Sat Nav. Everyone who has seen it close up comments on how comfortable it is and it’s a great drive on the motorways. The 150 BHP engine is great and returns between 45-50 MPG and with cheap servicing costs is a good all round package.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 1.8 SRI XP 2007

This car is amazing, I’ve had it now for 6 Months and have yet it has not failed to impress me, and it definitely delivers the goods. The XP version really does stand out next to the standard SRI and from the side you would think it was a VXR, the sport button mode is a joy, and yes it really does make a difference to the way the car handles and it instantly feels like you have got more under your right foot, it just takes off, it also corners very well sticking the car to the road surface, it will easily go round islands and then come out of them at 50 mph no problem at all, and without the feeling of impending doom, because you are so low to the ground on those low pro tyres, just great. Having said all that their is just a couple of things that i would change if i was designing this car again, those would be the radio needs to be a lot more bassy, and the exhaust back box could do with sounding more sporty, apart from that I’m a very happy fella indeed, and would and have recommended this car to my friends, so if you want a car that looks the dogs B then you should go and take a look at SRI XP model, because insurance is group 8E, compared with the VXR which is group 17E, a big difference when it comes to shelling out each year.

Vauxhall Corsa ttdi 2003

No review submitted.

Vauxhall Meriva 1.6 8 valve enjoy 2004

I love the car but the fuel consumption is heavy with only 30 - 35 mpg. Apart from that the car is great.

Vauxhall Meriva 2006

I have had my Meriva six months its good to drive and good on fuel about 45 to 50 mpg. My wife has certain difficulty getting in and out of most cars but not whith the Meriva , we gave a lot of thought to which would be the best car for us and tried a few on test but only meriva ticked all the boxes . Ours is a 1.6 petrol and it runs so smooth it is very nice car in all respects ,if there is one thing I would like that it does not have is arm rests, maybe some one out there knows if i can get them from somewhere.

Vauxhall Corsa sri 2007

Just had delivered my new corsa sri and love it. Great engine and well made inside and out.

Vauxhall VXR8 6.0 v8 2007

A seriously contender for Auid and BMW sadly over-looked due to the badge but in my opinion it has all the equipment and performance with a much cooler exterior.

Vauxhall VX220 2.0 Turbo 2007

Amazing to drive, performance and torque are great. The cost is low as well so a great buy.

Vauxhall Corsavan 1.3 CDTi 2001

This van drives just like a car, which I guess it really is. Be warned though, this is not what you need if you need to transport a lot of goods from A to B, the space is limited. A real fun drive though, very nippy and great at cornering.

Vauxhall Monaro 5.7 V8 VXR 3dr 2006

This is a powerful car that is a fraction of the cost of an M3 but of course doesn’t have the same refinement. Yes there’s quite a bit of nasty cheap plastic on the inside and the shape of the Monaro isn’t to everyone’s taste but when you feel the performance of this car you’ll realise you get an awful lot for your money.

Vauxhall Vectra Estate 1.9 CDTi 150 Life 5dr 2006

Excellent to drive and phenominal amount of space. This is a cracking car and better than some MPV’s out there for the room you get. Very comfortable too. First rate family car and comes with a good amount of kit as standard. Good fuel return too. First rate.

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch 3000 2002

i tnk tht car is fi9

Responses to this review

I think you need to go back to school........way, way back too! - Peter Proper from London

Vauxhall Tigra 1.8 16v Sport 2007

I chose this car over its rivals because its a real head turner. Ride is fantastic.

Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9Di 2700 swb 80 2006

Very smart van. Nice and neat to drive and good load space. Good cabin area with lots of stowage areas. Very good on fuel and low insurance rating. Good hardworking van that looks the biz.

Vauxhall Tigra 1.4i 16V Manual Air a/c 2007

I just love the Tigra, I previously owned the 01 model and decided it was definately time for an update. This Tigra beats the old one hands down but still retains it’s sporty personality and easy going drive. LOVE IT!

Vauxhall Astravan 1.3 CDTi 2007

Nothing better on the market in my opinion. Perfect little van that makes use of all its available space and drives like a car. Comfortable and very smart looking. Excellent price and cheap to run. Top marks.

Vauxhall Astra TwinTop 2.0 16v 2007

Best car I have ever had. A superb drive. best handling I have ever had in a coupe. Smart and smooth.

