Advantages: Superb 3.0 litre diesel engine, fuel economy, performance
Disadvantages: Massive depreciation, cheap enterior, poor visibility

...it is definitely more distinctive. Vauxhall have also carried out some attractive little detailing "tweaks" that help too. Yes, but is it good looking? Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, and if I have to be brutally honest this is a car that I would really rather not behold! So here my wife and I are at Company Car in Action staged at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, it is the summer of 2004, the rain is falling hard and there is a gale blowing. I had no intention of trying another Signum this year. At this same event in 2003, the year that Vauxhall launched this range, I had been surprisingly impressed with the 2.0 petrol Turbo version, and puzzled that Vauxhall could put the pathetic 2.0 Diesel unit into such a big heavy car. My wife had not had the experience of travelling in a Signum and wanted to try one, purely for sheer... Read review

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Advantages: Good reliable car
Disadvantages: Expensive on tax

...I bought this car just over a year ago and it has been a very reliable car. It has 5 doors and the boot is a fair size you could fit a lot into it. This Vauxhall Astra has power sterring and have had a CD player installed in it. It has a hide away ashtray so if you want the ashtray down you press a button and the front comes down. The locks on the Astra i have got has no central locking. This Vauxhall Astra runs on Diesel which is slightly dearer than petrol but you go the extra miles on diesel. Me and my husband took this up to stanstead airport and it only used a quarter of a full tank of diesel. The engine size is a 1700cc engine which makes it dear on the road tax at £93.50 for 6 months. This Vauxhall Astra has a catalatic converter on the exhaust system and is expensive for a new one as i found out when i had the MOT done... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of leg room & built in sat nav
Disadvantages: only seat 2 people in the back and looks alot like an Astra!

...I think the signum was the car introduced to overtake and replace the omega. It is a great car which you get lots of leg room with, this is due to the back seats being able to be moved back and forth like the front seats, and also the rear seat are alot wider than average therefore really only accomodating 2 people. Very much like the new vectra, both it's width, driving position and most features resemble the vectra, therefore you don't get alot more car for your money, however one nifty little feature which is included is the sat navigation although it's not all singing and dancing with colour, it does work very precisely and can get you literally from one door to another and recalulate route if you go the wrong way. The signum also has many little hideaway pockets looks very much like a plane cockpit, which is very handy... Read review

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Advantages: Economical, Great Handling & Reliable, Spacious
Disadvantages: Looks a bit scruffy, No CD Player, security needs to be improved (But is Sufficient)

...I have recently purchased the Vauxhall Vectra Arctic 2.0 Diesel, 1998 (Second-Hand). To say the car is nearly ten, the wear and tear is in reasonable condition, and the handling of the vehicle is superb, I had the opportunity to test drive this vehicle (Petrol Version) when it was launched, but it did not meet expectations, it was tight to handle round corners, and the fuel consumption was high, and it just felt scruffy and clingy. So I scrapped the idea of getting one and went to fords instead. However I was given the opportunity to buy one of these cars second-hand, and I have to say the feel of the diesel is brilliant, although, not so good for the environment, the Vauxhall can do the distance on a low budget. The Vauxhall is very comfortable, except when going over the speed bumps, the suspension is a little harsh, but overall... Read review

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Advantages: Very practical, superb driving position, great fun to drive.
Disadvantages: A little pricey bearing in mind standard kit. Visability may be compromised.

...more expensive Signum completely redundant. In terms of interior packaging it offers 5 seats against the Signum's 4, yet on the car we drove also had the Signum's (pretty useless) "Travel Assistant" box - a kind of large refridgerated rear glove box. More imortantly from the drivers point of view it is far more fun to drive than the larger car, easier to park and much, much better from a child's point of view. After three days we were loath to give the Meriva back. I would have quite happily traded it for the Omega. It made a very good job of cruising at speed, it is the perfect town car due to the driving position and above all else is the first car that I have truly enjoyed driving in a very long time. Being very picky if I were to take my own recommendation my own Meriva would probably be specified with the latest 1.7 CDTi diesel... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Nice styling, outstanding drive and handling, good quality interior!!
Disadvantages: Finicky new toys, 1.6 lacks real muscle and Vauxhall badge!!

