Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback (2003 - 2006) 1.3 CDTi SXi 3d (AC) (2004/54) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

It's quite well known that this car does 60mpg so probably says I'm cheap! But I'm hardly driving round with the 'don't give a dam image' some people do, it is the SXi after all. It's a respectable little car that can be drivern by the OAP but the boy racer will feel right at home too, perfect.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

It's all good, some 'bigger' mates aren't impressed with the leg room in back. One guy thinks the interior looks like a recycled Cavalier, cheeky! Overall people think it's a great motor.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No, I'd go for the new Astra - great looking and 1.7 CDTI engine is class act. I'm quite tall so Corsa doesn't accomadate me that well, although new model looks much roomier and is like a baby Astra (I suspect It's gonna sell well)

What are you likely to buy next?

New SXi Astra 1.7 CDTI or Focus TDCI, Possibly new model Corsa (need test drive, we'll see)

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

July 2004

Did you get a good deal and why?

Managed to get a petty £600 off list price. But got full tank of fuel, mats, flaps and some chrome (tail pipe) for free

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

At first I wanted a VW Polo TDI but very expensive. The Corsa gave me eveything the VW had and more, better diesel engine also. Although, I suspect the VW may be more durable, hence the price difference. But I'm sticking by my choice!

What was the dealer like?

Typical Vauxhall dealer - down to earth, friendly and easy to deal with. Gave me bottle of wine when completed the deal, quite nice of em.

What's it like to drive?

Corsa can be hurled into corners with little fuss but when Pirelli P6000 tires need replaced (standard when new) and you can't afford to replace em, be careful, trust me! Power is excellent for a 1300cc car with very impressive mid range pull + loads of torque! Top end the CDTI will start to get shy at about 105mph but can still cruise comfortably at 100mph on motorway. Off the mark you can expect to leave a DCi Clio and even the TDI Golf (90bhp) for dead. Never lets me down! Cabin can get noisy at 80mph+ but to be expected I'd say.

What's it like to park?

Piece of cake, great handbrake for them funny turns people make! (360 no problem to Corsa). For normal parking, power steering works well and visability is ok. Heated mirrors clear the glass really quickly which is very useful in the cold weather!

Have you had any problems with the car?

Steering rack replaced, suspension adjusted and greased countless times (very harsh/noisy front & rear), Drivers seat replaced as foam falling from bottom, Endless squeaks and rattles from interior, Air system decided to create a vacuum when fan was blowing and windows were up, (it was like going down a steep hill at 300mph!) Apparently a pipe had blown in boot of car and was causing this - very strange! Though to be fair, nothing major has gone wrong up to now (71,500 miles) and Vauxhall have been most helpful in sorting car out.

What's most practical about your car?

60+ MPG and decent space - Room for big petrol lawn mower / 2 Labrador dogs. Rear seats split and fold away really easily leaving a fair amount of space.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

A/C works really well. Been in heat up to 32oC and still blows ice cold air. 'Get you home' lights are good feature too, the lights can stay on at night until you get into the house - useful if you live in country. Car will lock itself if it's unlocked and doors are not opened within 30secs, handy if you hit button by mistake. Windows can be closed by using key in door, useful when you forget and you're out of car. Sound from stereo gets louder as your speed increases, sound quality is decent too.