1997 Vauxhall Frontera sport s review from UK and Ireland
"Relatively cheap and does what it says on the tin!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Untraced rattle (from front suspension?) that worsens with ambient temperature or distance driven.
Camshaft rattle at 1,800rpm (not hydraulic followers!) from 35,000m even with 3000m oil changes. Too expensive to get fixed so will live with it for now.
Indifferent handling & steering until corrected (transformed!) by o/all suspension check at dealers.
Dropping driver's door & even worse tailgate.
Tailgate handle much too flimsy!
General corrosion underneath (not good for well maintained road-use) & even corner of bonnet rusted through!
Leak from thermostat housing.
Poor road adhesion from noisy M&S standard tyres.
General comments?
After suspension re-set & tyre change handling is as good as anything in it's class.
26-31 mpg (20-24 towing 1.3t caravan) is regularly obtained at up to 60mph.But bit gutless once out of first.
Emissions unbelievably good (using Carbon-flow) zero PPM 0.05 C O2.
Rear drive means 4WD seldom required unless towing off-road, unlike most of the pose-mobiles (& I'ved towed off several).
Gear change ponderous & can be obstructive if rushed.
Maintenance is exhausting & difficult
for DIY without some special tools, frequent oil changes essential.
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| A great mid-range off-roader |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 2l petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 3 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 20100 miles |
| Most recent distance | 69000 miles |
| Previous car | Vauxhall Cavalier |
| Date of Entry | 4th February, 2006 |