i did not realise...

[ALfooy]

these had gotten so cheap http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

ok, granted it is just an astra with a slightly redesigned, longer body, but a lot of car for the cash i think.

[Williams99]

Really like these, would have got one but can't afford the insurance. Quite different, and not bad looking either. It's said a lot but it's a lot of car for the money.

[ALfooy]

i think they get panned a lot because they have the griffin badge whacked on the front. A couple of years ago that would have put me off, but look past the badge and there quality cars. Bit like skodas really i guess. but i mean, look at this for less than 2k http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[jonnydm]

They've been around that money for quite a while. An early 1.8 with 100k+ miles shouldn't be more than £1000.

[ALfooy]

well like i said, not long ago i wouldn't have even thought about owning anything vauxhall/opel (exceptions to the vx220, monaro, vxr8 and manta) so only really just noticed

[Hitch78]

It's a nine year old Astra that's done near on 90k - why would it be any more expensive?

[ALfooy]

you have point there still, like i said, a lot of car for the cash.

[Carlton Banks]

Hitch78 said:

It's a nine year old Astra that's done near on 90k - why would it be any more expensive?

[jonnydm]

ALfooy said:

you have point there still, like i said, a lot of car for the cash.

This is a lot of car for the cash: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[StottyZr]

There all like this now. I'm currently looking at 2001 Jaguars. 3.0 v6, climate control everything electic cruise control alloys all the shinings and they are up for between £700 and £1400...

It's a damn lot of car for the money. Looks like nobody wants old, large big engined cars!(even though they are clearly awesome)

[jake15919]

Are you joking. It's an old fking Astra, how much did you think it would be?

[Twincam16]

I've never understood the panning that Vauxhalls get in the UK. Maybe it's an extension of the have-a-go-at-Rover syndrome of slagging off our own products, but I've always rather liked Vauxhall. Maybe it was the Lotus-engined Firenza and Mk2 Cavalier SRI my Dad had.

They've dominated the BTCC for years, many of their cars are quite stylish, there are a number of groundbreakers in their back-catalogue (Prince Henry, Lotus Carlton, PA Cresta and Chevette HSR spring to mind). Also, in a world where marques like Kia and Hyundai exist, they can hardly be considered bargain-basement material.

[ALfooy]

jonnydm said:

This is a lot of car for the cash: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

That is more car for the cash and yes you could get a half decent e36 for that sort of money, but StottyZr has hit on the head basically, it may only be an old astra but its a decent car for not a lot of cash. it wasn't THAT long ago and i was only 11 - 12 when these were brand new, i now there at a price i could have afforded, wasen't expecting it (even though maybe i should have)

And i agree, a couple of years ago, i couldn't stand them, now, i don't see what the issue is, they make some great cars and the VXR isn't half bad.
You've also got to give vauxhall/opel the balls to release a light weight sports car and a muscle car when ford could easily do the same, but won't.
Would love an omega as an alternative to a 5series or e class too.

[jonnydm]

ALfooy said:

jonnydm said:

This is a lot of car for the cash: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

That is more car for the cash and yes you could get a half decent e36 for that sort of money, but StottyZr has hit on the head basically, it may only be an old astra but its a decent car for not a lot of cash. it wasn't THAT long ago and i was only 11 - 12 when these were brand new, i now there at a price i could have afforded, wasen't expecting it (even though maybe i should have)

And i agree, a couple of years ago, i couldn't stand them, now, i don't see what the issue is, they make some great cars and the VXR isn't half bad.
You've also got to give vauxhall/opel the balls to release a light weight sports car and a muscle car when ford could easily do the same, but won't.
Would love an omega as an alternative to a 5series or e class too.

I see your point, essentially thats depreciation. However, in terms of the car:cash ratio, I think we have to agree that a £40k BMW at £1800 slightly beats a £15k Astra at £1400. The two examples aren't too far off either in terms of age and mileage too.

[OllieC]

Twincam16 said:

Also, in a world where marques like Kia and Hyundai exist, they can hardly be considered bargain-basement material.

I would rather have a Kia than a Vauxhall, if you are talking new cars.

Not sure about their 9 year old equivalents though !

[Jayho]

The Crack Fox said:

Hitch78 said:

It's a nine year old Astra that's done near on 90k - why would it be any more expensive?

+1. A pretty dull car both stylistically and dynamically, in my humble opinion.

Think its a very majour service interval at that stage aswell... My brother ridded his astra just before a big one was due... Every 40k miles.

[Matt UK]

Twincam16 said:

I've never understood the panning that Vauxhalls get in the UK.

Well a lot of us have experienced first-hand what utter crap they can churn out.

My missus had a Vectra company car from 1999-2002. It is the only car I have ever had on the driveway that made me genuinely concerned when there were rain clouds on the horizon as I just knew there was a good chance the fker would refuse to start if wet.

It's not even as if it had any other redeeming features as it was bloody awful to drive and the list of other issues was endless. And the dealer we had to use made a chimps tea-party look like well organised operation.

A properly crap car, serviced by a pathetic dealer network. IMO of course.

[Simbu]

Twincam16 said:

I've never understood the panning that Vauxhalls get in the UK.

Most Vauxhalls i've experienced have been dull and ste.

For example, my old man had a Signum as a CC for about 4 years. In that time it chewed though 3 batteries, a full set of suspension, and more sensors than you'd find on the space shuttle. It had a very easy life, munching motorway miles.

Once, a single fuse popped under the bonnet and it made the entire car cut out. Everything. Power, PAS, brakes.

The retards that pass for dealers that failed to fix the endless problems were both stupid in that they failed to fix it on a couple of occasions, and couldn't give a toss if they did or not.

I can't think of ANY marque of car i have less desire to own.

[wackojacko]

2.2 engine is st, the 1.8 is so much stronger and not that much slower .... with a few mods they 2.2's with ease ...... well mine does

[marcosgt]

I've had two Vauxhalls.

First was a Belgian built Cavalier Coupe - Lunched its engine at about 70K, but I always loved it - great ride and a mate with a new 205 GTi was moved to comment on how well it handled.

Second was a Calibra - econonmical, nice engine, good looker (IMO), but dull to drive and almost an Alfa in its electrical reliability.

Vauxhall service centres were horrible to deal with, which really sealed it for me. Charged a fortune, rarely fixed things (the RAC finally fixed one fault - that had been to the dealer for 3 times - in the rain, in the dark!), made you wait weeks for parts.

It'll be a cold day in hell before I buy another Vauxhall (unless they get around to making something truly awesome! ).

That said, the Astra coupes are quite nice in a 'nearly a Calibra for looks' way - a bit more angular, which means the bigger coupe still wins for me.

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Monday 11th April 17:26