"Considering it is a best seller and used by hire companies and driving schools as well is a good guide to the Corsa's build quality and reliability."
-- think this is more about the discounts that Vauxhall offer "fleet" buyers than any reflection on the cars abilities. Most hire car companies only keep the cars for around 6months anyway, then sell them on to car supermarkets
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I see someone had to have a dig at French cars yet again. The 206 is no good?
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The 206 is a different class of car surely?
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Adam
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The 206 is a different class of car surely? -- Adam
Why is that?
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I'd say the 106 was in the same class as the Corsa/Fiesta and those type of cars.
The 206 is a lot bigger. Before the 307 came along I'd compare it to the Focus.
I wasn't having a go at French cars. I was merely stating it's in a different class of size.
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Adam
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I'd say the 106 was in the same class as the Corsa/Fiesta and those type of cars. The 206 is a lot bigger. Before the 307 came along I'd compare it to the Focus. I wasn't having a go at French cars. I was merely stating it's in a different class of size. -- Adam
The 206 a lot bigger than a Corsa or Fiesta? Compare it to a Focus? I don't think so (we have a friend's 206 on our drive at the minute). Remember the 306? That was the direct competitor to a Focus before the 307, not the 206.
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Calm down Machika! I don't want to get in a big debate about it. It was an off the cuff remark.
The 206 is much bigger than the Corsa in the grand scbeme of things.
The 306 came out in about 1993? Was that to compete against the Escort of that time?
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Adam
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Calm down Machika! I don't want to get in a big debate about it. It was an off the cuff remark. The 206 is much bigger than the Corsa in the grand scbeme of things. The 306 came out in about 1993? Was that to compete against the Escort of that time? -- Adam
I am in no way getting in a huff, I just didn't agree with your comment. Yes the 306 did compete against the Escort when it first came out (although a much better car I think), and when the Focus came out it was still Peugeot's competitor in the same class, until it was replaced by the 307.
Don't take my word for it anyway. Have a look at HJ's road test section, where you will see the 206 grouped with the Fiesta, Corsa, Jazz, and Clio to name just a few, when he is comparing competition.
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OK then. Personally I think it's a different class of car. If I was looking at a small car such as the Jazz or Corsa, then I wouldn't even consider a 206. I'l be looking at a 106.
In any event, Good Luck Clouddz.
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Adam
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OK then. Personally I think it's a different class of car. If I was looking at a small car such as the Jazz or Corsa, then I wouldn't even consider a 206. I'l be looking at a 106.
If you are going to compare a Jazz, particularly, with a 106, you would be very disappointed in the 106. I would take a Jazz, anytime, over a 206 (and so would most people, I think). The only downside to it is the cost.
Even Peugeot don't think the 106 is worth making anymore.
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True. Mind you, I'm probably not the person they aim the Jazz at. I wouldn't pay 7 grand for one let alone 11.
At the time, the 106 was great. (Around 1995). A few of my mates had K-N reg examples and loved them. But now they have better cars they wonder what they ever saw in them!
Because it only serves to boost your argument, I'm not even going to mention that my neighbour had a Fiesta and then bought a 206 ;-)
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Adam
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Because it only serves to boost your argument, I'm not even going to mention that my neighbour had a Fiesta and then bought a 206 ;-) -- Adam
>>
There are an awful lot of people in this country who would consider a 206 to be inferior to a Fiesta.
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They had a brand new Fiesta Ghia (W Reg) and hated it to the point where they tried to buy their P reg Citroen ZX back. They couldn't and bought the 206.
Not my car of choice but they love it.
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Adam
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They had a brand new Fiesta Ghia (W Reg) and hated it to the point where they tried to buy their P reg Citroen ZX back. They couldn't and bought the 206. Not my car of choice but they love it. -- Adam
What was their gripe about the Fiesta? I can't comment, as I have never even been a passenger in either car (except to say that bother are very cramped in the back seats).
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They don't have any kids - the rear seats were never used. They said it was very very rattly and longed for the comfort they had in their ZX.
They bought the ZX new in 1996. Took care of it - every time I saw him he seemed to be waxing the car. Got rid for the new W reg Fiesta. (2000?) Then bought a Y reg 206 which they still have.
I had a Mark 4 Fiesta so practically the same as theirs and loved it. Whether it was because it was my first car or not I don't know but I've never known anyone hate a car as much as they did their Fiesta.
