Why do people buy vauxhalls?
Discussion
jimbo761 said:
Alfa build stylish cars that aren’t particularly reliable. Vauxhall (in my experience) build cars that aren’t particularly reliable or stylish. Give me a Giulia over an Insignia any day of the week.
http://www.reliabilityindex.com/manufacturer
My experience is differenthttp://www.reliabilityindex.com/manufacturer
Edited by jimbo761 on Sunday 18th February 10:48
When I left my employer I had to drop the van back in Birmingham and they hired me a car to get home in. I've always been a Ford fan boy at heart - despite driving a Saab currently - and my heart sank when they gave me the keys to a 1.6 diesel Astra Design.
However despite it being basic spec it had cruise, apple CarPlay/android auto, air con, comfy seats and it went like absolute stink for a 1.6. Found out later it was the 136bhp model and tbh I was seriously impressed. They definitely have upped their game!
If the Saab gives me many more headaches I might have to look at one of the stupendous lease deals on these atm!
However despite it being basic spec it had cruise, apple CarPlay/android auto, air con, comfy seats and it went like absolute stink for a 1.6. Found out later it was the 136bhp model and tbh I was seriously impressed. They definitely have upped their game!
If the Saab gives me many more headaches I might have to look at one of the stupendous lease deals on these atm!
Driven a few - mainly as hire cars, Corsa, Astra, Zafira, Mervia. Petrol and Diesel. Mostly all hateful in my opinion from a drivers point of view but does the job.
All had comfy well sorted interiors and are generally attractive to look at. I think the Astra is an especially nice looking car in its class but they for me personally were all sluggish, characterless and too inert for any specific driving pleasure.
I guess as a means of conveying me from A to B then they are tolerable but, and again, this is personal, Why would I buy a Corsa when I can have a Fiesta or Skoda Fabia? Why would I buy an Astra when I can have a Kia C'eed or Ford Focus? Why would I buy Meriva when its such a pointless car? The only one that makes a modicum of sense is the Zafira and whilst I did like the interior a lot, I hated the rest of it so, so much.
So why do people buy them? - Personal choice and I can see lots of reasons why people like them - 0% finance over 5 years on corsa being one of them
Why don't I buy one? simple, because I can buy something better.
All had comfy well sorted interiors and are generally attractive to look at. I think the Astra is an especially nice looking car in its class but they for me personally were all sluggish, characterless and too inert for any specific driving pleasure.
I guess as a means of conveying me from A to B then they are tolerable but, and again, this is personal, Why would I buy a Corsa when I can have a Fiesta or Skoda Fabia? Why would I buy an Astra when I can have a Kia C'eed or Ford Focus? Why would I buy Meriva when its such a pointless car? The only one that makes a modicum of sense is the Zafira and whilst I did like the interior a lot, I hated the rest of it so, so much.
So why do people buy them? - Personal choice and I can see lots of reasons why people like them - 0% finance over 5 years on corsa being one of them
Why don't I buy one? simple, because I can buy something better.
morgrp said:
Why don't I buy one? simple, because I can buy something better.
I get there may be better available, EG the 3 series we were looking for, being older and double the mileage mind. Where direct competition is concerned, on this thread Ford are being regularly cited. I am a Ford fan. When I had a bang in the Insignia we had a 17 plate Mondeo loan. It was a good car, many good points, but completely ruined by two bad points. An over invasive stop/start which for all the will in the world we couldn't turn off. Secondly, what I can only describe as a turbo lag type behaviour, although I'm pretty sure this isn't what it was. Sometimes when the car had 'gone to sleep' it would take probably 2-3 seconds to gain acceleration. Downright dangerous if I wanted to commit to a swift overtake. Therefore I was very happy to see the Insignia returned.I think the current Astra and Insignia Grand Sport are very good cars. Vauxhall appear to offer excellent value for money in today's market in you want a white goods car. A two year old Insignia with a good spec can be bought for less than £10k and run into the ground giving many years of service with sensible running costs.
kuro said:
Why did I buy them? They've allowed me to run a half decent reliable car for everyday driving, commuting, family duties etc while keeping something a bit more interesting in the garage for the weekend.
Now that is a proper PH reason - and frankly it wouldn't matter if your choice of weekend weapon extended to just a beige Morris Marina: but bravo! Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
..... Insignia.....It was a good car, many good points, but completely ruined by two bad points. An over invasive stop/start which for all the will in the world we couldn't turn off. Secondly, what I can only describe as a turbo lag type behaviour, although I'm pretty sure this isn't what it was. Sometimes when the car had 'gone to sleep' it would take probably 2-3 seconds to gain acceleration. Downright dangerous if I wanted to commit to a swift overtake. Therefore I was very happy to see the Insignia returned.
Stop-start should be deactivated by pressing the 'Eco' button on the centre console.'Going to sleep' and being sluggish may have been during DPF regens.
Thought I'd wade in although the op has gone missing and it's all been said before.
When my wife's B class lease was coming to an end, the hunt for a cheaper alternative was on.
A deal popped up for an Astra SRI 1.4t for around £140 a month. It ticked the majority of boxes we wanted ticking and totalling 4k for 2 years trouble free motoring it was a no brainer.
I really can't stress enough how Impressed we have been with it for the past 12 months. It's comfy, has plenty of tech for the money, looks relatively smart, has a decent sized boot, a half decent manual box and a petrol engine! Yes its not as refined as something that costs twice as much, but is it twice as bad? No! Are the plastics as good? No, but are they twice as bad, No!
Since getting the Astra I just don't like my 335d Xdrive as much as I used to. It feels like a waste for 95% of my driving. It also feels dated inside and idrive doesn't have some of the features the Astra has.
When I return the 335d in June I will be getting something very similar to the Astra and then putting some cash into something fun for the weekends.
I can hold my hands up and admit that after years of "premium" brand ownership I did discount other manufactures just because of the badge. Since the Astra landed I have seen the error of my ways and now could not give a flying what the neighbours may think!
May be a little OTT but driving the Astra is a little liberating. I don't care what people think, I don't care too much about the car, and it just makes ownership very easy.
When my wife's B class lease was coming to an end, the hunt for a cheaper alternative was on.
A deal popped up for an Astra SRI 1.4t for around £140 a month. It ticked the majority of boxes we wanted ticking and totalling 4k for 2 years trouble free motoring it was a no brainer.
I really can't stress enough how Impressed we have been with it for the past 12 months. It's comfy, has plenty of tech for the money, looks relatively smart, has a decent sized boot, a half decent manual box and a petrol engine! Yes its not as refined as something that costs twice as much, but is it twice as bad? No! Are the plastics as good? No, but are they twice as bad, No!
Since getting the Astra I just don't like my 335d Xdrive as much as I used to. It feels like a waste for 95% of my driving. It also feels dated inside and idrive doesn't have some of the features the Astra has.
When I return the 335d in June I will be getting something very similar to the Astra and then putting some cash into something fun for the weekends.
I can hold my hands up and admit that after years of "premium" brand ownership I did discount other manufactures just because of the badge. Since the Astra landed I have seen the error of my ways and now could not give a flying what the neighbours may think!
May be a little OTT but driving the Astra is a little liberating. I don't care what people think, I don't care too much about the car, and it just makes ownership very easy.
Ron99 said:
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
..... Insignia.....It was a good car, many good points, but completely ruined by two bad points. An over invasive stop/start which for all the will in the world we couldn't turn off. Secondly, what I can only describe as a turbo lag type behaviour, although I'm pretty sure this isn't what it was. Sometimes when the car had 'gone to sleep' it would take probably 2-3 seconds to gain acceleration. Downright dangerous if I wanted to commit to a swift overtake. Therefore I was very happy to see the Insignia returned.
Stop-start should be deactivated by pressing the 'Eco' button on the centre console.'Going to sleep' and being sluggish may have been during DPF regens.
LuS1fer said:
F1GTRUeno said:
Because there are Vauxhall dealers everywhere and because there are already tons of Vauxhalls on the road.
Car fans might hate them but make up a tiny percentage of the buying public.
They do a bunch of limited editions and know their audience. They have decent deals for monthly payments for people that don't wanna shop around and just get the most convenient thing.
Plus they're British which seemingly counts for something to people too.
It's really not hard to see why they sell so many cars. They're as white goods as they get and people buy a lot of white goods.
Good points but only the Astra and Vivaro are made in the UK and I can't see that lasting much longer, once Brexit kicks in and Peugeot streamline their production to maximise profits, something Vauxhall-Opel couldn't manage.Car fans might hate them but make up a tiny percentage of the buying public.
They do a bunch of limited editions and know their audience. They have decent deals for monthly payments for people that don't wanna shop around and just get the most convenient thing.
Plus they're British which seemingly counts for something to people too.
It's really not hard to see why they sell so many cars. They're as white goods as they get and people buy a lot of white goods.
Of course, the name Vaux may be French originally, there being a town of that name.
Doubt that'll change for a good while unless they do genuinely move all production abroad which would cause a stir.
I have the current Astra as a company car. It’s a very decent car, I can’t find any fault with it too be honest.
It’s got the quietest Diesel engine I’ve ever heard, it’s quick enough. Very quite inside. No tyre roar or engine roar.
Decent stereo, pretty good looking.
Mines a bottom of the range and it still has cruise, parking sensors front and rear, DAB, alloys, none of which my last focus 66 plate had
The only thing missing is a armrest.
The central locking has given up now, so I have to open it with a key, so that’s gotta be sorted.
Overall, it’s a decent car, with a decent steer but why would you pick it over a focus or a ceed etc? Not sure. Most likely price. Is it any worse than a golf? I doubt it. I couldn’t be swayed by the kit either, all it’s rivals can be had with ACC, xenon headlights etc.
Defo picked on price. Money talks.
It’s got the quietest Diesel engine I’ve ever heard, it’s quick enough. Very quite inside. No tyre roar or engine roar.
Decent stereo, pretty good looking.
Mines a bottom of the range and it still has cruise, parking sensors front and rear, DAB, alloys, none of which my last focus 66 plate had
The only thing missing is a armrest.
The central locking has given up now, so I have to open it with a key, so that’s gotta be sorted.
Overall, it’s a decent car, with a decent steer but why would you pick it over a focus or a ceed etc? Not sure. Most likely price. Is it any worse than a golf? I doubt it. I couldn’t be swayed by the kit either, all it’s rivals can be had with ACC, xenon headlights etc.
Defo picked on price. Money talks.
As far as I can see from a skim read, the most positive remarks about modern Vauxhalls is that they are fine, or not as bad as expected.
The impression I've had for a long time is that at the design stage they benchmark their vehicles against the current rivals, so they are always a step behind design-wise.
So if you don't want the latest thing, they will be fine. But by the time they come out VW/Ford/whoever will have something better.
The impression I've had for a long time is that at the design stage they benchmark their vehicles against the current rivals, so they are always a step behind design-wise.
So if you don't want the latest thing, they will be fine. But by the time they come out VW/Ford/whoever will have something better.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff