jpor

iTrader: (1)

As per title. Looking into getting one of these.

Seen a 2000 W reg with 52,000 miles air con etc... for £3,400.

Was wondering what peoples thoughts were with these cars? Are they reliable and did you ever regret owning one?

Anything I should be on the look out for when test driving one etc..

Thanks in advance.

I

mrfuzzyfelts

ye there ok, but there a vaux at the end of the day :-S

There pretty quick tho for what they are, reliable, etc

Try to get a standard one that hasnt been boy raced like 90% of them... then u got a better chance of it lasting ;-)

£3,400 aint bad, but remember there the old shape so de value pretty quick!

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the advice. When is the Cambelt due for renewal on this model?

mrfuzzyfelts

cant remember, best thing to do is to pop to a vaux forum :-P

Talk to all the vaux gimps!!

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Nice. Do you know of any?

Big Col

I ran a Corsa ('94 GSi) for over 5 years. From 40K to 120K miles. Only let me down once when the crank sensor failed. Still made it home OK but with the ECU in 'get you home' mode.

For the first 4 years the only money spent on it was routine stuff. Discs/pads/timing belt etc. It's was only when over 110K that the more expensive things started wearing out. I had to replace a clutch, water pump and PAS pump at approx 115K miles.

Timing belts should be replaced every 40K max and I advise changing the plastic idlers and tensioner at the same time.

Jap2Scrap

For £3500 you can have my 99 VTS with 57,000 miles Faster, better handling, way cooler

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info. What was the steering/handling like? Heard they are not fantastic.

Big Col

compared to the french hatches (106, clio, saxo) then yes they do lag behind in the handling department. The steering was OK. Mine had pas. Only 2.8 turns lock to lock.

The corsa's main advantage over the rivals is it's interior. Superior in both quality and space compared to the french hatches.

Nick_Cat

iTrader: (5)

Wife's got a 1.4 16v Sport at the moment - just had to change the wheel for her in the pouring rain while she ran off in me Scooby!

The 1.4 can have probs with the EGR valve that causes poor running and will stick it into limp home mode. Same for the ICV. Both can be sorted by cleaning with carb cleaner but are real pigs to get to. Incidentally the 1.6 Sport doesn't have the EGR.

Don't think much of the handling too soft really for a so-called Sport.
The ecotec engine revs up nicely and it is responsive and nippy but does run out of puff over 80 and you do have to work it to get it going well mid range. But to help you it has close-ratio gears: in 5th at 80 will be doing 4000 rpm.

Parts are cheap and easy to service yourself.
Brakes are pretty good.
Body panels are robust, much better than the Scoob, obviously, and our one has a thick layer of laquer on - quite impressed with build quality overall.
No real problems in two yrs except for thermostat going and a wheel bearing.

Probably wouldn't get another, would like to try a Saxo or Pug.
HTH
Nick

Big Col

oh yes it does

Nick_Cat

iTrader: (5)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Col

oh yes it does

Yeh got a little confused with the different engines and the fact that some seem to remove the EGR altogether.

C16XE (fitted to Corsa GSI) - pre-ecotec

X16XE (fitted to Corsa Sport, Tigra etc.) - ecotec (with EGR).

Nick

16vmarc

Me me me i had one!!!! Alot of fun!



Had it for 1 year and did the following, was standard when i bought at 65k. Sold at 73k

Steinmetz Grill
Clear Side Repeaters
PVD Bonnet Lifters
Debadged Boot
Vauxhall Flaps
PVD Induction Kit
Splitfire Plugs
Bosch Leads
Dyno Tested @ 101BHP 131lb/ft Torque - unsure on torque!
Gmax Suspension Kit 90mm Front 60mm Rear
Drilled Discs
Ferrodo Pads
White Dial Kit
Alloy Pedals
Vauxhall Floor Mats
5 spoke Sport Alloys

Never had a single problem for it in the year of ownership.

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the responses on this.

Nice motor by the way 16Vmarc.

One more question. How much to fill up petrol wise and how many miles to a tank of fuel can you get with these? To give you an idea of my driving:

I do a 40 mile round trip to work and back, this consists of mostly 'B' roads and country lanes. Which works out at roughly 200 miles a week.

Big Col

Corsa B petrol tank holds 42 litres.

leonpoole

I had one of these and they are decent little cars and cheap to insure.
Although for the money there are better motors available

falkster

I have a friend selling the 1.6 version!!! Bit of a sleeper as its the same setup as the GSI without the spoilers. Looks like a sport and goes like a GSI. R reg, mint runner just needs a good vac.

