Agree re the fuel and temp gauges, also the rear end is odd, the estate looks better in that regard.
As a previously loyal Vauxhall driver I reckon it could be time to replace the Vauxhall brand with Opel here, controversial I know though the Opel brand is stronger in most of Europe than Vauxhall is here.
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They are nearly there - appears to be no mention of Opel or Vauxhall on the car apart from the different badges, which have been made easily swoppable
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As a previously loyal Vauxhall driver I reckon it could be time to replace the Vauxhall brand with Opel here controversial I know though the Opel brand is stronger in most of Europe than Vauxhall is here.
The Day GM do that, is the day I stop driving their products and go elswhere.
For me the Vauxhall name means a lot more than Opel ever will, as i said before if GM do this i never will buy anything with a Opel badge - wont make much difference to GM of course if my business has gone but for me its the princible of the matter
The Vuaxhall brand is strong in the UK and to be honest i like the name and the badge musch better. im aware that Vuaxhalls and Opels are the same car but i will not drive anything with a opel badge on the front - for me its Vuaxhall or Nothing I love the brand (ok they maybe not the best cars) but they are better than others and im a fan of the brand more than anything they should drop the opel name and rebrand them Vauxhalls, the brand is so much better
Edited by redlightzone on 14/08/2008 at 14:02
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...............oh and I dont like the new badge, and the fact they have dropped the "Vauxhall V" of the front (see the Images on the Vauxhall website) maybe this is one step closer to the disgusting rebrand that will be Opel!
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...im also aware that my spelling is incorrect, however at work i dont have time to go back through it as i "speed type" this on the work PC's
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The Day GM do that is the day I stop driving their products and go elswhere. For me the Vauxhall name means a lot more than Opel ever will as i said before if GM do this i never will buy anything with a Opel badge
You are joking, right?
Who gives a stuff what the brand name is. They can call them Vauxhall, Opel, GM or WibbleyBangBang for all I care. Either I like the car or I don't, why get attached to marketing terms?
After all, Vauxhall the car company ceased to be a very long time ago, it's been Opel in all but name for a long time now anyway.
I prefer Opel for the very simple reason that I'm lazy, and having to write and say a shorter word is always a bonus!! ;)
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The comments above re: Opel vs Vauxhall what makes the Vauxhall a Vauxhall and the cars in front and behind it on the production line an Opel ?
I wonder if such owners go through the performance of removing all Opel stickers and badges on components under the bonnet and inside the car when they get them home ?
The SAAB I owned was littered with Opel/GM stickers under the bonnet. I viewed it as a hint where to go for parts if I thought SAAB were a bit on the steep side.
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"Vauxhall to become Opel" will stir up emotions in some, but I wonder how many. Most new Vauxhalls are bought by companies, and privcate owners usually buy them used as they depreciate fast (in fairness, through plentiful supply, not because they're bad cars).
I suspect that a move to badge them all Opels would win rather than lose customers, with quite a lot not minding either way.
If you see this, Dynamic Dave, as a loyal Vauxhall owner what are your views? Maybe consider doing a Backroom poll?
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Cracking looking car - more than a little of Bangle's influence in the styling - certainly nothing bland about it, and to my eye less lardy than the new Mondeo.
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I'm with PU saying it's good looking but with Chris Bangle influence (but I liked the Fiat Turbo Coupe).
As for "They are nearly there - appears to be no mention of Opel or Vauxhall " then that might be the plan. Make them nearer. But if the badge alone is the difference and not the V chrome then Vauxhall likely to stay.
I think GM has had problems with their business with marketing since I was young. We had an Opel dealer in my home down and a Vauxhall one nearby. My aunt and uncle drove an Opel but my brother had a Vauxhall ;-) Smart marketing.
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I have just looked the prices up on our company lease site and the rentals are comming in just a few pounds off equivalent Audi A4s when the old Vectras were significantly cheaper.
Will folks choose a Vauxhall over an Audi at the same price?
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Update:
Audi A4 2.0 TDI 170BHP SLINE £151 per month
Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTI 160 BHP Elite £123 per month
Ford Mondeo 2.0TDci Ghia £35 per month
Audi A4 2.0TFSI quattro petrol £176
Vauxhall Insignia 2.0T 4x4 petrol Elite £157
(No Ford equivalent)
These are actual quotes from a bank owned lease company, but they are subsidised. They give an idea of the similar prices but not the actual cost per month to drivers that do not get a subsidised deal.
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If you see this Dynamic Dave as a loyal Vauxhall owner what are your views?
Personally I prefer the name Vauxhall to Opel.
Maybe consider doing a Backroom poll?
Eeek! Don't mention the P word ;o)
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151 quid for a A4 S-Line.
No wonder every other car doing 100mph on the M5 these days is yet ANOTHER A4 2.0 TDI S-Line.
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You are joking right?
