Ford Or Vauxhall? Which Is Worse
Discussion
With a few exceptions (actually, rebadged cars from elsewhere) I've never cared about Vauxhall one way or the other. Mediocre sums them up.
By contrast, I have quite liked some Fords.
We have a Ford now - by what matters tk me, the Ranger is the best double cab pickup on the UK market.
By contrast, I have quite liked some Fords.
We have a Ford now - by what matters tk me, the Ranger is the best double cab pickup on the UK market.
My first car was a Vauxhall Cavalier SRi mk2. I rebuilt the engine with high lift cams, etc and I really liked it, maybe because it was my first car. Second was Cavalier mk3, it did it's job. Third was a Vectra SRi, even with a few mods it was boring. Then I went though a Ford phase with company cars, Foci and Mondeo, they were alright and took all the punishment a company car deserves. Currently I drive a Skoda.
The Mrs has an 11 plate Zafira, No it hasn't caught fire yet (and it's not subject to the recall). It's top of the range, heated leather (yes I was a little worried for a while), climate, etc. Cost peanuts to buy. Massive inside, good for tip trips and the school run, regularly gets used in seven seater mode. For the money it's a good car.
Erm, what was the question?
The Mrs has an 11 plate Zafira, No it hasn't caught fire yet (and it's not subject to the recall). It's top of the range, heated leather (yes I was a little worried for a while), climate, etc. Cost peanuts to buy. Massive inside, good for tip trips and the school run, regularly gets used in seven seater mode. For the money it's a good car.
Erm, what was the question?
Nanook said:
J4CKO said:
Oh for gods make, anything they make will be perfectly acceptable for getting you about, some are pretty good, some less so but not are actually that bad nowadays, safe, reliable, relatively comfy, fairly economical but they wont tickle your ego like the German stuff does.
i am sure if a Germanic badge was stuck on a Vauxhall some would declare it wonderful, particularly brand and image obsessed non petrolheads, put the mundane, not special, I am not a premium consumer badge back on it and it would revert to being s
t, I have seen people at work say how rubbish their perfectly acceptable car is as if they are telling me that product is not up their standards, it is not worthy when in actual fact they secretly love it, have seen some almost sell their soul to get into the most basic, lowest powered Audi A1.
We have Fiesta, it is a fantastic little thing, ok, some of the interiors isnt super premium but it goes, stops and steers fantastically. #
We had a Galaxy before that, darling of the airport taxi rank, they arent cool but they do a fantastic job of carrying people and stuff, however, everyone wants a premium SUV, not an MPV.
My Son has an Astra, 2008 SRi, it has lasted better than a lot of more expensive stuff of the era, 8k and is in fine fettle, they are a little rough and ready but it drives ok, isnt bad on fuel, has a decent crash rating and he likes it.
So, is it the cars are really that bad or is it prejudice due to them not having a badge you aspire to ?
Yes, as a mode of transport, they function. I don't see anyone disagreeing with that.i am sure if a Germanic badge was stuck on a Vauxhall some would declare it wonderful, particularly brand and image obsessed non petrolheads, put the mundane, not special, I am not a premium consumer badge back on it and it would revert to being s
t, I have seen people at work say how rubbish their perfectly acceptable car is as if they are telling me that product is not up their standards, it is not worthy when in actual fact they secretly love it, have seen some almost sell their soul to get into the most basic, lowest powered Audi A1.We have Fiesta, it is a fantastic little thing, ok, some of the interiors isnt super premium but it goes, stops and steers fantastically. #
We had a Galaxy before that, darling of the airport taxi rank, they arent cool but they do a fantastic job of carrying people and stuff, however, everyone wants a premium SUV, not an MPV.
My Son has an Astra, 2008 SRi, it has lasted better than a lot of more expensive stuff of the era, 8k and is in fine fettle, they are a little rough and ready but it drives ok, isnt bad on fuel, has a decent crash rating and he likes it.
So, is it the cars are really that bad or is it prejudice due to them not having a badge you aspire to ?
The Galaxy does the job of carrying about. I wouldn't say it done any part of it fantastically.
It wasn't nice to drive, it was kinda noisy, it was thirsty, unless it was diesel, in which case it was incredibly slow, the interior was crap, once you got over the novelty of the rear tray tables.
Driven the latest Fiesta ST a good few times, a few of my mates have them, but they're not really my thing. So I can appreciate they've made a good car, but I'd never buy one.
The earlier ones were slow (Mk1/2), the 140 bhp and higher diesel gave enough performance for what it was, the MK3 was way, way better, we had a Sharan Mk2 which was ok but hr MK3 Galaxy was streets ahead, but I suppose being the best MPV is like being the least scabby leper
Ford are definitely better but I dont think Vauxhalls are without virtue, the new Astra is pretty good looking, not driven one however but how can it be ? drove a latest spec Focus and that was ok, cant be that far behind.
I think its a perception problem really, Vauxhalls have an image problem, see the "Council" thread for examples but to be honest I think they are alright, not top of my list of desires but they arent really worthy of the horror some seem to have at the though of driving one, I think it is more what will the neighbours think a lot of the time, a Zafira just has a whiff of desperation, fat, chain smoking parents and shaven headed kids about it, with a whiff of Motability and that is what bothers people, not the cars, more the rest of the owners and not wanting to be associated.
