RE: Vauxhall Corsa SRi | Shed of the Week

[anonymous-user]

SidewaysSi said:

Do you detest Vauxhall but drive an Alfa with the 6 pot GM engine? Please tell me I am wrong..

Alfa did engineer it before plonking it in but yes, essentially that. My disdain for Vauxhall still stands: they are the Robbie Williams to Ford’s Michael Buble. They do the same job, both popular & sell well but one is the more appealing, better presented package.

I haven’t even touched on the horrors I see heaving themselves out of Zafira’s. That alone is justification to avoid the brand.

[SidewaysSi]

DrSteveBrule said:

SidewaysSi said:

Do you detest Vauxhall but drive an Alfa with the 6 pot GM engine? Please tell me I am wrong..

Alfa did engineer it before plonking it in but yes, essentially that. My disdain for Vauxhall still stands: they are the Robbie Williams to Ford’s Michael Buble. They do the same job, both popular & sell well but one is the more appealing, better presented package.

I haven’t even touched on the horrors I see heaving themselves out of Zafira’s. That alone is justification to avoid the brand.

Ah, so it's primarily how you perceive the brand and the buyer as opposed to anything else. See, I think Bublé is an annoying tt.

And when I see someone with your car, I pity them for having a FWD Alfa with an average engine and poor chassis. A man who thinks he is different but in reality just likes a very average, albeit reasonable looking car. He should have had some sense to buy something decent. Or a proper Alfa...

See, we can all form opinions about things and people...

[blearyeyedboy]

aaron_2000 said:

blearyeyedboy said:

I know it's off topic, but touring cars of the 90's were great, weren't they?

Cavaliers, Carinas, Primeras... All mixing it up and trading paint. Never missed a race on TV growing up.

Yes, but in a thread discussing whether a Corsa SOTW is any good or not, it's hardly relevant is it?

Redirect your fire, chap. I didn't argue with you about road Cavs being "meh". I would argue that the Mk2 Astra GTE was a proper classic. (Your age is irrelevant to whether you're right or wrong, in my book.)

Tangents on threads are permitted, which is why an "O/T" button exists...

[s m]

SweptVolume said:

To my mind, this is still the "current" Corsa. Being that it's so old, it can't be, but I can't think of a newer model. Must be getting old...

It was a poxy steer, but wasn't the 1993 GSi a reasonable junior hot hatch?

It wasn’t too bad judged by the standards of the time
Only 109bhp but it was pitched into a handling contest with a 205 1.9 with 123bhp and Citroen ZX 16v with 155bhp by a mag of the time







Had the lowest power to weight ratio but managed to split the French hot hatches on lap time. Not far off the lighter 205 which had more poke

[s m]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It was a lot closer to the 205 than the ZX, that’s for sure

[anonymous-user]

SidewaysSi said:

Ah, so it's primarily how you perceive the brand and the buyer as opposed to anything else. See, I think Bublé is an annoying tt.

And when I see someone with your car, I pity them for having a FWD Alfa with an average engine and poor chassis. A man who thinks he is different but in reality just likes a very average, albeit reasonable looking car. He should have had some sense to buy something decent. Or a proper Alfa...

See, we can all form opinions about things and people...

Yes, it’s the brand that i think is crap and I share your sentiments on Buble. I used him to illustrate a point, I wasn’t holding him up as a shining example of musical perfection.

My car isn’t FWD, I don’t drive in a manner where I’m cursing the poor chassis (I wouldn’t know what the signs were anyway) and I did buy it based on its striking looks. I needed a four door saloon and fancied something different. I love it, despite its annoying quirks. I don’t need your pity but thanks for your concern.

Edited by DrSteveBrule on Saturday 16th November 09:47

[Limpet]

s m said:

It wasn’t too bad judged by the standards of the time
Only 109bhp but it was pitched into a handling contest with a 205 1.9 with 123bhp and Citroen ZX 16v with 155bhp by a mag of the time







Had the lowest power to weight ratio but managed to split the French hot hatches on lap time. Not far off the lighter 205 which had more poke

Genuinely shocked at that.

