[Closed] Vauxhall - Are they like, you know, OK?

The interiors in my opinion of the vauxhall look horrible. I prefer the Focus and my one gave me 60,000 trouble free miles when I had it. Sure many people will have had similar with Astras. If it was me I would go Focus as I prefer them. No real help from me!

Are Vauxhall an OK car mechanically?

Pretty much any car from a major manufacturer made in the last ten years will be OK mechanically, especially at 50k miles and probably up to about 100k.

Well I had 4 astras back to back over 15 years and maybe 400k, One water pump and one alternator failure in that time on separate vehicles. Never had a roadside breakdown though. It's anecdotal of course but they've done me alright.

I hate cars really, main criteria is roof rails and an estate. I'd have another vauxhall though. Maybe with a personalised plate. I particularly like the fact that vauxhalls are unpopular - it just makes them cheaper imo

have a look on [url= https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/ ]Honest John[/url] where there some long term reviews. I've got a Vauxhall Insignia, no problems but had 40k when bought and I've only had it a couple of months.

I have a 2014 zafira swapped from a 2009 focus

focus had a few better features (miss my heated windscreen) focusobviously nicer to drive as its less of a barge

but the zafiras been fine for the last 3 years

Id prefer a ford but quite frankly better things to spend a grand on!

There are several bearing issues on Vauxhals that use the 6 speed gearbox (according to the interwebs), I recently had a £2000 gearbox replacement (and clutch while it was open) on a 50k miles Zafera 1.7 TDi.

I had a new Insignia (I think) as a hire care in Stockholm late last year and it was ok. The seats were uncomfortable, but it seemed reasonably quick, had toys, had space, cruised well enough. Not sure on the smaller cars.

I wouldn't have thought there would be much in it reliability wise between Vauxhall and Ford.

The Fords arguably drive a bit better (although I think the Focus around those years wasn't as highly rated as those before or after), but you aren't that bothered by this so why pay £1k more?

The thing that bothers me about a lot of the Vauxhalls is that they're styled with ever tinier rear windscreens, the 3 door Astra is a particular offender. If this doesn't bother you, or you're getting a 5 door, then go for it.

Oh I just remembered we had a 1.3 turbo diesel astra as a works car. It was dreadful, always in the garage with turbo or gearbox woes. Small engine+too powerful+regularly thrashed = $$$

I've had two insignias both from new. They were ok, both were reliable, a bit dull to drive but comfortable. Both developed cabin rattle after about 55-60k miles though which was a bit annoying. Had an astra before them, done 100k miles from new, never had a single problem. Compared to the golf I had before the astra which seemed to be in and out of the garage every few months.

I've had Insignias for work - not long term, for stints over a few days to a week or so - and the one thing that sprung to mind with all of them was how uncomfortable the seats were. The petrol engined ones were also very underpowered - struggled to get up to speed on a sliproad, that sort of thing. The 2.2 diesel was okay though.

Pretty much any car from a major manufacturer made in the last ten years will be OK mechanically, especially at 50k miles and probably up to about 100k.

True dat!

Had an 11 plate Astra estate until 2016. In 50k nothing went wrong. At all. Also had comfy seats and nice dash.

one thing that sprung to mind with all of them was how uncomfortable the seats were

So you're telling me to ignore the voices in my head, seems reasonable.

Mrs_d had a mkIV Astra on a 97 R plate. It was ok until the ECU went loco. Can't remember how many miles it had on it at the time but wasn't an unreasonable number

Symptoms included randomly overheating after as little as five minutes. Turn off, back on, it would then be fine. Until it decided to do it again. No predictability about it. Half engine rebuild didn't fix it

Check Honest John and Which?, as said above. Vauxhall get a bad rap as they're classic company cars, but as also said, new cars tend to be pretty good.

My experience is that – with the higher models – they've tried to compete with other company cars and added all sorts of unnecessary tat. The Insignia hatch from around 2010 had internal tail lights so they would be visible when the boot lid – with the main tail lights on – was raised. Not only is this extra weight and stuff to go wrong, but it also reduces valuable boot space. However it wasn't a bad place to sit and they depreciate like a stone; great as a buyer, not so hot as a seller.

