Classic Opel Forum NZ

Hey Guys

My sister inlaw to be is looking at buying a new car. I have found a few Holden barina 1.4 manuals around and she seems pretty keen on them. Any one know anything about these engines regarding reliablity etc. She has decided 4 doors is a must and have found this puppy which we will look at in the next week or so:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =464072512

I did see a mean opel vita gsi i was trying to get her to look at but its been taken off trade me
Trying to get people to not look at a toyota is bloody hard!

The Toyota Vitz/Echo/Yaris is over priced, ugly and underspec'd. Have a look if you must, but I'm sure you won't be sold.

In this price/size I quite like the Honda Jazz/Fit, however they have been known to have issues with the CVT in the 1.3 litre, so either get a manual or 1.5 litre.

With regards to the Barina, at least it will be NZ new. If going with Opel it will be an import, probably Japanese so just go over everything with a fine tooth comb if looking at this option - it will likely have a crap radio etc also. Reliability wise, I can't for see too many issues as the family 1 series engine is fairly solid. I'd own one.

they are very good cars, the last of the Euro based Holden badged product before they went to the Korean based stuff they now sell in this sector

I have owned one of the previous model, great little car

like any modern car with a cam belt you just need to make sure that's replaced as per the service guide

the 1.8 Opel badged jap imported is very cool

dont buy an auto.

^^^ I agree with what they said. If you get the smaller engines, the manual gearbox is best.

I saw that 1.8 Vita too! That would be really zippy

there was a survey done a while back and the Barina rated highly and as one of the nicest cars around,there was a issue with the earlier ones i think they had wipers which used to judder,and that was comented on,not sure if it was a dealer fix or not,but i would have one esp the 1800.

Thanks for that guys. I find toyotas overpriced and bland. In fact most japanese cars we have looked at are tinny compared to the barina.
The barina we are looking at its timing belt changed and it looks solid. Nothing seems to beat it for value in the 8k price bracket.

Just had a look at the link. Looks good and seems to be a fair price looking at what else is on the market. Just needs a couple new front floor mats and you are away (amazed they haven't changed this at the yard!).

those wheel trims look rubbish too, would change to these straight off

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-par ... 632307.htm

I would shop around on these as there was a few NZ new SRi versions for sale a while a go, I would hang out for one of them or a jappa 1.8 if you can get one or have time to wait for the right car

the bread and butter ones will always be harder to flick off later on as well

I have recommended the 1.8 sri but she reckons it will be too thirsty!!!! She also wants 4 doors so it rules out the 3 door sri. She drove me astra turbo from chch to picton and loved it but it has not won her over on going for the 1.8 version.
I thought those hub caps looked suspect. Ill show her those mean looking alloys too.
Im hoping that black gsi comes back for sale on trade me so I can go have a spin!

198 Daniel D wrote:I have recommended the 1.8 sri but she reckons it will be too thirsty!!!! She also wants 4 doors so it rules out the 3 door sri. She drove me astra turbo from chch to picton and loved it but it has not won her over on going for the 1.8 version.
I thought those hub caps looked suspect. Ill show her those mean looking alloys too.
Im hoping that black gsi comes back for sale on trade me so I can go have a spin!

You never got a NZ new 5 door SRI.

that's correct no NZ new 5 door SRi

however the Barina looks good in 3 or 5 door, not many cars out there can claim the same, I have always thought the 3 door Astra looked a lot better than the 5 door

you should try get the missus into a 1.8 see how she likes it, I think there was a jap imported 5 door 1.8 just tell her its going to be cheaper to run because it has a bit more grunt - haha

looking at the one your talking about again, is the clutch pedal rubber missing? looks like some refection off metal in the photo. also look for wear through the top of the gear stick boot / gaiter, this one looks ok but these tend to get thread bare just under the gear knob on higher mileage cars.

Late model 5dr 1.4 manual with alloys


http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/holden/barina/auction-468472522.htm

or another older one here

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/holden/barina/auction-467920487.htm

Hey guys

So the sister inlaw bought the barina today. Before she signed the papers the "family mechanic" said for her not to as parts would be too expensive. To me its a reliable car and being "european" should not be a reason to not buy a car by just looking at it. I rang the mechanic who changed the timing belt on it and he said nothing has gone wrong with the car since they have been servicing it.
People need to open their horizons and see that there are other cars in this world apart from jap cars

198 Daniel D wrote:Hey guys

So the sister inlaw bought the barina today. Before she signed the papers the "family mechanic" said for her not to as parts would be too expensive. To me its a reliable car and being "european" should not be a reason to not buy a car by just looking at it. I rang the mechanic who changed the timing belt on it and he said nothing has gone wrong with the car since they have been servicing it.
People need to open their horizons and see that there are other cars in this world apart from jap cars

Sounds typical of many mechanics who can't deal with any cars other than Jap. We had a mechanic recently applied for membership, wanting info and moaning about Opel/european cars, and that nothing he had would fit. While it was agreed to let him join to try to open his eyes, we never heard anything more from him!

I learned a long time ago that the title 'mechanic' does not make someone an 'expert' on all things automotive. Don't get me wrong, I know pleanty of good knowledgable mechanics, but there are also many glorified 'parts swappers' out there who haven't even grasped how a modern engine even operates yet.