Just goes to show - different things for different people.
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Adam
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They don't have any kids - the rear seats were never used. They said it was very very rattly and longed for the comfort they had in their ZX. They bought the ZX new in 1996. Took care of it - every time I saw him he seemed to be waxing the car. Got rid for the new W reg Fiesta. (2000?) Then bought a Y reg 206 which they still have.
Well, I can comment on a ZX, as I had one for three and half years. The ride was excellent, although I wouldn't say the seats were that great, so I can see that maybe the Fiesta didn't match up in that department. The build quality on the early ZXs was a bit iffy mind you and nowhere near the quality of a Xantia. Mine was a 94 model, so I am unsure whether things would have improved much by 96. I am a bit surprised that they went for Fiesta, if they had been so happy with the ZX. A Xsara or 306 would seem the logical choice.
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Sorry machika - I missed your post before.
It does seem a strange switch to make but maybe they wanted an awful lot of toys in a small car. (They're in their autumn years).
I would have expected the next step up to have been a Xsara - possibly a 306 or even a Focus which they may have liked more but they're all bit bigger than they need now.
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Adam
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Sorry machika - I missed your post before. It does seem a strange switch to make but maybe they wanted an awful lot of toys in a small car. (They're in their autumn years). I would have expected the next step up to have been a Xsara - possibly a 306 or even a Focus which they may have liked more but they're all bit bigger than they need now. -- Adam
If comfort is important, then one needs to look at factors other than size. A Xsara is not a big car, after all, and it was basically a redesigned ZX (albeit a boring one). They can also be had for very low prices.
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What I mean is they get rough treatment from hire companies & driving schools, then get sold on in vast quantities to the general public and still don't feature much with problems on this website.
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The Clio stuffs it hands down in every respect bar 1. Put a rattly sunroof in the Corsa and it would be a 100% walkover for reggie.
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"It does not rattle sir, its a characteristic."
"Oh is that different from a feature"?
"Yes sir - when they all do it its a characteristic."
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A mate of mine had three - N, P and Y (new shape) reg.
The first two were below par - not especially comfortable, fairly nasty inside and not particularly reliable. I never drove one but didn't get very good reports.
The Y reg one was much better. It was still a little plasticky, the engine a little noisy, the seats a little hard, but it drove well, was fairly spacious (much bigger inside than a Clio, sorry RF) and generally a pleasant enough thing.
It's not a car for car enthusiasts; it's not even as clever as a Jazz or as reliable as a Yaris (some individual ones will be of course, but not as a whole) and so it's hard to find an area in which it stands out. Of course if you just want a car, it's a sensible choice, but it's not the best at anything, so it falls by the wayside.
Except, now that four year olds are available for £3k, it is probably the best possible first car for a 17 year old as, with the 1.0 engine, it is reliable, safe (4* ENCAP), cheap to run (48 mpg, chain cam), has quite a good image and is in group 1 for insurance.
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Thank you for the excellent response!
I have considered others like the Pug 206, which looks "cute" but I have read many reports of the pedals being too small/offset and it has a few niggles. RF mentions the Clio, which on paper is good, but I dont think any 20-something bloke can drive it with his dignity intact!(those TV ads dont help!) As for the Fiesta(02+), my neighbour has a 54 Reg and I have to say that on looks the Corsa creams it...I mean I cant be the only person who thinks it looks like a small Van? but thats out of my budget anyhow and the older Fiesta has only got pointy headlights to differentiate it from the previous model. I would have considered the Yaris/Jazz but they're out of my Budget.
Back onto the Corsa the only Problems I can see in the CBC Breakdown are the Wheel Bearings, which are cheap to do so Im not fussed, but the Steering Rack, that sounds very expensive? Is there a quick way of finding out if the Rack is Knackered?
CorsaDriver,BazzaBear What sort of elec. spec and price range did you get? and have you noticed any of the excess. vib which affects the exhaust? or is that only the 1L.When is the recommended change interval of the Chain-Cam?
On these small cars is it worth getting the A/C models?
Many thanks
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The vibration does only come from the 1.0 'cos its only got 3 cylinders. The 1.2 4 cylinder is incredibly perky and smooth. As for the cam chain- as long as the oil is kept relatively clean (ie change the oil more often than the 20,000 miles service interval suggested by Vauxhall) it should do 150,000 miles+ without going wrong.