...of Vauxhall but have to admit the Astra is a good looking car, better looking than the new generation Focus anyway. The Astra was the first car in the Vauxhall line which introduced the new family face, followed by the new Tigra, Zafira and newly revised Vectra and Signum, to be closely followed by the Corsa and Agila soon. Despite the dramatic looks of the Astra it is still a Vauxhall which is all too apparent when you get close to it with its cheap plastic inserts in the front valance and rather ordinary shaped rear light clusters, although the lights setup itself is rather cool. The SXI spec has 16" alloy wheels and front fog lights which add a sportier look to the quite ordinary hatchback. Inside you get air conditioning, single slot cd/radio and height adjustment on front drivers seat. Inside the car looks very up to date... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, decent site pickup.
Disadvantages: No longer made.

.... While these had power steering, there was no automatic version, which is a shame. The engines were direct injection turbo charged 2.5 litre Diesel engines. The Brava weighed just under a tonne and a half, and could carry 1.1 tonnes, which is pretty good. Website http://www.vauxhall.co.uk The price of these varied depending which engine, configuration, cab etc. .You will be looking for second hand ones so check Parkers guide prices. Contact details are as follows:- Head office Griffin House Osborne Road Luton Bedfordshire LU1 3YT Tel: 01582 721122 Fax: 01582 427400 All in all, even though I would like to have seen the Vauxhall version, I still recommend these vehicles for anyone requiring a good solid no frills workhorse. You can still find ex AA Bravas in good condition, at bargain prices. .... Read review

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Advantages: Good to drive, front seat space
Disadvantages: Fuel bills, it's a Vauxhall

...to go for and seem to be more sought after than other colours. They also suit the car better. As with anything with a V6 in, make sure it's serviced properly, if a cambelt goes you could be looking at 24 bent valves and a bill for £2000+. Dealer back up is good with them as obviously Vauxhall dealers are everywhere who will look after it for you. Servicing is quite cheap considering it's a V6 with them starting at £180 upwards. Another good point is it's only group 14 insurance! For a V6 that's good. For a 28 year old with full no claims you'd be looking at about £350 a year, not bad for the performance. As I said at the start don't expect good fuel economy, if you want that buy a diesel. Prices for the 3.2's plummet as well. Considering they are £21000 new I've seen 1 1/2 year old ones going for £9000. Ouch! As my title... Read review

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Advantages: Diesel engine so fuel economy is good. Much better styling inside and outside
Disadvantages: It's still a Corsa from Vauxhall, which means it's still by General Motors.

...I popped over to my mate’s the other day for some manly catching up when the subject of cars came into the conversation. He said to me, “Aye, I got myself one of them new Vauxhall Corsas I did. Very nimble little machine and I likes it” A Vauxhall Corsa – a car made by General Motors - which he likes? This is the man that I used to chat with and bet on who would be first to get the Honda Civic Type-R (a fantastic little car). That meant either his lady friend has warped his fragile little mind, or the Corsa really was a special little beast. I couldn’t help asking to have a look at it and take the opportunity to take the mickey out of him, purely for male bonding of course. I waited outside as he drove the car out of his garage, and at first I expected the old generic blank stare of the Corsa we’ve all come to know and love. But no... Read review

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Advantages: Stylish car, nippy for a diesel, comfortable interior
Disadvantages: Gears quite stiff, suspension.

...We bought a new Vauxhall Corsa CDTi last September. Having looked at several different types of Corsa, we eventually opted for the 5 door CDTi Design (diesel). Looks and Interior Since its original launch in 1992, Vauxhall Corsa has evolved quite considerably. The latest models look sporty, stylish and nippy, with upmarket interiors and intelligent key features. There are quite a few colours to choose from in the new Design range. These are as diverse as 'Flame Red' and 'Sunny Melon' to the simple 'Glacier White'. We chose a more neutral colour with the 'Metro Blue' variety, but there is certainly something for every taste. Our car comes with 16 inch alloy wheels as standard and benefits from smart leather trim seating inside and leather-trim steering wheel. Vauxhall have put a lot of thought into making interiors... Read review

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