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Posts Tagged ‘Vauxhall’

We live in a society that is gradually becoming more environmentally-friendly, but it is taking time. There is news coverage everywhere about how we need to be greener to avoid damaging our planet. With this in mind, it begs the question of how can we be more economical with our petrol usage.

Be Careful

Say you own a Vauxhall car, you should know if it takes petrol or diesel. The fuel your car takes makes a difference to how it runs and how economical it is. Therefore, if you were to head to a petrol station and put diesel in your petrol car, you would soon know about it. The car probably won’t drive for a start and you can seriously damage the motor.

Why Diesel is Better

Make sure you choose a diesel car if you’re wanting something supremely economical. You might find the initial cost of the car is pricier, but fuel is used much more economically with diesel. Lets remember that all cars are gas guzzlers, but the most environmentally-friendly ones are always going to be the diesel motors. It is estimated that the majority of UK households own at least 2 cars, and despite the recession, people are still filling them up with pricey fuel and using them as much as possible. UK drivers just love their cars.

People who look to buy used Vauxhall cars, for example, know that they are buying economical cars to start with. It might be that you want a petrol car because you are used to it, but it is advisable to consider diesel before you make your mind up. If you want to be more economical with your fuel usage, it is diesel that will give you more miles to the gallon.

Any concerns you have about the different fuel types should be discussed at your local dealership when you decide to buy a car – they will help you.

If you’re going to buy a used car, this by no way means you will end up with a poor quality car. In fact, you’ll be far better off in the long-run because you will have saved on the initial costs of buying a car and then you will also find that there are some other perks to buying used, such as cheap insurance and low tax.

Insurance That’s Affordable

In most cases, the older the car then the cheaper the insurance. Do bear in mind that this rule doesn’t apply to someone who wants a vintage Porsche as the insurance actually goes up, but a used Vauxhall car like a Corsa will be very affordable indeed. Plus, used cars are superb because they are cheaper in general to run and this is a great way to save money during the credit crunch. In general though, cars are very expensive and they really do eat away at the bank balance. Used cars are good because they do at least save you a bit of money due to the lower cost of insurance.

Affordable Tax

It doesn’t matter if you pay tax every 6 months of annually, the costs can still mount up. However, the more the car the costs in the first place then the more tax you will inevitably have to pay. People that buy used Vauxhall cars will inevitably save quite a bit of money though as the tax is lower. Tax is one cost you can so easily reduce by buying a used car as opposed to a new one.

Of course, people still need to use their cars for everyday things but they certainly don’t want the costs to cripple them. Cash-strapped car drivers are therefore much more inclined to buy a used car, or look at used Vauxhall cars, rather than head to a new car dealership. More people are choosing old over new, and some are even selling their new car promptly so they can afford something much cheaper, as they realise that new cars eat away at the bank balance.

The advice to anyone thinking of buying a car is to make sure you budget for the extras. Insurance and tax are just two very important essentials of car ownership, so any way you can reduce the costs is favourable. In this case, it makes sense that you should buy used Vauxhall cars.

When you buy used Vauxhall cars, you get the peace of mind that you’re buying from a trusted vehicle manufacturer, plus the opportunity to save bundles of cash. Ask anyone in the motor industry and they will tell you that the Vauxhall name has always been associated with good quality cars. When you buy used you can feel confident that you are getting a good, solid car, but at a great price. Now is the time to look for used Vauxhall cars if you’re wanting to save money on motoring.

The Meriva

Many people feel that it is the Vauxhall Meriva that is the best family car. Indeed, it has plenty of room for the children and ample boot space for shopping or something more adventurous, like transporting the beach essentials. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Vauxhall Meriva is one of the most popular family cars due to its features.

The Corsa

There are other Vauxhall cars that have a loyal following though, such as the Corsa. New drivers love the Corsa as it is easy to drive and affordable. Plus, when you buy a used Vauxhall Corsa you can save eve more money. Even though it is considered reasonably affordable to buy new, you can make great savings buying used from a trusted dealer.

All Vauxhall models offer great value

With so much choice in the availability of used Vauxhall cars, you might not know exactly what model you’re looking for, but you know that you want a Vauxhall. This is how many people feel, and they are lured in by the prices and great deals available on used cars these days. With the recession still in full swing, many car dealerships have slashed their prices further to make quick sales and there has never been a better time to pick up a great deal on a used Vauxhall car. It doesn’t matter which model you want, just as long as you shop for used Vauxhall cars at a trusted dealer to get the best deal.

