Any future for Vauxhall?

[rich.]

i feel sorry for the poor sods who will lose their job

[Willy Eckerslyke]

Whenever I think of Vauxhall I think of spotty teenagers in "modified" Corsas. I'd have a Lotus Carlton. None of their modern stuff is good enough to tempt me away from Ford.

Funny that, I feel exactly the same about Ford. MK1 and 2 Scrotes with extended spring shackles; mud flaps tied back with bog chain; grills hidden by spotlights. Mk2 Cortinas pretending to be Lotuses. 950cc Fiestas with wide wheels and extended arches. Etc.

[TerryG]

Each to their own, there is still alot of brand loyalty. No car manufacturer is going to make much from me. I buy a car I like and keep it until it is uneconomic to repair. 10 years and 125k on my focus and no sign of it needing replacement yet.

[Stu63]

I like Vx and have had a few over the years, but I think my favousite/s would be my first Astra (mk2) and a mk3 Cav sri about 7 years ago, I currently have a Mondeo mk3 tdci, nice to drive but that's it, also have a GM ( ) 9-3 convertible, but hardly use it, infact trying to sell it. But as someone said above, I dont have badge snobery either, if I like it that's good enough for me.

[mrtotty]

I reckon there is, yes. Vauxhall has a good current product range but could do with changing the public perception that its cars are ok as fleet and motorway fodder, but are not quite at the level of Ford or VAG. With some engineering/marketing work, this could change.
What a lot of people don't realise and which I give Vauxhall high praise for is importing the Vauxhall VXR8 in four forms (two saloons/estate and Maloo pick-up) all powered by a roaring 6.2 litre V8.
Surely, to import such cars into Britain in this age of astronomic petrol prices just so a small number of enthusiasts can buy them is a brave decision. Equally, they could not bother at all.

[Diesel Fionn]

Au Contraire to the earlier contributor, Vauxhall's are not sold in the South/Republic of Ireland, only Opel's. We lost Vauxhall's in the early 80's the same time, ye lost Opel's. Doesn't stop loads of people heading up North to buy vauxhall's second hand, WhY? Well better spec for one thing. You'd pay stupid money to get an Opel Astra or VEctra with a sunroof, whereas the VAuxhall's of a normal spec all seemed to have them in the mid to late 90's.
I guess when Vauxhall stopped making their own cars and just used Rebadged Opel's, there was no point in selling both brands side by side. Strange though that GM are selling Chevrolet's (Daewoo's) in the same market as Opels and Vauxhalls, now that's really cutting their own throat. Chances are the Korean cars are probably making money, same engines as the european cars but made for peanuts. I had a 1.7 diesel Kadett once, engine was good, but the car was terrible. When they stopped being rwd I lost interest in Opel's. An old Rekord or Ascona would be my ideal classic Opel, or a Manta of course.

[JPB]

The Doric-speaking areas up the North East coast didn't lose Opels though, that's why they had both Corsas and Novas, Asconas and Cavalier 2s, CF and Bedford Blitz, etc. Look at the Trader listings for AB postcodes and you'll see pretty even quantities of both brands.

[bnicho]

What a lot of people don't realise and which I give Vauxhall high praise for is importing the Vauxhall VXR8 in four forms (two saloons/estate and Maloo pick-up) all powered by a roaring 6.2 litre V8.

I can see the factory where they are made from right here in my office.

What you don't get in the UK is the boring V6 and auto versions with steel wheels and hubcaps. The standard rep's car in Aus, the Holden Commodore. That dilutes the image of the HSV (or VXR8 to you) models somewhat in this market.

Cheers,