How Bad are Vauxhalls?

[bagusbagus]

Needed a 7seater, I have an option to get a 2013 zafira, 2 owners with 100k miles for dirt cheap , I mean 1k cheap and looks in decent condition..
However..
Previously I laughed at people who were purchasing vauxhalls & french miracles as they were such junk and I could never imagine having one as I don't want to get stuck on a side of a road in one nor constantly pay money to repair them...
My neighbour has a 2005 zafira and I see it being taken to service every few months...

+ the car is a Damn Diesel...Trouble waiting to happen,actually a turbo has already been changed on it.. so I guess that's good that I won't have to change it myself ,but goes to show the reliability of it..

What do you say guys?
Am I just paranoid or?
I have really had only hondas in past, Just add fuel to those and don't have to worry about a thing and can run them in to ground with perfect reliability.

[sonnenschein3000]

We've had Vauxhalls before (Corsa and Astra), and I've found them to be quite good..... They're quite enjoyable to drive around town.

[anonymous-user]

Zafira - the ones that catch fire? No wonder it's so cheap.

To me, Vauxhall don't do anything particularly well and I would never buy one as there are far more interesting things and by that I mean things like Renaults, or Citroens at least they have character!

If you're after a cheap seven seater get I would get an Seat Alhambra.

[Court_S]

My other half had a Corsa for years. I hated the bloody thing but technically it was a really good little car that never broke down and cost peanuts to run.

[Lincsls1]

Had a few over the years and they've been very reliable indeed.
In fact my current work horse is an Astra 2005 1.7 turbo diesel, had it for 2 years, its got 140k on the clock and it is proving to be bullet proof. Twist n go. Its the Isuzu engine in mine.
The bodywork is holding back the corrosion very nicely as well, no signs of rust at all.
I appreciate that this era of Astra is when a Vauxhall was all Vauxhall. Can't speak of later models.

Funny how you rate Honda so highly, my neighbour has a Civic and she's had a lot of trouble with it. I'm sure its just an unlucky example, but ever manufacturer has them.

[Deep Thought]

bagusbagus said:

Needed a 7seater, I have an option to get a 2013 zafira, 2 owners with 100k miles for dirt cheap , I mean 1k cheap and looks in decent condition..
However..
Previously I laughed at people who were purchasing vauxhalls & french miracles as they were such junk and I could never imagine having one as I don't want to get stuck on a side of a road in one nor constantly pay money to repair them...
My neighbour has a 2005 zafira and I see it being taken to service every few months...

+ the car is a Damn Diesel...Trouble waiting to happen,actually a turbo has already been changed on it.. so I guess that's good that I won't have to change it myself ,but goes to show the reliability of it..

What do you say guys?
Am I just paranoid or?
I have really had only hondas in past, Just add fuel to those and don't have to worry about a thing and can run them in to ground with perfect reliability.

Whats the DMF like on it? Any warning lights on the dash? These are prone to DPF failures also.

A turbo replacement could be a sign of DPF problems. DPF clogs up, EGR valve clogs up, turbo has to work harder and packs in.

Its odd its so cheap. Is it cheap because the seller is sick of (thus you'd be buying someone elses problems) or because theres known / upcoming problems and hes getting rid before it costs him any more. OR is it a mate offering you his car at the price hes been given @ trade in?

[LosingGrip]

My parents had a two over the years. Just the basic model (but new). No issues with them. Nothing amazing though.

I had a Corsa (62 plate) and it was bad to drive. But then I did get the 1.2. Mum however loved it, and when I wrote hers off she got another one (1.4 this time).

Work have Astras and they are ste. Horrible things. Under powered, can't get comfy in them. However I could get comfy in my Corsa...

[Burgerbob]

I think your post explains why Vauxhall's are cheap.

My previous car was a 2011 Astra diesel, in 25k and 2 years I bought tyres, brake pads, new wipers and had it serviced.

Current car is a French miracle, just paid for consumables and servicing so far.

Plus I've never had an unreliable diesel.

I'd suggest to gain a sensible view of reliability rather than people's perception, research JD power surveys, warranty companies surveys etc. You may be surprised!

[evoivboy]

i Quite like it that nobody likes Vauxhalls

2 and a half years ago we were looking for a replacement for our 2004 A6

For £8k we were looking at a 2009/2010 basic spec Audi/Bmw/Mercedes/Mondeo with 70k miles plus
Then i started looking at Insignia's

Ended up with a 2012 2.0 tdti se Nav auto with 40k miles and loads of spec, really nice car to drive and no issues so far

[James_33]

We had a 2006 astra 1.4 for 5 years and we did a couple of trips to the top end of Scotland from South Yorkshire in it plus a lot of other long trips and it never missed a beat, ok the quality isn't going to be up to premium marque's but they aren't premium money.

For every bad car there's a good one, infact you can find plenty of threads on here on how premium brands have caused nothing but headaches.

[Deep Thought]

Burgerbob said:

I'd suggest to gain a sensible view of reliability rather than people's perception, research JD power surveys, warranty companies surveys etc. You may be surprised!

I think reading up on the internet about reliability doesnt change the fact this car seems to be ultra cheap, for no given reason so far, and has already taken a turbo, which doesnt bode well.

I used to sell cars and these would have come through us very regularly.

With my trader hat on, alarm bells are ringing for me.

DPFs and DMFs are major problems with these cars. I'd be doing major due diligence on the car itself, not looking up some reliability index on the internet...

[Deep Thought]

Also from memory - assuming its a 1.9CDTI - they are belt driven so check for the belt change history (and service history while you're at it).

[joropug]

I'm in a 650 quid 97k 05 astra 1.7d . It's fine tbh drives alright, original turbo.

I would bite their hand off you'll get that back all day long if you don't like it.

Cambelt is the main thing I'd check / get done

[anonymous-user]

My dad had a Vauxhall Victor in the early 70s
Rust bucket

[Vanordinaire]

My daughter's trying to sell her old car at the moment. Its a 2009 Astra. Nothing at all wrong with it, she's had it for three years and 60000 miles and done nothing to it but add petrol and service it. It's just a boring car with a chav reputation, she can't get £500 for it. Not that she cares, it only cost her £1000 three years ago.
They are pretty good as far as 'white goods' go, but worth almost nothing even compared to budget far eastern brands.
OP, if you want something cheap to do a job and don't care about image or selling it later, the Zafira will probably be a good buy. But bear in mind a description I heard years ago about them, "automotive onesies", for stressed mums who don't care about how they look anymore and just want something comfortable and easy to shuffle about in.

[Digby]

I do a lot of miles a year and I would suggest 95% of the time, every time I see something broken down at the side of the road, it's either a 5+ year old Vauxhall, or 5+ years old and French.

[MrGTI6]

Perfectly decent cars. Nothing exciting, but if maintained well, should be reliable - albeit boring - transport. As others have said, keep on top of cam belt changes.

[anonymous-user]

I hate them but I would take it at £1k

[Lincsls1]

Digby said:

I do a lot of miles a year and I would suggest 95% of the time, every time I see something broken down at the side of the road, it's either a 5+ year old Vauxhall, or 5+ years old and French.

Or just about any other brand of car!

[Lincsls1]

Now I appreciate this is 2 years old but....



Vauxhalls. Terrible car, not.