Are Vauxhalls really as bad as I think?

M3G4UK

M3G4UK

M3G4UK

Associate
Joined
23 May 2005
Posts
672
Location
Essex
Hi all,

Was on my way back from work tonight and saw a Vauxhall Meriva wheelspin whilst trying to get over a humped junction. My auto Corsa C also did the same thing. After driving the corsa, I have to say it's without doubt one of the worst handling cars I've ever driven. It was like sliding a cup over a table covered in baby oil. It'd wheelspin with the slightest of power, skid whenever you applied firm braking and for some reason even ended up rolling back down hills slightly with the handbrake on. Of course, my corsa was a 2001 model. However, my sister has an '07 Astra 1.6. Not only is it incredibly gutless, but in the light smattering of snow we had just after the large snowstorms in early Feb, it gave her hell. It wouldn't move... we even got overtaken by a Matiz! In the end we had to ditch the car, and when it came to steering we had to get out of the car and pull it in the direction we wanted it to go. We didn't see anyone else do that.

So are vauxhalls really this naff or am I just jaded?
 
M3G4UK said:
Hi all,

Was on my way back from work tonight and saw a Vauxhall Meriva wheelspin whilst trying to get over a humped junction. My auto Corsa C also did the same thing. After driving the corsa, I have to say it's without doubt one of the worst handling cars I've ever driven. It was like sliding a cup over a table covered in baby oil. It'd wheelspin with the slightest of power, skid whenever you applied firm braking and for some reason even ended up rolling back down hills slightly with the handbrake on. Of course, my corsa was a 2001 model. However, my sister has an '07 Astra 1.6. Not only is it incredibly gutless, but in the light smattering of snow we had just after the large snowstorms in early Feb, it gave her hell. It wouldn't move... we even got overtaken by a Matiz! In the end we had to ditch the car, and when it came to steering we had to get out of the car and pull it in the direction we wanted it to go. We didn't see anyone else do that.

So are vauxhalls really this naff or am I just jaded?
Click to expand...

Basing your opinion on a corsa that by the sounds of it needed new tyres, and an astra driving in thick snow?

LOL?
 
From your post I would say it's your tyres, rather than the car.
 
I am beginning to think it was the tyres. But the bodyroll in the corsa was immense. I'll never forget going round one of the roundabouts at bluewater holding on for dear life thinking the car might just flip itself over!

And I'm not basing it on the corsa, but the fact the meriva seemed to behave in the same manner as the corsa... but I've heard corsas especially are notorious for terrible handling.

My 206 is a much better drive. It holds the road!
 
You genuinely belive Vauxhalls as a general car manufacturer are more prone to the above mentioned issues in the OP? Err no, basically. I drive currently - not out of choice - a Corsa 1.2ltr 2003 plate. It's absolutely fine. Ok so chavs drive them, but its a nippy* nimble little car with good road holding ability. Its well built and insulated - apart from a poorly designed gear box rod that is prone to going - and is generally on par with other cars of the same size. I don't really get this whole slating of Vauxhall thing. Ok so the cars maybe a bit bland at times but really they are fine imo. You wanna try driving some french cars mate ;)

*Before the petrol heads get on here saying I said a 1.2ltr was nippy when it's actually slow, I am not saying it is fast ( i have owned performance cars ) but simply nippy for its small capacity.
 
My corsa doesnt handle like that, and its a 1999V reg!! Lol :D

It just reminded me seeing the post above, they are cars that are modded by chavs, but then I'm a poor student so thats my excuse :p
 
I use a Vauxhall Astra as a panda at work and I have to say that are a decent enough car. They handle quite well and for a vehicle that is used for 12 hours a day and stacks up Enterprise like mileage, they soldier on.

Some of the older sweat trafffic lads who currently drive Beemers say that they would have the old 3L Senator back anyday.

Vauxhall are not the best cars out there but they are far from the worst.

I have no issues with them at all.

At OP, it sounds like tyres and not the car.
 
Vx are not 'naff', not even hyundai's are 'naff'.

Vx are just run of the mill cars which do nothing well, no doubt the army of Vx fans will be on here claiming they are fine, and they are on the whole, but for those of us who actually like cars, they are not:p

VXR range is good fun tho.
 
Perhaps my corsa was a dud then. But I've driven a multitude of other superminis and they've all been better. Even the autoboxes were better! My mates corsa diesel was pretty bad. Bodyroll was immense, grip seemed a bit better than mine though.

Ford Fiesta for example... another run of the mill car but also doesn't give the feeling you're going to die when you're on a roundabout!
 
maybe its the way you're driving it? Dont see why a car would give you the feeling of death going round a roundabout unless you are driving like a lunatic.
 
Are Vauxhall still doing those stupid indicator stalks that don't latch and need some precision positioning in order to get them to cancel?

I don't car how good the cars may or may not be, those indicators are a deal breaker. It's hardly surprising that Vectra drivers never indicate.
 
Lum said:
Are Vauxhall still doing those stupid indicator stalks that don't latch and need some precision positioning in order to get them to cancel?

I don't car how good the cars may or may not be, those indicators are a deal breaker. It's hardly surprising that Vectra drivers never indicate.
Click to expand...

They are very easy to use but I do understand if you have trouble using them, retards often have trouble operating simple things.
 
I can work them. I just find it annoying that to cancel the indicator you have to push the stalk only half way, push too far and you start signalling the other way. I have more important things to think about when driving such as where the hell I'm going so would prefer an indicator that I can work without needing to think about it.

I guess if I had the car long enough but fortunately I only ever have to suffer them as short term hire cars.
 
That's what you are doing wrong, there is no need to cancel. Push it down slightly and it will blink for 3 flashes, handy for lane changes. If going around a corner, push it down all the way and it will say, it will self cancel when you straighten up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom