2000 Vauxhall Tigra from UK and Ireland - Comments

Sump Gasket had to be replaced 2 times, second time after the car filled with smoke!

Head gasket blew at approximately 44,000 miles! Plus timing belt and brake pad change at a cost of £375!

I had wanted a Tigra since I saw one and finally, at the beginning of November 2004, I bought one. 7 months on, I am slightly, just slightly disappointed with mechanical problems.

Within the first 2 weeks the car had to be driven back to the dealer I had bought it from as there was a very strong smell of oil coming from the engine - to me, alarms were ringing! I was told the sump gasket had gone and this was fixed under warranty.

Approximately 3 weeks later, still slightly smelling of oil (I thought that this would be oil spilt on the engine that was burning) the car filled with smoke. I immediately pulled over. Again, the sum gasket had gone, had to go back to the dealer, and was once again corrected under warranty.

I have had no problems with this since.

Though, within the last month, my head gasket has blown at just over 44,000 miles on the car and the timing belt replaced.

Also, some careless driver, who admitted was not looking where they were going reversed into my driver side door and dented it 'nicely' (A job well done). I was not impressed, but I am lucky, as the person waited for me to return to my car and passed on their insurance details. The estimate for repair for a new door, labour and painting is some £679.

I have been on to them several times, but I am still waiting to hear whether I can go ahead with the repair from persons insurance. This incident happened on the 23rd of April!

These are all major problems I have encountered.

There are a few minor interior problems, but nothing is of a huge concern to me. The Air conditioning/temperature dial lights do not work and haven't since I bought the car (I bought the car second hand).

Also there are no little neat pockets to hold anything. The glove box can only just hold a packet of sweets and the drawer under the passenger seat, if you know you've got one, took me 2 months to discover it, only just holds my manuals and papers for the car!

The seat belts do not fully pull themselves back in, I either do it myself or they get jammed in the doors, scratching the inside of the door frame.

I also find it not very economical, I find fuel consumption quite high, but this just may be me!

The good points are that I am surprised at the room inside, my seat, the driver's seat, has plenty of room. I do get complaints about the back, but hey, I don't need to sit there!

The boot (or back of car separated by plastic-that's basically all it is) is also quite roomy, but back end is high, need to reach over entrance of boot to put things in neatly.

Any one else also notice that the passenger window opens when boot is closed?

I also find it to be a comfortable ride; I can commute for up to 2 hours a day for necessary trips without any problems.

I also love the attention it brings. It definitely turns heads. And you also don't tend to see many Tigra's about, until you own one! (Any one else get that problem?)

The interior is also lined in Grey, all matching, which is nice.

I do feel a little jinxed with my Tigra, having only owned it for 7 months and having to have the gasket's fixed 3 times, and a non-functioning door (climbing over the passenger seat could become a habit of mine if it goes on any longer), but with it being such a good looker I don't think I could be mad for long. Do think I'd buy another, I'd just hope it would be problem free! We can all hope!

I bought my Tigra one month ago. I drove it 14 miles home and it died on my drive way. I got out the car and petrol started pouring out of the air filter! my brand new car was emptying the contents of its petrol tank on my driveway!

I booked it into a garage to be repaired and it took two weeks to discover that the problem was a bad earth, they fixed it and gave it back to me.

I have now been driving it for just under two weeks and the car now keeps over heating and last night I have had to book it into the garage again as now the head gasket has gone!

It has been a nightmare, but I love the car so what do I do.

Your comment about the passenger window is very true! Mine does that two, very strange!!!

The passenger window is designed to open slightly when you close the boot. I think this feature was added for Tigras built 1997 onwards as there have been reports of windows blowing out when the boot is shut due to sudden air pressure built up inside the car because of the huge wrap around rear window, and insurance companies refused to pay for repairs.

Here is a quote from the 1998 Models Edition Number 1 brochure:

...the distinctive yet functional tailgate, opening high and wide to reveal plenty of room for all your gear (and aided by a 'smart' passenger window which dips slightly to assist closing).

