The GTC

[TW]Fox · 28 Apr 2012 at 14:44

The most amusing thing about enormous wheels on eco-cars is that nobody ever seems to factor in the cost of tyres. It's all very well having road tax at £30 a year but when your tyre bill is £1k for 4 it kinda makes a mockery of it?

It's amazing how little people pay attention to the cost of tyres when factoring TCO of a car. Even mine for example costs me about 4p a mile in tyres and I don't have 19's. For every 200 mile journey thats 8 quid in tyres..

For the newer car buyer its probably not a huge issue as they can afford it but can you imagine the sort of tyres you'll find on a car like this once its 5-10 years old..

Princey · 28 Apr 2012 at 14:48

£8 in tyres is a figure I've never actually though of before. :eek:

Clarkey · 28 Apr 2012 at 15:03

Princey said:
£8 in tyres is a figure I've never actually though of before.

Best not to, I find

Fusion · 28 Apr 2012 at 15:09

[TW]Fox;21788061 said:
The most amusing thing about enormous wheels on eco-cars is that nobody ever seems to factor in the cost of tyres. It's all very well having road tax at £30 a year but when your tyre bill is £1k for 4 it kinda makes a mockery of it?

It's amazing how little people pay attention to the cost of tyres when factoring TCO of a car. Even mine for example costs me about 4p a mile in tyres and I don't have 19's. For every 200 mile journey thats 8 quid in tyres..

Very true about tyre costs. It seems to be one cost in particular that many people just don't think about, whereas people go crazy over road tax- often considering changing their car just to save £50/£100 a year.

Just checked black circles, cheapest tyre in 235/45/19 was £211 fitted which is hefty for a diesel Astra!

I don't dislike the GTC, although I wouldn't buy one.

Joe T · 28 Apr 2012 at 15:20

Tyre costs is why I couldn't put 20" wheels on it.

[TW]Fox · 28 Apr 2012 at 15:22

Joe T said:
Tyre costs is why I couldn't put 20" wheels on it.

Surely its not your problem though as its a company car?

PMKeates · 28 Apr 2012 at 15:23

Wrong kind of GTC

Joe T · 28 Apr 2012 at 15:25

[TW]Fox;21788372 said:
Surely its not your problem though as its a company car?

Exactly, that's why it's not allowed.

DazQ87 · 28 Apr 2012 at 15:37

I have a bit of a soft spot for these (I drive an 2006 3d astra as it is), I will be considering one as a finishing uni/promotion present to myself in a few weeks, probably only in 1.6T form though.

PMKeates · 28 Apr 2012 at 16:10

DazQ87 said:
I have a bit of a soft spot for these (I drive an 2006 3d astra as it is), I will be considering one as a finishing uni/promotion present to myself in a few weeks, probably only in 1.6T form though.

Joe T has an excuse to have lots of these, but you are going to actually purchase one for yourself as a gift!?

There is nothing else you might want?

danza · 28 Apr 2012 at 16:47

Twenty inch wheels. TWENTY INCHES. Every wigga and his dog will be speccing the car out for wheels that could be fitted to his lowrida Saxo. 19s are too much on a hatchback, let alone those that wouldn't look totally out of place on a Hummer.

Yo dawg, we heard you like unsprung mass etc. etc.

Skeeter · 28 Apr 2012 at 17:52

You know, I'd never really thought about the used car thing with large wheels, but when these cars are down to £2k used how many people buying them are going to realise they will be spending half the value of the car on a set of tyres...

We just have to hope that large wheels become so common that it drives the prices of large tyres down. But even on my 10 year old Clio a change from 16s to 15s still represents a 50% saving in tyre costs.

I don't think any of today's new hot hatches are going to become cheap track weapons in 10 years

Tinders · 28 Apr 2012 at 18:03

Of course big tyres will be the norm in years to come so prices should come down.

NathWraith · 28 Apr 2012 at 18:15

lets not start the 20/21 inch debate again

Looks similar to the megane coupe tbh

Shimmyhill · 28 Apr 2012 at 18:17

Tinders said:
Of course big tyres will be the norm in years to come so prices should come down.

Evo have a theory this month that wheel sizes will be getting smaller soon for economy and ride comfort etc.

Whats all the hate for the GTC, its the leader in its class for ride and fun and only behind some of the competition for interior quality?

peterattheboro · 28 Apr 2012 at 18:17

Saw one of these today. It's like one of those cartoon cars with the comically large wheels.

[TW]Fox · 28 Apr 2012 at 18:18

Shimmyhill said:
Whats all the hate for the GTC, its the leader in its class for ride and fun

Really?

Presumably only because the Focus 3 door isn't out yet and everyone is pretending the Scirocco is in a different class?

Princey · 28 Apr 2012 at 18:24

Really,

There is still the Civic, Megane and 308 ect. I'm sure the Focus will be a better car but still, Vauxhall have come a long away as of late, they still have some length to go yet but they are going in the right direction.

Joe T · 28 Apr 2012 at 18:26

[TW]Fox;21789559 said:
Really?

Presumably only because the Focus 3 door isn't out yet and everyone is pretending the Scirocco is in a different class?

There is no Focus coming as far as I know, and the GTC beats the Scirocco in the group tests I've read....

Some people need to open their minds!

NathWraith · 28 Apr 2012 at 18:41

Joe T said:
There is no Focus coming as far as I know, and the GTC beats the Scirocco in the group tests I've read....

Some people need to open their minds!

I find it hard to believe the GTC beats the scirocco but then again I haven't read these group tests.

Got a link?