If you HAD to own 3 Vauxhalls

If you HAD to own 3 Vauxhalls

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Discussion

Ste372

629 posts

87 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Corsa b sri 8v with a massive Pipercross filter (had one at 18) can still remember the induction roar

Vectra super touring v6

Zafira gsi for a complete laugh

Evanivitch

20,071 posts

122 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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LuS1fer said:
Current Vauxhalls are probably better than they have ever been and the styling is contemporary but they are again victims of the "everything German is great" mentality so the Insignia with more than 200bhp doesn't exist but, as a family car with more room inside than the Enterprise, it's a great car but hey, "it's not an Audi" and so depreciation kicks in.
Having driven many of the most recent Astra's and Insignias, they are much better than the previous models.

The thing is, the design and engineering is very much Opel Germany. The manufacturing of the Insignia is in Germany. Vauxhall alone are responsible for the continued efforts to brand as a British brand (owned by Americans for decades, sharing everything with the Germans and now owned by French), so that's their issue through and through.

Triumph Man

8,690 posts

168 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Tyre Smoke said:
Triumph Man said:
Viscount
Good shout!
Thanks! Isn't there something stupid like only 3 left though?

droopsnoot

11,927 posts

242 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Tyre Smoke said:
Got a link?
Another one : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153694189001

I thought these were supposed to be rare

Torquey

1,895 posts

228 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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LuS1fer said:
To be fair to Vauxhall, it's not the cars that have issues, it's the buyers. I also suspect that I would probably enjoy meeting a practical Vauxhall buyer far more than a BMW/Audi/VW buyer.
That's probably quite true. The German barges have the badge snobbery market covered.
I'm sure Vauxhall are going an alright job of supplying to their target market - older people, younger drivers with a realistic budget and those who don't give 2 hoots about the badge or prestige. Well done Vauxhall IMO.

I don't see how Renault, Peugeot, Ford and Citroen aren't under the same scrutiny on here.

Wacky Racer

38,157 posts

247 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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LuS1fer said:
Current Vauxhalls are probably better than they have ever been and the styling is contemporary but they are again victims of the "everything German is great" mentality so the Insignia with more than 200bhp doesn't exist but, as a family car with more room inside than the Enterprise, it's a great car but hey, "it's not an Audi" and so depreciation kicks in.
The ironic thing is many Vauxhalls are built in Germany anyway. My Zafira Tourer and Insignia were.

LuS1fer

41,133 posts

245 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Evanivitch said:
Having driven many of the most recent Astra's and Insignias, they are much better than the previous models.

The thing is, the design and engineering is very much Opel Germany. The manufacturing of the Insignia is in Germany. Vauxhall alone are responsible for the continued efforts to brand as a British brand (owned by Americans for decades, sharing everything with the Germans and now owned by French), so that's their issue through and through.
Car design and production has been world marketing for a long time now. The current Mondeo is an American model, Fiestas are built in Spain among other places, Audis are built in Czechoslovakia, Nissans and Hondas in the UK. You simply cannot say any modern car has a nationality, only an identity by being attributed to a particular country. What is British about a MINI or Bentley, these days? Not much and the MINI once shared a Peugeot engine. Skoda are "Czech" but we all know they're really German, along with "Spanish" Seat. and "Swedish" Volvo.

Besides which, Peugeot did a pretty fine job turning Citroen around and their own cars and I'm sure Vauxhall/Opel will be no exception. Personally, when i buy a car, I don't honestly care where it was built or engineered as long as it's a good car that suits my needs at the right budget.

Byker28i

59,770 posts

217 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Tyre Smoke said:
Byker28i said:
But if I was looking to buy a car, nothing in the vauxhall range excites me, theres always a better alternative.
What though? I know it's not a current model, but our Corsa D 1.3cdti SXI is brilliant. Well built, really economical, all the toys for a small car, decent boot, can seat 5 adults (okay, not for a 200 mile trip in any great comfort) comfortable and cheap to tax and insure. And cheap to buy in the first place.

I'm really struggling to think of anything that compares. French have iffy build quality, this feels solid. German are more expensive and not necessarily any better. Japanese? Micra or Jazz?
I'd agree, bought my daughter the petrol version of the old model, but that was only based on price and trade in on her beetle. For that low end of the market there's lots of alternatives, such as a Polo or Golf, Fiesta, Seat, Mazda 2 etc

But thats the thing with cars, they are subjective (or just transport)

irocfan

40,429 posts

190 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Byker28i said:
Opel Manta, drop dead gorgeous outside, boring inside. Capri was way better.
Vx220, good car but why have that when you could have the Lotus it was based on
TBH I'd disagree with you here. Whilst I did like the Capri I felt that the Manta was a better looking car and better overall - which is why I bought one rather than a Capri.
VX220 from what I can gather is sufficiently different from the parent car that it appeals to slightly different markets - again (as an aside) it's better looking (subjective) than the Elise

DJP

1,198 posts

179 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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I wonder how many people on this "Enthusiasts" forum actually have any real technical knowledge of cars?

Most modern cars have similar design and engineering and, in many cases, even share parts.

Sure, Vauxhall lack the halo models of yore but most people don't buy a halo model. They buy a 2.0 diesel. And, if you're doing that there just isn't much difference under the skin between Ford/Vauxhall/VAG/Peugeot etc.

They're all pretty much the same. So yeah, I'd buy a Vauxhall if they made what I wanted for what I wanted to pay.

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

234 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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I think newer Vauxhalls look quite good. Many better than the equivalent Peugeot, Ford etc.

FiF

44,069 posts

251 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Lotus Carlton,
Opel Kadett GTE grp2 rally car
One of those tricked out 4wd Senators that BRIXMIS used during cold war just for the LoLs.

irocfan

40,429 posts

190 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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SidewaysSi said:
I think newer Vauxhalls look quite good. Many better than the equivalent Peugeot, Ford etc.
Indeed - I was quite surprised at the Insignia I looked at earlier in the year. As to why I didn't buy one
- the ones I looked at were.... shall we say less than optimally prepared by the dealership
- I decided they were too big for what I wanted/needed

adam.

407 posts

211 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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3 Lotus Carltons, with n+2 redundancy.

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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If I had to own a Vauxhall...


IanJ9375

1,468 posts

216 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Schmed said:
If I had to own a Vauxhall...

Half Term where you are by any chance?

Tyronnster

19 posts

70 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Lotus Carlton
Cav GSI2000
Nova Redtop (I know not standard but hey)

LP670

822 posts

126 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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Cavalier Turbo 4x4
Lotus Carlton
Monaro VXR

LuS1fer

41,133 posts

245 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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This thread is not about Vauxhall or ability, it's about how badge snobbery has become the norm.

irocfan

40,429 posts

190 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
even a 944, 968, 924 turbo, 914, 912?