There are very few car brands that can steal one’s heart away. The red howling beasts of Ferrari won most of our souls long ago when we were just small boys and girls. The classic British Mini Coopers also made headlines in the car lovers world when the famous Italian Job movie was released. Aston Martin is James Bond’s car so we all wanted the classic DB5 at one point in time. And of course the pride of Britain that is Jaguar has one of the richest racing histories in the world. However, there’s also one brand that we love but seem to have forgotten. Vauxhall is the brand that many highway police departments chose on our streets. The classic Vauxhall Omega was the first modern police car that was specifically for traffic police. This large car was stable under high speed and could push over 150mph if you told it to. However there are also many other models that we have loved but not lost yet.
The family car choice
In the beginning of the century, Vauxhall was high and mighty with good reason. The Vauxhall Astra was once upon a time known as the ‘panda car’ because it was the patrol vehicle of the police force. However, all across the nation the Vauxhall Astra suddenly became the ‘pursuit car’. The Astra saloon car became one of the best selling family cars in Britain. It was a large 5-door car that was perfect for a family. It had good power, great space, good looks and reasonable fuel economy and handling. There were also sport models with 2.8-litre V6 engines that were Naturally Aspirated. They loved to rev, had long gears and were great on the motorway and surprisingly agile on suburban streets and narrow city streets. Because the Astra Saloon was widely used, repairs and parts were also cheaper than its competitors.
Great first drive
For someone who had just been given their license, the top two choices for their first ever car was the Ford Fiesta or the Vauxhall Corsa. Both of these cars are small but not too small, they have small engines and have moderate handling. Check out this Vauxhall Corsa from 2010 on Eden Commercials. It’s got a 1.2-litre diesel engine with a combined fuel economy of 65.7 miles per gallon. It’s got air conditioning and has been approved by RAC. it’s great for a university student that has left to go study or perhaps someone who is saving up for a larger car but wants something to commute in. it’s also in the classic silver paint which is the most popular colour for Vauxhall cars since we can remember.
Stll kicking
Vauxhall was recently bought by GM Motors since it has declined over the years. Vauxhall was a subsidiary of Opel which is the German manufacturer that Vauxhall is based on. GM just used to supply the engines but now, with the new Vauxhall Viva they are entering into the small city car market. The brand is still kicking so maybe you should give it a try.
Vauxhall was one of the most loved brands in the UK. It was first the happy go lucky small hatchback and then the large and popular family saloon of choice. It’s still around if you care to look for it.
