1996 Opel Kadett 160is review from South Africa
"Good, fuss free motoring"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I had to replace a rather tired coolant pipe connecting the radiator to the engine block.
Changed the thermostat as the engine never reached normal operating temperature.
General comments?
Treated it to an engine oil change and have had many kilometers of trouble free driving.
Great interior ergonomics and comfy seats! I would really like aircon though as it gets hot in the S. A summer.
Lack of power steering only becomes a problem when at parking speeds.
The 1.6 engine is really good for its size-nice low torque peak gives a 0-100kph time of about 10.5 seconds. Very easy to wheel-spin!
Cruises nicely on the highway-140kph at 4000rpm gives good economy.
Handling feels a bit blunt after my GTI 16v-but still good fun to chuck around suburban roads. Just be careful!
Overall a nice car to drive and cheap to maintain-interior holds a lot of stuff and the boot can pack an entire PA system.
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| 1990 - Kadett Beauty 5 door 1,4i A good bloke |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 111500 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 116240 kilometres |
| Previous car | Volkswagen GTI |
| Date of Entry | 5th November, 2004 |