Vauxhall Tigra (2004 – 2009) Review
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Vauxhall Tigra (2004 – 2009) At A Glance
Folding tin-top version of the Corsa with a quite sporty drive and softish ride.
Electric boot closing system can cause trouble. Leaks through window seals. Camshaft failures common.
Reviews for Vauxhall Tigra (2004 – 2009)'s top 3 rivals
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Vauxhall Tigra (2004 – 2009) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3921 mm |
| Width | 1685 mm |
| Height | 1364 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2491 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1160–1203 kg |
| Boot Space | 159–440 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 20000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £15,055–£17,240 |
| Insurance Groups | 15–26 |
| Road Tax Bands | D–I |
| Official MPG | 36.7–61.4 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 4 |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | 2 |
| Overall | - |
On sale until May 2009
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Air 1.3 CDTi 16v | £16,070 | 61.4 mpg | 15.5 s |
| Air 1.4i 16v | £15,055 | 46.3 mpg | 12.4 s |
| Air 1.4i 16v Auto | £15,055 | - | - |
| Exclusiv 1.3 CDTi 16v | £17,240 | 61.4 mpg | 15.5 s |
| Exclusiv 1.4i 16v | £16,225 | 46.3 mpg | 12.4 s |
| Exclusiv 1.4i 16v Auto | £16,225 | - | - |
| Exclusiv 1.8i 16v | £17,040 | 37.7 mpg | 9.4 s |
| Sport Rouge 1.3 CDTi 16v | £17,225 | 61.4 mpg | 15.5 s |
| Sport Rouge 1.4i 16v | £16,210 | 46.3 mpg | 12.4 s |
| Sport Rouge 1.8i 16v | £17,025 | 37.7 mpg | 9.4 s |
On sale until February 2008
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Sport 1.3 CDTi 16v | £16,335 | 61.4 mpg | 15.5 s |
On sale until January 2008
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Sport 1.4i 16v | £15,345 | 46.3 mpg | 12.4 s |
| Sport 1.8i 16v | £16,175 | 36.7 mpg | 9.4 s |
Model History
- March 2004: Tigra returns to UK
- September 2004: Goes on sale in the UK
- January 2005: Diesel added to the range
- April 2008: Tigra Sport Rouge launched
March 2004
Tigra returns to UK
Corsa C based cabrio to compete with Street Ka, Copen and 206CC. 3,921mm (12' 10") lonx x 1,905mm (6' 3") wide (inc. mirrors).
Choice of 90bhp 1.4 and 125bhp 1.8 16v or, later, a 175bhp 1.6 turbo. Big advantage over Street Ka is folding tin top, like 206 CC's and Diahatsu Copen's.
September 2004
Goes on sale in the UK
On sale in UK from late summer 2004. Insurance Group 9 for 1.4 and Groupe 12 for 1.8. I.8 offers quite a sporty drive with softish ride and no unpleasant surprises.
January 2005
Diesel added to the range
70PS 1.3 CDTi diesel added to range. Offers 48.7mpg combined and CO2 output of 124g/km.
April 2008
Tigra Sport Rouge launched
With red fabric covered folding tintop, ironically to make it look more like a convertible. From £15,705. Goes up or down in 20 seconds. Four body colours - Metro Blue, Star Silver, Flame Red or Black Sapphire - and comes as standard with central locking, electrically adjustable door mirrors, CD player and steering wheel mounted controls.
Also standard are 16” alloy wheels, an aux-in MP3 player jack and Sports seats. Upgrades to a choice of 17 inch alloy wheels, a full leather pack and rear parking sensors, or even a stylish VXR pack to make your car really stand out from the crowd. Choice of three engines – 1.4 litre and 1.8 litre petrols, and 1.3 diesel – prices range from £15,705 to £17,195.
What to watch out for
Damp inside. And obviously make sure the roof mechanism works properly.
Engine camshaft failures increasingly common. 1.4 16v Twinport engines suffering same problem of camshaft bolts coming adrift as 1.2 16v Twinport engines in Corsas. Seem to have been traced to a batch from the engine plant in Spain and the engine numbers all begin with 19F*****
Many parts specific to the Tigra (especially roof parts) are unavailable.
21-01-2014:Seem to suffer from the same water leak into the driver's footwell that affects Corsa C models from year 2000. Brake master cylinder is bolted to a plate which is bonded to the bulkhead. This bonding fails, allowing water into the car.
08-09-2015:Another report of footwell water leak in Tigras. Same as Corsa C: 18-11-2013: Over the last year have received about 15 further reports of water leaks into the footwells of Corsa C models from year 2000. Same cause. Brake master cylinder is bolted to a plate which is bonded to the bulkhead, quite high up. This bonding fails, allowing water into the car. To gain access you have to take the cover off the bulkhead vent well, remove a wiper arm, etc. Very fiddly. And squirting sealant around the edges can only ever be a temporary solution. See Corsa C leaking bulkhead fix.
18-08-2016:If the electric roof jams then what may work is to disconnect the battery for 2-3 hours, then reconnect it and drive the car for around half an hour after which a bleeping noise should indicate a re-set of the control system. (Obviously will not work if a motor has actually failed.)
