RE: Vauxhall Adam Grand Slam: Review

[Pesty]

I like it.

[R8VXF]

Pesty said:

I like it.

The Suzuki or the Adam?

[Pesty]

I meant the Adam but I also like the swift.

[R8VXF]

Pesty said:

I meant the Adam but I also like the swift.

Still think the swift is gopping though.

[Pesty]

I'm sure it's a great little car.

I imagine when I was young and driving a crx that would have been a great alternative.

[Kolbenkopp]

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

Doubt it's the weight alone, could be a) gearing b) engine limiting torque in lower gears.

[lasvegas1966]

Devil2575 said:

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?

er, because that was when the thing was launched. question was, "is it ph worthy?". no. and its still no 2 years on. this is PH, not reliable economy weekly, or auto express, or car, or autocar, or caravanners pride, its ph. give it carbon ceramics, a gt3 wing. it still doesn't cut the mustard. maybe it does over at auto express

[Impasse]

lasvegas1966 said:

er, because that was when the thing was launched. question was, "is it ph worthy?". no. and its still no 2 years on. this is PH, not reliable economy weekly, or auto express, or car, or autocar, or caravanners pride, its ph. give it carbon ceramics, a gt3 wing. it still doesn't cut the mustard. maybe it does over at auto express

In your whole nine months of being here haven't you yet gleaned that PH is about how you drive and not what you drive? Any car with an engine and wheels is "PH worthy" if the driver is of the correct frame of mind.

[Baryonyx]

I'm surprised to see so many complaining about this article. If you're not interested in ybe car, why bother reading or commenting? You may not have noticed but there aren't weekly releases of supercars to cover, so would you rather we had no editorial content when Ferrari is quiet?

[STA5H]

R8VXF said:

Still think the swift is gopping though.

To be honest i dont think the new Swift looks as good as the previous model, its bigger with a fat ass end, but still good value for money imo

[novus]

R8VXF said:

While in at Vauxhall the other day getting the 8 serviced I had a quick look round the Adam, nice little car IMO, a good little shopping trolley/city car that looks quite nice. Also went to see the new VXR Corsa on Saturday at Donnington and think that it offers quite a lot for what should be a fairly decent price. Interior wasn't too bad and the gearbox on the Corsa has an amazingly short throw. I personally think too many people bash Vx just for the sake of it without much, if any, knowledge of what the cars are like. My 10 year old 1.2 Corsa SXi is still running perfectly without any issues whatsoever, and it is a great little car for thrashing about the place in.

If only people could put their prejudices aside for one moment, they might realise this is quite a cool little car.

As for the new Corsas gearbox it is the old problematic 'M32 reworked (different oil to prevent 6th gear bearing wear) so whilst the throw might be short so is the lifespan of the box I would imagine like many of the current/old VXRs using this box.

I've owned five VXRs since 2009 and have been burnt by this gearbox a few times, poor!

As for the Adam, looks okay. Don't think loads will sell due to the badge but that's been covered already and it's pricey

[Dale487]

Baryonyx said:

I'm surprised to see so many complaining about this article. If you're not interested in ybe car, why bother reading or commenting? You may not have noticed but there aren't weekly releases of supercars to cover, so would you rather we had no editorial content when Ferrari is quiet?

Good point well made.

Also until you drive a car its not possible to know for certain whether its any good (& a Pistonheads car) until you drive it - how many cars look "right" but don't deliver? Or how many performance models are based on a car you would give a second look to (Renault Meganes anyone).

So the Adam Grand Slam isn't a PH car - but its a step in the right direction and we also know for a fact (instead of assuming).

I don't think its fair comparing a car broker priced Fiesta ST to a full list price Vauxhall (as has been said before no one pays list for a Vauxhall - My brother paid £10500 for a brand new Zafira that lists at £17500 I think). I never thought I'd say this but the Vauxhall's interior looks so much nicer than the Fiesta's - how has Ford got their interiors so wrong?

