I've made a closer acquaintance with the Agila, about which Vauxhall are driven to say "Oddly Attractive". My son badly need to get a cheap, hopefully reliable, car for town journeys for his wife, given that they have a new baby. My GM points helped and he has the base model Agila.
For their needs it's pretty good. Four doors and good headroom mean that the baby can be accommodated and the low consumption, insurance and car tax don't hurt. His wife can manage it very well about town, it's her first with power steering. I'm the world's worst parker and the squared off back end is very convenient in busy High Streets.
To me, it only makes sense in its basic mimimalist form where extras, which he didn't get, include the parcel shelf and a cigarette lighter (although the 12V outlet is there). The 3 cylinder engine is undeniably rough on starting and the gearbox has to be used a lot to keep it spinning. Curiously, it has electric mirrors.
If you've attracted by the idea of a Smart car but need something more practical, the Agila could be right. I found that with its lack of ABS and a light front end it wasn't too hard to lock the wheels. The thing that would be really interesting would be if Vauxhall released the 1.3 Common Rail Fiat diesel that they now have in this model (Opel already offer it in Europe) but especially in the base model.
All it needs to do now is to demonstrate the reliability which, today, Vauxhall has announced is a priority for them (not before time).
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For once, I agree with the ad.men - I think they are oddly attractive. And as it's really a Suzuki, it may even be reliable..
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According to the JD Power survey it(the Agila) is best Vauxhall, doesn't say to much for the rest of the models does it really !
If you got a good deal then why not, but for the same money there are far better cars out there.
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".. there are far better cars.."
It all depends on what you mean by 'better'. Measuring fitness-for-purpose often gives a different result, and there probably aren't too many small cars with that amount of interior space and power steering. One man's meat and all that...
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Grim cars. Our lives would be much better without bits of flotsam like this mobile toaster.
The Honda Jazz is better in every way.
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Grim cars. Our lives would be much better without bits of flotsam like this mobile toaster. The Honda Jazz is better in every way.
If you're on a tight budget and want a "city" car and the Agila takes your fancy then why not? Unfortunately we can't all drive around in exotics.
The Jazz may be a better all-round car but I'd bet, even in base spec, it's a darn sight more expensive than an Agila.
Chad.
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Heres just the examples I can think of that are better
Hyundai Getz
Fiat Panda
Daihatsu Charade
But I would always have an Agila rather than a CityRover.
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Grim cars. Our lives would be much better without bits of flotsam like this mobile toaster.
Someone has bought a car and is pleased about it.
Why are we all, with little understanding of his tastes and circumstances, so determined to criticise his choice?
Personally, I'm glad you're happy.
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I accept that the Panda is better, and at £6,249 not significantly more expensive. As soon as discounts come through, significantly less expensive, probably.
The Getz five door is near enough £7k, discounted, although it does have a better warranty package. As for the Charade - not bad, but it doesn't feel as grown up as either the Getz or Panda and there aren't many dealers. That might not be a problem if you live in Fulham, where it's just by Putney Bridge, but if the dealer is 30 miles away and you're a busy mum in a small town, you might as well try and get service on a Moskvitch.
However, depending on what the GM points were worth, the Agila could be a fantastic deal. Certainly it makes more sense to get £3k off a £5,995 Agila than it does of a Vectra which, even discounted, is going to be £3k cheaper if you get a six-month old.
I'm not going to start suggesting an Agila (or three) in the "What fun for £20k?" thread but as super budget motoring where the only two criteria are space and economy, with a big enough discount it makes a lot of sense.
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Doesn't getting a good deal make any car a lot of sense ?
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I like the sound of t.g.webb. I hope he wins the pools.
The Agila is the best car since sliced bread. Or should that be with sliced bread? It's the only car with two ejector seats as standard. There's really no butter car in a traffic jam.
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Sorry, but the (rather more expensive) Audi A2 looks *much* more like a toaster than the Agila. (It even has its motor hidden away in the manner of consumer electricals.)
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