My now sister-in-law had one new in 1995 (in the same red as the test car), and I don't remember it being particularly brilliant to drive. Clearly had something about it though, based on that.

Biggest issue with hers was dreadful reliability, although to be fair to the car, the breathtakingly incompetent and clueless main dealer made it far worse than it needed to be.

[s m]

Limpet said:

s m said:

It wasn’t too bad judged by the standards of the time
Only 109bhp but it was pitched into a handling contest with a 205 1.9 with 123bhp and Citroen ZX 16v with 155bhp by a mag of the time







Had the lowest power to weight ratio but managed to split the French hot hatches on lap time. Not far off the lighter 205 which had more poke

Genuinely shocked at that.

My now sister-in-law had one new in 1995 (in the same red as the test car), and I don't remember it being particularly brilliant to drive. Clearly had something about it though, based on that.

Biggest issue with hers was dreadful reliability, although to be fair to the car, the breathtakingly incompetent and clueless main dealer made it far worse than it needed to be.

Lol - seems to be a common theme people being ‘shocked’ about them. Usually people on here are shocked how bad they are but journos seem at the other end of the scale and are shocked at how well they go.

They even put in the article about it being ‘incredible’ it hung onto the more powerful 1.9 GTi’s coattails and managed to beat the Citroen ZX 16v by a fair margin

Ironic really as they included it in the selection for that year precisely as they’d been impressed with the handling when they reviewed it. Obviously didn’t think it was going to go quite as well as it did! John Miles , the ex F1 driver did the laps

They had the same reaction (with this shape Corsa in SOTW) when they were looking for the best new fun hatch for 15k.
Tried the VXR and seemed ‘astounded’ how well it did





Not the most powerful but fastest lap and second pick to the more powerful class leader Clio





I’ve driven that shape VXR so I’m not surprised at all it did so well
As said earlier, this SOTW engine is basically the same
bar a remap.

Edited by s m on Saturday 16th November 13:36

[Jimmy Recard]

SidewaysSi said:

Age has nothing to do with it. It's the way you come across.

You seem to think you are hard done by and seem to regularly pull the "youth card". Bit sad really.

I stopped engaging in discussion with him because he's very much a 19 year old.

I'm sure he's perfectly nice really, but he's understandably immature - exactly as I was when I was 19. I think if he read some of his comments at 30, he would cringe. When I was 19 I thought I knew everything too!

[Jimmy Recard]

DrSteveBrule said:

Yes, it’s the brand that i think is crap and I share your sentiments on Buble. I used him to illustrate a point, I wasn’t holding him up as a shining example of musical perfection.

My car isn’t FWD, I don’t drive in a manner where I’m cursing the poor chassis (I wouldn’t know what the signs were anyway) and I did buy it based on its striking looks. I needed a four door saloon and fancied something different. I love it, despite its annoying quirks. I don’t need your pity but thanks for your concern.

Edited by DrSteveBrule on Saturday 16th November 09:47

There is a fashion on Pistonheads to rubbish any GM product

I tend to find that honestly appraised, they're perfectly comparable to any rival product. Which makes sense - how does a company sell that many units of a product if they're that bad?

[anonymous-user]

Jimmy Recard said:

There is a fashion on Pistonheads to rubbish any GM product

I tend to find that honestly appraised, they're perfectly comparable to any rival product. Which makes sense - how does a company sell that many units of a product if they're that bad?

I would suggest when compared to a rival product, the comparable offering is generally better. I've said it before, there is nothing aspirational about the Vauxhall brand. I'd be surprised if anyone bought one of their cars and thought 'This is it, I've reached my zenith'.

[Supercell]

Thanks for the posting the magazine article for the swift, I found myself agreeing with everything that was written. Proper old school fun, the more you sling it round the more it comes alive, I doubt the same could be said for the SOTW. I do have to concede that the Corsa would be more comfortable day to day though.

[Jimmy Recard]

DrSteveBrule said:

I would suggest when compared to a rival product, the comparable offering is generally better. I've said it before, there is nothing aspirational about the Vauxhall brand. I'd be surprised if anyone bought one of their cars and thought 'This is it, I've reached my zenith'.

