That’s a good list from bbd.
As on the previous thread my experience of the Corsa was not great. However if you are looking at the 1.4 be sure to check which bhp it has as these are two power levels. The lower one is only 75bhp and takes 15.5 secs to reach 60. That is very slow by modern standards. We have already established you are not a boy racer but joining a motorway, overtaking and steep hills will not be its forte. The higher power 89bhp would be better if you are set on a 1.4 Corsa.

I love this forum. Thanks so much guy's! Really really appreciate your time and advice as I haven't much idea. Will consider all of these points :)

As on the previous thread my experience of the Corsa was not great. However if you are looking at the 1.4 be sure to check which bhp it has as these are two power levels. The lower one is only 75bhp and takes 15.5 secs to reach 60. That is very slow by modern standards. We have already established you are not a boy racer but joining a motorway, overtaking and steep hills will not be its forte. The higher power 89bhp would be better if you are set on a 1.4 Corsa.

I didn't know that there was two versions of the 1.4 in the Corsa E, quite surprised too, if only for the fact that the lower powered version is making less power than the 1.2 in the Corsa D!

But having looked at the specs in depth, for a few reasons I'm not sure I'd be overly concerned at getting the 75bhp version. Not sure where your 0-60 time of 15.5 seconds came from, but I've found two separate websites (listing specs) both stating 14 seconds 0-62 for the 75bhp version, not that far off the 13.2 seconds of the 89bhp car. Both 75 and 89bhp versions make exactly the same peak torque at exactly the same rpm. Maximum power of the 75bhp car is delivered between 4200 and 6000rpm, whereas on the 89bhp car, maximum power is delivered at 6000rpm. And what those last two points tell me is that the 89bhp car offers no benefit over the 75bhp car unless being thrashed.

What to buy questions keep coming up. Myriad suggestions borne of individual biases and experiences in an attempt to be helpful merely adds to the confusion,

If the net is spread too widely a decision is never made - there is always another to look at. Alternative approach for those undecided who really want a new car:

• be very clear about key criteria are - reliability, performance, gizmos, style, comfort, handling, street cred, mpg, auto/manual, etc.
• no car will deliver all, even the most expensive - new or s/h
• Japanese and Korean generally have the best reputation for reliability with the longest warranties.
• performance is fairly factual - figures and road tests are readily available.
• most of the rest are subjective "in the eye or opinion of the buyer"

Visiting a few forecourts to browse will quickly limit the options to (say) three. Sit in, test drive - the short list will come down to one or two. You now know precisely what you are looking for and can be knowledgeable about pricing, options etc.

I think we can safely.assume that a car that does 0-60 in 15 seconds or more is slow under all circumstances. I suppose there might be something blisteringly quick up to 59, but I doubt it.

Around town 15 secs 0-60 is manageable and largely academic anyway - urban speed limits see to that. 0-30 is more important - given a bit of wellie a 15+ sec car won't embarrass away from the traffic light(won't impress either!).

The issues arise on motorways dicing with the HGVs with high revs and noisy cabin. On "A" roads a lack of power makes tractors and milk floats major impediments to progress.

10-12 secs 0-60 is adequate unless of a sporty or aggressive disposition.

8-10 secs is probably all that most have the talent to properly control and drive as fast a legally permitted - those with track day experience possibly excepted.

Below 8 secs 0-60 is increasingly mixture of ego and and a few seconds of adrenalin before reaching licence losing speeds - eg: floor it on an m/way slip road, join the m/way at 95mph.

The Corsa 1.4 with just 75bhp is actually perfectly adequate on the road 95% of the time. It’s designed with low speed torque on mind and it doesn’t feel sluggish around town or in normal use out on the road. It’s certainly no rocket ship but it’s mechanically simple and generally robust. I

Sounds like it could be similar to that Suzuki Alto I had as a courtesy car. I suppose you just have to be extra careful planning overtakes on single up/down roads and pulling out from a standing start into fast flowing traffic at junctions, which is what i had to do with my 90s 1L Micra.