No, to me it means a lot maybe not to others but to me it does
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Sorry, I just don't get it. Unless your grandfather founded Vauxhall or you have some other similar connection to the brand, I don't see how you can get so attached to a mere marketing term?
Getting attached to the cars, yes that's fine - I happen to like Vauxhalls on the whole and I think the Insignia will be a fine car, regardless of what badge they put on the bonnet.
I mean, come on, it's just not important what the brand is in any way shape or form. Saying you wouldn't buy a Vauxhall if it had an Opel badge on it is like saying you'd never again speak to your best friend if they changed their name from Fred to Michael!! :)
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Sorry I just don't get it. Unless your grandfather founded Vauxhall or you have some other similar connection to the brand I don't see how you can get so attached to a mere marketing term?
Hardly
Getting attached to the cars yes that's fine - I happen to like Vauxhalls on the whole and I think the Insignia will be a fine car regardless of what badge they put on the bonnet. I mean come on it's just not important what the brand is in any way shape or form. Saying you wouldn't buy a Vauxhall if it had an Opel badge on it is like saying you'd never again speak to your best friend if they changed their name from Fred to Michael!! :)
Im aware that the Vauxhalls are Just rebadged opels - but my 1st car was a Vauxhall, my second also carried around the griffin with pride, as does the 5th car i have owned, my next car will probalby be a Insignia but for me its a whole lot better with the Griffin and the word Vauxhall, than the lightning strike and the word Opel on the back.
Think what you like....I for one will be sorry to see the Vauxhall BRAND go, who here buys there mobile phone just becasue it has a name on the front not becasue it makes and receives calls like any other brand of mobile phone, a phone to me is a tool that i carry around with me, my car on the other hand is something i live with for a good many years
I dont care if you dont care what a car is called if im spending a lot of money on a car, then I want it to be perfect in every detail and that includes its name.
Edited by redlightzone on 15/08/2008 at 15:04
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That's a lot of importance to place on a design of badge and brand name! You don't still think Skodas are rubbish do you?
I agree the name has to be a good name. If it sounds silly or cheap or somehow sits uncomfortable with you then fine, but is Opel really that much worse than Vauxhall?
I mean, the Vectra name is mud thanks to Clarkson and I can see why there was a need to call the new car Insignia instead. However if they'd still called it Vectra I would be more than happy to have one and scoff at those who would judge something so superficially.
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No I dont think Skoda's are rubbish they are certainly better from what they used to be
Your correct the Vectra is mud, thanks to clarkson, i dont own a Vectra but i dont think its bland I agree that the handling could be better but i do like the styling- however JC said that the ford probe was better than the Vauxhall Calibra (granted it was a just a cavalier (sorry opel Vectra) but sales wise it out-did the probe and personally i still love the look of the Calibra even today..it beat the probe hands down!
Its common knowledge that JC dosent like Vauxhalls there may be sone truth in his constant putting down of them, but i think its unfair, he likes fords thats true he bought that ford GT personally i think its horrible - but thats my opnion as much as JC has hi, i like Vauxhalls my teenage years where spent in one, i personally think the Vauxhall, im going to watch what he says about the Insignia with great interest becasue I can guarantee that TG will give it him to test drive, and To Be honest when he said on TG the other week he thought that Vauxhall cars where good looking that took me back a bit becasue he was the last person i would have expted to hear that from, however it just goes to show that you cant judge what JC says a take that the basis of buying a car,
The constant critisism from JC about Vauxhall really bugs me, becasue there are worse cars out there but ALL car makes have there flaws granted some are better, but yes it will really bother me that the badge on the front of my GM is a Opel rather than a Vauxhall as i said before i dont care, if you dont care what badge is on the front of your car, I do just the same as people who buy a BMW (or any other brand for that matter) simply becasue of its badge
Edited by redlightzone on 15/08/2008 at 17:20
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I remember what he said about the Vauxhall Astra concept a couple of years ago. He said that if they made the 2 door coupe looking model he'd eat his own hair. They did and he hasn't to my knowledge.
Edited by Pugugly on 15/08/2008 at 19:12
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Clarkson actually did eat his hair because of the Astra 2 door, served on a pizza if I recall correctly.
He's also said they are the only brand where all the current range are good looking - having said that he called the Agila 'sweet' so i'm not sure he the most reliable witness!
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I must have missed that - Hopefully Vauxhall made it out of spite. A guy in work has just bought one - and a very attractive car it is in silver.
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Clarkson has also praised the VX220, the Monaro, and the VRX, so he doesn't think all Vauxhall's are bad.
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Its common knowledge that JC dosent like Vauxhalls
No it isn't. As others have stated, he has recently praised Vauxhall on several levels, so where you get the impression that "he doesn't like Vauxhalls" from, I don't know. He stated the Vauxhall Vectra because it was (and is) a rubbish car compared to it's rivals. Simple as that.
i think its unfair he likes fords
Why is it unfair he likes a brand that (in his opinion) make (made) better cars? Whats unfair about that?
if im spending a lot of money on a car then I want it to be perfect in every detail and that includes its name.
