Mini Rant: Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 (2009)

[Pete-M]

I'm not a badge snob. I'd happily swap my Audi for a Mk2 Granada ;-)I'm not a fan of any of the far eastern manufacturers other than Subarus. The odd Honda is ok, I quite like some Mazdas, but I don't like 'white goods' motoring. Daihatsus, Kias, Toyotas, they all bore me. I can't abide Vauxhalls for the reasons I've already stated in this thread, shite steering / ride / handling etc.I'd be a lot happier with a Ford than with any of 'em.

[FredTransit]

I'm not a badge snob. I'd happily swap my Audi for a Mk2 Granada ;-)I'm not a fan of any of the far eastern manufacturers other than Subarus. The odd Honda is ok, I quite like some Mazdas, but I don't like 'white goods' motoring. Daihatsus, Kias, Toyotas, they all bore me. I can't abide Vauxhalls for the reasons I've already stated in this thread, shite steering / ride / handling etc.I'd be a lot happier with a Ford than with any of 'em.

Here here! Sorry jap owners.....

[dollywobbler]

I just refuse to make sweeping generalisations myself. I'm not really a Ford fan, but late Sierras float my boat. I'd love a Sapphire GLS or an XR4x4.Japanese cars can be dull but a Mazda MX-3 or MX-5 makes an entertaining drive, and I love some of their wackier designs.

[AnthonyG]

A new Ford Fiesta is a lot better than a Picanto, i10, Getz whatever - but that's becuase it's in the class above. I've never driven any Corsa so I can't speak for them, but I would have a Fiesta over any of that Far Eastern stuff already mentioned. A Picanto may be fine for town but would you drive from London to Scotland in one?The thing about this class of cars has already been pointed out by R.Welfare, by the time you have specced up a really nice version, you might as well get a simpler version of the model above - Focus, Golf, 308, whatever.If I wanted a boggo cheap set of new wheels I would probably get a Panda - I'm not aware of any major reliability issues with them.

[Milford Cubicle]

I've driven from Scotland to London in an early Peugeot 106 1.1, it was fine apart from the tiny pedals. I imagine a Kia Picanto would make a much better job of the journey. It's a long time since small cars were no good outside of the city limits.

[Pete-M]

I did 600 miles in a day in a 1.0 Citroen AX years ago and it wasn't bad - other than the same tiny pedals as a 106.I've also done 60 miles in a High'n'dry Accident and that was bloody awful. The least pleasurable thing I've driven in the last few years was a Daewoo Tacuma - that felt like a very badly maintained Mk2 Cav even though the thing had only done 25000 miles.When I worked for Avis in the '90s they had a lot of new Daewoos / Kias / Hyundais and the like. The Hyundai Coupé wasn't bad, and the larger engined Lantras seemed to go ok, but they were the exceptions to the rule. Most of the others felt like they'd done 100,000 miles when they were brand new. Sloppy, rough, and generally nasty. Most weren't even that good on fuel. I really wanted to like the big V6 Hyundai Sonata thing but truth be told they were perfect Autoshite the minute they left the factory. At the time I was running an '82 Granada 2.8i Ghia X and the ol' Granny felt so smooth and comfy after the new Hyundai it was surprising. Don't get me wrong, the European manufacturers cocked up a fair few times as well. Auto Clios were pretty bad, Escorts were light years behind most stuff - barely better than Corsas, Lagunas seemed to be forever popping gearboxes, Volvo S40s were noisy and didn't ride well, they always sounded like they had dodgy wheel bearings.Mk2 Primeras were pretty good, but the seat doesn't go back quite far enough in them for me so I could never get comfy, Mazda 626s were painless but also dull. Toyota Carina E's could be hustled surprisingly well but the handbrake is in a truly stupid position - the Avensis was nicer to drive but totally forgettable. The shark nosed Galants weren't bad - the 24v ones certainly went well. Kia Sedona V6s were amusingly quick in a straight line, but all the trim fell off.

[danthecapriman]

I think its got alot to do with 'badge snobbery'. Alot of people couldnt care less if the car is brilliant to drive, reliable, comfy, whatever... If it hasnt got a good badge they consider it rubbish.Kia, perodua (Is that spelt right!?) to a lesser extent Hyundai, who wants that cheap crap when you could have Ford or Vauxhall?Although I just could not drive a car called a Pixo, or a Note for that matter! No idea what inspired those name choices!

