RE: Vauxhall Corsa SRi | Shed of the Week
Discussion
Limpet said:
My sister has a 2008 Corsa, albeit a lowly 1.2. She’s owned it from new, and looked after it.
It’s now done 80k and has become the most unreliable pile of junk imaginable over the past couple of years. I don’t think there’s an engine sensor that hasn’t been replaced at some point, it’s left her at the roadside more times than I can count, has had loads of electrical faults, broken coil springs, various bits of the front suspension replaced, and now the clutch slave has failed. It is basically knackered at 80,000 miles, despite being outwardly immaculate, carefully driven and religiously serviced.
Whatever else you think about Vauxhalls, they at least used to be reliable and dependable. The only saving grace it has is that parts are cheap, so getting the thing back on the road isn’t usually too expensive.
I wouldn’t touch a Corsa of this era with a bargepole.
This is exactly the problem. Forgetting the outraged Vauxhall haters and their pent up rage issues, Vauxhall/Opel went from some really good cars in the 70's, 80's and 90's generally considered tough and often desirable (Manta, Carlton, Senator, Astra GTE, Cav 4X4/Turbo and so on) and usually highly regarded (alright the Viva wouldn't start reliably without a Sparkrite), and then went to the ECOTEC engines, which after (particularly) the previous red top in the was a massive nightmare with engine sensor problems. It’s now done 80k and has become the most unreliable pile of junk imaginable over the past couple of years. I don’t think there’s an engine sensor that hasn’t been replaced at some point, it’s left her at the roadside more times than I can count, has had loads of electrical faults, broken coil springs, various bits of the front suspension replaced, and now the clutch slave has failed. It is basically knackered at 80,000 miles, despite being outwardly immaculate, carefully driven and religiously serviced.
Whatever else you think about Vauxhalls, they at least used to be reliable and dependable. The only saving grace it has is that parts are cheap, so getting the thing back on the road isn’t usually too expensive.
I wouldn’t touch a Corsa of this era with a bargepole.
I had a '97 2.0 16v Astra back in '99, it was back at Vauxhall under the Network Q warranty for 4.5 months of the 6 I had it because it wouldn't idle, almost always had an engine light on. It had.... 3 idle air control valves, 2 camshaft speed sensors, 2 crankshaft speed sensors, a new engine wiring harness, a replacement ECU, and it still wouldn't idle and still had the engine management light on. In the end the dealer bought it back and did a swap for a similar car.
That replacement Astra was fine for 110,000 miles, but then the sensors started failing and it always had a weird problem where the engine would cut out every single time it was driven out the tunnel at Heathrow Airport. I got into a system of putting in the clutch and coasting round to the start of the M4 spur, where it would always re-start. Only place it ever happened and the only car. Every Vauxhall taxi I got into in the 90's (at least 50% were Cavaliers or Insignias) had the engine management light on. It's why I never bought another Vauxhall or leased one as a company car.
Neil-b3l6l said:
The PCP badge snobs are out in force today!
Never owned a Vauxhall, but there's clearly a market for them, so you produce for that market. As for that particular car, I agree with earlier comments that the owner should ideally take it for an MOT test and either pass or know what the issues are, but it's a nice enough looking, decent performance providing small car that will no doubt do someone a turn.
There's clearly a market for Glenns Vodka, doesn't mean it's good either. Never owned a Vauxhall, but there's clearly a market for them, so you produce for that market. As for that particular car, I agree with earlier comments that the owner should ideally take it for an MOT test and either pass or know what the issues are, but it's a nice enough looking, decent performance providing small car that will no doubt do someone a turn.
sgtBerbatov said:
Neil-b3l6l said:
The PCP badge snobs are out in force today!
Never owned a Vauxhall, but there's clearly a market for them, so you produce for that market. As for that particular car, I agree with earlier comments that the owner should ideally take it for an MOT test and either pass or know what the issues are, but it's a nice enough looking, decent performance providing small car that will no doubt do someone a turn.
There's clearly a market for Glenns Vodka, doesn't mean it's good either. Never owned a Vauxhall, but there's clearly a market for them, so you produce for that market. As for that particular car, I agree with earlier comments that the owner should ideally take it for an MOT test and either pass or know what the issues are, but it's a nice enough looking, decent performance providing small car that will no doubt do someone a turn.
Sean207 said:
the vxr nurb' and clubsport had decent writeups and some fairly exotic parts...
Somewhere deep in Luton there were some engineers that really wanted to do a great hot hatch...but the donor car and interior was guff and they were just to expensive....hope they moved onto Renault...or Lotus...(or maybe even the airport)
There have always been some innovative engineering bods at Vauxhall . I have personal knowledge of some fabulous projects that never got past the test tracks after management or accounting decisions. Somewhere deep in Luton there were some engineers that really wanted to do a great hot hatch...but the donor car and interior was guff and they were just to expensive....hope they moved onto Renault...or Lotus...(or maybe even the airport)
V8 Victor anyone. Negative camber Viva GT that handled like a dream .
The Mrs had a 1.0 3 cylinder corsa D in this colour when I first met her.
