why no love for beford/vauxhall?
Discussion
PVN said:
I have a 2004 Vauxhall Astra convertible 1.8 litre. I bought it originally as a car to use for a bit of top down driving when the weather wasn't suitable for my TVR and, also, to be a spare car should any of the family need one. That was three years ago and I have become rather enchanted by this little car. It is 100% reliable, very economical, reasonably fun to drive as well as being quiet and comfortable. The roof is completely water tight and operates perfectly. When I brought it home my wife asked if her wheelchair would fit in the boot. I didn't think her large one would but not to worry as we have a smaller one that fits in the TVR boot. Surprise, surprise the Astra boot swallowed the wheelchair easily.
This week my estate car was in the garage and the Astra was pressed into service. In the boot I managed to fit:- the large wheelchair with cushion and fleece, my semi-acoustic guitar in it's hard case, a large bag containing sequencer, guitar pedals, microphone, cables and extension leads and, last but not least, a microphone stand! The back seat held my large guitar amplifier and my wife's wheelchair bag.
Who would have thought a fun convertible could be such a beast of burden? I certainly didn't. So my affection for this little car keeps on growing. It may not yet be quite old enough to be considered a classic but I don't care. This thread is about, "love for Vauxhall", and I definitely am very fond of mine.
My 2005 Astra Turbo has been pretty great too. Find one like yours but with the 2.0 turbo engine!This week my estate car was in the garage and the Astra was pressed into service. In the boot I managed to fit:- the large wheelchair with cushion and fleece, my semi-acoustic guitar in it's hard case, a large bag containing sequencer, guitar pedals, microphone, cables and extension leads and, last but not least, a microphone stand! The back seat held my large guitar amplifier and my wife's wheelchair bag.
Who would have thought a fun convertible could be such a beast of burden? I certainly didn't. So my affection for this little car keeps on growing. It may not yet be quite old enough to be considered a classic but I don't care. This thread is about, "love for Vauxhall", and I definitely am very fond of mine.
The Bedford CF was an amazing, piece of kit. I used one to deliver newspapers to Newsagents; the amount of torque was amazing, I felt it could pull a house down and it seemed to want to jump into the air whenever you put your foot down. It also had the turning circle of a London cab and driving along with the sliding drivers door open was great fun.
Hugh Jarse]cotty2 said:
This is my Bedford. Rare mint example of a once popular workhorse
Great!
Great van, .Many years ago a friend of mine had a CF minibus, it was green and he called it Thunderbird 2. He also had a Reliant Regal van in yellow, that was Thunderbird 4. One day after a few too many at the local ,he me & a few others decided Thunderbird 4 was supposed to fit inside Thunderbird 2, it didn`t end well.Great!
I have very fond memories of classic vauxhalls, and some not so.
My old man ran a 3 litre ventora for a number of years, and my grandad had a vx4/90 that he drove somewhat enthusatically. Both gone to the great scrappy in the sky before they were 10 years old due to rampant tinworm - and the vx4/90 was very well looked after. I remember the ventora as being a beast of a thing, but my old man used to get single figure mpg out of it - which probably contributed to it's early demise when the rot started getting in the way of the MOT.
I'd like to own one now, but they do seem go be very thin on the grand compared to other marques this age.
Hankered after a chevette HS in my youth, but when I finally got the chance to drive one, I was very unimpressed compared to a contemporary mk2 RS2000. Would love one of them now mind you!
Some of the stuff vauxhall produced in the early ninties was good as well, but they did seem to lose the momemtum. Think they wanted to get away from the max power image the sri and gte models were closely tied to, so attempted to move upmarket.
I think a lot of their problem is their corporate image seems to be geared towards producing 'white goods' cars. Ford has always pushed the motorsports thing, even in their lowest level cars, whereas vauxhall have always given the impression of making an appliance, even with their supoosedly sporty stuff.
My old man ran a 3 litre ventora for a number of years, and my grandad had a vx4/90 that he drove somewhat enthusatically. Both gone to the great scrappy in the sky before they were 10 years old due to rampant tinworm - and the vx4/90 was very well looked after. I remember the ventora as being a beast of a thing, but my old man used to get single figure mpg out of it - which probably contributed to it's early demise when the rot started getting in the way of the MOT.
I'd like to own one now, but they do seem go be very thin on the grand compared to other marques this age.
Hankered after a chevette HS in my youth, but when I finally got the chance to drive one, I was very unimpressed compared to a contemporary mk2 RS2000. Would love one of them now mind you!
Some of the stuff vauxhall produced in the early ninties was good as well, but they did seem to lose the momemtum. Think they wanted to get away from the max power image the sri and gte models were closely tied to, so attempted to move upmarket.
I think a lot of their problem is their corporate image seems to be geared towards producing 'white goods' cars. Ford has always pushed the motorsports thing, even in their lowest level cars, whereas vauxhall have always given the impression of making an appliance, even with their supoosedly sporty stuff.
I think dads have a lot to answer for!
Grew up with fond memories of a PB Cresta that was followed by a FD Ventora (which was rubbish I recall).
Having had my own HB Viva as a first car, I upgraded to a PC Cresta for a whole £180 when I was still in the 6th form at school, just like this one;
I remember the insurance costing £200 with Co-Op in 1981 but imagine insuring an 18 year old with a 3.3 litre motor today! Had bench seats front and rear, four speed box and twin exhaust pipes. Fuel filler behind the number plate and best of all, it would do an indicated 100mph if you gave it enough room. I used it to transport me plus five other kids to and from my school, 10 miles each way at 35p per 'single'
Health and safety police would have a fit today but it was cheaper for them than the bus and it it covered the prodigious 16mpg thirst!
Grew up with fond memories of a PB Cresta that was followed by a FD Ventora (which was rubbish I recall).
Having had my own HB Viva as a first car, I upgraded to a PC Cresta for a whole £180 when I was still in the 6th form at school, just like this one;
I remember the insurance costing £200 with Co-Op in 1981 but imagine insuring an 18 year old with a 3.3 litre motor today! Had bench seats front and rear, four speed box and twin exhaust pipes. Fuel filler behind the number plate and best of all, it would do an indicated 100mph if you gave it enough room. I used it to transport me plus five other kids to and from my school, 10 miles each way at 35p per 'single'
Health and safety police would have a fit today but it was cheaper for them than the bus and it it covered the prodigious 16mpg thirst!
Nothing remotely Vauxhall has interested me since the GTEs, then the Cavaleir / Astra / Carlton GSi and turbo 4x4 variants. I think petrolheads have all but forgotton Vauxhall?? I had 30 mins to kill a few years back and wasted 20 walking round a big Vauxhall dealership, and it occured to me there was not ANYTHING new or used that I would want parked outside my house. Even the VXR stuff looked a bit council.
Furyblade_Lee said:
Nothing remotely Vauxhall has interested me since the GTEs, then the Cavaleir / Astra / Carlton GSi and turbo 4x4 variants. I think petrolheads have all but forgotton Vauxhall?? I had 30 mins to kill a few years back and wasted 20 walking round a big Vauxhall dealership, and it occured to me there was not ANYTHING new or used that I would want parked outside my house. Even the VXR stuff looked a bit council.
In fairness, I don't think the last bit is any different to other companies that make quick versions of their average family cars (Ford, Peugeot and SEAT all spring to mind)I like the look of the new Astra estate in Elite 1.6 Turbo trim. Just a nice spec Astra estate with a petrol engine and 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. It doesn't look any different to any other nice spec Astra estate
My old chap had a new Vauxhall Cavalier coupe when they first came out, R Reg ... he loved it. First car I think I had ever been in that didn't have frames to the front side windows ...
After three years he got another but a five door then a three door. AUD 222V, not long gone from this mortal coil. EBW 255Y was another one he had, again, a Cavalier, in gold!
I've never had Vauxhalls apart from two company cars back in the late 80s so not my choice ... one a 1.6 boggo Cav (B reg) and the other a C reg 2.0 CDi which went like a rocket, far better car than the Ford Sierra my company unfortunately replaced it with.
Not had one since.
After three years he got another but a five door then a three door. AUD 222V, not long gone from this mortal coil. EBW 255Y was another one he had, again, a Cavalier, in gold!
I've never had Vauxhalls apart from two company cars back in the late 80s so not my choice ... one a 1.6 boggo Cav (B reg) and the other a C reg 2.0 CDi which went like a rocket, far better car than the Ford Sierra my company unfortunately replaced it with.
Not had one since.
Wacky Racer said:
ffs! Not another Vauxhall knocking thread, this is getting boring.....
My last six brand new cars have been Vauxhalls (not company cars)....They have ALL been 100% reliable, and the dealers first class.
Indeed it just proves that there are too many people who believe that violent misongynist transphobic idiot from DoncatrazMy last six brand new cars have been Vauxhalls (not company cars)....They have ALL been 100% reliable, and the dealers first class.
Edited by Ms R.Saucy on Friday 6th January 00:25
As a kid in the 70s it seemed you were either a ford man or a Vauxhall man I grew up in a ford loving family, my mate a Vauxhall one lots of banter ensued, fords were my staple diet until the age of 21 when I fell in love with and bought a 2 year old cavalier gls coupe in diamond white withith contrasting black vinyl roof what a cool looking machine in my mind a far better proportioned car than the Capri however whilst being a 2.0 litre and me being young it did not thrill me like my previous fords did . If you et rip at the lights a ford would complain ,tramp and then get on with it until you run out of road or run out of talent whereas the Vauxhall would lift itself up up on all fours and get there eventually..
In the 50's and 60's there was strong brand loyalty, and definately either a Fard man or a Vauxhall man.
My father worked for a Vauxhall-Bedford dealership in Bristol, and the whole family had Vauxhalls. My grandfather had a Velox, then progressed to Crestas, my father had a Vauxhall 10, followed by a couple of Victors, then a couple of Vivas, finally Cavaliers and my mothers first car was a Viva followed by a Chevette. Even my uncles had Vauxhalls until the brand loyalty started to wain in the late '70's
My father worked for a Vauxhall-Bedford dealership in Bristol, and the whole family had Vauxhalls. My grandfather had a Velox, then progressed to Crestas, my father had a Vauxhall 10, followed by a couple of Victors, then a couple of Vivas, finally Cavaliers and my mothers first car was a Viva followed by a Chevette. Even my uncles had Vauxhalls until the brand loyalty started to wain in the late '70's
A bit more idle memory lane stuff with a few picks nicked off Google! After my time with them as a new driver, I returned to the Vauxhall brand with one of these in about 1989;
Company car issued, 1.8 injection motor, electric windows, aerial and a manual sunroof. Uncool even then but a lot of toys and went pretty well.
Followed by a job change and one of these;
A 1.6LX but still with the Recaro trim and a nice place to be. Drove it from Southampton to the Hebrides in one hit so can't have been that bad!
Then the final Luton wagon for me;
Worked for Nationwide at the time and they had a big deal with Vauxhall. This turned up as a bog standard saloon in white with rubber mats, steel wheels, no sunroof and a 2.0i motor. It wasn't badged in any way and at the time, the lowest spec you could have was adorned with a lowly L designation so I didn't even have that. Was the best of this trio by a mile and always wondered if it had slipped through to fleet by mistake, perhaps destined to have had a blue light or two fitted!
Company car issued, 1.8 injection motor, electric windows, aerial and a manual sunroof. Uncool even then but a lot of toys and went pretty well.
Followed by a job change and one of these;
A 1.6LX but still with the Recaro trim and a nice place to be. Drove it from Southampton to the Hebrides in one hit so can't have been that bad!