Vauxhall Astravan 1.7 Diesel 2007

I’ve used Astravans as every day workhorses for the last 11 years. These are fabulous, reliable spacious vans that drive like the car equivalent. No wonder that these are one of the most popular vans on the road in the UK.

Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.6 16v Club 5dr 2005

I’ve had this car from new and I’ve not regretted buying once. A very practical car that gives an enjoyable drive too. The engine is smooth and quiet and it handles very nimbly for an estate. The space is good and the interior is comfortable; very good driving position too. Overall this is an excellent estate and you could do a lot worse. For someone like me the down side is resale value is low, but if you’re in the market for a used car you could probably pick one up for a bargain.

Vauxhall Signum 2.2 DTi Design 2004

I bought my Signum on the basis that I wanted a stylish vehicle providing practical and economic motoring. At 3 months old and with nearly £7000 off the list price this car promised to do all that. This was against all the professional pundits who rated it an odd-ball with mediocre driving appeal. But since most of us have to optimise our choice of car and are not seeking Top Gear approval this car is the best thing I have owned to date. Bearing in mind that Vauxhall with Signum probably began the current vogue of the luxury hatch-back, it has been under -acknowledged, in my opinion. In the turbo diesel mode with ’sports’ lowered suspension it provides a firm and stable ride,which can be pushed hard round country roads but is a great motorway cruiser, giving well above 45mpg to every tank -full. It is well built and gets envious comments from friends who like its quality feel. Its not an estate nor a limo but it is both flexible and roomy, for those who dont need the extremes of either, which lets face it, is an awful lot of us!

Vauxhall Astra Convertible 2002

I find the astra convertible a nippy car to drive and a pleasure, although being a slender women and average height i do find the seats a bit of a pain being that they are tooo laid back due to being sports seats, it makes it harder for me to have good visibility all round. The sun visors are toooo little also so often i get blinded by the sun on bright days where i have no protection from the visors, infact they are so little it makes me wonder why they bothered putting them their. The car is a very stylish car and wonderful in summer but i do pay the price with visibility and lack of sun visors protection at all times.

Vauxhall Corsa 2007

Excellent car, reliable, can’t fault it.

Vauxhall Meriva 1.6 2007

My wife and I had a baby recently and the Vauxhall Corsa we owned just wasn’t big enough to cope with the army of supplies that you need when transporting a little one around. It was also difficult before to get him into the baby seat in the back. I thought that something in between a car and an MPV would be perfect and the Vauxall Meriva is exactly that. The interior space is magnificent and the FlexSpace system that allows the 3 back seats to be moved independently is a stroke of genius. Luckily, and importantly, it also performs well. The 1.4 engine gives me exactly the amount of acceleration and cruising speed that I need. Running costs / fuel economy are pretty good too. The only negative, and it is a very small one, is that the visibility from the drivers seat is not as good as I would have liked. However, this car is leased and I am so happy with it that I will be leasing exactly the same model again.

Vauxhall Zafira 2003

I would love a nice diesel car that i could take the childrens friends to school in.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch VXR 2007

This is the top hot hatch! A beautiful looking machine with a 2 litre engine that can do 0-60 in only 6 seconds. The VXR can do more than 150 mph but so far I’ve just pushed it to 110mph one early morning (4am) on a desterted motorway, it didn’t even break into a sweat!

Vauxhall Vectra 2007

I am very pleased with my new Vectra. We hired one on holiday a couple of years ago and it was dead slow but this new engine is so much better. It’s really nippy; the only reservation I have is that I feel the accelerator has a slight pause when I put my foot down. Does anybody else find this? I was advised by the engineer that it was OK and said it’s all tight being new and it would loosen up so I will give it a couple of months to see if he is right. It is a lovely smooth quiet ride though.

Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 16v VVT Life 2007

Is the Zafira the best family car? Yes, by far. The versatility is a joy and it is impossible not to come up with a seating arrangement that is perfect. This is due to the fantastic Flex-7 system which I cannot praise highly enough. I previously owned a Meriva with which I was very happy but a rapidly expanding family required a larger vehicle so I thought I would stick with Vauxhall. The Zafira takes all the plus points of the Meriva and improves upon them. The space that is available inside makes it feel like a mobile home. Safety was also a priority for me and the 5 star EuroNCAP rating was the final confirmation I needed to purchase this MPV. The price is also spot on giving you fantastic value for money.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch VXR

Asbolutely amazing car, very quick and well built. Unfortunatuly I live in an affluent area and was targeted and subsequently car jacked 6 weeks after i bought it... so its probably not the best car to buy unless you carry a 12 bore in your glove box.

