autobahn Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] What's happened is that mainstream cars have got a lot better whilst the "prestige" brands have been slow to stay ahead. In some cases they've been left napping and still fetch big money for cars that are dynamically inferior (in some cases) and no better built. [/ QUOTE ] Agreed that Merc and VW build standards have fallen (although I think Audi & BMW are still well ahead). I just feel that in order for performance Vauxhalls to have higher residuals they need an image change. I can't see that happening overnight or even two years down the line when re-sale becomes an issue. Its just a case of balancing how good a drive the car is to how much money you'd lose. If that wasn't such a consideration we'd see more Alfas on the road. Can't argue that on paper the VXR looks like fun though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 If it follow the examples on deprication set by the Astra Turbo and Turbo Coupe models it will be a £13k buy as a one year old car (kiss good by to 35-40% or £6-7k). That's hard to take and lets be fair, doesn't reflect on the current quality of the factory output. I agree that all the car makers (bar a few) have all crept very close in the finish stakes, but the 2nd hand market still depricates hardest with Vauxhalls and Ford leading the way. It's not to do with build, more image (of old) and the fact that there will be 10 000 a year on the roads. It will be the Estate Agent rep car of joy, it will be liked, realiable and fast. But it's still a mass made Vauxhall and that's what it's biggest fault is (and there's nothing Vauxhall can do about it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Chris - thats actually no worse than my A4 after 12 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Chri5 - Wise words indeed. Autobahn - Yes but Alfas DO actually break down constantly. Check JD Power and other surveys and you'll see Alfa right at the bottom. Ford/Vauxhall are still only middle of the table but that's probably partly because there are grillions of them that are treated like cr*p as company cars. Still don't trust anything French however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autobahn Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Yes but Alfas DO actually break down constantly. Check JD Power and other surveys and you'll see Alfa right at the bottom. [/ QUOTE ] Agreed Alfas aren't exactly the first word in reliability but neither Audi's or Merc's score particularly highly in the JD reliability stakes, middling at best. Its all about perceived quality, rightly or wrongly something that Mercs will struggle to lose and Vauxhalls struggle to gain (apparently from reviews of the new A-class Mercedes is finally getting its build issues together again). Think Chri5 hits the nail on the head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 I would willingly by a Vx Signum. My mates one is perfect. nothing has gone wrong AT ALL, and his is the V6 3.2 and he is not gentle user/driver! I would buy an Alfa too. I won't buy a Ford, as I do not like them. In the car business, reputations take an age to be lost. In the house building business, reputations don't count for toffee, as Barratt's have had and stilldo have a terrible reputation - but people still buy from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32North Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 I quite like the look of teh new Astra and if I was of a different mid-set I'd probably buy one.... but having driven a car with 240bhp + which is FWD until it needs to be 4WD I simply do not relish the prosoect of ant slippery corner in the Astra VXR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A3Floyd Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 [ QUOTE ] S3 - What engine did you try? SRi seems to come with all sorts! I looked at the SRi with 170PS turbo petrol but preferred the mid range grunt of the diesel. [/ QUOTE ] We took the 1.8 petrol as it was the only engine flavour they had at the time. It wasn't particularly powerful but it had enough to keep me happy and the chassis felt very well sorted. Both me and the wife loved it. there just wasn't enough room in the boot so our only option was an estate which the wife wasn't as keen on. We then test drove a Zafira GSI and we completely loved it. Again, it was the depreciation issue that eventually put us off of the Zafira so we opted for an Audi again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 If you read today's Autocar, the VXR is the daddy.....anyone who's bought the VW GTi should read their article, it makes interesting reading... "Vauxhall's image just took a big step in the right direction" Autocar, 19 July 2005, p 59. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 [ QUOTE ] If you read today's Autocar, the VXR is the daddy.....anyone who's bought the VW GTi should read their article, it makes interesting reading... "Vauxhall's image just took a big step in the right direction" Autocar, 19 July 2005, p 59. [/ QUOTE ] Yep was just about to say the same. [ QUOTE ] The Astra has moves that are way beyond anything the golf can muster, if not the Megane [/ QUOTE ] Basically if you read the article, it handles way better than the others and has a good ride, and a cracking engine to boot. If you want a balls out 3dr hatchback, this has just become the number 1 choice. Well done Vauxhall. Right I'm off to post the news in the Golf GTI forum.. am sure they can't wait to read about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagus Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 IIRC- Both VW and Merc came lower than vauxhall in the top gear survey, so quality can't be that bad, it looks great, and everyone is saying that it is a real golf GTI eater. MIght see if I can get a look at one at a stealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Cool - I can get 8% off the new VXR just by being a Vx partner - shame I get 15% off the rest of the Astra range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagus Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Cool. combine that with a standard knock off at the dealer, and its a good deal - better than a mk5 GTI. If you are keeping the car for 1-2 yrs, get the MK5 GTI, if longer, get the VXR as its more fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Fear the torque steer, if it is anything like the Focus RS, which I have heard it is, but worse, turn away and don't look back. You would be safer going on the nemisis with not safety straps!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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