If you want a "perfect car" then I'm sorry, an Open/Vauxhall/GM/Saab/Whatever really is not the car for you. They are far from perfect, in fact they are fault-a-plenty. Same as most budget-mainstream brands. They are built to a budget, by a business that will churn out whatever they need to to try and make a profit.
I'm sorry, but you really have fallen for the marketing strategy, hook line and sinker! BMW/Audi/Mercedes/VW drivers might like the brand because it implies (rightly or wrongly) premium/quality, German engineering, sturdiness etc. Toyota/Nissan/Honda drivers may like their brand because (again rightly or wrongly) it implies reliability, efficiency and Japanese engineering. Renault/Peugeot drivers may like their brand because it implies French style and flair. Skoda/Kia might feel their brand represents a financially savvy choice of car. Seat/Fiat/Alfa drivers might like the Sporty Style and flair of their brand. Volvo/Saab probably associate with the safety implications of their brands.
But Ford and Vauxhall brands just imply mainstream high volume fleet manufacturer, nothing else. There's no cachet associated with them. No "va va voom". No "x-factor". No sexiness. No niche. No expertise in any one area. Doesn't mean they are bad cars - indeed, some of their cars can beat all of the above in their own fields. But I fail to understand why anyone would lust over the brand "vauxhall" !!!
Like I said, a marketing strategy victim, nothing more nothing less. Sorry!
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He stated the Vauxhall Vectra because it was (and is) a rubbish car compared to it's rivals. Simple as that.
He actually rubbished the previous Vectra, the Vectra-B. He then took the micky out of the Signum by trying to drive it from the rear seats.
Having previously owned a Vectra-B, it was anything but rubbish. The first thing to go wrong in 31 months was a blown tail light bulb. Several months later a headlight bulb, and just before the warranty ran out, a cracked air con pipe. Its main rival, the Mondeo also has AC related problems, so in terms of reliability it is no worse or better than one of its rivals. Many a time I used to leave Mondeo man standing in my Vectra as well. So much for its rival being a better drive.
Horses for courses though. Go on any Vauxhall dedicated forum and Ford gets rubbished - I bet its the other way around on Ford dedicated forums ;o)
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>>They are built to a budget, by a business that will churn out whatever they need to to try and make a profit.
This is true for any and all car manufacturers (any manufacturer bucking that trend would soon become of purely historical interest!) - anyone who beleives otherwise has fallen for a more subtle form of marketing strategy.
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After my car was stolen I had an 08 plate Vectra SRi as a loan car. I have to say I was quite impressed by it, and even liked how it looked.
The ride seemed a bit harsh a first compared with my Focus, but I soon got used to that.
A good all rounder that I was sad to see go.
I wouldn't have a new Mondeo on the looks alone, the Mazda 6 looks so much better you have to wonder what Ford were thinking. Same with the restyled Focus, they've taken a bland car and made it ugly.
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There was a lot of doommongers on here when Vectra C came out - Judging by the numbers on the road and the lack of complaints in magazines (and on here) I'm glad to say they were wrong.
The Focus may be the acme of handling (they do nothing to me) but the Astra - especially the two door - is a far nicer looking car, and you spend more time looking at your car than exploring the theoretical limits of handling.
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But Ford and Vauxhall brands just imply mainstream high volume fleet manufacturer nothing else.
But if you grow up with a manufacturer, and they become part of your history, then that can make a difference. My parents had a succession of Fords - we toured around Denmark in a brown 1.1 Escort mk1 and I learned to drive in a yellow 1.1 Fiesta mk1, when our 'big' car was a 1.3 Escort mk2 :o
So the Ford name means something to me and I wouldn't want to see it changed, although obviously it wouldn't be the end of the world if it did. If I had grown up with Vauxhalls I would probably feel the same about them. Nothing wrong with a bit of sentimentality :)
F
Edited by Focus {P} on 17/08/2008 at 10:26
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But a Ford is actually a Ford, whereas a Vauxhall is really an Opel.
Strange that the Astra name has been retained, as all the other Vauxhall model names have been replaced by their Opel versions.
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'Kadett' was a bit naff, though. :-)
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Strange that the Astra
Nothing strange - at the time GM wanted all Opel/Vauxhall models finishing with an "a" - apart from the Signum of course.
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Knew it was kinda exclusive ! Maybe you are meant to buy them in pairs, then they'd be "Signa" I believe.
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Well they were allegedly going to call it a Vectrum - until some British guy helpfully pointed out.....
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But a Ford is actually a Ford whereas a Vauxhall is really an Opel.
True, but you're bringing logic into a non-logical issue :-)
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