You are right though,and adding to that most people my age wouldnt want to be seen dead in something with a korean badge on the front.There seems to be five choices for people my age:Corsa, Fiesta, Saxo, 106, 206.Me? I cant afford any of them yet.Also, am i right in thinking that this:

Kia, perodua (Is that spelt right!?) to a lesser extent Hyundai, who wants that cheap crap when you could have Ford or Vauxhall?

is an extract from badge snobs mind you previously mentioned?Or a a teeny weeny bit of hypocrisy?

Yes, I meant it as what a badge snob might think. Didnt mean it to be hypocritical in any way.

[Gompo]

Although a lot of it is obviously 'badge snobbery' I think a fair amount is just 'badge familiarity'. So many people just have Fords (or others), every 5 years or so pop down and see what's on offer at there local dealer. I've not driven masses of small cars, but the most fun was had in a Fiat Seicento Sporting. Often said that Fiat build the best small cars (in terms of 'driving') and I am lead to believe them. It was also pretty reliable although I think after 6-7 years it was getting to the stage where things started to wear etc. Dont think I've seen the Aygo/C1/107 mentioned here yet. I dont like them at all, for what it's worth..Yeah I know these two arent really comparable with the Corsa but we have moved a bit off topic since.

[Lankytim]

I deliver cars for a living at the moment and I can confirm that these 1.2 corsas are fucking shit. The bigger engined models are much better but the new fiesta is in a leauge of its own. even the 1.2 (or whatever it is) is superb, the diesels are the best of the bunch, very powerful and economical. If anyones looking for a newish small car, the fezzas got it all.Not all Vauxhalls are shit, The last of the line diesel Vectras are excellent cars and great value ATM, the new diesel Insignia is incredibly good too. The latest Astra CDTI is the fastest thing ive ever driven and can piss all over the equilivent Golf. All have great build quality too.The new Mondeo is fapping awesome, too. Cant wait for them to become shite and cheap enough to buy.Since doing this job one thing thats surprised me is how crap Mercs are. Ford and Vauxhall are better in most repects!

[Guest]

I deliver cars for a living at the moment and I can confirm that these 1.2 corsas are fucking shit. The bigger engined models are much better but the new fiesta is in a leauge of its own. even the 1.2 (or whatever it is) is superb, the diesels are the best of the bunch, very powerful and economical. If anyones looking for a newish small car, the fezzas got it all.Not all Vauxhalls are shit, The last of the line diesel Vectras are excellent cars and great value ATM, the new diesel Insignia is incredibly good too. The latest Astra CDTI is the fastest thing ive ever driven and can piss all over the equilivent Golf. All have great build quality too.The new Mondeo is fapping awesome, too. Cant wait for them to become shite and cheap enough to buy.Since doing this job one thing thats surprised me is how crap Mercs are. Ford and Vauxhall are better in most repects!

How much are they bunging you to say all this?

[fiatdaft]

a late vectra 150 sri is actually a decent car,and believe it or not we are selling 58 plates for a grand more than we were at the start of the year.

[Milford Cubicle]

Are the later Vectras much cop to drive?My dad had an 03 SRi for a while. Apart from on motorways where it was a good cruiser it wasn't a nice thing to drive, with clunky handling and a jarring ride. I am used to much older cars, so its incompetence took me by surprise. The Rover 416 I had at the time was much more pleasant to steer.I quite liked the old 2.2DTi engine which powered it though, had a fairly seamless power delivery and it was pretty economical.

[Mr Lobster]

Are the later Vectras much cop to drive?

In short, No.They do have a lot of kit and the biggest attraction is the price - Vauxhall have very heavily discounted them so the very last Vectras can be bought surprisingly cheaply, but the chassis feels wooden and its just not very involving or interesting to drive nor particularly pleasant to hussle along a decent road.

[fiatdaft]

compared to?

[Mr Lobster]

Mondeo (even previous generation) is a lot better to drive. Theres an awful lot that drives better. Vectra would have been a very good car if it had a better chassis.Still, to be fair at the price you can buy a nearly new one then they are quite an appealing proposition if thats the sort of thing you are looking for...

