Just picked up my hire car from work this week, and joy oh joy its another Vauxhall Meriva

The only thing it has going for it is that is is slightly better than a Zafira, but only as it feels a little more like a car than a transit van.

The driving position is still appauling with ghastly A pillars that hamper your view of the road, there is a mass of textured black plastic with switches that look like they will break next time you use them, and the seat height adjustment is already broken (Its an '05 plate with 13k miles)

Its the 1.6 petrol version, and there is more go in a sick note, and I recon a good gust of wind could drag it accross the motorway no problem

Ive had loads of different cars as hire cars, and the only decent one Ive had recently from Vauxhall has been the Vectra, all their other new models just dont feel up to the job, with poor throttle response, gutless engines, saggy suspension (Even on the SRi Models) and boring interiors.

I got a Zafira a couple of months ago, the guy who had the keys noticed my depression on the phone when we spoke and suggested it was the "Sporty" SRi version. I collected the keys only to find it to be a diesel. I mean, how can a diesel zafira be sporty?!?!?!?

Rant over, lets see how long this Meriva lasts

Was that the Zafira we went to Demon Tweeks in ages ago? I've seen sportier things in a retirement home

Yeah, that was a Zafira

After I had the "Young" "Sporty" SXi 1.4 Corsa, I thought they couldnt get much worse, how wrong is was....

Funny thing is, the older Vauxhalls where quite good, but they seem to be uninventing the wheel, and going backwards

Have you tryed the new astra yet?

Not yet, but if its anything like the rest of the range, I dont expect much from it.

As for the Meriva, due to its breezeblock like aerodynamics, it used nearly a 1/4 tank coming back from work tonight, and it gets very blown about at anything over 70 on the motorways

i was impressed by the new vectra i got

Judging from last nights performance they could benefit from an LSD

Was that stuy that done a weather dance and it suddenly went foggy??????

That rain dance saw the end for the Meriva though....

Got in it this morning to come to work, and the ABS light was on, Airbag Light on, Speedo wasnt working, powersteering was heavy, and it kept cutting out - these new vauxhalls just aint up to the job.

Called them this morning, and its now been swapped though

I now have a 2.2 Auto Vectra - the only model they seem to have done a decent job with.

Oh well shit happens