Absolutely gastly thing. Verged on dangerous when pulling out of junctions and sounded like a lawnmower (lawnmower probably quicker).
Only positive was that inside it was quite spacious. It broke a lot and I was glad when I managed to convince her to get rid.
Why anyone would want one of these is beyond me, there are such better alternatives. Poor shed this week.
Absolutely gastly thing. Verged on dangerous when pulling out of junctions and sounded like a lawnmower (lawnmower probably quicker).
Only positive was that inside it was quite spacious. It broke a lot and I was glad when I managed to convince her to get rid.
Why anyone would want one of these is beyond me, there are such better alternatives. Poor shed this week.
It's a no from me too...
My other half had a 2005 Corsa which she bought dirt cheap; no deposit and sweet FA interest. It was fundamentally a really good little car; cheap as chips to run, passed very MOT, never broke down in the eight years she had it. Despite this I hated that car - the driving position was awful, I really struggled to get comfortable, the interior plastics were pretty grim and wasn't very nice to drive. The only redeeming feature for me was that it had A/C (the first car we had between us that did).
My 2005 Clio I had at the time was a much nicer car to drive.
My other half had a 2005 Corsa which she bought dirt cheap; no deposit and sweet FA interest. It was fundamentally a really good little car; cheap as chips to run, passed very MOT, never broke down in the eight years she had it. Despite this I hated that car - the driving position was awful, I really struggled to get comfortable, the interior plastics were pretty grim and wasn't very nice to drive. The only redeeming feature for me was that it had A/C (the first car we had between us that did).
My 2005 Clio I had at the time was a much nicer car to drive.
Zygot said:
A work colleagues 2006 Corsa developed a brake issue this week. The garage it went to basically condemned it as being beyond economic repair.
If I was even considering this car (not that I would), I'd want a shiny new MoT at the vendors expense. The mileage issue is also a big red flag methinks.
a brake issue and its beyond repair? maybe if it had abs the abs unit was useless but other than that I cant see how.If I was even considering this car (not that I would), I'd want a shiny new MoT at the vendors expense. The mileage issue is also a big red flag methinks.
servo needed replacing but the engines got to come out to change it maybe?
fluids discs calipers lines and pads etc though all fairly cheap....
I used to drive my ex's a lot. It's one of 2 cars that I've ever driven that is completely characterless, the other being an E46 316i. Dead engine, gearbox, lifeless steering, it's an appliance. Fords may rot, but at least they're a laugh to drive until they do. I'd rather enjoy driving a Ford for 10 years before it turns to dust than be bored senseless in a Vauxhall for 15. Hateful cars.
Surely heading into winter, this would've been a better SOTW?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
aaron_2000 said:
Surely heading into winter, this would've been a better SOTW?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Now that's a cool shed https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I've had involvement with 2 previous corsas, a 94 1.4 Sri which was good for the 2 says a month that it didn't have a brake or mis fire issue.
When I met the missus she had a 2003 1.0 and it was (as a poster above has noted) the worst engine in any vehicle I've driven, an old panda 750 was better ! That was px'd when the footwells kept filling with water due to a (apparently common) poor sealing of the bulkhead
The new ones might be better but the older ones were naff
Roboticarm said:
aaron_2000 said:
Surely heading into winter, this would've been a better SOTW?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Now that's a cool shed https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I've had involvement with 2 previous corsas, a 94 1.4 Sri which was good for the 2 says a month that it didn't have a brake or mis fire issue.
When I met the missus she had a 2003 1.0 and it was (as a poster above has noted) the worst engine in any vehicle I've driven, an old panda 750 was better ! That was px'd when the footwells kept filling with water due to a (apparently common) poor sealing of the bulkhead
The new ones might be better but the older ones were naff
The VXR version of this was one of Autocars favorites, mechanically this example is identical – only body kit and engine calibration differ.
A simple map would have a similarly great driving car that flies well under the radar looks wise.
I’d be weary of the M32 gearbox though but these can be upgraded quite reasonably now.
A simple map would have a similarly great driving car that flies well under the radar looks wise.
I’d be weary of the M32 gearbox though but these can be upgraded quite reasonably now.
If I remember correctly, Heston Blumenthal once chewed on unpalatable python meat while musing that the reason we regularly choose to eat chicken, beef and lamb is because it tastes good. He then threw the python meat away and cooked something else.
There is a reason there's never been a Corsa Shed Of The Week, and it's the same reason that Waitrose don't sell python meat.
Sorry Shed; poor choice.
There is a reason there's never been a Corsa Shed Of The Week, and it's the same reason that Waitrose don't sell python meat.
Sorry Shed; poor choice.
Cambs_Stuart said:
I have to say I'm disappointed. Its like the VXR wihout the good bits that make the VXR fun. Was this really the best/most interesting/fun sub-£1500 car out there?
We did think this might happen! Promise Shed is always thought about and considered, there just wasn't a great selection this week (and doesn't tend to be this time of year). And we don't like to repeat ourselves where possible. Perhaps in this instance we've cut our nose off to spite our face! Hopefully a better car list will present itself next week!Cheers,
Matt
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