I have just begun a new job and feel that the time is right for me to be looking into buying a new car. In all truth I have owned my Fiat Punto for well over 6 years now, and although she has been brilliant, she is looking a bit old and battered.

My biggest predicament is which car should I think about investing in?

There are a lot of cars on the market now and my concern is if I make the wrong choice, I could be stuck with a car for the next 6 or 7 years.

A friend of mine suggested that it might be a good idea to look at leasing a car for a few years. My first thoughts were that this would work out too expensive and I should just buy a car outright.

I decided to carry out some searches and get all the facts and figures together so I could see what sort of deals were showing up for Cheap Lease Cars.

I will admit that I was very surprised by the really competitive deals on offer, but still totally undecided about which car to choose.

My first vehicle was a Vauxhall Nova, so I thought that probably looking into Vauxhall Contract Hire would be an ideal place to start.

Although Vauxhall has some brilliant models available, I was thinking about leasing a car more in line with my new company status.

My partner bought a Toyota Avensis and he is very happy with this model. He has found his car to be very dependable with no problems. With this in mind I decided to carry out a search into Toyota Contract Hire and I was suitably impressed by the Toyota Landcruiser. The Landcruiser seems like a tremendous motor, big enough for the family, lots of room for the weekly shopping and it will certainly look great in the car park.

I think the Landcruiser will suit me very well for the next 3 years. What is brilliant is that at the end of the 3 year lease, I can buy the car.

The Vauxhall Corsa has seamlessly eased itself into the Great British consciousness by providing reasonably priced, stylish and ecologically sound motoring. In the small hatchback market, the target demographic is not often considered to be looking for a high performance vehicle; they are more interested in the MPG ratios and how much CO2 is leaking out of the exhaust. The standard Corsa fills this niche admirably and has become a consistent and popular critical seller throughout the country. Vauxhall, however, have had a change of heart with the Corsa’s regulation blueprints and have released a fantastic monster.

The Vauxhall Corsa 1.6 16V VXR takes the tried and tested styling of the more common Corsa and puts fire and brimstone under the bonnet. This car seems to be squarely aimed at those amongst us who not only want to get away from the traffic lights first, but want to rip a huge hole in the space/time continuum whilst we do so.

I, like many people, learned to drive in a Vauxhall Corsa, so I was genuinely looking forward to revisiting the humble beginnings of my driving career. What I was presented with was an unbelievably different beast to the 1.3 CDTi I used to chug down the dual carriageway in. The Corsa VXR has been modelled to look sportier; the bodywork looks like a rally car, the seats hug your contours and the whole affair seems to have much more of a snarl about it.

I was used to the Diesel Corsa 0-60 capabilities of around 13 seconds, so was pleasantly surprised when I realised that the VXR model could manage it in a fraction of the time. When I say “pleasantly surprised”, I was actually whooping like a dangerously excitable Gorilla.

The Vauxhall Corsa VXR may very well appeal to the rather unsavoury boy racers amongst us, but its appeal really deserves to be enjoyed by a wider audience. The price range puts it in direct combination with the higher spec Ford Fiestas and the zippy Vauxhall makes a superb case for itself.

If you are looking for a car that can slap a smile on your face, I doubt you will have to look much further than the Vauxhall Corsa 1.6 16V VXR.

Thousands of UK workers are at risk of losing their jobs in the wake of the collapse of General Motors (GM), the biggest car manufacturing company in America. The company were forced to finally file for bankruptcy protection in the US, causing uncertainty for all its workers about their future with the company. The European branch of GM, which includes Vauxhall in the UK as well as the German brand Opel, has already been sold off to Magna International, a Canadian car parts company.  But although this means that both the British and German brands will continue production, a fall in demand for car sales and car leasing deals could mean that Magna will be making significant job cuts.

The worry for Vauxhall is that Magna is a relatively unknown company in the UK, with ties to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s vans company and the Russian bank Sberbank. The Russian involvement has raised worries about production at Vauxhall’s Luton plant, where they make Vivara vans, could be switched to Russia, putting the 1,400 workers at Luton at risk of losing their jobs. The German government also had a part to play in ensuring that the takeover was a success, causing worries that the Opel factories and workers may be protected as a priority and that any cutbacks would have to be made in the UK. Of course nothing has been officially confirmed to date as Magna have made no promises yet and have made it clear that they will do everything in their power to protect as many jobs as possible in all areas.