You can tell if the steering rack is on the way out if it turns much easier in one direction than the other- at a standstill you should be able to turn the wheel all the way both ways with one finger.
As for mine, I paid over the odds because it was in mint condition and it was up for 4000GBP. But that did include a very good deal on my part exchange and a 12 month RAC warranty. As for the spec, even though its an SXi it came without electric windows or mirrors or air-con because it was an early one (X-plate) and they didn't need to stuff it with kit to sell. But it has got PAS, r/c/l, met paint, alloys, CD-player, metal dash bits, seat and steering wheel height adjust, and thats about it.
As for the A/C, its not really necessary, and might punish the small engines performance/economy wise a bit.
I hope my ramblings help.
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CD has pretty much covered it all.
We picked up the wife's Y-plater for £3,600. It's pretty much poverty spec, but does have CD-player, PAS and metallic paint.
We weren't bothered about AC, since the car isn't really ever going to be used for long runs, it's basically a shopping trolley to give her a bit more independance (and coz there wasn't a chance in hell she was going to get in the drivers seat of my Coupe after 10 years of not driving following her test)
Oh - that last bit - her decision, not mine.
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Not that I'm saying I wouldn't have been a mite worried too ;)
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"RF mentions the Clio, which on paper is good, but I dont think any 20-something bloke can drive it with his dignity intact!"
Yes its a bit girly. A lot girly actually. UNless its a 172 of course
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Or the V6. That looks quite butch.
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Isn't the V6 RWD?
Now that would be fun!!!
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Adam
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"252bhp of mid engined V6 in a hatchback. A recipe for madness or immense fun?"
www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=47&i=8080
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172bhp is scary in these. But 252???
My mate absolutely loves his. He hammers it and it just takes it.
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Adam
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"172bhp is scary in these. But 252???"
For a three litre v6 252 is not immense, but I think Renault was worried about law suits from widows. Its not exactly been housetrained and tends to bite!
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I swear it get's faster every time I'm in my mate's!
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Adam
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As if by magic whilst out earlier today i saw one of these beastie - looked and sounded fantastic!
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Thanks CDriver and BBear.
Ive also asked on an ADI BBS as they run their Corsa's non stop and they say some other probs can include gear linkages, Hydraulic Clutch leaks leaking to clutch failure & suspension failure. Despite this they recommend the Corsa as
regular drivers do fewer manouvers and less town driving to wear out the Gearbox;
"You have to bear in mind that as tuition cars they spend a great deal more time manouvering compared to other users. On an average day my car can do nearly fifty manouvres which could be as much as 12000 of them a year, thats a lot of lock to lock steering and wear on power steering, rack and tyres so no wonder it's worn out! Also bear in mind the amount of gear changes as the cars do 30k miles around side streets etc compared to most other users doing say 10k a year using mainly major roads to get about quickly. My point is you should be fine if you buy from a reputable dealer and are using the car for normal use, it's when it's used as a working tool for 10 or 12 hours a day that most of these gremlins come to light."
So all in all it sounds good, just hope I avoid an Ex-driving school car!
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You also have to consider that any car used in the way described above is going to get faults. Its not just a Corsa thing.
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That's a lovely quote from the driving instructor, and to be honest I'd never have thought of that angle myself.
Bit disappointed he didn't go on to talk about the constant missed gears and stalling leading to greater wear though ;)
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Also I got a quote from a VX Main dealer to change a steering rack it's £460 all in. I expect you could get it done at a local garage for £250-300. Arent these Corsa's a Mini-me of a Focus!
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I had a 1.2 Corsa as a courtesy car - absolutely amazing performance for such a small engine - it wasn't an SXi, just a 'Life'!. The only niggles were the slighty cheap build quality. Very economical as well.
Oh, and I've never found a Vauxhall that doesn't crunch when put into reverse - although that might just be how the gearbox is designed.
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Oh, and I've never found a Vauxhall that doesn't crunch when put into reverse - although that might just be how the gearbox is designed.
That's because the gearbox has low internal friction (which is good for economy), and Vauxhall don't fit extravagant synchromesh on reverse, instead, relying on drivers waiting for a second with the clutch in before trying to engage reverse, to allow the gearbox shafts to stop spinning.
number_cruncher
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