Vauxhall

[Dippydog]

These days dressed up as platform sharing.
Anyway as to Vauxhall it makes me smile how on the latest ads they bang on about it being a great British brand since nineteen nought blob.It's been American owned since 1929 and part owned even before that and is now French owned!!!! So much for the great British brand.I'm not knocking Vauxhall in the least,I like Vauxhalls having had numerous Senators and still owning an Omega.

[GreenBrick]

Originally Posted by Grimble

Your logic above would mean an end to all supercars. Or am I missing something?

Probably, but I long stopped drooling over something you can't drive in this country to anything like what it is designed to do.

My biggest dislike is "conspicuous consumption" in any form, wasting our planet's valuable resources to show people that they have more money than they know what to do with. Becomes a bit pointless when every one drives the same Range Rover anyway (just look at drop off time at a typical private school).

I would much prefer a Tesla model S than most of the super-cars it beats, that cost up to ten times the price.

I suppose I am thinking about the planet my kid's are going to inherit and not just the money and who I can show off to.

[Prufrock]

So how's this post relevant to Vauxhall ?

Jon.

[eternal optimist]

Originally Posted by GreenBrick

Probably, but I long stopped drooling over something you can't drive in this country to anything like what it is designed to do.

My biggest dislike is "conspicuous consumption" in any form, wasting our planet's valuable resources to show people that they have more money than they know what to do with. Becomes a bit pointless when every one drives the same Range Rover anyway (just look at drop off time at a typical private school).

I would much prefer a Tesla model S than most of the super-cars it beats, that cost up to ten times the price.

I suppose I am thinking about the planet my kid's are going to inherit and not just the money and who I can show off to.

I think you’re missing the point about innovation and aspiration. Making better stuff that people actually want causes innovation to trickle down the food chain. If we lived in a world where pretty much everything was uniform, then we cease to progress. The tech in a Tesla or an i8 coupled with arresting good looks causes Joe Public to become more open to adopting that kind of new tech which for better or worse uses less fossil fuel. I’ve never looked at a G-Wiz and thought ‘got to get me one of those’.

In terms of conspicuous consumption, you’re starting to challenge my freedom to choose what I want to spend my hard earned cash on. Every one of those Range Rovers has been built by someone. It’s maintained by someone. That’s where the wealth is created for those making and maintaining the cars comes from.

Anyhow, to wrestle this back to Vauxhall.... they’re a brand much like many others who have struggled to survive. You could compare them to C&A, BHS or Woolworths. Every one of those retailers had their fans, but ultimately the shoppers chose to go elsewhere attracted by a better overall offer. Businesses that succeed typically do so because they can command a premium price for what they can sell or because they operate with a very low cost base. They’re also clear about their market - either niche or broad - the worst place to be for any business is to be stuck in the middle of those two scales. Just like Vauxhall. Their brand doesn’t allow them to sell at a premium (quite the opposite) and their offering is neither niche (eg Tesla or Morgan) or broad (eg VAG)

[christheancient]

I don't envisage myself going near a Vauxhall 'place' ever again.

There are some distant memories of Vauxhall Victors back in my 'yoof' days in that my father used to get a new on each year as a company car. They did seem to dissolve in the rain a bit!

Come back to more modern times.

Some years ago, I decided to become a driving instructor and, while I was training, 'rented' a Vauxhall Corset... sorry, Corsa as an instructional vehicle while keeping my 'own car' for leisure purposes and reliability. That leased Corsa, apart from being an uncomfortable car to spend a day in, seemed to be a Friday afternoon/Monday morning car in that it spent nearly as many miles going to and from the local dealer to be 'fixed' as it did giving driving lessons. I was not impressed - and neither was my back!

Wahey! I achieved the coveted green badge and became a real driving instructor. But, now I knew I was going to be doing full-time instruction, the family car (a Mondeo Estate) was not going to be needed. But what to buy as a training car?

Well, my pupils liked the Corsa as it was a small car and easy for them drive. So, bite the bullet and trade in the Modeo for a new Corsa as a training car. What a mistake! It was just as unreliable as the one I had rented, was darned uncomfortable to spend a day in, and with that pathetic little 3-cylinder engine, not a car for longer journeys or for 'family use'.

