Looking for a car for the mrs - probably a small one and at the moment she is looking at a 1.4 auto (can't drive manual she's disabled) Corsa although i assume the same motor is in the Tigra if i see one of those.

Anyone know of any specific problem with this engine or the mid/late 90's Corsas?

Other recommendations accepted too!

5t.

 

Hmmm didn't the early 16 valve versions have a few issues? not sure.

i know the 8 valve ones are pretty robust although a bit slow.

 

My mum had a 1.4 16V. Pretty powerful for the size of the engine, although there was very coarse sound coming from it.

Will your budget manage a 1.6 Auto Golf? They are a better car imo.

 

Budget £1 - 2k so could do. It is finding the right car. Few Astras about at that price too. Needs to be cheap enough to run, able to do a distance occasionally and like going up/down motorway then sitting in traffic for 50 round trip commute each day.

5t.

 

As above - you could get a really nice MK3 Golf for 1-2k, arguably better built as well.

 

My father in law had an 1994 8 valve 1.4 auto as a shopping car, good around town but very very slow and jerky, not very good on fuel.

I would be thinking Japanese for a small auto, I had a Rover Coupe 1.6 auto for a couple of weeks as a stopgap, it had the Honda engine which was a delight compared to the Corsa, no worse on fuel, faster and much nicer to drive. The newer shape Micra is a good car.

The Golf's are feeble without an auto, god knows what they are like with, we had a 90 bhp manual and it was totally devoid of any redeeming features.

 

That was what put me off the Golf in the first place, very slow manual but can't find a decent one anyway, most seem to have more miles and rust than the Vauxhall.

The Astra's are cheap, found a Mazda 323F that could do the job, not too sure about anything french reliability wise but hadn't considered the Honda powered Rover. Just thought urrgh! Rover! will have a view, cheers.

5t.

 

vaux 1.4 and 1.6 16 valve engines are notorious for cambelt and roller failiure

 

LOL I had a brand new Corsa GSI (don't laugh) in the late 90's and the cambelt tensioner went and wrecked the engine (I was doing about 10 MPH in a car park)

Took vauxhall 3 months to fix under warranty

 

Note to self - ask about cambelt!

cheers!

 

I assume we are talking Corsa B's here?.

The Tigra only came with the 90bhp 1.4 16v engine. It was never fitted with an 8v.

Corsa 1.4 autos could be either the 8v or the 16v(same as tigra). The 8v'ers are only 60bhp(so called hi-torque engine) and i'd imagine would be very slow. I believe the 16v auto were only available in top spec trim, cdx,gls etc.

If you get a 16v as mentioned above get the belt,rollers, tensioner replaced ASAP. A known weak spot on the 16v'ers.

 

Cheers chap. Never had a Vauxhall - any idea how much that might be?

5t.

 

for a timing belt kit fitted at a Vauxhall dealer you are looking at approx £250.

Alternatively get the timing belt kit from Low cost Vauxhall parts, Vauxhall spares and Vauxhall accessories - Autovaux and diy it or get a local independant garage to fit it. Should be no more than 2 hours labour.

 

you the man