No better or worse on the whole, I tend to find. I don't think anyone thinks that they've made it to the big league because they've managed to get themselves a Volkswagen or a Ford either

You've proven my point though. You've decided you don't like them, therefore you will them to be worse and perceive them as such

[SidewaysSi]

DrSteveBrule said:

Jimmy Recard said:

There is a fashion on Pistonheads to rubbish any GM product

I tend to find that honestly appraised, they're perfectly comparable to any rival product. Which makes sense - how does a company sell that many units of a product if they're that bad?

I would suggest when compared to a rival product, the comparable offering is generally better. I've said it before, there is nothing aspirational about the Vauxhall brand. I'd be surprised if anyone bought one of their cars and thought 'This is it, I've reached my zenith'.

People don't think that about Alfas either. And I am sure many don't think it about Porsches. You have a narrow mindset and assume everyone thinks the same as yours.

So you have the 4wd Alfa 159 and you come bashing Vauxhall? Oh dear. You may not want my pity but sounds like you need it..

[s m]

Supercell said:

Thanks for the posting the magazine article for the swift, I found myself agreeing with everything that was written. Proper old school fun, the more you sling it round the more it comes alive, I doubt the same could be said for the SOTW. I do have to concede that the Corsa would be more comfortable day to day though.

Yes, softer springs on the SRi ( 30mm lowered ) than the VXR but same steering set-up - maybe work well on bumpier stuff.

EVO mag’s take on this SRi set up was below

EVO mag said:

Inside, there are aluminium pedals, a leather steering wheel and firmly padded bucket-style seats, and it’s sat in one of these where the SRi best makes its case. Drive it back-to-back with the VXR and it immediately feels more nimble, more eager to please. The SRi’s suspension has less initial resistance in its movement, so rather than fidgeting over humps and bumps, it absorbs them. Get it loaded up in a bend and the amount of roll is similar to the VXR (i.e. a little more than is perhaps fashionable), but its progression to that state feels more natural. It’s a sensation not unlike that found on a generation-old French hot hatch, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Yes, there’s less outright grip, but the limits of the Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres wrapped around the 17in alloys are communicated early and clearly, and the power on offer from the detuned turbocharged 1.6 is a perfect match. It all adds to the SRi’s feeling of playfulness. Meanwhile, the gearshift has a light but positive action, and although the steering is not as weighty as it could be, it responds keenly and gives decent feedback

[ericmcn]

Jimmy Recard said:

I stopped engaging in discussion with him because he's very much a 19 year old.

I'm sure he's perfectly nice really, but he's understandably immature - exactly as I was when I was 19. I think if he read some of his comments at 30, he would cringe. When I was 19 I thought I knew everything too!

Thats harsh on a 19 year old tbh

[s m]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The Corsa time doesn’t surprise me - driven the normal one and Nurburgring edition and they’re quick cars

The Nurburgring edition is one of the most fun hot hatches I’ve ever driven

I’m not surprised they picked the Clio overall though - pretty much always wins a group test from that time.

The Subaru is just a 150bhp 2-litre n/a 4wd hatch - will be down on power to weight compared to the others there
The brief was whatever could be bought for 15k new so I think they threw it in the mix to see how it would do after the success of the smaller engined version

[SidewaysSi]

ericmcn said:

Jimmy Recard said:

I stopped engaging in discussion with him because he's very much a 19 year old.

I'm sure he's perfectly nice really, but he's understandably immature - exactly as I was when I was 19. I think if he read some of his comments at 30, he would cringe. When I was 19 I thought I knew everything too!

Thats harsh on a 19 year old tbh

Is it? He is an adult and I believe in equality so treat everyone the same.

[anonymous-user]

aaron_2000 said:

It's not a debate, it's a few bitter old men who can't deal with someone fractions of their age having a newer and fresher opinion than theirs. I couldn't care less about a rep car from the 90's, but for some odd reason they won't let it go.

fking kids. Shouldn’t you be on more appropriate forum....

[HM-2]

blade7 said:

Cavalier in a frock, looks OK to me.

They were, and are, still ste though. There's a reason the upsurge in 90s coupé values seems to have passed them by.