RE: Vauxhall Adam Grand Slam: Review

[lasvegas1966]

ph worthy? no. that was clear from 2 years ago, let alone any new models improving the chances. really, this is a junior hacks trip of wonderment. hope it didn't cost you much. shame, road and weather suited something a little more 'ph'. we can get these reviews by the hundred reading autoexpress and the like in every waiting room across europe, it just don't belong here

[Lotus98T]

After driving the new Adam rocks with the 115hp 1ltr 3 cylinder turbo average mpg was 47 mpg. Engine has plenty of torque and feels very smooth. I also been told is a lot more refined then ford Eco boost.

[RenesisEvo]

Mr2Mike said:

trashbat said:

rm, it seems more likely than naming it after a ten tonne bouncing bomb.

I'd like to think they named the performance variant of a model after a huge bomb (not the bouncing bomb b.t.w.), but given Vauxhall's piss poor names for other spec. levels in their range of cars it's more likely something to do with golf or tennis.

e.g. "Club", "Life", "Design", "Excite". The last one shows they have a sense of irony at least.

'Slam' is what Vauxhall used for the sportier variant of the regular Adam, so evidently they just added the 'Grand' to illustrate the bigger engine. Originally the car was to be called the Adam S, but it seems they changed their minds - I wish they hadn't. As said, too expensive and poor figures on paper. Would like to see how it drives though. Whilst a normal one was not great, the Rocks Air was surprisingly chuckable - but that had the 1.0T triple. The non-turbo 1.4 was horrendous by comparison; I wonder if the turbo improves things.


A shame also that IMO the review falls some way short of the PH standard, I don't get a strong sense of the car's behaviour and strengths/weaknesses from the article.

PH said:

...is further aided by steering feel unaffected by the electric assistance...

I find that hard to believe based on the ones I've driven, they felt very artificial just off centre.

[Blayney]

Devil2575 said:

Blayney said:

Or if you give me £3k you can have my Twingo GT that might be 50bhp down but is only a second off in the 0-60, 7mph down on top speed, exactly the same tax but will genuinely do 49mpg if you want. All from a 1149cc of turbo powahhhh

A second off 0-60 and 7 mph top end indicates quite a difference in performance.

I didn't claim it was the same though, pointed out it was down 50bhp and slower. The difference of the Adam to a DS3 Dsport 155 is the same in the other direction though. Makes the Adam look silly.

[cheekyron]

cheekyron said:

Ryvita said:

18"s on a supermini? Is this a normal thing these days? Wow.

*Remembers being proud of having 14"s back in the day...*

My first fiesta had 13in peperpots and I thought they were amazing!

Not a bad looking little car, the other half quite fancied a Vaux Adam at one point. I think at that money though I'd convince her to get an ST instead which I'd much prefer myself

[kambites]

RenesisEvo said:

I find that hard to believe based on the ones I've driven, they felt very artificial just off centre.

Just because all electric power steering systems are rubbish, that doesn't mean that most hydraulic ones aren't crap too.

[RenesisEvo]

kambites said:

RenesisEvo said:

I find that hard to believe based on the ones I've driven, they felt very artificial just off centre.

Just because all electric power steering systems are rubbish, that doesn't mean that most hydraulic ones aren't crap too.

Does it have a hydraulic set-up? In which case I will further reserve judgement until I try one. It's going to take a bit more than that to make it a good car though.

[Tim16V]

On the rare occasion that I see one of these in the real world, they actually look even more odd than they do in the photos.

The Fiat 500/Abarth range looks very tasty by comparison.

[Devil2575]

lasvegas1966 said:

ph worthy? no. that was clear from 2 years ago, let alone any new models improving the chances. really, this is a junior hacks trip of wonderment. hope it didn't cost you much. shame, road and weather suited something a little more 'ph'. we can get these reviews by the hundred reading autoexpress and the like in every waiting room across europe, it just don't belong here

How was it clear 2 years ago?

[redroadster]

Would rather look on the used market than sink dough into this yip yap thing.

[iloveboost]

I'm glad the steering on the Adam is better, as the Corsa was criticised for that.
It's probably a decent road car that looks nicer inside (out is debate-able?) than a normal Corsa for a bit more cash. Yes it's a bit expensive compared to some cars, especially those with normal interiors, but if they're doing free insurance deals you have to factor that in as a young buyer.
If you don't like the car you don't have to buy it. Doesn't mean anyone that does is an ignorant fool, as your old sportscar is clearly superior. Just like you.