Then the final Luton wagon for me;
Worked for Nationwide at the time and they had a big deal with Vauxhall. This turned up as a bog standard saloon in white with rubber mats, steel wheels, no sunroof and a 2.0i motor. It wasn't badged in any way and at the time, the lowest spec you could have was adorned with a lowly L designation so I didn't even have that. Was the best of this trio by a mile and always wondered if it had slipped through to fleet by mistake, perhaps destined to have had a blue light or two fitted!
I had one of the 2L turbo Astra Coupe's about 10 years ago. Hats off to Bertone for making the very boring looking Astra "G" look pretty.
Owned by a retired friend of the family now and still going strong apparently. It only gets used for a 5 minute pootle to Tesco every few days. Quite sad really! A solidly built car with a good turn of speed. My only complaint was that the interior and dashboard was the most boring design I have ever seen and the seats were too firm.
Owned by a retired friend of the family now and still going strong apparently. It only gets used for a 5 minute pootle to Tesco every few days. Quite sad really! A solidly built car with a good turn of speed. My only complaint was that the interior and dashboard was the most boring design I have ever seen and the seats were too firm.
PVN said:
I have a 2004 Vauxhall Astra convertible 1.8 litre. I bought it originally as a car to use for a bit of top down driving when the weather wasn't suitable for my TVR and, also, to be a spare car should any of the family need one. That was three years ago and I have become rather enchanted by this little car. It is 100% reliable, very economical, reasonably fun to drive as well as being quiet and comfortable. The roof is completely water tight and operates perfectly. When I brought it home my wife asked if her wheelchair would fit in the boot. I didn't think her large one would but not to worry as we have a smaller one that fits in the TVR boot. Surprise, surprise the Astra boot swallowed the wheelchair easily.
This week my estate car was in the garage and the Astra was pressed into service. In the boot I managed to fit:- the large wheelchair with cushion and fleece, my semi-acoustic guitar in it's hard case, a large bag containing sequencer, guitar pedals, microphone, cables and extension leads and, last but not least, a microphone stand! The back seat held my large guitar amplifier and my wife's wheelchair bag.
Who would have thought a fun convertible could be such a beast of burden? I certainly didn't. So my affection for this little car keeps on growing. It may not yet be quite old enough to be considered a classic but I don't care. This thread is about, "love for Vauxhall", and I definitely am very fond of mine.
PVN, I used to turn up at gigs when I played rock music in a Jaguar E type 3.8 FHC. In the rear it held my Gibson Les Paul recording, a VOX AC30 and a case with effects pedals, leads, etc.This week my estate car was in the garage and the Astra was pressed into service. In the boot I managed to fit:- the large wheelchair with cushion and fleece, my semi-acoustic guitar in it's hard case, a large bag containing sequencer, guitar pedals, microphone, cables and extension leads and, last but not least, a microphone stand! The back seat held my large guitar amplifier and my wife's wheelchair bag.
Who would have thought a fun convertible could be such a beast of burden? I certainly didn't. So my affection for this little car keeps on growing. It may not yet be quite old enough to be considered a classic but I don't care. This thread is about, "love for Vauxhall", and I definitely am very fond of mine.
The looks of amazement were priceless!!
J
AlexC1981 said:
I had one of the 2L turbo Astra Coupe's about 10 years ago. Hats off to Bertone for making the very boring looking Astra "G" look pretty.
Owned by a retired friend of the family now and still going strong apparently. It only gets used for a 5 minute pootle to Tesco every few days. Quite sad really! A solidly built car with a good turn of speed. My only complaint was that the interior and dashboard was the most boring design I have ever seen and the seats were too firm.
My neighbour has one of these in silver, and it looks very nice despite spending its life out in the Scottish weather!Owned by a retired friend of the family now and still going strong apparently. It only gets used for a 5 minute pootle to Tesco every few days. Quite sad really! A solidly built car with a good turn of speed. My only complaint was that the interior and dashboard was the most boring design I have ever seen and the seats were too firm.
J
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