For one holiday (which involved some touring) I hired a Vectra from a well-known company rather than struggle around in my corset... sorry, Corsa. Did I like the car? No! I ached all through that holiday from driving it.

I think it would not be unfair to say that the car had to go back to the 'dealership' for something or another about every 4-5 weeks, and I had been told that as the car was being used for the job it was, I would get 'preferential service'. Did I get that level of service. Did I 'eck as like! And it was nearly always a major battle to keep the car earning instead of sitting in the repair bay. I was on first name terms with all the fitters! But the management that sold me the car or 'arrange' the repairs etc. were an even bigger nightmare if I tried to complain.

You would never, ever get me near a Vauxhall place again.

And I also went to Nissan for my next training cars. Both times with an Almera. Reliable, comfortable, good service, good and friendly dealership. And the pupils used to love driving them as well. I stayed with them for a few years until I joined a franchise which supplied a car (Ford Focus).

[john.wigley]

So what does make a good driving school car in your opinion, 'CTA'?

I ask because the school that I learnt at (in 1966) used both Vauxhall Vivas and Austin A40s. Although the Viva was modern, nippy, all synchro 'box, etc., etc., get on with it I could not!

The A40, on the other hand, suited me very well. Most pupils quickly developed a strong preference for one car or the other, and were not happy if circumstances dictated a need to switch cars.

I never blamed Vauxhall for the fact that I did not get on with the Viva; the fault was mine - I was just not comfortable driving it. I understand that the car must also suit the instructor / school, be reliable and economical to run, but what makes it stand out as a school car?

Regards. John.

[NewVolvo]

Need to add my cents as well to this, as I live in Germany.

When it was announced that PSA were taking over Opel, Germany got a big chock! The attitude of some people were that ”the frog eaters are going to tell us what to do” and ”now we will produce cars with electrical problems instead” etc.

Personally I dont care what happens to Opel as I dont particular like their cars and the ones I have had the displeasure of driving gives me nightmares! The quality is terrible and are a well known fact, at least here.

However, I do feel sorry for the people who will loose their jobs.....maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it will happen. Its just a matter of time. Opel is bound to disappear.

As for JLR, they may survive much longer (mainly thats to Tata) but will go the same way as Opel unless they do something about their quality and problems with their cars. JLR have developed a terrible reputation here and I am not surprised that their sales are down.

One thing I think many can agree on, is that JLR produce some really nice looking cars. A friend here in Germany bought a brand new RR Sport V8 Diesel a few years ago, as he really liked the big, butch looks. Guess what...problems from day one. Sold it within a year and was eager to tell the world never to buy another!

Another thing is their prices here. Unbelievable expensive. Just under €100k for a base model short version RR. The same money puts you easily in a nice eqv model of another make with better reputation, quality and more effecient engines!

As for JLR not offering petrol engines, well, they do. At least here. One of them is a kompressor V8 with over 500bhp.....but then again, Germany is a petrolhead country with diesel never having overtaken petrol sales. Ever.

[Prufrock]

Never ceases to amaze me how threads on this forum go so far off topic.

Jon.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

Never ceases to amaze me how threads on this forum go so far off topic.

Jon.

They do indeed, Jon. But if you and I were having a conversation over a drink isn't it likely that that discussion would also naturally develop into other areas? It would become extremely stilted if we attempted to stick strictly to the point at issue, I fear.

I see these threads in much the same way as a conversation in a pub, and actually enjoy the diversification of views therein expressed.

Regards, John.

[christheancient]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

So what does make a good driving school car in your opinion, 'CTA'?

Regards. John.

From my point of view, I had the best service and the most comfortable car to spend a whole day in with both Nisaan Almeras. I suppose one would need a Juke these days.

For a while I was in a franchise that used the Ford Focus. Great for the instructor; but not quite as popular with pupils as the felt it was a 'large' car!

But, I'm sort of happy to say, those days are past history now.