UKC

I'm fed up with being cramped up in my Renault Clio (I'm 6'4")and need something bigger. I'm looking at a Meriva that looks in ok condition but I'm nervous of any hidden surprises- is the clutch going to fall apart at 60000 miles, is the turbo going to give up at 80000 etc. Any info appreciated...

Tom

In reply to t_hume:

Should have said, its the 1.7 deisel, '54 plate.

In reply to t_hume:

Had a hire one and almost died when the pice of crap refused to accelerate up a slight incline in second. I had to drop it in to first to escape the tractor that was bearing down on me from behind. Also they are horrible to drive. Just get an astra, focus, leon, megane, etc.

In reply to brokenbanjo:

New Astra is good for 6 footers, but not the old one. I got a late model Vectra, tons of room.

Neil

In reply to t_hume: A friend had one. The seats were very uncomfortable and it smacked of a cynical attempt at a cash in on the small mpv sector. She liked it though.

In reply to t_hume: Isn't the meriva based on a corsa? I'm not sure what space advantage you'd get

In reply to toad:

You're thinking of the Agila.

Meriva is between a Astra/Vectra - just with a higher roof.

In reply to Jonay: ah, ok. Thought that was the Zafira? Meaningless international car names are very confusing!

In reply to toad: Yep - Zafira is basically an Astra underneath. Not sure what a Mervia is though - Corsa?

In reply to Jonay:

The Agila isn't based on any of Vauxhall's convensional hatchbacks, it is a shared platform with Suzuki.

Meriva is based on an Corsa.

In reply to The New NickB:
Shades of the Bedford Rascal?

In reply to t_hume:

My parents have had a 54 plate Diesel and it's done North of 130,000 still going strong. Don't think anything major has fallen off it. Not particularly pretty or fun to drive, but I found it very practical when I've borrowed it for weekends. Definitely a lot more space than a Clio.

In reply to brokenbanjo: Had a very similar experience with the one we were "upgraded"(wow, thanks Hertz) to at Stansted. No power whatsoever, especially up long drags, similarly embarassing when you can't get past a large flat-bed lorry.

The layout was weird too, especially the centre console. My wife and I both agreed that it was truly awful. I've had loads of hire cars, and this was the worst, even more so than the battered Clio we once rented from Alicante, or the completely shagged A-class Merc in central Paris from Easy-rent-a-flight-and-car-and-hotel.com!

In reply to t_hume:

A Skoda Yeti will give you all the room you need, and more besides. When new the Yeti is cheaper than the equivalent Meriva - however Meriva's are often sold with massive discounts, basically because they're not really that good.

In reply to t_hume:

No / not in a million years.

In reply to t_hume:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/vauxhall/meriva-b-2010/
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/yeti-2009

In reply to thin bob:

We had a 2003 model, 1.8 petrol. It was great, comfy enough, not quick but not sluggish, either. didnt notice it being thristy.
For the size of the car the boot was massive and very flexible too (sliding rear seats)
had a few minor issues, nothing expensive (warranty)

we kept it to 850000 with no major outlay beyond the usual consumables.

In reply to t_hume:

Vauxhalls are shit, don't do it...

In reply to VS4b:


Eight hundred and fifty thousand miles? Maybe I'vew underestimated it

In reply to Jonay:

No it isn't we have a meriva and an astra - chalk and cheese
one is a van with seats in the back that has no power and poor cornering, the other is an acceptable car!

In reply to toad:
Sorry 85k!

In reply to Wilbur:

I've had a couple, and my Dad had plenty of them, and no issues particularly (apart from the Astra SRi that got nicked, but that's hardly Vauxhall's fault).

There aren't really any completely crap newish cars, TBH, just some are better than others.

Neil

In reply to SouthernSteve:

Zafira is Astra-derived, Meriva is Corsa-derived, AIUI. Don't think they ever did a Vectra based large MPV.

Neil

In reply to t_hume: Thanks for the all the advice folks. I have swapped in the clio (and any street cred judging by my mates reactions) for the meriva.

Tom