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Thursday 18 January 2007

Vauxhall Manaro Holdens sister

PRICE: £29,965 to £36,995

Vauxhall borrowed the Monaro from its Australian sister company "Holden", and made the Vauxhall Monaro available in the UK.

The Monaro shares little but the badge with any other Vauxhall, shunning the 2.2 litre four cylinder in favour of a thumping V8 borrowed from a Corvette. A larger car than most coupes, the Monaro has useable back seats for a couple of adults even though it’s only a 2 door.

Monaro backs up those muscular looks with a thunderous 5.7 litre V8 powerplant. Handling is reasonable and there’s plenty of standard equipment. But you’ll be on first name terms with your local petrol stations & it's not as fast as it could be.

The standard Monaro Chevrolet V8 produces 349bhp and 353lb ft of pulling power. The VXR flagship has a 6.0 litre V8 which produces 398bhp and 391lb ft of pull.
Narrow back roads throw into focus the Monaro’s sheer size. It’s big but fairly nimble for a vehicle of its size. The steering, although slow, is accurate and provides plenty of feedback. The firm suspension keeps the body under control but small, high frequency bumps can cause it to patter.

The Monaro is kitted with a premium audio system, but the only time you’ll want to use it is during a motorway cruise. Because that V8 grumble underneth the hood is to be savoured, not muffled. Road noise is acceptably low, given the low profile tyres, and wind noise is kept to reasonable levels, too.

The powerful V8 engines and amount of kit for your money makes the Monaro seem at reasonable value, but average fuel economy is less than 20mpg or 13mpg around town. Servicing will be expensive, while insurance costs will be steep, too, due to the car’s group 20 rating. High carbon dioxide emissions earn the Monaro a place in the maximum 35% company car tax band.

Equipment may be in plentiful supply, but the switches that are used to operate it do not feel of a high enough quality. The plastics, too, are not worthy of a car that commands such a high list price. It is too early to predict the Monaro’s mechanical reliability.

The Vauxhall Monaro gets remote central locking, an alarm and deadlocks as standard. There are also a visible VIN and locking wheelnuts. Twin front and side airbags are present, as are ABS and seatbelt pre tensioners.
There’s plenty of cabin space up front. The seats adjust electrically, while the large steering wheel can be adjusted for reach as well as rake. However, the heaviness of the clutch and gearbox make the car feel more of a handful than it needs to be, especially in town. The trim is uninspired but hardy.

The Vauxhall occupies a fair amount of road space, but the good news is it’s big on the inside, too. Even with tall people in the front seats, rear occupants will not find themselves short of legroom. There’s plenty of shoulder space, too, although the tallest passengers may find their heads brushing the roof lining above the rear window.

There’s no reason for anyone to feel uncomfortable in the Monaro, because both versions come complete with climate control, leather upholstery, a top end CD multichanger with steering wheel mounted controls and electric front windows, along with remote central locking, cruise control and metallic paint.

And our next blog will be called (Vauxhall's Tiny Tigra).

Sunday 14 January 2007

The Upside of Buying a Vauxhall

The upside to buying a Vauxhall is that it basically will sell itself, now below you'll find exactly how and were their best rated. Along with this, Vauxhall also have a great safty rating on their cars, although you should come to expect it's on more newer cars then the older ones.

(New & Used), #5 = not bad - #1 = excellent.

#1.) Vauxhall Corsa: (New) The Corsa does everything just that little bit better and more than its rivals.
#3.) Vauxhall Astra: (Used) Modern styling and comes with good equipment levels on all it's cars.
#5.) Vauxhall Astra: (New) Good enough to have the VW's worried. Astra offers a very fine drive and a spacious cabin.
#3.) Vauxhall Vectra: (Used) You get a huge lot of car for your money when it comes to the famous Vectra.
#4.) Vauxhall Vectra: (New) A fine cruiser with excellent refinement, and handling has very much improved.
#1.) Vauxhall Vectra estate: (Used) A huge boot and a smoothe ride for little cash what more could you want.
#1.) Vauxhall Vectra estate: (New) Huge load bay, spacious cabin and an economical diesel engine.
#1.) Vauxhall Zafira: (used) Ground breaking MPV, and goes for rock bottom prices.

Now for the all important Air Bag issues that people have. It should answer all your Quries.

Theres a huge concerns about children and other small passengers, especially smaller people being killed or seriously injured by malfunctioning or over powerd air bags, in 1997 the National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration (NHTSA) issued a final rule to allow auto manufacturers to use lower powered air bags. This rule permits air bags to be depowered by 20 to 35 percent. In addition, starting in 1998, all repair shops and dealers were allowed to install on/off switches that allow air bags to be deactivated. Vehicle owners could now be authorized (by the NHTSA) to get on/off switches installed for one or both air bags in their car if they (or other users of their car) fell into one or more of these specific risk groups:

For both driver and passenger sides Individuals with medical conditions in which the risks of deploying the air bag exceed the risk of impact in the absence of an air bag.

For the driver side (in addition to medical conditions) Those who cannot position themselves to properly operate their cars at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) back from the center of the driver air bag cover.

For the passenger side (in addition to medical conditions) Individuals who need to transport a baby in a rear facing child restraint in the front seat because the car has no rear seat, the rear seat is too small to accommodate a rear facing child seat or because it's necessary to constantly monitor a child's medical condition

For the passenger side (in addition to medical conditions) Individuals who need to carry children between one and 12 years old in the front seat because (a) the car has no rear seat, (b) the vehicle owner must carry more children than can fit into the back seat or (c) because it's necessary to constantly monitor a child's health.

If you would like to get an on/off switch installed in your car, you need a copy of NHTSA's brochure, Air Bags and On/Off Switches. Information for an Informed Decision, and the accompanying form, Request for Air Bag On/Off Switch. You can find these on the NHTSA web site, as well as at AAA clubs, new car dealers and state motor vehicle departments. The NHTSA will send you a letter of authorization that you can take to a repair shop. (Before you bother with all this, you should check with your auto dealer or repair shop to see if an on/off switch is available for your car.) Some retrofit on/off switches can be found and used if federal requirements are met switches must be operated by a key and equipped with warning lights to indicate whether the Air bags are turned on or off.

A group of doctors at the National Conference on Medical Indications for Air Bag Deactivation considered the medical conditions commonly reported in letters to the NHTSA as possible justification for turning off Air bags. They did not, however, recommend turning off air bags for relatively common conditions, such as pacemakers, eyeglasses, angina, emphysema, asthma, mastectomy, previous back or neck surgery, advanced age, osteoporosis, arthritis or even pregancy.

The NHTSA will authorize air bag deactivation on a case by case basis under appropriate conditions. Never try to disable the bag yourself remember.
The Future of Air Bags is aimed at maintaining and improving the lifesaving benefits of air bags that are in full swing. New NHTSA sponsored tests use improved (dummy) injury criteria based on new knowledge and research.

Cars that currently offer side air bags represent the new wave of occupant protection. Engineers say that designing effective side Air Bags is much more difficult than designing front air bags. This is because much of the energy from a front impact collision is absorbed by the bumper, hood and engine, and it takes almost 30 to 40 milliseconds before it reaches the car's occupant. In a side impact, only a relatively thin door and a few inches separate the occupant from another vehicle. This means that door mounted side air bags must begin deploying in a mere five or six milliseconds.

Volvo experimented with different ways of mounting side air bags and chose seat back installation because that protects passengers of all sizes regardless of how the seat is positioned. This arrangement allows them to place a triggering mechanical sensor on the sides of the seat cushions under the driver and front passenger. This prevents the air bag on the undamaged side of the car from inflating. Installing the entire air bag package in the seat back also offers the advantage of preventing unnecessary deployments that might be caused by collisions with pedestrians or bicycles. It takes a collision of about 12 mph to trigger side air bags.