Drive a few, see what you think.

kormoran - Member

Well I had 4 astras back to back over 15 years

😐

I hate cars really

😆

JD Power UK: best manufacturers

The most recent JD Power UK Vehicle Dependability Survey was published in July last year. Skoda was named the most reliable manufacturer, with 66 problems reported per 100 vehicles in the survey, followed by Suzuki (79 problems) and Kia (80). Vauxhall was fourth with 90 problems. Peugeot and Volkswagen tied for fifth, with 92 problems per 100 vehicles.

The average car had 113 problems, which could range from a small squeak to a total engine failure. In last place was Land Rover with 197 problems per 100 cars.

The budget brand Dacia also had a poor showing, with 174 issues per 100 cars and the premium German manufacturers also scored poorly. Audi owners reported 170 problems, those with BMWs had 156 and Mercedes owners had 154 issues.

*skip to the end*

Get another Focus.

km79 - Member
one thing that sprung to mind with all of them was how uncomfortable the seats were
I heard this often with others in work who had the same car. I honestly thought they were comfortable enough even on long trips, but I do have a fat arse.

I too have a fat arse, and found them uncomfortable! 😉

My family have a thing about Vauxhalls, none of us have had a bad one! Every Ford bar one though has had issues. Sister currently has a 56 plate Zafira and a 64 plate Corsa, loves them both. Much prefer the styling of Vauxhalls to Fords, less in-your-face on the standard models. I would have bought a Corsa last time around if I hadn't found a stupidly good deal on my Fabia at the time!

Would be wary of the next line of models though now PSV own them.

I'm on my 3rd Astra in around 20 years, current one is an estate and have run them to over 100K on the clock. Completely reliable and serviced regularly.

I've driven Corsa, Astra (several different models), Zafira, Meriva, and a couple of Insignias, but mostly Corsa and Zafira due to the Zafira being popular Motability cars, and a bodywork specialist in Cornwall using Corsas as loan cars; I drove six one year-old Corsas in one week, each one with around 6000 on the clock, and I drove each for at least two hundred miles.
The newer Zafiras are really pretty good cars, the Astra GTC's are a really nice drive, and I can't say I've found any of them to be uncomfortable after two or three hours driving.
The Corsas, mostly SRi's, are really great little cars, they handle well, are well equipped - DAB radio and they come with a heated screen, the dash isn't as cluttered with lots of little buttons like Fords tend to be, (my biggest issue with modern Fords), and I really like current Vauxhall styling as well.
Try driving a few different models, see how they feel and drive, 'cos that's the only way [i]you[/i] will discover how you'll get on with them.
I like them, I'd rather have a Vauxhall than a Kia, from personal driving experience, but that's [i]my[/i] experience.
I do like Fords, too, especially the Fiesta and B-Max, but I prefer the Vauxhall dash.

I used to work with vehicle manufacturers and franchise networks after sales. For anyone that did Vauxhall the saying was "you can't really get poor cars anymore, but Vauxhall do try". Grew up with them but would never buy one.

Had a couple of Astras as courtesy cars and always found the seats rubbish. Had a Vectra estate aka the pimp mobile for a good 3 years and 60 I with no issues other than a degree of boredom though.

Try the seats out I guess

Well, I would have considered a Vauxhall but seeing this advert has put me right off!! Pandering to the 'yummy mummy's' in their fashion boxes while they terrorise the roads is a bit off.

Same thing as the Tiguan 'middle aged hipster does gangsa' advert 👿

I get hire cars alot with work and I think on balance the Focus is still top of the pile in the hatchback market. Astra's are fine, drives at least as well as the Focus, but I'm not keen on the interior and the ergonomics of them, but that's down to personal preference.

Reliability isn't a consideration all cars share the same parts/gearboxes/engines these days. Every manufacturer has their reliability wobbles from time to time. But a work colleague had a newish Astra a few years ago and it was in the garage regularly and he eventually got rid after costing him thousands of pounds, but this was because he bought a diesel and was doing alot of short journeys in it so a if you do alot offshore journeys in the car get a Petrol engine.

