1 hour ago, Brian69 said:

Saw a Zafira this morning on my morning run (well, light jog) - again, Vauxhall grille badge was missing, revealing the Opel 'lightning' behind.

 

'Opel' does sound sexier than 'Vauxhall'.

 

 

Well tbf, the UK is the only "Vauxhall" market. Everywhere else is opel, so im not shocked the grill template is the same, just a different emblem glued on. 

the ROI market share that Opel has is pretty large too. People like them, and despite being the same many more issues are had by "vauxhall" imports than Opels.. 

 

I could organise a direct side by side comparison photo of my 2009 Opel Insignia SE 160 diesel and my BIL's 2012 Vauxhall Insignia SE 160 diesel. Other than colours theyre near identical, but hes had his back in the dealer he got it from twice already with ABS sensor and ECU faults. (12months since purchase)

Yeah, I understand why; today Vauxhalls are badge-engineered Opels (the last all-British Vauxhall, i.e. one that didn't have a direct Opel counterpart, must have been in the 1970s).

 

 

 

 

Surely nobody actually thought they were British designed?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/vauxhall-PSA-Group-takeover

 

All in the safe hands of Brexit PM, Donald hand in hand friend .Selling off crap US assets / liability.

Edited 23 February, 20179 yr by vrskeith

9 minutes ago, vrskeith said:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/vauxhall-PSA-Group-takeover

 

All in the safe hands of Brexit PM, Donald hand in hand friend .Selling off crap US assets / liability.

Just look at what was once the Rootes Group once PSA took over...

3 minutes ago, Brian69 said:

Just look at what was once the Rootes Group once PSA took over...

Hillman, Singer........ etc Bedford trucks....

 

9 minutes ago, vrskeith said:

Hillman, Singer........ etc Bedford trucks....

 

Think the truck division of Rootes was Commer, which later were sold as Dodges. 

 

Bedford was Vauxhall's commercial vehicle division - although they stopped making the HA Viva in 1966, the van version continued into the 1980s (my dad had one as a works van - it was primitive!). 

Edited 23 February, 20179 yr by Brian69

5 minutes ago, vrskeith said:

Hillman, Singer........ etc Bedford trucks....

 

Wasn't that Chrysler?.

The Hilman Hunter?.

32 minutes ago, Brian69 said:

Think the truck division of Rootes was Commer, which later were sold as Dodges. 

 

Bedford was Vauxhall's commercial vehicle division - although they stopped making the HA Viva in 1966, the van version continued into the 1980s (my dad had one as a works van - it was primitive!). 

My dad had a Viva HA and I took my driving test in an HB. Yeah, you are right Commer was Rootes truck division.

Those were the days Hillman Imp / Singer Chamois the competition to BMC minis

 

I was young once lol.

Edited 23 February, 20179 yr by vrskeith

We had an HB Viva - I can remember the engine catching fire when my mum was driving it (I was pre-school age) - it was sold as scrap but then miraculously reappeared in the local area. 

Brian, we forgot Sunbeam Sports (Alpine etc.)cars that competed with MG. Its good to be reminded of what are the roots of UK automotive.Sorry about the pun. Unfortunately it shows that your a silver surfing old fart. However, nothing wrong with that.

Edited 24 February, 20179 yr by vrskeith

On 23/02/2017 at 12:33, mac11irl said:

 

 

Well tbf, the UK is the only "Vauxhall" market. Everywhere else is opel, so im not shocked the grill template is the same, just a different emblem glued on. 

the ROI market share that Opel has is pretty large too. People like them, and despite being the same many more issues are had by "vauxhall" imports than Opels.. 

 

I could organise a direct side by side comparison photo of my 2009 Opel Insignia SE 160 diesel and my BIL's 2012 Vauxhall Insignia SE 160 diesel. Other than colours theyre near identical, but hes had his back in the dealer he got it from twice already with ABS sensor and ECU faults. (12months since purchase)

 

It looks a lot nicer and posher as a Buick Regal though.

7 hours ago, vrskeith said:

Brian, we forgot Sunbeam Sports (Alpine etc.)cars that competed with MG. Its good to be reminded of what are the roots of UK automotive.Sorry about the pun. Unfortunately it shows that your a silver surfing old fart. However, nothing wrong with that.

I would have taken a Sunbeam Alpine over an MGB every time - I particularly like the Harrington conversion (although I've still never seen one in the flesh - before my time - I only just made the 60s!).

3 hours ago, camelspyyder said:

 

It looks a lot nicer and posher as a Buick Regal though.

 

 

Jesus.. does it?

Progressing then?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/psa-advances-plans-purchase-vauxhallopel-gm

I didn't realise Proton was still around.

5 hours ago, Aspman said:

I didn't realise Proton was still around.

Appears they are still alive in parts of Australia..........a Malaysian company I thought 

PSA board sign off on an agreed deal with GM

http://europe.autonews.com/article/20170303/COPY/303039935/psa-reaches-deal-to-buy-opel-from-gm-wins-board-approval-report-says?cciid=email-autonews-blast

Monday morning press conference 

http://europe.autonews.com/article/20170304/ANE/170309883/psa-gm-announce-monday-morning-press-conference?cciid=email-autonews-blast

I doubt you could get William Hill to give odds on that they will announce they are not going ahead with a deal!

http://bbc.co.uk/news/business-39161173 

I'm wondering what PSA hope to do with the assets...such as they are

3008 production line ?.

 

20 hours ago, Aspman said:

I didn't realise Proton was still around.

 

 

I passed a pretty new loomking proton the other day. It was parked so couldnt see the reg plates for a year, but i got a bit of a surprise..

On 2/23/2017 at 13:41, Brian69 said:

Yeah, I understand why; today Vauxhalls are badge-engineered Opels (the last all-British Vauxhall, i.e. one that didn't have a direct Opel counterpart, must have been in the 1970s).

 

 

 

 

I have a Vauxhall Astra 1300 mk1 that was built in 1984 and that had Opel stamped all over it, including "Made in Germany". Bit like my old Octavia Mk2 had Audi bits all over it! But Made in Czech Republic" 

Edited 4 March, 20179 yr by threadbear

1 hour ago, threadbear said:

I have a Vauxhall Astra 1300 mk1 that was built in 1984 and that had Opel stamped all over it, including "Made in Germany". Bit like my old Octavia Mk2 had Audi bits all over it! But Made in Czech Republic" 

My first car was a MKI Astra - with the 1196cc engine - should really have got the 1300!

Edited 4 March, 20179 yr by Brian69

3 hours ago, threadbear said:

I have a Vauxhall Astra 1300 mk1 that was built in 1984 and that had Opel stamped all over it, including "Made in Germany". Bit like my old Octavia Mk2 had Audi bits all over it! But Made in Czech Republic" 

I loved the Astra GTE I used to have with the X20XE engine (Cosworth) and the digital dash.