Well, there are more modern cars, but put away an icon? Carefully look around: what could be a good replacement? BMW fell off, VW Golf was still a class less, the A5 was definitely a lot bigger carbon copy. The old A3 was an option and the new A3 seemed to do well.
Charging from my old profession (the leasing world) a new car was not a sensible option. So the choice fell on a demo of a year old, from Audi dealer Muntstad.
An A3 convertible in the Beluga color brown metallic, with sports seats in cloth (best option in a convertible: ever come into the bright sun in an open convertible with leather stepped?). Furthermore, a list of options: 18-inch wheels, sport chassis, MMI navigation, anyway, completely enough.
150 hp from a 1.4 engine and remains an achievement, especially in combination with the cylinder on demand system. It remains a strange feeling to suddenly hear the two cylinder simmer as you drive low into the RPM, but the current that generates it is well worth the effort.
We took the car in September to Italy and drove in those few weeks on average 1 in 16. And continuously with the hood open. Fine, since our Saab could still eat your heart out.
The seats are fine, especially with the retractable seat and adjustable lumbar support.
The sports suspension is a nice tight steering car, gives you quite a semi sporty feel without making you feel like in a sports car. Nice car so.
Negative points? A few: the back is very limited space, but that is all convertibles. Moreover, our children have left home, so the space we do not need. The view through the rear window is very limited. Less than the Saab and the -te- wide style between the rear side window and rear visibility is three-quarters rear downright dangerous bad.
The comfort is compared to our V70 still a lot less. But quietly riding offers open with the hood a convertible an amount of driving pleasure that you find in any other car.
Convertible driving is a way of life which is incomparable with driving other cars.
In terms of costs, we have not had stressful moments. The car is delivered with a small turn, so we can just move forward. The next cost is the purchase of a set of winter tires with rims. Fortunately, our tire supplier Profile Verkade found in Zeist good combination in the winter of Saab with a new set of 16 inch rims.
In summary, we find the A3 for us the perfect cabrio: fine line, well finished, solid nice touch materials, sporty yet economical. We hope to have another 8 years or longer enjoyment.
this car bought in February 2011, when my girlfriend switched jobs and had to return the leased vehicle.
I had at that time about spending freely 3K and this was the amount I wanted to give both a minimum and maximum of a car. Previous owners experiences only related to a Citroen AX 1993 and a Corsa D 1.3 CDTI from 2007.
I had ever ridden in a car from the A segment and this I felt quite unsafe and windy driving experiences (Chevy Matiz, Fiat Panda, Daihatsu cuore, Suzuki Alto). It had to be at least one car in the B segment. After much reading about reliability and maintenance, with a Toyota Starlet or Nissan Micra, although reliable but if he then breaks down, it will cost you more than a European, as well as bad experiences with the Citroen AX and a kind of natural aversion to the VAG marks, I decided that it had to be an Opel Corsa C. I only wanted a car with less than 100k on the clock and 3k I could find only two instances within a radius of 100 kilometers, actually too good to be true. Some googling to the vendors appeared to confirm this.
Then the focus shifted to a Corsa B of recent model years (98-00) with a 1.2 petrol engine. The reviews here on AW and in the reviews of that time this engine came out on top as reliable and pleasant.
Within half an hour from home I've found this copy of October 2000, the last month before the introduction of the Corsa C. The car has no air conditioning but heated mirrors, LM velgjes, electric windows, central locking with such a cool device beeps , metallic paint and a spoiler which he looks less sphere.
The engine
is a 1.2. Ecotec engine with few special benefits that you get a rate of approximately 1 in 15 on average. Since the car weighs little he comes with good light load from the start, but when you get there with four men in it the pep is a bit off. It is a motor with a timing chain, so no worries about a belt that must be replaced.
Exterior
I love the car beautiful nor ugly, but I think 95% of the Corsa B I meet look more decrepit than mine. The car started to rust a little under the hood but I scraped and treated and has not returned. Furthermore, the stainless car. The Corsa's 1998 suffer a lot more with rust, I understand.
Interior
looks as good as new. The car is big enough to sit well with 4 people, 5 is too much. We are just the two so usually there are one or two persons. Again: boring but fine.
I think that 3/4 of the mileage that the car makes its highway mileage and at 130 km / h, he makes 4,000 rpm. I do think he makes a lot of noise. Anyway, I have but a newer or larger car to drive!
78 000 -96 000 problems:
- crooked worn tires which behavior was strange - replace straps and let balancing vehicle.
- Dashboard light broken - garage owner brought here 1.75 pm wages to be charged because it would be difficult at this point. I have the most common car just looked up and it is not easy but it is one that is there. As punishment, I've changed my garage.
- Windscreen Pump faulty
Further nothing, above I see as nothing out of the ordinary and that you have to balance your tires if you are vibrating steering wheel I learned now at certain speeds :)
Small turn and MOT (99,500 km)Garage has been able to find anything, hopefully trouble-year ahead!
Faulty EGR valve replacement (107 995 km)For a while kept the car every now and then as I pulled up at the traffic light, especially after highway mileage. There came the occasional fault in the engine management (light). Garage indicated that EGR valve was faulty and could not capped. Replacement was necessary, cost: 250 euros.
Overhaul + APK (110 240 km)All this came up was a ball joint with too much slack. This has been replaced and the car is aligned. I hope to see the garage only a year!
MOT + small turn (123 531 km)Today, the Corsa is back for MOT and been a little turn. The garage was again nothing. Hopefully another trouble-year ahead!
Overhaul + APK (132 840 km)And we have another year and some 10,000 km away! This time were far only the wiper replacement.
Garageman felt the Corsa looked exceptionally clean for a Corsa B of this age. Most instances that he now gets to see are all reasonable.
Also among the car has rust ghost still never really been introduced, except on the rear axle. Mechanic betting that still will go well next year but we have two years to go here on the demolition searching for a new construction, otherwise it can be dangerous.
Hopefully again to drive year super cheap :)
Battery broken nav frost (133 460 km)Today the Corsa did not start, battery was empty. Breakdown has him again got talking and they could then replace the battery directly to the Euromaster. One meegekeken but I will next time do. I think at least 5 years is not bad for the battery life, so can all live with the E 90 I had to tick off =)
Car moist inside (134.800 km)With the cold and wet conditions this year shows that the window rubbers after over 16 years really starting to get a bit worn, the car was first very humid inside. Yesterday brought a car dehumidifier of Halfords, see if it offers solace.
Replacing leaky exhaust (135 300 km)The exhaust made some strange noises, though I do not feel that there was pressure loss. Hole was in rear shock, but since the middle silencer was also nice in the rust that replaced too. Cost: 203 euros.
Farewell to a faithful friend (135.500 km)Today, the Corsa is exchanged. When replacing the exhaust I asked if there was more to come within the next two years. Both the rear axle as the driving shaft would have to be replaced and also started to hit on the front tires.
After a week of research I bought an Astra H hatchback in September 2007, with 50,000 on the clock. A review shortly follows.
Dear Corsa, thanks for five affordable, fine, safe and reliable for years! :)
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