For Vauxhall’s 5,500 UK workers, all they can do is to remain hopeful that the company will recover quickly after the takeover by Magna, who obtained the company over other potential buyers including Italian car manufacturer Fiat. Car leasing and car sales will need to improve soon for the decision to keep factories open to be viable. In the meantime for buyers interested in purchasing a car from Vauxhall, car leasing could be a better option as it enables you to choose from a wider range of vehicles, and is less likely to leave you in a difficult position if the company suffers any further disaster in the future.

It is common knowledge that the domain of the light commercial vehicle belongs firmly in the vice-like grip of the Ford Transit and has been for decades. There are, however, certain factions that have sprouted up are doing all they can to topple the Transit’s stranglehold on the market. Amongst these competitive spirits are such respected manufacturers as Peugeot and Renault, there is one particular rival that seems to be making a very good case for themselves indeed. The manufacturer I am quite take with is Vauxhall.

Vauxhall have seen great success already with their range of vans, each designed to better suit a particular light commercial pursuit. The Vauxhall Movano is the biggest of the vans and is well suited to those who need to transport a large amount of tools or other haulage to complete their daily duties. The Vauxhall Vivaro is more style orientated and perhaps the smaller and more mobile brother to the Movano. The Astravan and Corsavan do pretty much what they say on the tin and provide the small van suitable for the more fledgling business or the smaller end of a fleet.

What is impressive about the Vauxhall Van range is how they have taken everything that is desirable about the Ford Tranist and have added extra elements. For example; the Vivaro has all the practicality of the famous Transit, but has the updated looks and image that will appeal to business owners if they are keen to make a great impression on their clients. In turn, the Movano is available with various wheelbases, to help you make a more informed decision of what vehicle to buy based on the kind of strains that will be placed on your fleet.

 The Transit will continue to be a bestseller based upon its deserved legacy, but it is definitely worth at least investigating the Vauxhall range of Vans, as they will provide an excellent service to you and your business.

Despite the pleading protestations to convince the general public to leave their cars at home and step aboard public transport, the Government and local authorities don’t exactly make it the convenient and cost-friendly solution that one would hope. The prices on public transport consistently creep up and the quality and frequency of service invariably slump down. So what most of us are looking for is cost-effective transport, which is easily maintained, reliable and isn’t full of litter or smells like a particularly abused dustbin. What the general public are crying out for is a series of cars that are suitable for city driving; great handling, good performance at low revs, economical and ecologically sound. With some research I found, with relative ease, the perfect cars to fit the bill.

Vauxhall have been manufacturing popular cars for years now, but in the emergence of more ecologically aware society, many manufacturers have come under scrutiny for their ‘green’ (or not) policies and products. Happily for motorists, Vauxhall have nothing to worry about in this matter. The Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi produces class-leading low CO2 emissions and is capable of reaching around 70 miles to the gallon, which is not only kinder on your wallet, but considerably kinder on the environment.

 With more and more of us learning to drive every year and with the social stigma placed on gas-guzzling cars, there is a huge scope to be mobile yet environmentally friendly. The Diesel Corsa has all the style and panache you would find desirable in a city car, yet maintains all the practicalities that we are being forced to pay more attention too.

The Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi is a popular seller in the hatchback market and a suitable vehicle for learners who may not drive the most economically, city dwellers and those who need affordable transport from day to day.

A racing car that you can drive on the British roads; what driver could ever ask for me. When stopping at traffic lights I still get the (rather immature) urge to rev my engine, as if challenging the person in the next lane to a drag race. In a Hot Rod this would be perfectly rational behaviour, in a Ford Mondeo it’s just slightly embarrassing. What your average common or garden driver is really looking for is a compromise between the Hot Rod and the Fiesta; a car that is practical, but can still get the heart racing when you put your foot down. With some confidence, Vauxhall claim to have created this elusive amalgamation of form, function and performance in the Vauxhall VXR Range.

This obviously isn’t the first time mainstream car manufacturers have attempted to create a speedy but practical model. Volkswagen have been doing it for years with the Golf GTi ranges and Ford have a rich lineage of racing cars from the RS Cosworth. All of these cars are hugely exciting to drive and all perform to increasingly high standards. The only grievances I hold against them are the rather insulting connotations that drivers of these vehicles are often labelled with. What started off as a rather jovial and almost friendly “boy racer” has now transformed into the less agreeable “chavs”, “townies” and “neds” (dependent on your geographical location). These labels don’t seem to concern those who actually are chavs etc…, but the rest of us normal human beings want to drive these wonderful cars without the social stigma.

With the VXR Range, Vauxhall want to readdress the balance and have designed and engineered a car that goes like stink, but retains understated looks. That is until you get to the brand new Vauxhall VXR8…which looks like it has careened straight out of a post-apocalyptic landscape in the year 3000 in a hail of fire and bullets. Alas, the VXR8 would be pointless if Vauxhall hadn’t kitted it out with an engine that could strip paint from 20 miles. So let’s be hugely thankful that they have done exactly that.