Vauxhall Antara 2.0 CDTi 5dr

I’ve not had my Antara long so can’t give it top marks...yet. So far it has delivered on every level with a very smooth and comfortable ride and excellent mpg for a car of it’s size. It looks more stylish than a lot of 4x4s out there and is priced very well for the market.

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch 1.6 Club

I’ve driven Astras for 15 years. My 2007 model 1.6 Club is the best yet. . Fabulous drive, refinement & quality.

Vauxhall Corsa

Cheap to run, cheap to tax at only £35 per year. Very economical. Very good build quality. Generally speaking a great buy.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8

I bought my Vectra nearly new and saved a lot on the list price. This is an affordable family car with plenty of space. Comfortable, but not the sharpest drive in its class.

Vauxhall Movano Tipper 2.5 CDTi 3500Mwb Tipper 100ps

Excellent little van, just what I was looking for. I use this for my landscape gardening business so it the 6 months I’ve had it it’s taken some fair knocks and heavy loads and performs brilliantly. Cab is reasonably comfortable and so far has been 100% reliable.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.4

Bought the latest Corsa a few months ago and it’s a big improvement on the earlier models. Spacious and attractive, ample power and refined, an excellent car.

Vauxhall Agila 1.0i 12v Expression 5dr

They say you get what you pay for and boy is this car cheap! Awful.

Vauxhall Vectra SRI 1.8 Sat-Nav

Handles like a dream on back roads, drives with total ease on motorways, evan when fully loaded. Most comfortable seats than any vectra and cavalier ive had before.

Vauxhall Vectra 1.8i 16v LS 5 dr (Hatchback)

Very pleased with my Vectra. Very smooth drive, on both long and short journeys. Handles really well and all the space you need in a family car.

Vauxhall Astra Convertible black

nice one

Vauxhall Combo

nice drive space

Vauxhall Corsa

Hated it, poor handling, clumsy, unresponsive, like driving a small cardboard box.

Responses to this review
Have you posted a review of the last cardboard box that you drove - so I can compare it with your review of the Corsa? Tag Tag from Cambridgeshire

Vauxhall Meriva 1.6

OK car, have 3 kids, aged 7, 5 and 1, and find it a bit a squeeze when all in, no real pick up from the off but is quite good on the old mpg. Very reliable, but again, not as big on the inside as looks from the outside.

Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch Astra Sport Hatch 1.8 16v VVT

I’ve had this car now for 5 months now and am very pleased indeed. The engine has a great sound to it and the handling is superb. No complaints so far.

Vauxhall Zafira Vauxhall Zafira Life 1.6i 16v

This car is exceptionally roomy, even with five children in the back. It has some clever space storage ideas and the flexibility of the seating makes life so much easier. Drive wise it’s very solid and smooth and very economical. The driver’s area isn’t very exciting but it’s very practical, which is what you want in a vehicle like this. I’m very pleased with it.

Vauxhall Corsa

My Corsa is now 5 years old and I must say that it has been a pleasure to drive for that period. Although it might now be time to upgrade it will be a shame because this has been a great car, cheap to run and extremely reliable.

Vauxhall Corsa Vauxhall Corsa Sxi 1.7 CDTi 16v 3dr

This is a fantastic car, it really does deliver everything that Vauxhall say it will, no surprise that it was What Car? car of the year 2007. It drives smoothly and the engine just gives you that little extra when you need it, very responsive. Great car, would recommend to anyone.

Vauxhall Meriva

I have a young family and needed a car that is the size in between a normal car and a MPV. The Meriva is just about perfect as it is the same size as a Vauxhall Corsa in width and length but is built higher to afford the room that is traditional with Vauxhall's Zafira. My wife also finds that she has increased visability and a greater sense of safety. She was also concerned about parking a larger vehicle but has found that this is not a problem with the Meriva. This is an excellent choice for a smaller family and the Meriva also looks very pleasing on the eye.

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch

The Vauxhall Astra 1.9 CDTI is well equipped, economical, fast and has a good standard specification. As an all round package it is hard to beat.

Vauxhall Corsa

I bought the Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi mainly because I liked the look of it. However, I feel safe driving it, found it to be extremely reliable and with it doing approximately 50mpg it has also proved to ve extremely fuel efficient. In short, it looks, good, drives well and is a very economical drive.