little vauxhall engine

[norsa]

I need to get a small runabout to get my wife to hospital and back (60mile round trip) daily for three weeks of radiotherapy. As my rally car is a Nova/corsa ive decided to get a 1.0 litre corsa. Reliability anyone??? Known engine issues??
Nick.

 

[AndyStobbs]

3 cylinder with balancer. Timing chains rattle around 60-70K miles on all small vauxhalls (3 or 4 cylinder).
Feel generally sluggish (because they are) but the basic design is sound. Rocker cover to inlet pipe hose tends to degrade and split open like a bananna but its only a small issue.
Worked on plenty that are still decent little cars. EGR valves typical vauxhall P0400 at the drop of a hat.

 

[Spark plug]

My choice for an economical small runabout would be a 1.5 diesel 106.

 

[johnik]

FIAT,may not be fast but they are fun to drive...and people will tell you they are rubbish (they are not) they are cheap

 

[PandaWill]

I second the fiat comment above. My wife had a 1.1 panda for a while. Not only was it fun to drive but it was economical and reliable. Good car and cheap too.

 

[BrokenBiker]

i had a corsa that was terrible but was a 1.7 diesel

 

[nick205]

I dove a 106 1.5 diesel for a year doing a 70 mile round trip 5 days a week. Good little car, very economical, relatively comfy and cheap to run.

 

[norsa]

thanks guys all useful info. didn't consider French or Iti to be honest but will research. 3 cylinders?? no wonder its sluggish
Nick

 

[bump]

How about a Micra? Just a big go kart really. Never seem to go wrong either.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

I'm running a 1.8 xud 205 at the mo. Very comfortable even for my 6ft4 and 18 stoneness. Suprisingly nippy and smooth. Cruies at 80 well and consistently 55 to the gallon . Can pick up a tax and tested rot ftee one for less than 300 quid.

 

[norlander]

Had a corsa when they first came out (don't usually buy new models till they have been out a bit) thrashed the nuts off it, towed large trailers with it to Italy and France and back, gave it away at 190,000 miles, lady I gave it to went back to UK and gave the car to a french scrappy-he's still driving it.Never noticed mine was particularly sluggish-used to hammer down the M25 and back no problems.

 

[rory1]

A girlfriend had a three cylinder corsa, it cracked a manifold and I couldn't get one from a scrap yard for love nor money,apparently it's a common fault. it drove well enough tho.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

The Vauxhall 1.0 3 cylinders don't have a very good reputation for high mileages. Ok when newish but as the miles clock up then it's only a matter of time when (not if) the top end needs work. Good second hand engine parts are virtually impossible to source as everyman and his dog is after them as well. So if you can find a car with, say, 20-30,000 miles and it's just used as a local run around then as long as maintained (regular oil changes) it should last a few years however higher miles and longer journeys then a 1.2 with proper 4 cylinder lump is the better option even if the initial cost is higher.

Paul h

 

[keithski122]

Being an ex mechanic I have a dislike for any French or British cars,did 10 years working for mazda so think Japanese stuff is fantastic.
I've got an old shape 3 cylinder Suzuki swift which I've had for 5 years now with absolutely no problems, does 80-85 down the motorway and still has a good mpg.Its getting a bit rusty now(never buy a Cornish car) so Thursday I'm getting a newer shape swift,though a bigger engine one.Getting a 1300 now so a whole 300 more cc...wow.
Heard of a few issues with the 3 cylinder corsa though I can't remember what they were.

 

[ukracer]

You sure you are getting a corsa with a 1.0 litre engine?? It does not have a red rocker cover does it??? lol