Posts Tagged ‘road test’
Nova – the little better car indeed!
Bit bizarre, I guess, reviewing a car that went out of production 17 years ago, but I am doing this to see how the driving experience stacks up compared to a supermini of this era. And because I have owned this 1989 1-litre ‘Jet Black’ (decals added by me) example for 3 weeks now.
The Nova was launched in the UK a year after its Opel counterpart, the Corsa went on sale. Built by GM Espana in Zaragoza, Spain, there was a plethora of trim levels and specifications available, from the 1.0 basic (like mine) to the rapid 1.6-litre GTE. Styling was remarkably restrained yet neat, and looks pure comapred to the overstyled and bloated Corsa of today. The 3-door models, unlike the 5-doors, had Audi Quattro-esque blistered wheelarches. The Nova’s tiny dimensions mean that parking is easy and visibility is in myriad supply. However there are styling cues which mark this is as a supermini from another era – square and orange blinkers, solid black plastic bumpers and grille, and small, skinny steel wheels.
The Nova was a huge seller in its day, but getting inside you wonder why. The interior, although solidly screwed-together, light and airy, is full of hard plastic and angular designs – very dated. The poverty-spec model really is that – The wipers have only two settings, no rear wiper, a manual choke control (remember them?). No ABS, central locking or any opf your silly modern computer gadgets that cost a fortune to fix when they break. No crappy i-Drive system here. You drive this car using the wheel, stick and pedals, and use your prowess behind the wheel to keep it on the road. The baby Vauxhall has no power-steering but thankfully the diminutive size and feather weight (760kg approx) mean it is easy to manouevre, although the turning circle resembles that of a double-decker bus. Don’t expect sportscar handling, though.
Engines available were 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 diesel and 1.6 injected. The petrol units, except for the 1.0, are OHC and of the Family II 8v series of GM engines. The 1.2 develops 55bhp (same as a modern Volkswagen supermini) but this is enough to shift the light little car about town fairly swiftly. In fact, the acceleration is nothing to be sniffed at, and the Nova can easily keep up with modern traffic. The 1.0, is a different kettle of fish. It is a rattly pushrod engine designed in the late 1950s and first saw service in the 1962 Opel Kadett, only to be brought out of retirement for the Corsa/Nova’s 1982 launch. The 1-litre is noisy and very unrefined, but again, the light weight means that despite a paltry 45bhp, you won’t be stuck behind mopeds and tractors. However the engine needs to be worked hard to keep up with modern traffic, and those used to modern superminis will find this tiring to drive.
Despite having a four-speed manual gearbox (yeah, times have changed since 1989) the Nova will cruise competently at 60 and 70mph, albeit makes a hell of a loud job doing so. Ride is a little harsh, but long journeys won’t break your spine. My previous Nova was a 1.2 merit and it performed a 5-hour drive from Buckingham to Cornwall without a hitch and remained reasonably comfortable. Handling is below-par, the soft suspension leads to horrendous body roll at speed around corners, but the quick ‘power delivery’ and low-gearing ensures a nippy driving experience.
Overall, in comparison to modern superminis, the Nova doesn’t measure up. It is cramped, a little tinny,noisy, unrefined, and not that fuel efficient (having said that, at current petrol prices a full tank can cost £32 max). Dated and unpleasant interior, lack of kit and a 5th gear make this car better suited to city life, though the boxy styling and raucous engine won’t endear you to the Joneses on Acacia Avenue. However the light weight, excellent visibility simple engine and construction, and no complicated computer systems to break down is bliss for the more frugal driver, although younger drivers may have to get used to the old-school manual choke. The simple values of the little car delivers a remarkable pure driving experience where everything can be reassuringly felt and responses are instantaneous, and in a time where superminis are the size of Sierras and everything has to be controlled by some computer, this is such a breath of fresh air.
Verdict:-
Vauxhall’s top-seller in Thatcher’s day still makes sense for a buyer on a budget, though the boyracer image can still put some off. The relationship between car and driver is much closer than in today’s Corsa, albeit can be too spartan for some. Willing, if noisy engines, roomy interior and great visibility make this a decent car to live with in town. But standards have moved on so much since the 1980s.
Car tested: Vauxhall Nova 1.0
Engine: 993cc, four cylinders
Power: 47bhp
Transmission: Four-speed manual
Fuel: 40mpg (approx)
Performance: 0-62mph: 15 sec
Price: £10-£1,000
Verdict: Simple values make this a refreshing change from the bloated, sanitised, so-called modern “small” cars.
Rating: 4/5
Nicole? Papa, j’ai grandi!
Renault Clio 1.2 Extreme
The Renault Clio has always been popular, ever since it was introduced in 1990 to replace the venerable 5 (which lasted another 6 years in production anyway). La Renault petite has grown over the years and the current, recently-facelifted model is the biggest in the supermini class. You can even have an estate Clio now, though personally I think this is stretching the ‘supermini’ mantra a bit far.
The facelift hasn’t done much to conceal the frankly lardy dimensions of the Clio. Pedestrian safety laws have governed all small cars to be gargantuan with identikit teardrop headlights and van-like front ends, a look spearheaded in 2001 by the downright bland Peugeot 307. The original twin-grille look of the MkIII Clio looked much better. However this is all down to personal taste and I think the first generation Clio looks remarkable pure next to this. Even the 1998-2008 MkII Campus model aged well despite a 10 year production run. Current superminis I think will date very quickly.