BMW engineers have chosen door mounted air bags. The door has more space, allowing for a bigger bag that provides more coverage.
All of this makes it pretty clear that the science of air bags is still new and under rapid development. You can expect many advances in this field as designers come up with new ideas and learn from real world crash data.And our next Blog will be called (Vauxhall Manaro Holdens sister).

Mortgage Angels Limited

Saturday 6 January 2007

Awesome Vauxhall VX220 Coupe

The Vauxhall VX220 is too extreme to be a rival for the Mazda MX 5 or the Toyota MR2, so its natural competitor is the car that shares its chassis, the "Lotus Elise". Unlike most contemporary Elises, the VX also has a 145bhp 2.2 or 197bhp 2.0 litre turbocharged engine. The standard VX's performance is sensational, but the Turbo can take on the very best performance cars. Both deal with corners with ease, and the driver is rewarded with phenomenal sensitivity through the steering wheel and other controls. There's no power assisted steering, but it doesn't need it, even at parking speeds. The five speed gearbox used is precise and keeps the engines singing. The VX's light weight means there's no turbo lag to worry about. Instead, there's just instant power coupled to brilliant handling. A supple ride takes care of comfort, although getting in and out of a VX is an acquired skill. We'd recommend either model, but if your budget can stretch to the Turbo, then get it. It has the same delightfully balanced chassis and handling as the 2.2 litre model, but considerably more power (197bhp v 145bhp), so it's that bit quicker. The 2.2 litre model is not far behind the Turbo it still makes a brilliant choice, and it's easier to live with than its contemporary Lotus rival, "the Lotus Elise". Most VX's will have been specified with leather seats, which are worth having, and an upgraded CD stereo, which becomes redundant at speeds beyond 60mph due to wind noise. A hard top is the desirable option and makes the VX more winter proof, although it can squeak and creak. A special edition Lightning model was finished in yellow with black wheels, but don't pay any extra for it. For such a specialised and focused sports car, the Vauxhall VX220 is amazingly easy on the wallet, thanks to enjoying the same labour rates as a Vauxhall Corsa. You will have to seek out a Vauxhall dealer that has a VX trained mechanic or seek an independent specialist. Because you'll need to visit them every 10,000 miles. Insurance is affordable for a car with such performance and the car's light weight means that a fuel economy of 30mpg is easily attainable in daily driving, although the small fuel tank will still require regular replenishment. The tyres on a VX are particular to that model because of their unusual sizes. The front ones are quite narrow for a performance car, so make sure they have plenty of tread, or you could be facing a steep bill for a full set of replacements. Check the tyres of any VX carefully to make sure the wear is even. If it's not, the car may have been crashed or the wheels bashed off of kerbs. Also look for signs of track day use, such as plenty of brake pad changes in the service file. There were some reports of collapsing suspension on early VX models, but this has not proved to be a common problem. Look for damp in the cabin, because the hood leaks and water ingress can leave a musty smell if it's not delt with immediately. The seats can work loose on their mountings and rock very slightly, so make sure they are securely fixed. The engines are tough customers, but ensure there is plenty of coolant in the water, because the radiator is up front and the engines can become very hot in slow traffic. Try to leave the car running for long enough to check that the automatic cooling fan cuts in as it should. But it's always advised to take someone with you who knows about them for that extra piece of mind, and remember not to buy the first one you see.

Verdict:: Superb handling sports car at very affordable prices.
Against:: The hood is not 100% weatherproof, and entry and exit can be tricky.
For Supercar:: looks, performance and handling at small hatch prices.

And our next blog will be called (The Upside of Buying a Vauxhall).

general33@hotmail.co.uk.

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Tuesday 2 January 2007

Vauxhalls Spacious Zafira

Vauxhall Zafira MPV (1999 to continuing)

FOR: Clever seating for seven in a relatively small package, and good to drive.
AGAINST: Needs more safety kit, and the cabin is also short of storage cubbyholes.
VERDICT: It provides reliable and flexible family transport.

The Vauxhall Zafira is a seven seater, and they are arranged into 3 rows, the back row of which can be folded away (flushed with the floor) easily to create more space, individually or together. At the time of its introduction, this was considered "revolutionary", seats can be physically removed from the vehicle if not required. The system was named Flex 7. The car first appeared in 1999, and a second generation model was introduced in 2005.
Before the Zafira came along, the MPV market wasn't exactly full of bright sparks. Vauxhall's Flex-7 seating really changed things, the rear pair of seats quickly fold away flush into the floor, while the seats in the middle reclines, slides and tumbles. It’s easy to use, and now much copied by the likes of the latest Toyota Verso. It makes the Zafira's cabin more flexible than rivals of the day such as the Renault Scenic or even the Citroen Xsara Picasso.
The biggest problem with Zafiras is that they cambelt changes every 40,000 miles. There not cheap neither as each one comes in at around a few hundred quid. Except for the turbo model, fuel economy is good, with the favourite 1.8 petrol producing nearly 33mpg. If you opt for an engine above the 1.8 mark you'll notice a jump up in the insurance groups, so work with your budget to make sure you won't be left short. Models from 2001 onwards, service intervals were doubled to 20,000 miles. Vauxhall's Network Q web of approved used garages do good work at reasonable rates, but the thing is repair bills can be high if you're unlucky and something does go wrong.
What to watch out for when you go to buy one: Damp carpets that could indicate that water is working its way into the cabin through gaps in the bulkhead, but this isn't quite as serious as it sounds. Because about an hour's labour and a bit of sealant will have it fixe,. give all of the seats a test fold, but pay particular attention to the slide latches on the middle row, which often fail and can leave the seats unsecured, rear bumpers cost a lot to replace, so check for cracks or bodged DIY repairs with mismatched paint, and inspect handbooks to make sure that the cambelts have been replaced when they should have been. This doesn't apply to the chain-driven 1.6 and the 2.2 litre petrol engines, or the 2.0 litre diesel. Check that the spare wheel is still strapped underneath the car where it should be. It's there to free up space for the clever rear seats, and is all too easily stole,. the word on the street is go for the 1.8 Elegance model and avoid the 2.0 Di Comfort.
This Astra based seven seater is Vauxhall’s surprise package. Innovative ‘Flex 7’ seat-folding technology puts it ahead of the pack in terms of use of space and its compact size means it’s a good drive. But the ride is ponderous and the rear seats are for small children only.
High driving position gives a good all round view. The seats and steering wheel are adjustable, which makes it easy to get comfortable. Dials are clear, but some radio buttons are too small and fiddly. However, Zafira's driving position does feel more ''van like'' than the Astra on which it is based.
Wind and road noise mean it's less refined on the motorway, but it's otherwise competent, changing lanes and overtaking easily. Front passenger has plenty of space and the seats are quite supportive
High level of standard equipment, including air conditioning and electric front windows. Design is the best mix between spec and trim, while the 2.0 GSi has plenty of sporting touches like 17in alloy wheels.
Zafira lags behind the Picasso and Scenic with just a three star Euro NCAP rating. There are driver and passenger airbags with optional side bags, plus ABS and traction control on top cars. The Thatcham New Car Security Ratings (NSCR) give Zafira four stars for drive away theft protection and two stars for break in security.
The heavy body means the 1.6 isn't quite up to the job, as sed the 1.8 is a better all rounder and will suit most needs. 2.2 is a brisk performer without being hot, which is left to the athletic 2.0 turbo in the GSi. Zafira is without an impressive diesel engine. The early 2.0 Di is slow, low on power and unrefined. The 2.0 DTi from mid 2000 is a big improvement, with more power and performance. However, neither is a truly modern choice and is only suitable for the long distance motorway driver. Zafira is largely based on the Astra and it shows on the road. Its taller, chunkier body means it's not as supple, but it still handles more like a conventional car than a bulky MPV. It's easy to manoeuvre and good all round visibility makes it easy to drive around town.

And our next blog will be called (Awesome Vauxhall VX220 Coupe).