The Vauxhall VXR8 6.2 Litre V8 engine has an unbelievable 431 BHP which when put to the test, will get you from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds. If you count that in your head, you can almost feel the raw acceleration power that the VXR8 houses. However, as the popular saying goes, with great power comes huge responsibility. If you push the VXR8 even slightly too far, you will find yourself in a ditch with your face on fire. To say its a bit nervy at speed would be something of an understatement, even on a dual carriageway you feel like you might flip at any moment in a huge tidal wave of explosions and noise.

My only fault with the Vauxhall VXR8 would be that it seems to create a drama out of everything, like some kind of stereotypical pantomime performer refusing to grow old gracefully. But unlike most criticisms, it’s impossible not to fall in love with the Vauxhall VXR8 despite all its tendencies toward fuss and commotion. Without descending into the world of horrible clichés, you genuinely feel like the Grim Reaper is stalking you every single time you put the key in the ignition, but for the exhilaration it is worth it. The Vauxhall VXR8 is a car of pure brilliance, but don’t even consider going near one unless you are either a) a skilled driver, or b) completely insane.

Let’s be very frank and honest about this; Vauxhall is hardly a ‘glamourous’ brand. For as long as I can remember they have been churning out cars that have been…well…a bit underwhelming. The engineers at Vauxhall may be adept at producing comfortable, well performing and reasonably priced vehicles, but they’re hardly setting anyone’s world on fire are they? Until now that is to say…Enter the new Vauxhall Corsa.

Ok, you can stop cringing and come from behind the sofa; I’m not going to build the Corsa up to be a Zonda F or Lamborghini Gallardo, as it is clearly not. What Vauxhall have done though, is inject some much needed ‘ZING’ into their entry level vehicle. The old Corsa resembled a shoebox on wheels and had all the cool points and street credit of cordurouy trousers. A few carefully designed changes to the bodywork and all of a sudden Vauxhall have created one of the most stylish looking superminis available.

The Corsa comes with a veritable smorrgasbord of engine options ranging from the meek and rather forgettable 1.0 3 cylinder to the growling 1.6 Turbo VXR, the latter being something of a boy racer’s fantasy. The popularity of the Corsa has some minor drawbacks however. Due to the dinky size, responsive handling, stylish looks and cheap running costs, the Corsa has been adopted as the driving teacher’s car of choice. With leading driving school BSM operating a fleet of thousands of Corsas, you’ll be hard pushed to go for a drive in your Corsa without getting stuck behind another Corsa with a big trapezoid with a ‘L’ on top of it. Thus the illusion of cool is mortally ruptured and you end up feeling like a bit of a fool.

The snowball effect aside, you cannot deny that the Corsa probably deserves its popularity. It has challenged the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and Fiat Panda as the new driver’s first car and is putting up a very valiant fight. The current market for superminis has found itself in a state of saturation recently, with almost every car manufacturer vying for the precious profit to be made from entry-level vehicles. The Corsa was the 4^th bestselling car in the United Kingdom in 2007 (shifting 94,120 units in the UK) and has consistently been in the top 10 selling cars list since its introduction in 1993; quite an achievement in anyone’s book.

My own personal experience of the Corsa comes in the 1.3 CDTi. During my journeys I felt as though I was within a metal bubble, comfortable in the seats and the relatively heightened driving position. The plastics all felt rigid and of good quality, the only drawback being the stubby indicators which are as responsive as a dead camel. The central console’s screen was clear and concise, even though it shared a differing opinion to the speedometer regarding my velocity; only a minor irritation and nothing to detract from the driving experience too much.

The engine was zippy without being overly-dramatic, though it has to be said that it did often make a lot of noise without actually achieving very much…but I guess that’s typical of smaller diesel engines. The engine was also ecologically sound, producing around 57 mpg, which is not only a relief to the consumer, but also the planet. The gearbox was relatively smooth, though often refused to go into third or fifth without me resorting to violently aggressive manoeuvres.

The Vauxhall Corsa is ideally suited to those amongst us who want to feel very much a part of the driving experience, rather than just a passenger. The car seems to have been designed to be a relaxing drive, but jolts you every now and then to keep you alert. The race for the ultimate supermini hatch is still wide open, though it is refreshing that not everyone is automatically heading to their nearest Ford dealership. Now let’s all rejoice in free market capitalism and the consumers right to choose.