The interior is solidly built and well-laid out. However, in the more basic trim levels (I tested a 1.2 Extreme) the plastics are hard and somewhat cheap-looking. The steering wheel feels insubstantial but on the whole you do feel you are sitting in a car of the class above.
The Clio has always been praised for its handling and even basic Clios deliver a decent driving experience, with good roadholding and nippy handling. The steering is light which is great around town but poor on A-roads and lacks feel. The clutch bite is also very high and can be a pain in the arse when moving off at first. Ride is very comfortable in the typical French way and the car feels strong enough to be taken by the scruff of the neck and thrown about a bit. The 75bhp 1.2 engine (in contrast to the VW Polo’s sluggish 55bhp) is a nippy performer even in a car this big but lacks the revvy character of the 3-cylinder VW unit, plus the gearchange is a little slow on the uptake. But despite all this, the Clio still feels muted and sanitised compared to ones of old. Small cars are getting far too big for their boots now, and the purity of feeling everything as you drive, which you could in the old 5 and Mk1 Clio is being lost.
But, tastes and preferences have moved on since the 90s and I guess I am still stuck in the past. The Clio is a very good performer; strong engine, comfortable ride, decent space inside, as well as the all-important fun handling on the twisties. It also has excellent quality and cheap running costs. But the depressing interior of low-spec models, gawky clutch, slushy manual gearchange and the lifeless steering let it down. If you want a modern small Renault that echoes the fun of the 5, the Twingo is much better option.
My verdict:
Classy, grownup French voiture that ticks all the boxes required for a modern day supermini – comfortable, well-built, fun handler and plenty of interior space, but is negated by a too-high clutch-bite point, lack of steering feel and soggy gearbox. Highly recommended despite these flaws.
Car tested: Renault Clio 1.2 16v Extreme
Engine: 1149cc, four cylinders
Power/Torque: 73bhp/105 Nm/ 77 lb-ft
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel: 47mpg
Performance: 0-62mph: 13.0sec / Top speed: 104mph
Price: £10,709 – £17,759
Verdict: Grown-up supermini, not as much va-va-voom as previous Clios. Not half bad.
Rating: 4/5
First in a series of reviews as I test drive modern day small cars – seeing as I haven’t driven a car in so bloody long.
Volkswagen Urban Fox 1.2
My first victim was the Volkswagen Fox, built in Brazil, and replaced the tiny Lupo. VW have turned from being the “peoples car” into a premium brand, and this is reflected in their solidly-built model line-up. Volkswagen’s conventional water-cooled cars never had the same character as the Beetle, all possessing neat, solid yet somewhat generic styling. The Fox, bottom of the VW range, is no exception. While it is undoubtedly a nice looking car, the styling is somewhat anodyne and rather forgettable.
The interior of the Fox feels solidly screwed together, and unlike most modern cars, the visibility is pretty good. Back seat space looked adequate (after all, a cheapo city car can only do so much, right?), and seems to be a decent companion for single boi/gal-about town. Dashboard is nice and easy to use, with a single multi-functional dial containing all the relevant information needed, rather remeniscient of the basic dash of the original Bug. Seats are chunky but feel rather hard and don’t really cosset, but what do you expect in an £8000 car? I also noted the backlights are no longer blue with red needles, but a more conventional white. I always liked the blue dials on VWs of not-so-long-ago, it injected a splash of pizzazz into their rather dull interiors. The Fox overall is a basic car, with manual mirrors and not much in the way of kit. As someone who enjoys driving cars rather than seeing them as a mechanical tools, less distractions to me are better. But some people like lots of toys to play with.
The 1.2 litre I3 engine is surprisingly noisy for a modern car. My 1.0 Corsa had a similar engine and even that wasn’t as loud inside as this. Press the accelerator hard on a B-road and a loud rasping fills the car, which sounds quite sporty (at a push, almost like a Porsche) but is coarse and wearing on A-roads or motorways. Not really great for a long journey. Other reviews have mentioned the 1.2 as being rather sluggish, yet, I found it to be quite a nippy little car. Not a patch on my 1.2 Nova, which had the same engine size and same power output, but was much lighter in weight. However, it may have only felt spritely because anything, to be honest is an upgrade from the downright gutless 1.0 Vauxhall EcoTec unit in my previous car. Handling-wise, the Fox is safe and stable, but doesn’t encourage enthusiastic driving….it feels somewhat dull and uninspiring. Competent round bends, but not one for the keen driver.
My verdict:
Solid, cheap and cheerful urban runabout. Plenty of space inside and an easy-to get on with dash. Easy to drive and to park. On the downside, it lacks character and razzamatazz, along with a crude and noisy engine. Overall, although there are more fun options out there for the city, for the cheap price, it does the job.
Car tested: Volkswagen Urban Fox 1.2
Engine: 1198cc, three cylinders
Power/Torque: 54bhp @ 4750rpm / 78 lb ft @ 3000rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel/CO2: 46.2mpg (combined cycle)
Performance: 0-62mph: 17.5sec / Top speed: 92mph
Price: £8,000-8,500
Verdict: Decent car for the money, but not the most exciting. No Beetle, except for the copious engine noise.
Rating: 3/5