Turbohot

nearly got one P reg for 1300 squid.Well tarted up but tapid were fcuked.So,left the idea of buying it.No regrets.

jpor

iTrader: (1)

The one I am going to look at seems to be in standard form. But there is no mention of a service history

fatscoobyfella

For £3500 buy something else..

Comon management faults....

Cam position sensor
Crank position sensor
EGR valve..(sometimes will clean,but pig to work on)
Air flow meter
Air idle control valve
Engine bay wiring looms can chaff through at rear/side of the cylinder head.

Have done a couple of engine/gearbox changes too..but on the whole i would say the mechanicals are ok

As well as all your usual,wheel bearings,exhausts,CV joints and boots and scoff brakes if driven enthusiastically..

As you can tell..i think there a bit poo..IMHO if you want a sporty hatch,a cheap late quick car is the Almera GTI,very underated..If you wanna stop to small CC..
A Toyota Starlet SR with TTE pack are cheap,quick and bombproof.

Just my 2p worth..

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for your comments.
At the mo I have an ageing Pug 205 Turbo Diesel. I think it's starting to die. The first sign was the diesel pipe leading to no.1 injector sprung a leak. Then a new battery and now have a leaking sump plug and a leaking diesel pipe under the car (even though it starts first time and gives me around 360 miles to a full tank of diesel). From what i have been told only a pug dealership can sort out fuelling issues.
I like the look of the Corsa and am after something with Air Con.

fatscoobyfella

Fuel problems can be dealt with my any decent indie mechanic,what you have with the PUG aint a great problem,its just if you wanna spend the cash on getting it right..

If you do buy the Corsa,just be aware that if and when it does go wrong,prices to do the work on the engine will be fairly high for the kinda car that it is,due to that engine bein a pig to work round..If you want air con(fair comment),make sure it works fully and correctly..you can easily spend £400 upwards geting it to work 100%.

I think that some people fall lucky and have little to no probs with there Corsa,but ive seen many that are complete headaches costings fortunes for such a little motor..

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Hear what your saying. Ummm.... The pug is just over 10 years old. And I had a headache trying to find a garage around where I work who would even look at it.

Had a look on the parkers site and looked at the reviews of other owners of 1.4 16v Corsas. At the moment it looks a better buy than say a Fiat Punto Sporting which looks like a real pain in the backside.
Need a small car for where I have to park and also for insurance purposes.

16vmarc

Do you not fancy the 1.6 Sport then? The prices should have come down now. I used to get sick of Vectra fleet cars coming passed my 1.4 lol!!!!

jpor

iTrader: (1)

I would but..... Seemingly I have a 03 STI with PPP for night times and weekends. Not too bothered.
I have the pug on a second insurance policy with 0 no claims. And considering the inurance group on the 1.4 is 6 and on the 1.6 it's 10. Guess what I have decided on?

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Oh well. Just been up to have a look at the Corsa I saw advertised. And wasn't impressed:

Stone chip on the near side front headlamp
scratched bumper
scuffed alloys
big dent in the nearside door mirror housing
rusting exhaust and a big splattering of rusty water on the concrete where it's been started up
and it has 55000 miles and NOT the stated 52000 miles.

Oh well better keep looking.

Thanks for all the replies by the way.

Jamesemt

Can I just ask if anyone's driven a 1.2SXI? Just wondered what they are like cos the wife used to have a 1.0L Life which handled really well, just flat as a fart...

16vmarc

Havnt driven an SXi but ive been in one and can compare to a Sport?

Inside theyre essentially a Sport, with the same seats and have the 5 spoke Sport alloys. I think the later SXi's were to get rid of the seats and alloys or something.

I think they have the same suspention as the Sport and same gearbox i believe. The SXi is still nippy for what it is and can keep up with the Sport if the driver is unaware! The Sport is definalty quicker though.

Incidently a lad i know fitted a full SS system to an SXi and it was virtually on a par with my Sport.

The seats are some of the best ive ever come across too!

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

16vmarc did you used to go on Corsa sport website years ago cause I remember my friend who used to go on there, showing me a picture of a DBM classic scoob and im sure it was yours.

My friends user name on Corsa sport.co.uk was Wainey if it rings a bell.

16vmarc

Yeah thats my scoob. I only stopped going on the other month as i was banned along with Colinj off here for posting obscene topics late one sat night!