Friday 29 December 2006

Vauxhall Senator against Omega

The Vauxhall Senator A was a lengthened version of the Record E, complemented by a three door hatchback coupe version on the same platform called the Monza. The Senator E and Monza were initially sold in the uk as the Vauxhall Royale, as well as under their original names. The vehicle was also available in South Africa as the Chevrolet Senator, until 1982, when it was rebadged as an Opel. In the UK, a four wheel drive conversion was available, engineered by ferguson, who had also provided similar modifications for the Jensen Interceptor.
The original Senator and Monza were facelifted in 1982. In the UK, this model initially sold as an Opel, before being rebadged as a Vauxhall in 1984. The Monza continued to be sold as an Opel. A new model, the Senator B, arrived in 1987, a long wheelbase version of the Opel Omega (Vauxhall Carlton in the UK). There was no Monza equivalent. This model, and the Omega, formed the basis of the Holden VN Comodor in Australia, which used a stretched and widened platform. There were various versions of the Senator B available. The 12 valve 2.5 L and 3.0 L sized engines were released in 1987 along with a luxury (CD) model with the 3.0 L engine. The CD version boasted adjustable suspension, air conditioning, heated seats, trip computer and cruise control. The cars were available with either 5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic. Leather seats were also available as a cost option. A 24 valve 3.0 L was introduced in 1989, generating 204 bhp (compared with 177 bhp for the older 12 valve version). This model was very popular with the police in the UK, with several cars being supplied to upgraded police specification. The main feature of the new engine was a (Dual Ram) system, increasing torque at low engine speeds by means of a redirected air flow system engaged at 4,000 rpm. Later in the model's lifespan, the 2.5 L was replaced by a 2.6 L Dual Ram, and the 3.0 L 12 valve was deleted in 1992. CD versions of the 2.6 L and 24 valve 3.0 L were available untill the model's withdrawal in 1994.

This German designed rear wheel drive executive express feels dated now but it's roomy, refined and generally reliable. It obviously can't compete against a 5 Series, but it's so much car for the money. Lots of refined, roomy and comfortable car for the money. Estates are very spacious, drives well and most engines are lively. Looking at it's age alongside almost all rivals, Vauxhall lacks prestige in executive circles and Will continue to shed value rapidly. Omega saloons and cavernous estates were in production for ten years, receiving regular facelifts and upgrades to keep them in touch with buyers rising expectations. Depreciation from new was steep in a class where buyers with a choice wanted classier badges on their executive expresses, so used prices are a steal now. Omega is sturdily built and lasts well, high mileage is not an issue provided there's service history. Most used buyers prefer petrol V6 cars or the 2.2i 16v, but the 2.5 TD is highly rated as a tow car and liked for its refined BMW engine that can give 35 mpg. The roomy cabin feels a bit old school but has excellent seats. Go for as much equipment as possible, preferably CD, CDX or Elite specs. Smooth ride and well mannered handling helps the miles pass quickly. Servicing and fuel costs are reasonable, making Omega an attractive long term used buy. NCAP test got a 3 and the best Models are the 2.2i 16v CDX; 2.6i V6. But the worst Models are the Low spec 2.0 models without air con. Prices start at under £1,100 for the first of the 1994 2.0 litre Edition S. More common M plated 2.0 litre Select entry level cars will retail at between £1,200 and £1,500. Expect to pay £1,600-£1,900 for N and P registered models. Add premiums of between £150 and £1,200 for better equipped 2.0 litre GLS and CD variants. And estates? Usually, a premium of between £100 to £500 more. Prices for the popular mid range 2.5 litre V6 start in GLS form at around £1.100 for the first of the 1994 L plated models. £1,000 £1,400 for an M registered car and between £1,300 to £1,700 for an N plate. Plusher CD variants cost from £200 more and CDX versions retail from about £2,000. That leaves only the flagship Elite 24v 3.0 litre V6, priced between £1,100 and £6,500 depending on age and mileage, the popular BMW 2.5 litre six cylinder turbo diesel (from under £1,500). 2 litre 16v models launched in 1999 (from around £3,800) Most cars that are on the used market will have come off company fleets, but thats not a bad thing, since they will probably have been used at director level and had an easyer life then that of a sales rep.

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