Morris Minor Owners Club

1275 engines and Ford crossflow units are as we know are very sort after, Triumph 1500 engines are said too be heavy? so how about the Vauxhall Viva/ Chevette 1256 engine, should be good for 60-65 bhp with a little head work.

When did they stop making Vauxhall Viva/ Chevettes?
You need to give some consideration to spares availability.

Probably more Morris Minors on the road than Vauxhall Shove its

Vauxhalls were never any good (still aren't), so I'd forget it.

Is that a personal opinion or a fact?

Both, but mainly fact.

So - ALL Vauxhall engines are no good ?????????? Certainly not my experience - had several Company Vauxhalls - thrashed them mercilessly - they performed well and I never had the slightest problem with any of them...........

I don't think there is anything wrong with Vauxhall engines, long lived if anything.
The good old A series has the benefit of being produced for ages and having plenty of tuning potential.
Fiat engines are tough and have tuning potential as do Ford lumps.

If it's going to be a struggle to get a set of points, you'll regret the effort to fit another power supply.

A fact is a thing known to be true. Mainly a fact, is that possible?

A lot of my friends have Corsas. After only 60k miles, engine warning light permanently on, they guzzle oil and water, they are noisy, leak oil (totally inexcusable for a modern car), have extremely poor trim quality and generally give the impression of being complete s**te.

How many 20 year old Vauxhalls do you see? You'll see a damn sight more Japanese cars of the same age.

On motorway trips the vast majority of breakdowns I see are Vauxhalls. On the last count, from Hull to Oldham, 5 out of the 6 breakdowns were Vauxhalls. This I swear is Gospel truth.

More evidence:

Check out the failure rates under 'Manufacturer Results' here:

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/reliabi ... 011/258307

You would have to pay me to have a Vauxhall.

Next time you're on the motorway, observe the makes of car on the hard shoulder. I guarantee the majority of break downs will be Vauxhalls.

It might also be added that they attract a certain type of person as owner/drivers. This is what I have observed during my travels, and from working in a filling station/shop. This is the overwhelming impression I get; of course there are always exceptions.

Observe carefully when you're out and about the behaviour of drivers behind the wheel of different cars.

I will say your comments on Vauxhall drivers do reflect my experience also. I think it has something to do with the fat/bulky appearance of the larger models, it's an ego thing. Do you remember that ad '' demand respect'' ---doesn't that just sum it all up!

Yes - 'I demand respect otherwise I will drive 10 inches from your rear bumper' - that's the sort. I'm not intending to 'have a go' and stereotype Vauxhall owner/drivers here, but that is the overwhelming impression I have of them, compared to drivers of other makes.

Anyone had a bad experience with a diesel Vauxhall Astramax van?!

Faster than a speeding bullet!