[Milford Cubicle]

I feel sorry for fiatdaft, he can't win us over!I have driven a lot of cars which drive better than a Vectra, even some old rotters.Sorry.

[fiatdaft]

don't agree with the early mondeo driving better,and the newer one is at least 6k more for a similar spec.

[Pete-M]

Having driven Vectras far too regularly since they came out I'm not impressed with any of them, the 3.2 V6 jobbie doesn't half shift but otherwise they're crap. The last of them are a lot less crap than the early jobs, but that's not difficult as the early Vectra was a disaster.As I said earlier, GM seem incapable or unwilling to make cars that ride and handle well. Ford were in a similar situation in the early 90s with some properly bad cars. Mk3 Fiestas, Mk5 Escorts (RS and Cossie excluded, natch), the Sierra was ancient and outclassed but drove well, the Granny was unpopular and they survived on fleet sales and the odd private punter.Then they got their act together. The Mondeo was bloody good when it came out, the Ka handles brilliantly, they sorted the Fiesta and turned the Granada into the much better to drive Scorpio (Unfortunately they screwed up the looks). Replaced the lame duck Escort with the brilliant Focus and threw a few little gems in for bonus treats. Anyone who's driven a 1.7 Puma knows how much fun they can be.Meanwhile, Vauxhall kept on pumping out sludgy handling bilge with the exception of the Omega. Think about it, other than the Aussie rebadged stuff and a rehashed Elise there hasn't been a nice to drive Vauxhall (other than the Omega) for nearly 20 years.Corsa - crap. Astra - crap, Vectra - crap, Sintra - Ponticrap, Agila - Suzukrap, Combo - crap, Meriva - nasty crap, Zafira - 7 seater crap, Signum - stretched Vecrap, Tigra - droptop crap.The Movano and Vivaro are about the best Vauxhall products out there, and they're bloody Renaults with exploding gearboxes.Some of them have excellent engines, but most have terrible seats, horrifically bad ride quality and they've all got shite steering.

[fiatdaft]

not trying to win anybody over,just saying there are worse cars out there,btw i hate corsa's as well.pete-m i take it you have driven all of those cars?

[brammy777]

This mini rant has turned into a mega rant hahahahah.Was the senator any good as a car? I imagine they were..... always fancied one of them.So thatd be another good vauxhall if it were.I never really liked the first Vectras, i had rides in two and they were hideously uncomfy, but they were on an N and P plate, so my judgement ends there.

[Lankytim]

You lot are way too critical! Ill stand by my opinion, the late Vectra is a really good car. It handles great for a large car, granted there does seem to be some that dont drive as well as others but a good vectra is a great car.

[Mr H Sceptre]

Corsa - crap. Astra - crap, Vectra - crap, Sintra - Ponticrap, Agila - Suzukrap, Combo - crap, Meriva - nasty crap, Zafira - 7 seater crap, Signum - stretched Vecrap, Tigra - droptop crap.

Hahah classic! Nice one Pete!

[Pete-M]

not trying to win anybody over,just saying there are worse cars out there,btw i hate corsa's as well.pete-m i take it you have driven all of those cars?

Yup, driven all of them. Bought / Sold or hired out most of 'em.I've worked as a car salesman for VW, Audi, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Nissan, Suzuki and Citroen. I've also worked for / managed branches of Avis, National, Budget, Hertz, Adeva and a couple of other car hire firms.I don't tend to stay in one place of work for more than 18 months if possible, but pretty much everything I've done since leaving school has been car related. I'm a part time motor trader at the moment, and I work for a limo company when everything is quiet. I also work with other motor traders quite often, whether it's going to view cars, delivering or collecting, repairing or generally fiddling about.20+ years of driving all kinds of mental stuff. Only jobs I've had that haven't been car related have been a year working for Argos driving their trucks, a couple of months working in an airport and a few months pissing about on a beach in Greece renting out boats.I get bored easily.Oh, yeah, I worked for a Vauxhall dealership in the late 90s as well. Speke Hall Vauxhall. That didn't last long at all....

[fiatdaft]

well only 17 years trade experiance here so maybe we will just have to disagree.

[wuvvum]

I've driven from Scotland to London in an early Peugeot 106 1.1, it was fine apart from the tiny pedals. I imagine a Kia Picanto would make a much better job of the journey. It's a long time since small cars were no good outside of the city limits.