I am surprised at the amount of Tigra owners who did not know this and I have even read one posting on the net from a Tigra owner who took it to a Vauxhall garage for the window to be "fixed" so it doesn't drop down when the boots opens!

Nik

Not a Tigra owner yet : (

I had to laugh when I read the comments about the passenger window. I thought every Tigra owner would have noticed it? It's a great touch to a brilliant car.

I've had mine for about six weeks now after falling in love with them when they came out. I'm slightly disappointed with the handling, as my previous car (a rare Astra Si 3 door) had fully tweaked Apex suspension, 205/55 tyres and a -60mm drop. Until I do the same to my Tigra I shouldn't really compare them.

Mine just had its 1st warranty repair today... the AGR valve went, a common fault on Vauxhall's X series engines. Other than that, and the fact the car isn't as fast as I expected it to be (i thought the X16XE would be a tad nippier) I'm 110% satisfied. Especially with the much faulted customer service. Mine broke today, its all fixed on warranty and now back on my driveway. top work, and a great car.

On getting my new tigra it has already been in the garage twice and as I am writing this article my tigra once again is in the garage.One week after getting this car the steering went hard and after returning it to vauxhall and was told there was no problem I drove the car home and decided to take it for a second opinion at another vauxhall dealer.After this car being in for 1 week it came out with a new steering colum and a bill of £924.00 lucky this was under warranty. Once again this car is back in the garage now with sweeking brakes when in reverse and the roof does not open due to the clip on the folding boot compartment not inserting in properly.Apart from these problems the look of it is great and people love it.

I bought a Tigra 4 yrs ago and have had numerous problems from timing belt needing to be replaced twice and the egr? valve has packed up 3 times whereby the engine management light comes on and I cannot drive the car at all, it cuts out basically.

As far as I am aware the passenger window is supposed to open when the boot is closed so as to let the air pressure in the car lower so that when you shut the boot the windows do not get blown out (that's what an engineer told me anyhow).

They are lovely cars, real nice to drive long or short distances in, but can be really problematic when it comes to mechanical issues which in turn cost a fortune...

I have owned my Tigra for about two years now. I must admit I bought it because of its looks!

I have read all the above comments and can relate to them all! My first problem was the cam belt which I had replaced and then the water pump went. I have had so many problems and they never seem to end.

Two months ago I had to get a new clutch. At the moment I need to get the tensioner changed on the alternator belt. I also have another noise which I believe is the wheel bearing... great yet more money!

I'm sick and tired, more to the point disappointed with my car. Oh yes also the lights for air con/temperature controls do not work either.

I have also found that the car leaks in water from the roof/boot so when it's been raining heavily I get a nice wet ceiling.

Although my latest problem is probably the best... the speedometer doesn’t work properly. I could be waiting at traffic lights and it will go between 0-30mph while I'm at a standstill!

I do love the car, but I've had enough!

What would you say a reasonable price for a head gasket change would be for a Tigra?

Our Tigra was taken to the local Vauxhall dealership because it dumped most of its coolant into the usual places it goes when the head gasket blows, the car was driven into the dealership after being filled with coolant, which it seemed to hold without further overheating. On being told the symptoms of the fault they booked it in for a head gasket change. They said they would need the car for a week because the head would need to be sent away for testing and would cost about £800.

They then said, a few days later they were behind with their work and needed the car for longer. We told them that this was not acceptable they then later got back to us and said they thought the head was OK and did not need to be sent away and just needed a gasket change and of course oil and filter (and regas the air com system?)

Oh and a tooth belt replacement at £86.

With VAT on top of that lot (£624 for labour) we paid a whopping £988.

To add insult to injury they have printed on the invoice ‘It is best practice that cambelts are replaced at 40k or 4 years please ask at reception for more details’

I have a 1.6I 1997 model tigra. I brought it about two months ago. Last week the sunroof jammed, with help I got it to close (been quoted £520+vat to repair) So I think might just try and get a whole sunroof of a salvage tigra. Then a couple of days ago I noticed that the speedometer has stopped working and ocasionaly the engine managment light comes on. Although the same day I had it jet washed, a friend mentioned something about knocking off the sensor cable. We have took out the dial and it is not connected to anything so can't work out how it is connected? any ideas as to how can fix it?

