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- Vauxhall Corsa SXI
- nicholasdownes's review
Picture courtesy of David Abbott.
| Performance | 8.4/10  |
|---|---|
| Practicality | 8.4/10 |
| Reliability | 7.8/10 |
| Value for Money | 8.2/10 |
| Reviewer Rating | 8.4/10 |
| Overall Rating | 7.1/10  |
By nicholasdownes
on 1st Dec 2004
| Year Manufactured | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Length of ownership | 1 Month |
| Performance | 7/10 |
| Practicality | 10/10 |
| Reliability | 10/10 |
| Value for money | 7/10 |
| Overall value | 7/10 |
 nicholasdownes's recommendation | |
Good value to buy, cheap to insure, good MPG, reasonable handling and solid little engine.
Chronic understear, all TDI drivers try and overtake you.
I bought my Vauxhall Corsa SXI 52 plate with 10000 miles in October 2004. It had below the average mileage and is immaculate for £5500. I bought the corsa because my Astra Bertone Coupe was costing me a fortune in petrol, insurance and tyres. Let me tell you I was glad to see the back of that car, if I'd of kept it I'm pretty much sure I would have lost my license at some stage.
It was a bit of a hard decision to choose a small cheap car, I had originally looked at the Corsa SRI but got a good deal on an Astra CDX, so I decided to go back to my first choice. To be fair I think I made the right decision, the Corsa is reasonably nippy and can see off those TDI in an amazing, even unbelievable, show. To see a big car coming up in the wing mirror, drop a gear, and watch it stay there until you can out turn it, is surprising in such a small car. Coupled with this good fuel economy, smart looks inside and out, and cheap insurance costs (2 years no claims, 22, £400) all make owning and driving a pleasure. I used to feel guilty about popping out in my Coupe, but not in the Corsa, much fuel can be conserved with the close ratio gear box especially in 4th & 5th.
My friend was impressed with my Astra, and wanted one until he went out in the Corsa, he has just ordered a brand new one. However I will be taking him out to teach him some of the handling quirks. This car is jumpy, and understeers all the time. You have to get used to the fact that front wheels are understeering, watching the weight of the car and road position are all vital to keeping it on the road. The Corsa is capable of some fun cornering, but you'd have to know how to rescue it if something went wrong. The gear box is also very neat and shift tightly, not to good for a learner driver but good for anyone else.
This is a review of the car after 1000 miles. It needs a service so I wil in time update these records. So far, its a fun little car, reasonably robust with the spirit of gran turismo in its veins, more so than the Astra. Cheap to run, good to look at, and rises to meet the demands of experienced drivers. Just dont let more powerful cars write you off, thats a mistake.
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nicholasdownes
on 3rd Dec 2004
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