I think the Adam grand Slam falls into the catergory of a car you wouldn't buy your self but your other half buys, you borrow and find its not a bad little car.

[iloveboost]

dukebox9reg said:

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

I think the 'Red' and 'Black' are just re-mapped Ecoboost engines with funkier bits of trim, dark wheels and stiffer suspension. Economy will be identical in the real world as the powertrain is identical. Unless you're on track using that extra 15ps. 42mpg is great for a 140hp petrol and similar to a 2.0 140hp diesel.

[Gorbyrev]

STA5H][url said:

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

Bang on the money but if you are leasing them these are too close to Fiesta ST territory. As for death of PH, really? All that has happened is that an open mind has been taken to a launch but with disappointing results, all faithfully reported. Surely the death of PH would be: Vauxhall Adam Grand Slam, not a great drive but it has a superb red stripe on its dashboard. Vauxhall can make good hot hatches, Corsa VXR Nurburgring being a particular highlight by all reports. But this isn't and the Fiesta ST has a gravity all of its own which is why there is one on our driveway!

[R8VXF]

Gorbyrev said:

All that has happened is that an open mind has been taken to a launch but with disappointing results, all faithfully reported.

He wasn't disappointed with the car itself, just the price, which everyone knows you can get a large chunk off anyway.

[NickGibbs]

R8VXF said:

He wasn't disappointed with the car itself, just the price, which everyone knows you can get a large chunk off anyway.

True - Vauxhall offering £1340 off if you go with PCP finance (£199 a month over 3 yrs, £2.7k deposit, 10k a year)
http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/offers-finance/cars_offe...
Could probably do better with a haggle

[Gorbyrev]

NickGibbs said:

R8VXF said:

He wasn't disappointed with the car itself, just the price, which everyone knows you can get a large chunk off anyway.

True - Vauxhall offering £1340 off if you go with PCP finance (£199 a month over 3 yrs, £2.7k deposit, 10k a year)
http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/offers-finance/cars_offe...
Could probably do better with a haggle

Fair point about the car, but Ford is currently offering the Fiesta ST3 for £200 a month over 2 years with £2.5K deposit, think it was 9K miles a year. That surely makes the Adam a tuff sell.

[Pixelpeep7r]

Gorbyrev said:

NickGibbs said:

R8VXF said:

He wasn't disappointed with the car itself, just the price, which everyone knows you can get a large chunk off anyway.

True - Vauxhall offering £1340 off if you go with PCP finance (£199 a month over 3 yrs, £2.7k deposit, 10k a year)
http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/offers-finance/cars_offe...
Could probably do better with a haggle

Fair point about the car, but Ford is currently offering the Fiesta ST3 for £200 a month over 2 years with £2.5K deposit, think it was 9K miles a year. That surely makes the Adam a tuff sell.

or you could lease it for £185 p/m inc vat with a £1100 deposit

https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/car-leasing...

[Devil2575]

lasvegas1966 said:

Devil2575 said:

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?

er, because that was when the thing was launched. question was, "is it ph worthy?". no. and its still no 2 years on. this is PH, not reliable economy weekly, or auto express, or car, or autocar, or caravanners pride, its ph. give it carbon ceramics, a gt3 wing. it still doesn't cut the mustard. maybe it does over at auto express

So regardless of any chages it could never be PH worthy?

Why? Are small cars made by a mainstream brand inherently not PH worthy?

[Pixelpeep7r]

Devil2575 said:

lasvegas1966 said:

Devil2575 said:

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?

er, because that was when the thing was launched. question was, "is it ph worthy?". no. and its still no 2 years on. this is PH, not reliable economy weekly, or auto express, or car, or autocar, or caravanners pride, its ph. give it carbon ceramics, a gt3 wing. it still doesn't cut the mustard. maybe it does over at auto express

So regardless of any chages it could never be PH worthy?

Why? Are small cars made by a mainstream brand inherently not PH worthy?

Audi S1 springs to mind! - anything thats quirky, quick or qwakkers is always worthy, imo.