----> HI. I have had my Tigra since January 2005.

Problems so far... New Thermostat (£150), Head Gasket (£850), Replacement Speedometer drive (£160), Disc & Brake pads (£209 - each time, this has happened 3 times) - Maybe I brake to hard?! I have always taken the car to Vauxhall Garages, so you assume you would get a honest, reliable service, unfortunately not. When the head gasket was done, one week later (October 2005) the speedo went, I was told that the gasket work could have caused it? This was repaired last year. Well, YESTERDAY the speedometer stopped working again and the orange light (management/electrics?) keeps coming on and cutting out the car. All repair work was not in the warranty period with the Garage or Vauxhall (Vauxhall work covers for 3 months or 3000 miles - whichever happens 1st) - lucky me, so wondered if anyone knows whether they were originally responsible, or if there is anything else that can be checked?

Help on what to do would be lovely.

I love the car and it came with front tints, that match the rear window, and I now have matching blue interior, dash and controls so there is NO WAY I would sell!

Jamming sunroof!!! How can you close it?? Weather is getting worse!!!

Hi Tigra Lovers.

Well I got my Tigra about 5 years ago... I really Love this car..so sporty so Nice... But I Faced some problems with it... The main Problem which makes me mad...When the ORANGE bulb lights on (Management /electric) then The engine Cuts Off : (I really hate when that happens... so Plz if anyone here got this problem or like to be a friend add me on Msn : khaliddd132@hotmail.com...would like to talk about tigra cars with PPL who really love it.

HI THERE 4,3,2007.

Hi I brought my tigra in october 2005 1.6 modle 99 reg.

I liked the car when it first came out but didn't think I would

own one. Anyway, for looks it is great, but then there is the problems that come with it. Luckily my clutch went so I took it to the garage to be fixed, they did it, everything was fine, but then the problem came back so I took it back and they adjusted the clutch cable, but this happened 3 times, so I said to change the clutch. It happened to be that they had put the clutch cable in wrong in the first place, but did I get a sorry?? No, I got you can have your oil and filter changed after I moaned to the general manager.

Then afterwards, I had a few noises and now the head gasket has gone it must be only for tigra owners anyway chat soon.

Just to clarify about the dipping of the window to assist with boot closing... The size of the boot lid is so vast compared to the size of the cabin that the air pressure increase will cause the boot to need to be really slammed for the lock to engage, so the window opens so the air can escape so that you do not need to slam the tail gate. This was a problem with early Tigras which did not have this function and was quickly fixed with the dipping window. Also it stops anyone who is sitting inside the car ears from popping like they do on a plane.

I had the problem with my speedometer not working... as your going along because your car thinks that it's not moving, but the engine and wheels are still running the car cuts out... well that's what I was told!

The engine managment used to come on then just cut out. I was going to have it plugged in, but luckily my dad knows what he's doing and came to the conlusion is was something to do with the speedo sensor. Any way that was still working and all that was required was a fautly fuse being replace for about 30pence! Still need to sort out my jammed sunroof though!

Well I am most disappointed with my Tigra.

I had always wanted one, but now I want to sell mine.

I leak water through the rear window when it rains heavily, leaving my rear seats drenched.

I experience the temp gauge rising to 100% when I hit a traffic queue etc - hasn't yet overheated, but sure will.

I have a terrible knocking from the exhaust - this is a general motor fault though.

Any ideas or chat:

bexster82@hotmail.co.uk

A friggin' oil leak (well its either my car or the other halfs hahahaha)

The driver's seatbelt doesn't extended out fully - takes me 15mins to get my seatbelt on after work - very annoying at times.

Fuel Comsumption well enough said there - its only a 1.6 16v not a 2.2!!!

I have had enough - just going to sell it, Tigra's aren't what I thought - nice shell - that's about it!!!