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I want what Vauxhall are smoking!!

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Villers
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PostPosted: 02:19 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: I want what Vauxhall are smoking!! Reply with quote

Ive got a Vectra, quite a good model (in fact it cost nearly £20k new in 2004 according to the internet) and if Im honest its a piece of shit. Its comfortable and the rest, it has traction control and cruise control and electric stuff but its a mechanical mess.

The car is plagued by problems, mine in particular (and I'm not alone) has terrible suspension problems such as snapping springs whilst stationary overnight. According to sources on the internet the odd electrical problem is not uncommon (Ive also had a couple).

So my mind nearly exploded when I heard about this https://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/FEATURES/VAUXHALL/new_vauxhall_insignia_first_uk_drive.html

So now just four years of development later the cack handed fiends of the night have developed a car that can switch between four wheel drive, sense a car coming the other way and switch off main beam and then (perhaps most baffling) it can read roadsigns!!! Oh my god what are they thinking. On previous models the bloody things have failed to unlock the doors at the simple push of a button.

Who is going to buy these things, they are going to have to be very rich, very patient, very gullible, very lucky and very very stupid.

Good god Shocked
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Pernig
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PostPosted: 03:16 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unfortunately gimmicks will always sell Sad.
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owdamer
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PostPosted: 08:44 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

The worrying thing is these cars will still be driving around in a few years time and will no doubt be riddled with faults.
lights that turn them selves off in the dark.
dropping from 4wd to 2wd in slippery conditions
winscreen wipers that only work when its not raining.
I'll give it a miss thanks. Shocked
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arry
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PostPosted: 10:14 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not a vauxhall fan at all - last good car they made was the Senator and that was only for the big 3 litre lump up front.

Having driven one of their new Astra Diesels I have absolutely no f'in' clue why ANYONE would buy one over a Focus. The Focus rides better, handles better, looks better (alright, maybe that's marginal), feels better, is likely to be more reliable and is better built.

My vitriol for the Astra began when I first sat in it and realised the seat doesn't actually adjust enough in any direction to make the driving position comfortable. It then went on after I got out onto the road and found that you can't just cancel the bloody indicators as it's not a rocker switch like it is in most cars - oh no that would be too simple - you nudge it slightly up and it flashes 3 times to go right, try to stop that from happening with a nudge downwards and guess what, that's it - 3 flashes left. As for when you do get them to stay on, getting them to turn off is a mission. What's wrong with normal bloody indicators??

Roundabout, 30mph ish, reasonably wide, clear dry road - first expansion joint - front of the car rode over it fine, rear felt like it was attached to a slinky - it just went missing!!

In short, I'll not be the first one up to test drive the new Insignia (wasn't that a cheap aftershave in the 80's?)
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plugger147
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PostPosted: 10:42 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I was working for a dealer we had a few vectra's snap springs while parked on the forecourt and a nightmare starting them when the batteries went flat sometimes needing to go back to vauxhall.

If they had any sense they'd go back to basics and build cheap reliable cars instead of these american type G.M shit boxes they're selling now.

Remember the VXR on top gearthat didn't go round corners Laughing
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Feasty
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PostPosted: 10:46 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

I nearly went for a Renault Laguna estate for the very reason it seemed to come with lots of extras and be very cheap. Of course my 2nd thoughts as to why it was so cheap were right, the reviews of these cars are terrible so I'm glad I stuck with my Focus instead!

On another note, the Focus also has this 3 flashes thing on the indicators. I don't know if the new ones still have it though, it takes a bit of getting used to but we still occassionally end up indicating left when going right and vice versus, it's a pain in the arse! Evil or Very Mad
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ncrn
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PostPosted: 11:14 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

My mum's had a 55 plate Vauxhall Astra for 2 years or so now and she hasn't had any major problems with it, well apart from when she filled it with petrol instead of diesel. They might be getting better at it now? Although my mum has decided she wants a renault megane instead.
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Stevie B
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PostPosted: 13:20 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Villers, this has reminded me that a day after I commented on your previous thread about how shit Vauxhalls are I went round my brother's. Turns out that morning he had had to take his '54 Astra in to the dealers cos the back left spring had snapped overnight. Laughing

My god they are awful cars. And yes, I did tell him not to get one but it was too late. His excuse? "I needed a car quick so just saw it and got it". Tool.
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MattHirst
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PostPosted: 13:28 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Must only be the astra and vectra (or cars bigger than the corsa) that don't have normal indicators then.

I am learning (hopefully not learning anymore after saturday Very Happy ) in a 57 plate corsa (1.3 diesel) and that has the 3 flashes thing if you only move the stalk a little bit, but if you move it until it 'clunks' then they stay on until the steering wheel knocks them off, or you knock them off yourself. Never accidentally knocked it into the other direction. I have once or twice not moved the stalk enough and it has flashed 3 times and gone off again, but only when i first started learning, haven't done it for a long time now.

Any car manufacture will have problems, its just that the astra/vectra are more mainstream so the problems are more known.

Its like dukes with their dodgey electrics or hondas with dodgey reg/rec's. People still buy them even with the known problems.
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arry
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PostPosted: 13:30 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good luck with the test fella Thumbs Up
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MattHirst
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PostPosted: 13:34 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheers, i'll need all the luck i can get Laughing

I failed my 1st test on 17th dec from going into a corner in 3rd, rather than 2nd. But the car almost stalled and slowed down a lot, and this numpty behind me almost went into the back of my car. So basically i was failed because this idiot was driving to close Evil or Very Mad
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arry
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PostPosted: 13:38 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's frustrating - I failed my first test too (many years ago) for coming off of a roundabout at too low a speed as i was trying to maintain the distance to the car in front. Just so happened that caused someone on the roundabout behind me to get caught by the traffic coming round it - and somehow that was my fault ? Evil or Very Mad

Still, second time round you're a lot more relaxed - you'll be fine Thumbs Up
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Stevie B
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PostPosted: 13:43 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

MattHirst wrote:
Any car manufacture will have problems, its just that the astra/vectra are more mainstream so the problems are more known.

Its like dukes with their dodgey electrics or hondas with dodgey reg/rec's. People still buy them even with the known problems.


Umm.. I'm not actually sure if i could disagree more.

Vauxhall Design studio: "We'll probably sell a load of these Vectra's so don't worry if they've got some major design flaws, people will understand".

Honda are mainstream, take their Civic for example, how many of their owners are complaining about major failings such as snapped springs?

Being mainstream has nothing to do with it, Vauxhall being utterly incompetent to make a decent car does. If you are 'mainstream' then you should be making reliable cars. Fullstop.

NB: I understand your point about Dukes but I don't really see that as comparable.
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Villers
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PostPosted: 13:44 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stevie B wrote:
Villers, this has reminded me that a day after I commented on your previous thread about how shit Vauxhalls are I went round my brother's. Turns out that morning he had had to take his '54 Astra in to the dealers cos the back left spring had snapped overnight. Laughing

My god they are awful cars. And yes, I did tell him not to get one but it was too late. His excuse? "I needed a car quick so just saw it and got it". Tool.


I didnt realise the astra's did it aswell!! I 'fixed' the vec the other month as it was making a knocking noise when pulling away and changing gear by applying some WD40 to the radiator mounting. Utter shite!
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MattHirst
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PostPosted: 13:47 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stevie B wrote:
MattHirst wrote:
Any car manufacture will have problems, its just that the astra/vectra are more mainstream so the problems are more known.

Its like dukes with their dodgey electrics or hondas with dodgey reg/rec's. People still buy them even with the known problems.


Umm.. I'm not actually sure if i could disagree more.

Vauxhall Design studio: "We'll probably sell a load of these Vectra's so don't worry if they've got some major design flaws, people will understand".

Honda are mainstream, take their Civic for example, how many of their owners are complaining about major failings such as snapped springs?

Being mainstream has nothing to do with it, Vauxhall being utterly incompetent to make a decent car does. If you are 'mainstream' then you should be making reliable cars. Fullstop.

NB: I understand your point about Dukes but I don't really see that as comparable.


That just pissed on my bonfire Crying or Very sad

You just ruined my day, i was trying to be smart and coming up with a good answer and what do i get? Someone that knows more than me putting me to shame Laughing

Hey ho, i'm looking at a german car for my first car Smile
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Stevie B
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PostPosted: 13:57 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Laughing Sorry Matt, didn't mean to upset you, twas just a point of view.

I'm sure some smart arse will be along soon to kindly piss all over mine then smear their bag on my face. Razz
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Robby
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PostPosted: 14:42 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

MattHirst wrote:
Hey ho, i'm looking at a german car for my first car Smile


I trust you're good with electrics.
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MattHirst
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PostPosted: 15:16 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

robby wrote:
MattHirst wrote:
Hey ho, i'm looking at a german car for my first car Smile


I trust you're good with electrics.


I always thought that the german cars were reasonbley reliable. Are there any cars that aren't faulty nowadays? Laughing

Was looking at a 1.4 fabia to be specific, must cheaper to insure than most other cars in the same 'class' and much cheaper to buy anyway.

Any cars similar sort of size that you can reccomend?
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killa
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PostPosted: 15:51 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Garantee someone like robby to pipe up and just state generlised bullcrap.

"I bought a 54 plate Merc"

"..Lights go on em and they melt"


"I bought a 1985 Peugout"

"...I hope you have life insurance"


Etc

Fuck it


I bought a ZX7R even after the relentless rambles of many on here with comments about at certain mileage, things happen. Yeah shi* happens, deal with it. Im one of the lucky ones my ZX7R is yet to have a major problem and its above the mileage people on here warned me about. TALK TO THE OWNERS. lol

Lastly, this reminded me of this guy at work, thought he's be James Bond and buy one of them ass ugly Modeos. Doing 60+ approaching a roundabout from a duel carridgeway, the electrics dissapeared. Rendering the car useless, including brakes, he hit the roundabout at high speed.
He bought another one. Rolling Eyes
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Stevie B
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PostPosted: 16:08 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

killa wrote:
Garantee someone like robby to pipe up and just state generlised bullcrap.


I'm glad someone else was thinking what I was.

If it was Robby's choice you'd probably have a Frontera or Scorpio.

Keep living the dream Robby. Thumbs Up
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killa
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PostPosted: 16:26 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

He's like a budget Clarkson
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N.C
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PostPosted: 16:53 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd buy a monaro anyday Thumbs Up
vectra Thumbs Down

but the new insignia is apparently good, this coming from the same people i hear who are scathing of the vectra
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Kickstart
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PostPosted: 17:01 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

To be honest loads of cars have problems. Just some makers get away with it more than others. Someone as a problem with a Fiat then they just assume it is because "Fiats are unreliable". Someone has a problem with a VW then they think it must be a rare occurance.

All the best

Keith
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True Blue
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PostPosted: 17:28 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kickstart wrote:
Someone has a problem with a VW then they think it must be a rare occurance.

All the best

Keith


I can relate to that. I had a problem with my last car, a Passat, where there was water filling up the passenger footwell (front and rear) not good considering the ECU is in the front footwell. Sad Turns out that the water was coming in through the pollen filter in the engine bay. It was a serious amount of water too. 2 inches deep above the carpet level. Sorted it myself in the end.

Searching the net revealed it was a very common problem with passats. Now, because it's a VW, not a lot of people know about the issue. Had that been a Vectra for example. they would forever be know as cars that always let in water. Laughing
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Villers
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PostPosted: 18:24 - 06 Jan 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had that problem with a Seat (almost a VW) and a guy I know had it with a golf.

Mine occurred after a windscreen change where they must have disturbed the pollen filter, the guy with the newish golf just used to do it when parked facing uphill.

Water leaking into a car is a nightmare!!
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