I drove from Coventry to Norwich in my Innocenti Mini when the A-frame I was towing it with broke. 659cc, 30bhp and about 600kg. It was absolutely fine - buzzed along happily at 65-70 without breaking a sweat, quiet enough, adequately comfortable, nice and light without being too unstable - and this from a car which is literally one step up from an Aixam. In fact the only '90s small cars I wouldn't consider undertaking a long motorway journey in are the original Mini (cos my back starts to hurt after about 30 minutes in one of them) and the Saxo, because the driving position is horrible.

[warren t claim]

I'm really ashamed to admit that....I love the Chevy Matiz!I love the tiny wheels,I love the way the instruments are colour coded to the trim.I love the equipment levels.I love the the fact that it will cruise at 90 all dayTruthfully, I'm probably the only person who asks for a downgrade in Enterprise!Mind you, if I had six grand burning a hole in my pocket I still would probably end up spunking it on a 928 or a ropey Mondial and keeping the Micra as an everyday runabout but that's the sort of person I am.

[Station]

This thread is like most of the shit on Pistonheads.Most of the 'this car is much better than this car, because this car has these following advantages over the other car, a) c) d). However this car's failings, etc etc etc'. is absolute raving bollocks, and then followed by the bitchy 'who'd want one of those [iNSERT CAR NAME HERE] anyway, they're shit'. EMBARRASSING.

[Mr Lobster]

Each to their own then I suppose. Every car has some redeeming feature and the world would be boring if we all liked the same thing wouldn't it

[Pete-M]

This thread is like most of the shit on Pistonheads.Most of the 'this car is much better than this car, because this car has these following advantages over the other car, a) c) d). However this car's failings, etc etc etc'. is absolute raving bollocks, and then followed by the bitchy 'who'd want one of those [iNSERT CAR NAME HERE] anyway, they're shit'. EMBARRASSING.

Dave, if I saw a thread about how cool a Suzuki Whizzkid is I'd agree that they're great, but as the OP was about how shite a new Corsa is - and in my opinion they are utterly shite, and not in a good 'autoshitey' way, I really don't see the problem.There are plenty of good and bad cars out there, for me Vauxhalls always disappoint.. They often look good, tend to be quite well equipped, and to go well but they could be so much better if only someone at GM cared. I had a Mk2 Cav SR forever ago (in '92), 4 speed one with the Recaro seats, it could have been such a nice car but it didn't ride or handle well. My brother had an early SRi that was slightly better and then got a D plate one that had slightly better handling but no Recaros. It still didn't steer well, but for the sake of more expensive shocks they'd stripped the bloody Recaro seats from it. A disappointment.Occasionally Vauxhall do sort things out a bit. The "V" grille Mk3 Astras were hugely better than the pre-V grille ones, but even they were only slightly better than a Mk6 Escort. Not a difficult task.It just pisses me off that the same people who made the glorious Monza, the rather nice Mk1 Ascona, the Carlton / Senator 24v, the Manta 400 and the Chevette HS haven't made a nice to drive car since. Ok, they're all Opel designs other than the Chevette, but that is immaterial. Vauxhall are going down the shitter at a rate of knots and it's because they're building cars that for the sake of a bit of extra care and thought could be desirable. Stuff like the 1.3 CDTi Corsa, in this weather you have to fire the glowplugs 5 or 6 times before the bloody things will start, that is a disgrace for a 21st century car, if a P reg Transit will start first turn of the key at 0 deg, you'd expect a 55 plate Corsa to do the same.I had a J reg 24v Carlton for a year, loved the thing and did 30,000 miles in it. Great car. Reliable, quick, comfy, surprisingly good on fuel, loads of space, even a decent stereo. I was tempted to get another Vauxhall to replace it but other than Omegas, there was nothing nice to drive. I nearly bought a Cav Turbo but the chocolate transfer box and weird steering - again - put me off.

[Albert Ross]

I work for a vauxhall dealer. I have driven all the above. The last good car vx built was the astra f (mk3) but with the isuzu 1.7 td. The current stuff is shit, the corsa in a spectacular way. Insignia fares no better, and the new astra better be good or i'm out of a job.