I preferred the Hyundai i30 (or Kia Ceed) to the Astra having driven the i30 and Astra. You might get some manufacturer's warranty too (Hyundai 5 years, Kia 7 years)

Generally pretty decent cars, all depends on the spec/money and how much of a warranty is left on it.. As others have said Honest John is a good place for info. things like heaters catching fire in the Zaria's isn't a plus point for me personally.
Last Vauxhall we had was an Insignia which I can report do roll rather well especially down a country lane after a rear tyre went bang.. we were the last owners of that one.

I'd rather have a higher spec, higher mileage Honda Civic on that budget.

I had an Astra for a bit (4 years I think) in that time I think it lunched it's water pump which was a pretty expensive fix, but apart from that it was fine. Just a car really

We bought this new Yonks ago, (Y reg) and it's been in the family ever since. Had one radiator (hole from a large stone) the EGR valve was blanked off about 3 years ago by Vauxhall ex mechanic (who services it still, and he came from the original garage that sold the car to us) regularly serviced (well, every year) so just consumables. Done 76k now, paintwork is amazing, it's the 1.4 petrol and its nippy as you like. Been through various family members using it and all have looked after it, we're loath to sell it because a) not worth much these days and b) its just a great versatile car and c) you can park it anywhere and no one blinks an eye at it.

Pics not mine, but it does look like this.

[img] [/img]

I do like how they have stuck with the quaint effect down the centre of the car with what can be loosely described as "the crease in your school trousers".
Fair play to GM.

Worst cars I've ever driven. Utter hateful pieces of sh*te. But annoyingly reliable and cheap, so if that's your criteria potentially worth a look.

Interesting reading the experiences here - seems pretty mixed!

For what it's worth, I had a 1.7TDI Astra Estate, '05 plate. Bought 1 year old with about 10,000 miles on it, [s]gave it away[/s] part exchanged 9 years later with 180,000 miles on it.

Aside from the usual service items (tyres/oil/filters/cambelt/discs/pads etc) in that time, all it needed was two new windscreens and two new rear coil springs.

Maybe I got lucky! That said, it was completely knackered at 180k miles but it owed me nothing 😀

I've driven modern Astras as hire cars and honestly, they're fine - but so is any of the competition. Not particularity exciting, not exceptionally comfortable. All the comments in this post (mine included) just reinforce that it's all anecdotal and subjective.

Go drive a couple and pick whichever one looks/drives nicest for you 🙂

i've a voice in the back of my head telling me never to buy Vauxhalls.

Any company that sells cars by positively promoting "Mamas in Pyjamas" deserves nobodies money.

My brother in law lent us his astra a few years ago (2011 or 2012 iirc) when I was having one of my subaru engines rebuilt 😥 .

We'd had it for about two weeks when my wife made a passing comment about he much she liked it, I don't know what came over me but I just went into a full blown rant about all the things wrong with it. I can't remember all of the rant but I do recall saying that the gearbox felt like trying to communicate with dead relatives via seance and the cabin ergonomics seemed to be optimised for orangutans as opposed to humans.

Of course my wife went a told my BIL about my incredibly ranty rant. Talk about making me look like a ****. He sold the car shortly afterwards though.

** skips to end **

Don't buy a Vuaxhall ever. Horrible cars, most uncomfortable seats ever, even for an hour and a half journey. Dull, uninspiring, boring places to be.

(I drive a Berlingo 😆 )

I had an almost new one as a hire car in holiday in June. I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know what spec it was, but it was a nicer place to sit than the golf my mates hired.

Millions of the blessed things up here in Wirral - mind you, lots of them are nailed together not too far away. See fewer of them when I travel around and about.

My memories of [s]Opels[/s] VX are good - unburstable engines, strong performance, decent space - but that other companies did it better. Their seats for example now that I'm old and broken aren't good - too wide and floppy, but I haven't really driven one for 5+ years.

