Vauxhall Meriva - review
- Thread starter Kitchster_uk
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Not really. In fact not even slightly. This is a car, albeit with the refinement of an agricultural vehicle. It's deigned to transport people.
Its a 1.4 which is 90PS, the 1.6 is 105PS. The 1.6 Ford Zetec-SE only had 101PS for comparison.
Its an old engine, you're comparing to an engine with VCT in the Puma 125PS, and the 1.6 Ti-VCT in the new fiesta is 120PS.
I believe GM are well overdue to replace their lower range engines and will go straight to the turbo/SC route without refining their small petrol engines.
Caporegime
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[TW]Fox;13481760 said:
Yep, people who grew in 1921 who don't own their original eyes and think the fact you can hear someones voice over the radio is still amazing, so the concept of going someplace in something that you don't have to tie up and put in a field at night still astounds them.
I learned to drive in one when I did my intensive course(s) several months ago. As a car to learn to drive in, it's reasonably suitable; the driving position was a bit higher than the usual hatchbacks and it felt more stable on the road compared to the Ka I'd had lessons in before (which was utterly dreadful to drive), and it was at least quite short and stubby making parking and the manoeuvres somewhat easier. It was a 1.7 or 1.8 diesel and I quite liked how it had more 'pull' in 1st and 2nd than my petrol Astra does. That's about it.
Never completely understood the point of those mini-MPVs though, they're shorter than the proper MPV so you lose boot space and legroom, and taller than the equivalent hatchback so you feel like you're sat at the dinner table rather than in your car.
Never completely understood the point of those mini-MPVs though, they're shorter than the proper MPV so you lose boot space and legroom, and taller than the equivalent hatchback so you feel like you're sat at the dinner table rather than in your car.
Soldato
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[TW]Fox;13481760 said:
A bit harsh is it not, how is someone a braindead moron for buying a Meriva ?
Don't get me wrong you would stupid to pay 12k for one however no one pays full price for a Vauxhall you could pick one up for around 8k run it more than likely trouble free for 3 years and flog it on for 4.5-5k hardly expensive motoring. My girlfriend had a Clio that she had for 4 years and only lost 2.5k on it, come resale time it was worth more than a 7 series of the same year.
It is aimed at woman doing the school run/shopping which is does well. When you have kids putting rubbish down the seats, dirt all over the place and hand prints on ever surface you don't look for astounding quality interior as it will be covered in dirt in a week, these people look at it as a tool to get a job done. Not sure how it compares to a Zafira however it has no rattles after 17k in a year with 4-6 kids in it everyday on school runs (Girlfriend runs a nursery) it has even towed a few things well. My girlfriend loves her Zafira and picked it over a Mondeo ST so it goes to show different people have different priorites when picking a car, I wouldn't pick one however it is not me that is driving it everyday so could hardly force her to get a different car.
The people asking what is the point to a Meriva over a Fiesta/Corsa clearly has never put 2 kids in child seats daily the extra height in the seats/roof/doors has a huge difference in this respect.
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We get occasional threads on whether people should buy something like this - the Corsa for example. It may have been alright, it turned out that it wasn't but I feel that it was a fair reflection of the car - it had some good points and a great deal of bad points. If it saves some poor sap from buying a Meriva or Corsa C then job done.
Oh come on, you have to be stupid to buy one of these - there are so many better cars available to the Meriva. A Focus at a year old is much better and is not difficult to get two kids in with child seats - people have been doing it for years. If you mus buy something this big, stop being a retard and buy the Focus C-Max which is tall. And better. Can someone point out to me a situation where the the Meriva is better than the C-Max? Thought not. It is a ****-poor solution to a problem that is not relevant to the majority of society.
As soon as kids are out over a few years, a Mondeo becomes the better idea as you can have the dog in too - the Meriva boot has the capacity of a beer glass.
THAT, my friend, I assure you isnt a 'consistent' occurence. Unless the 7 series was being given away because its interior was violated by death and blood, and the Clio was originally bought for 2.5k.
Soldato
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The Ford Fusion is the closer rival to a Meriva and they are both comparable neither are going to set the world on fire however people like them over a Corsa/Fiesta otherwise they wouldn't sell them. All comes down to personal choice here both are reliable and similair build quality offering similair spec and engines. If you had had a Fusion I am sure the review would have been similair, I personally would also buy neither of them either but the point is some people do like them.
The C-Max is a closer rival to the Zafira both are a lot more pratical than a Meriva/Fusion and they are much the same with plus/minus points to each with both getting pretty good reviews as a family car.
You can get child seats in a Focus however its a lot easier to get them in a higher car with a higher roofline and its this market the cars are aimed at and no doubt bought by and old people who find it easier to get in them. My girlfriends grandad pysically can't get in my car as the car/seat is too low however gets in her Zafira no problem.
Soldato
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Clio sold for 2k on a T plate this was a private sale however we were offered £1600 as a trade in. This was about 2 and half years ago I think, the reason it stuck in my mind was someone on here sold his 728 for less money at the same time and was close in age to the clio.
With all this debate about whether the Meriva is pointless or not, what about the Meriva VXR?
If you wanted a sporty car, why would you buy an MPV?
What. The. Hell.
Why on earth did they 'VXR' that thing? I looks awful.
I think this sums up the worst of Vx.. Tarting up a Meriva is cringeworthy, and I bet they sold bugger all (unless given away), sporting one up is just so against the target market for those things!
Oddly, I have a pet hate for any of the 5 seater MPV-esque wannabe's, but when you talk to people that have them, you soon understand that they don't have a great interest in cars, and it is features like the easier access that is all they are after.. It still baffles me, but each to their own..
We went round in the MVXR on the VXR days last year, the guy driving it was a mini racing driver, and he was ragging the nuts of it round the track, Ive never been so scared in my life
but it wasnt a disastrous car as you would expect.Zafira VXR is fun tho.
I had a Meriva, when they 1st came out, it was hire car special for work and my god it was dire, but the early ones were dangerous imo, I had a brown pants moment when a lorry pulled out in front of me, they are not a stable if you are breaking from speed.
Its a OAP special, like the Nissan Note,Honda Jazz and the Toyota Yaris Verso.
but it wasnt a disastrous car as you would expect.Zafira VXR is fun tho.I had a Meriva, when they 1st came out, it was hire car special for work and my god it was dire, but the early ones were dangerous imo, I had a brown pants moment when a lorry pulled out in front of me, they are not a stable if you are breaking from speed.
Its a OAP special, like the Nissan Note,Honda Jazz and the Toyota Yaris Verso.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Even now you'd struggle to find a GOOD 7 series on a T plate for £2k. 2.5 years ago and a half decent T plate 7 Series was more than £5000.
Well I dont see how that backs up anything, then, I assumed the Clio was bought new. Cars arent made just so they can be sold used, LOTS of people buy them brand new. And pretty much all pay full price. And yes, I feel the same way about them as you do. (full price being RRP less marketing)