Alan_I_W said:
Nanook said:
Personally I found a VXR8 or a VX220 a bit more interesting than a Mk1 Focus, but I do agree, I tend to prefer Ford's, ever so slightly to the 'equivalent' Vauxhall, but I've never owned a Ford, and haven't owned a Vauxhall since my first car, which was given to me.
Had a wheezy 1.3 Escort as my first car, then a 2.8 Galaxy from 99-2002 which was for a 2.8, pretty wheezy too. Got a cheap Focus now that I bought off a family friend, Ford's from about 94 onwards have aged better. Look at the MK1 Focus and the equivalent Astra. Or the 98 Mondeo and 98 Vectra. 99 Fiesta and 99 Corsa. J4CKO said:
i am sure if a Germanic badge was stuck on a Vauxhall some would declare it wonderful, particularly brand and image obsessed non petrolheads,
Well, except for the badge it is either German or Australian as all Vauxhalls of today are either rebadged Opel or Holden models with all design work on the Opel models coming from Germany. I'd also go with the Ford proponents for the Fiesta and the Focus vs Corsa and Astra. In regards to Mondeo vs Insignia... meh, both are equally mediocre.
Big thumbs up though to Ford for making the Mustang available world-wide.
Nanook said:
J4CKO said:
Galaxy is, or was the best driving MPV out there, think the Seat and VW have caught up, it handled well for a big bus, nothing out there at the time did that job better, posher, yes, for sure.
The earlier ones were slow (Mk1/2), the 140 bhp and higher diesel gave enough performance for what it was, the MK3 was way, way better, we had a Sharan Mk2 which was ok but hr MK3 Galaxy was streets ahead, but I suppose being the best MPV is like being the least scabby leper
Ford are definitely better but I dont think Vauxhalls are without virtue, the new Astra is pretty good looking, not driven one however but how can it be ? drove a latest spec Focus and that was ok, cant be that far behind.
I think its a perception problem really, Vauxhalls have an image problem, see the "Council" thread for examples but to be honest I think they are alright, not top of my list of desires but they arent really worthy of the horror some seem to have at the though of driving one, I think it is more what will the neighbours think a lot of the time, a Zafira just has a whiff of desperation, fat, chain smoking parents and shaven headed kids about it, with a whiff of Motability and that is what bothers people, not the cars, more the rest of the owners and not wanting to be associated.
I disagree, the Espace was better in just about every way.The earlier ones were slow (Mk1/2), the 140 bhp and higher diesel gave enough performance for what it was, the MK3 was way, way better, we had a Sharan Mk2 which was ok but hr MK3 Galaxy was streets ahead, but I suppose being the best MPV is like being the least scabby leper
Ford are definitely better but I dont think Vauxhalls are without virtue, the new Astra is pretty good looking, not driven one however but how can it be ? drove a latest spec Focus and that was ok, cant be that far behind.
I think its a perception problem really, Vauxhalls have an image problem, see the "Council" thread for examples but to be honest I think they are alright, not top of my list of desires but they arent really worthy of the horror some seem to have at the though of driving one, I think it is more what will the neighbours think a lot of the time, a Zafira just has a whiff of desperation, fat, chain smoking parents and shaven headed kids about it, with a whiff of Motability and that is what bothers people, not the cars, more the rest of the owners and not wanting to be associated.
As for the perception you speak about, yes, things like the Zafira might have a whiff of council about them, due to the fat chain smoking parents that drive them, but why do they buy them?
Because they're cheap.
Why are they cheap?
Because they're not that good.
Quite straightforward.
Vauxhalls are hateful things.
The only Vauxhalls worth buying are ones not really made by Vauxhall at all - thinking VX220, Monaro etc. And even then some owners chip off the Vauxhall badges.
Vauxhall to me just puts me in mind of a steaming pile of turd. They have no real place in today's world and should be ousted from UK roads.
The only Vauxhalls worth buying are ones not really made by Vauxhall at all - thinking VX220, Monaro etc. And even then some owners chip off the Vauxhall badges.
Vauxhall to me just puts me in mind of a steaming pile of turd. They have no real place in today's world and should be ousted from UK roads.
Kierkegaard said:
Vauxhalls are hateful things.
The only Vauxhalls worth buying are ones not really made by Vauxhall at all - thinking VX220, Monaro etc. And even then some owners chip off the Vauxhall badges.
Vauxhall to me just puts me in mind of a steaming pile of turd. They have no real place in today's world and should be ousted from UK roads.
Out of interest, what do you drive ?The only Vauxhalls worth buying are ones not really made by Vauxhall at all - thinking VX220, Monaro etc. And even then some owners chip off the Vauxhall badges.
Vauxhall to me just puts me in mind of a steaming pile of turd. They have no real place in today's world and should be ousted from UK roads.
I am no Vauxhall fanboy boy but "steaming pile of turd" and "They have no real place in today's world and should be ousted from UK roads", most I can manage is indifference and perhaps buying something else ?
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