2011 Corsa 1.2 review

@40

Drove one yesterday on 80-100 kph roads, non main roads.

it was the 1.2 bog standard spec, 85 hp I think, was nippy enough and made decent progress once you drove it on.

It was smooth and quiet enough but what impressed me most was the suspension was great on the back roads where I live, It absorbed the bumps while not being to soft or firm or without much body roll.

Seats were o.k, I could easily cross country in it.

Steering was a little light.

It had 85,000 kms and not a squeak or rattle.

The Basic petrol costs €14,392 for the petrol and €15,850 for the diesel and in the SE tim the Petrol costs 16,707 and €18,562 for the Diesel.

So average of 12,000 miles a year or 19,312 kms needs @40 mpg 1,363.84 litres of petrol @1.58 C/L costing €2,154.86.

The Diesel getting 53 mpg ? would need 1,029.42 litres @1.54 costing €1,492.65

The difference being 463 per year taking 3 years to pay back for the basic trim and 4 years for the SE trim, so that's 3-4 years before you even start to save.

Is it worth it ?

If doing 20,000 miles a year the petrol costs €3,591 and the Diesel €2,487

The Difference this time is €1,103

It still takes just over 1.6 years before you even start to save over the different purchase cost in the SE trim and just over 1.2 years for the bog standard.

So is it really worth it in the end ?

Maybe if you keep your cars between 3-5 years.

But I wonder do people actually sit down and work it out or just think to themselves that a diesel will automatically save them money ?

Then if you do town trips you risk DPF failure.

MuppetCheck

Herself has one, not particularly economical at all especially above 100kph. But I suppose it's really made for cities. Diesel city cars are an oxymoron to me.

Sofiztikated

85,000 km on a two year old Corsa?!?

Christ.

Sofiztikated

Sofiztikated wrote: »

85,000 km on a two year old Corsa?!?

Christ.

Indeed, but I was well impress at how well it was screwed together.

It's roughly the same as the Grande Punto, same platform and the diesels are Fiat. To be honest I would rather have the Punto if the suspension was as good because the Puntos look a lot nicer, esp inside.

166man

Drive both diesel and petrol, would have the diesel every time even if it cost more. It's far nicer to drive than the petrol.

Yeah the extra torque would be nice, I would probably only go for the 95 hp.

To be honest if it were me, I'd buy a 2nd hand one which would be cheaper than even the petrols.

But for anyone buying new the extra cost of the Diesels and the pay back shouldn't be ignored.

BY the way the Diesel 95 hp is actually 19,162 Euro's in the 5 door, making the pay back longer again, another 600 Euro's. Add another year payback.

3-4.5 years pay back though is a lot.

They are both in the same tax band A4.

colm_mcm

Or you could buy a sandero signature 1.5 dCi 90 for €15k and be in band A2

God no Dacia's, horrible yokes. The Corsa, especially Punto Evo looks far far better inside.

colm_mcm

You've expressed interest in the Chevrolet spark before to be fair.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

You've expressed interest in the Chevrolet spark before to be fair.

Yes but only the electric version that's a special Interest to me and a good one at that and probably way more fun than many cars to drive. Certainly owners love it.

I don't think it's interior is nearly as bad as the Dacias.

This is the Spark EV . and while not the prettiest, but it's not as dour as the dacia models.

colm_mcm

Point taken, but for someone with a similar thing for small diesels on a budget, the poxy interior would be overlooked.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Point taken, but for someone with a similar thing for small diesels on a budget, the poxy interior would be overlooked.

A similar "thing" for small diesels ? is it possible ?

I'm sure there are people who couldn't care less about anything other than being able to buy new on a budget and the interior, power etc comes last. In that cast the Dacia might be better but the Corsa/Punto Diesel would probably be more economical.

colm_mcm

I reckon a sandero 0.9 TCe for €11k would be great craic

Maybe, and it's a good bit faster than the Diesels too.

I suppose not the worst interior, still prefer the Spark ev interior.

Max Power1

15-18 grand on a corsa? Has the world gone mad?:eek:

Corsa Interior.

Punto EVO the nicest.

colm_mcm

Current Clio trumps it IMO.

Meh, I think the Punto is nicer. The Clio is similar to the Zoe.

ba_barabus

1.2 new model Clios are dangerously under powered

colm_mcm

Not bad Colm, but I still think the Punto is nicer. But I see you can customise the interior and exterior a bit in the Clio.

colm_mcm

The Punto is ancient at this stage.

ba_barabus

ba_barabus wrote: »

1.2 new model Clios are dangerously under powered

It's a Renault, nothing new there. They still stick lawnmower powered engines in their vans. All for the sake of low C02 emissions. Backwards we're going.

Before you know it Renault will be offering Renault 5 power engines again. Though back then cars were lighter.

Though one owner on what car says he manages to get 70 mpg on a tank of diesel.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Punto is ancient at this stage.

The Evo was only released 4 years ago, so older than the Clio alright but when they renew it it will be younger than the Clio.

colm_mcm

The 'Evo' was little more than a half assed facelift to be fair.
The interior is a bit better but its still an 8 year old model.

ba_barabus

colm_mcm wrote: »

The 'Evo' was little more than a half assed facelift to be fair.
The interior is a bit better but its still an 8 year old model.

Exactly. They're too old to recommend unless its seriously discounted

Yeah the Punto's are getting on a bit, the Bravo was released in 07 for feck sake. Can't wait to see the new one though.

ba_barabus

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yeah the Punto's are getting on a bit, the Bravo was released in 07 for feck sake. Can't wait to see the new one though.

When are the being released? Even the 500 has been around a while now

ba_barabus

ba_barabus wrote: »

When are the being released? Even the 500 has been around a while now

No idea. No info even about a new one. But the old one looks good so I bet the new one will be better.