1995 Opel Tigra XE 1.4 petrol from Greece
Summary:
A sleek little head turner
Faults:
Power locks failed, speedometer went dead, oil pump gasket blew, airbag problem, engine would switch off (even while driving!) due to fuel injection relay, recalled twice to change cam-belts and tensioner. all this in the first year and all covered by warranty. after that nothing for 2 years then secondary air injection blew, ripped it out no need for it. then all OK for another 4 years. this year (2004) cooling system problems, lines had to be replaced and the radiator cost 250 euro. vibrating brake pedal and steering column while braking changed front disk brakes and pads, but problem still insisted took it back to the dealer and got corrected (don't know how) cost 300 euro. leaks in tailgate when it rains hard. exhaust has been changed 3 times in all these years, have noticed a ticking sound lately coming from somewhere inside the dash board, but not very annoying.
General Comments:
The car is great, it still turns heads after all these years. road handling is very good suspension is a little tight, room in cabin is satisfactory. no noise from cabin, interior quality is very good. I have been very sentimentally attached to my tigra, even if I got a new car I would think twice about giving it away. I read about all the problems the tigra's have, but mine did not have that many, I have no sunroof or ABS or air conditioning.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th May, 2004
10th Jan 2018, 10:22
I have also had a Tigra since 1995. What I did was to replace the radiator for the A/C radiator model, which is bigger.
Your radiator is old and is maybe somehow blocked, so it's better to replace it.
I also run a cooler thermostat (begins to open at 82 degrees instead of 92). Now only when it is 35 degrees outside and with me driving like mad does it go above 90 degrees. Mine has 130bhp and can rev to 7500 RPM, so the engine produces a lot more heat.
30th Jul 2017, 07:15
I recently got a Tigra A 1995 and it was alright; pretty fast, and good until summer came and I can't exactly turn my head around what is making my car heat up. The fan is working and turning on when it goes up to 90 degrees, and the radiator was opened and didn't have any blockage, thermostat and coolant replaced, and then finally changed the water pump hoping it was the problem, which made the car take a bit longer for the temperature to go up. But after it hits 90 and the fan turns on, it keeps going up till almost 95 and plays between 93 and 95. I'd like to ask for help; maybe you can tell me what causes the problem!? It would be very helpful and appreciated.