[SteveS Cup]

Otispunkmeyer said:

How much does this thing weigh man? 150 hp, turbo engine and a 0-60 of 8.5. This is scarcely much quicker than the car I currently own (0-60 in 8.6 on the sheet) which is a) more than 10 hp down b) is a Honda, so less low down torque than a magimix and c) is a whole 2 car sizes above!

(Counting this as Adam, Corsa, Astra == Civic).

I'm guessing here but maybe the Civic only needs one gear change to the 60 sprint where as the Adam (aww!) needs 2? Maybe the wheels have an effect on it? Maybe the torque has been mellowed in 1st gear? Maybe Vauxhall have quoted times using a heavy driver and full tank to get lower insurance?

I never read too much into 0-60 times as there's a number of reasons cars can appear faster or slower than what they actually are on the road.

[SteveS Cup]

Otispunkmeyer said:

How much does this thing weigh man? 150 hp, turbo engine and a 0-60 of 8.5. This is scarcely much quicker than the car I currently own (0-60 in 8.6 on the sheet) which is a) more than 10 hp down b) is a Honda, so less low down torque than a magimix and c) is a whole 2 car sizes above!

(Counting this as Adam, Corsa, Astra == Civic).

I'm guessing here but maybe the Civic only needs one gear change to the 60 sprint where as the Adam (aww!) needs 2? Maybe the wheels have an effect on it? Maybe the torque has been mellowed in 1st gear? Maybe Vauxhall have quoted times using a heavy driver and full tank to get lower insurance?

I never read too much into 0-60 times as there's a number of reasons cars can appear faster or slower than what they actually are on the road.

Edited by SteveS Cup on Monday 16th March 21:30

[Dan Friel]

dukebox9reg said:

GTIAlex said:

Surely the Fiesta Red Edition is the comparable car, not the ST.

Red edition is a 1.0 Ecoboost putting out 140bhp, which is 10 less than the vauxhall, however the claimed MPG are higher.

THE FACTS
Ford Fiesta ST Red/Black Edition
Tested: 999cc, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, five-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel drive
Price/on sale: From £15,995/August 18
Power/torque: 138bhp @ 6,000rpm/155lb ft @ 2,000rpm
Top speed: 125mph
Acceleration: 0-62mph in 9sec

Cheaper, same top speed, slightly slower to 60.

Well the 125bhp ecoboosts only do about 42mpg (few mates/work colleagues have them) so I cant imagine the 140 1.0 being much better in day to day driving than the ST for fuel.

Just have to look on honestjohn for MPG to see that Ford are one of the worst for their economy figures. Not sure on the Vauxhall numbers though.

Right just looked, Vauxhall aint much better.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/vauxhall/corsa...

Edited by dukebox9reg on Monday 16th March 16:06

Drove my Red Edition home "normally" this evening, although that did include a couple of overtakes. Averaged 49 mpg...

[Darsettian]

What they HAVE got right is the basic styling which I've always felt followed in the insignia's footsteps of being 'just so'. It's rather over-egged in this Grand Slam edition however, and I can think of very little else I find attractive about it.

[Mr2Mike]

RenesisEvo said:

'Slam' is what Vauxhall used for the sportier variant of the regular Adam, so evidently they just added the 'Grand' to illustrate the bigger engine.

At least that makes some kind of sense. It would be even better if the base model was called the "Adam Gently Closed".

[IntriguedUser]

It can't be that heavy can it?

150bhp and 0-60 in 8.5 seems off, my old 1.8 Corsa, 125bhp, would do 0-60 in 8seconds, weight of 1080KG

This car is interesting to me, but the name puts me off....

[AgentC]

IntriguedUser said:

It can't be that heavy can it?

150bhp and 0-60 in 8.5 seems off, my old 1.8 Corsa, 125bhp, would do 0-60 in 8seconds, weight of 1080KG

This car is interesting to me, but the name puts me off....

1178kg as listed on Parkers. Fiesta ST2 was weighed at 1200kg by Autocar empty with a full tank.

[STA5H]

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/tbAVRYIn[/url
Similar performance and can be had for £14000 or less.

[R8VXF]

STA5H said:

Similar performance and can be had for £14000 or less.

And fugly.

Edited by R8VXF on Monday 16th March 23:51