For the right price I'd have one, but I'd want to spend a long day in it first.

(just started reminiscing, once did Isleworth to Leeds 13 in 2h30m in a 2.0l petrol VX Carlton estate. Including stopping for fuel and oil. Scares me now but by hell that thing was quick).

whats this uncomfortable seat business?

I have a modestly large arse and my zafira seats are fine for london to edinburgh etc

kimbers

I have a modestly large arse and my zafira seats are fine for london to edinburgh etc

Plenty of padding then 😆

Any company that sells cars by positively promoting "Mamas in Pyjamas" deserves nobodies money.

That's a good point, well made.

Cheers one and all. Will cross fingers Focus comes up but failing that, Astra here i come.

Now, diesel or petrol. Arrgggg, i hate buying cars.

Now, diesel or petrol. Arrgggg, i hate buying cars.

Petrol

Diesels are for skinflints who enjoy poisoning children

Diesels are for skinflints who enjoy poisoning children

Long or short journeys?

A petrol will have less low-end torque on the motorway, but will probably be better to drive.

A diesel with a DPF will hate you if you don't give it a good run now and again, but will probably be vastly more fuel efficient if you do a lot of motorway miles.

It's not a great comparison, but I bought a Focus 10 years ago and did a cost comparison, including fuel and servicing, with an average of 12k miles per year. The difference was about £20. Admittedly diesels need servicing less frequently now, but it's a worthwhile exercise if you're unsure.

And diesels poison children. At least as effectively as petrol engines.

Wifes 64 plate Foucus vs works pool 64 plate Astra...
Focus handles better but Astra more comfortable ride.
Astra seats more comfy, Focus front seats are so crap I often travel in the back as its more roomy & comfy. Your legs seems to disappear into a tunnel in the Focus, dashboard is bloody enormous it takes up 30% of the cars interior.
Don't know about Astra petrol offerings, but the 1.0 petrol Focus is an excellent engine, certainly not what you'd expect from a 1.0 engine in a 1300kg car. Not great on fuel though, high 30's at best. The 50mpg+ claims are utter rubbish.
If I were buying again I'd probably buy the Astra.
Or Focus.
In fact, I wouldn't buy either, I'd get a Skoda Superb Estate.

My view on Vauxhall is slightly skewed as my ex works in a Vauxhall garage. It's in a small town and she works in the warranty department. She's always busy!

She talked me into buying her a new Corsa (in 2005) to learn to drive in and i had the pleasure of using it for a bit. Needed disc + pads changed in under 10k. Seat (uncomfortable) broke and i lost count of the number of times i came home to find bits of coil springs lying in the drive. Radiator/head gasket issues followed. She changed to a Meriva and had the same issues (bar the seat collapsing). She still works there but drives a Seat now 😀

We had the previous gen Astra that you're looking at as a pool car at work a year or two back. IMO they were simply not up to the same standard as their major rivals, most of which I either drove or travelled in. Not terrible but just not as good as the others. I owned a 62 reg Focus 1.0 and it was better in every way compared to the Astra.

Saying that, the current one seems to be well regarded.

Don't buy a Vuaxhall ever. Horrible cars, most uncomfortable seats ever, even for an hour and a half journey. Dull, uninspiring, boring places to be.

What you going to use it for? Driving, obviously, but how far, how many people etc etc.

Currently in similar situation and am considering an EV. Renault Zoe can be had for sub 5k with 20k ish on the clock.

It's small and you have to lease the battery but worth considering?

I wild buy one, apart from one issue that seems shared across all Zafira's I've been in - they are agony on my leg and cause lower leg / sciatica type pain if I drive them for more than 30 mins or so...

DO NOT BUY A VauXhall PETROL, horrible, underpowered things. We have a few as company cars {Police Cars} diesels are far far betterer, the petrol models die/surrender at the very hint of a hill. 😀

The seats however, wipe clean very easily...

I've got a 63 plate Astra 1.4 Turbo SRI and think it's a great car, had very low mileage when I got it almost 2 years ago, only 5k miles.

It's a very comfortable car, I used to give one of my colleagues a lift quite frequently and he said its one of the most comfortable cars he's ever sat in, but the seats are SRI specific. The dash is a bit basic as it doesn't have a fancy colour screen but you can do anything you need on it.

The engine is pretty good, 0-60 in about 9 seconds, but I get 40 mpg on my commute to work which isn't bad for a fairly quick petrol car.

It has a massive boot, I can easily get 2 bikes in the back with the front wheels off and the seats down. Also the front seats can go back far enough that I can sit comfortably in it which I found very rare for hatchbacks when I was looking for cars. I found the Focus to be an appalling driving position for myself as I couldn't get the seats back far enough and just had the B pillar in the way when I looked out the side. Had a couple of Focus for hire cars and found the steering wheel to feel completely disconnected from the wheels, really disconcerting as no idea what the front wheels are doing. The steering on the Astra doesn't have the best feel but it goes round corners really well.

On visibility in the Astra, the A Pillar is E-normous which can be annoying when going round right hand bends, and the view out the back is pretty rubbish for reversing.

It also says TURBO on the back 😀

DO NOT BUY A VauXhall PETROL, horrible, underpowered things. We have a few as company cars {[b]Police Cars[/b]} diesels are far far betterer, the petrol models die/surrender at the very hint of a hill.

Just picked this up as a rental for the week:

[img][url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4350/35595732383_c97e04c17d_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4350/35595732383_c97e04c17d_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Wetr6R ]20170806_133203[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/91448594@N04/ ]Da_Milky_Bar_Kid[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Initial impressions are that it's well built with good ergonomics. Can't comment on handling as the tyre pressures are all over the shop so it currently pulls left! Bad points so far is that the paint seems very soft, small marks all over it, and the steering wheel is too small to let you see all of the dials at once. Can update when I've driven 200 miles in it this evening if that helps?

Our zafira is reliable, and it was cheap. It's even ok for petrol mpg...

Update:

It's boring but comfy. Steering system a bit direct and it tramlines a little bit on the motorway. The parcel shelf is the cheapest on I've ever come across, made out of compressed cardboard! Vibrates all the time. Also in low light the reflections off the silver trim on the dash are distracting.

A nice enough car but I wouldn't buy one, too many little things that would make it feel like a bad buy.

@sandwicheater - if you really don't care then don't limit yourself to those 2. we were in the same boat last year: went to a garage planning to buy something like that, sat in a few cars, came away with a Mazda 3. Same kind of price, is comfortable, hasn't broken down.

a mate who works in car manufacturing also speaks highly of Kia and Hyundai for reliability and being generally quite cheap. So there's that.

Have decided to ignore the issue of my gradually dying Focus and just get something on the weekend when it does die.

Looked and looked and just couldn't make my mind up.

Needs to be an estate for the dog and can't be much bigger than Astra/Focus as it's a tight park at my office.

Not even given Kia/Hyundai a thought. May need to sit in one as plenty popped up in estate version.

Had the pleasure of a 1.4T Astra K (latest model) a few months ago for 2 weeks whilst my BMW 325i was getting some accident damage sorted.

It went well and I thought its handling over rough country roads was a revelation. Steering numb but huge levels of grip.
The 1.6T has lots of appeal....

I understand paint a little thin and doors have had rust on around the seals. Whether they fix those issues, I don't know.

Nice motors tho'.

Current Vauxhalls are a universe away from what those were

To my mind, they peaked with the Cavalier. I had a 91-plate 1.6GL which was one of my favouritest cars I ever owned (over the years I went on to own three more, including an SRi).

A nice enough car but I wouldn't buy one, too many little things that would make it feel like a bad buy.

I had two Vectras (the mid-2000s 'C' model), an Elite with all the toys and the same engine as the SRi, and a poverty-spec one. That was pretty much my conclusion also, there was nothing [i]wrong [/i]with it per se but there were loads of minor little niggles which irritated me. Like the door pocket had just about enough space to store a cheese slice, or the DAB radio crapped out every time you moved between transmitters and had to be retuned back to the station you were listening to.