Vauxhall Antara any good?

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DJGB

Mar 4, 2008
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Thinking of replacing my 57 reg Skoda Octavia Scout and have been offered a good deal against an 09 Vauxhall Antara 2.0 CDTi S. Are they any good?
Been looking at Freelander 2 and CRV, but cant fnd one at the right price and with decent miles on the clock.
Any ideas?
Cheers
DJGB
 
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mat1

Oct 6, 2008
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This is what i wrote on another popular caravan forum, hope it helps.

i have one !!!
mine is a 2009 cdtis auto.
had it since new (16 months) and with 13,000 miles on the clock the computer says 26.1 mpg average, more like +30 in real terms. no where near run in yet.
that covers towing (1300kgs) and all other driving.
yes the fuel consumption is heavier than i would like but i personally find it acceptable for the size, but each to their own.

i have no loyalty to any manufacturer but i have been very pleased with this car, and without putting the kiss of death on things, i have had no problems.

i have often wondered why vauxhall never pushed this car.
the answer from marketing was simple, we have to push and launch the new astra, we will then concentrate on the new antara.

in towing terms i feel the following tick the boxes
320 nm @ 2000rpm
150 bhp
1967 kg in mass kerb weight
1700 kg max tow for auto (2000 kg manual) 1700 being 87%, guess this covers about 95% of mainstream caravans.
80 kg nose weight
self leveling rear suspension
inteligent 4wd
hill decent
short rear overhang
big flat top mirrors, ideal for fitting the towing ones to and added rear view
selection of fixed, swan or detach towbars (all without bumper cut or effecting the rear parking sensors)

i find it a very capable tow car, stable and sure footed, in fact i like it more than my previous car (disco td5 auto) for towing, it just feels "better".
i like the manual selection on the auto which i use when towing, the cabin fit and general up market feel.
i would like the nose weigh to be more say 100kg, and i do think it would certainly benefit from a 2.2l engine. if i was being picky i would also like the steering to be a little heavier too.

i would not rule out this vehicle in its present, form or new version.

i honestly think that vauxhall have been very shy in putting this to market after the fontera, and with the new version maybe they will be less so.

Just to add i have seen the towing specs for the new version and they are identical.
Shame as with the new more powerful engine i thought they may have pushed the boundries a little.
Still i certainly give it my thumbs up, and i find more people on site coming over for a chat about it than "other common brands."

Mat
 
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DJGB

Mar 4, 2008
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Thanks for the reply Mat.
I know the fuel economy wont be as good as some cars, but what can you expect with a heavy car.
Any way too late now, take delivery (hopefully) on Saturday of a manual Antara CDTi S.
Thanks
djgb
 
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mat1

Oct 6, 2008
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DJGB

I will be very interested to hear your views, both driving solo and when towing.

Mat
 
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forestgump

Jul 1, 2009
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Not had one bumped into a chapp in i ,o ,w he had a bmw and aked me if my hyundia was any good.Yes i said he told me he had a vauxhall like you are on about and he took it back because the fule compsumption was very bad and it could not pull his van up a hill.(this not my opinion) just some one i bumped into.
 
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DJGB

Mar 4, 2008
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Picked the car up on Friday - a week late due to the number plate transfer taking longer than expected. Drove from the garage at 3:50pm, drove 8 miles home, hitched up and went away for the weekend - all 3 miles of it. Towed well on the short drive. This weekend more of a challenge, 40+ mile tow.
Solo to and from work averaged 35 mpg, better than expected. comfortable ride and easy to use gearbox. Like the front & rear parking sensors that can be turned off.
So for, so good.
djgb
 
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DJGB

Mar 4, 2008
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Gave the Antara more of a challenge this week. Took the caravan to Eden Camp near Malton for the weekend, a run of 46 miles from home. As anyone who has ever been to Scarborough via the A64 will know, the hill at Whitwell-on-the-Hill can be a tough test going up if you get the wrong gear and dangerous going down if your not careful. The Antara towed perfectly - don't know what the person on the Isle of Wight was thinking, my Antara has no problem with hills! The Coachman was stable and was not effected by the wind that was blowing, it in fact we couldn't believe how windy it was when we got out of the car. Towing was soomth, possibly to do with the self leveling suspension, and the economy averaged 24mpg, not bad for the weight.
Solo to work managed to get around 35-36mpg, even managed 39.7mpg on one trip (may be one day I'll get over 40mpg). Having to get used to the smaller boot and people asking "what is it?" or "I didn't know Vauxhall make a 4x4", Vauxhall obviously don't have a large marketing budget for the Antara, however on Sunday saw two other in a supermarket car park - could this be the largest ever gathering of Antara's.
The Antara may not be the most fashionable of 4x4's or well known, but it seams to tow well, an that's what it was bought for.
Cheers
djgb
 
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mat1

Oct 6, 2008
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DJGB,

Just for a while i had got to thinking that i was the only person ever to rate the Antara.
Thank you !!
Maybe between us we can open the eyes of others .......

Mine is to be called on to do the France trip in August, that will be +1000 miles of towing.
Bring it on.

Mat
 
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DJGB

Mar 4, 2008
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Hi Mat
Thanks for the offer, don't have a need for a dog guard at the moment though.
Maybe there's some other Antaraists (if that's what you call an Antara owner) out there.
Cheers
DJGB
 
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Lord Braykewynde

Jan 19, 2008
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To be honest I'd never heard of it and had to look at Google images to see what it looked like. I saw my first one yesterday in a Morrisons car park.
Hope it all goes well for you both. I've got a Sorento and I could do with rear parking sensors.
 
Dustydog

Dustydog

Jun 20, 2005
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Lord Braykewynde said:
To be honest I'd never heard of it and had to look at Google images to see what it looked like. I saw my first one yesterday in a Morrisons car park.
Hope it all goes well for you both. I've got a Sorento and I could do with rear parking sensors.
Click to expand...
LB
I fitted a set years ago back and front. Wouldn't be without them. Takes about a saturday morning at most . Bumpers must come off, quite easy.
See http://www.tradingdirect.co.uk/Parking-Sensors-and-Aids/Reverse-Parking-Sensors/c911.aspx
My son got a colour coded set last year. Very pleased.
smiley-cool.gif
 
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SteMo

Jun 5, 2011
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Hi Matt I take deliverey of new se in a few weeks at mo its on its way from Korea.Have you still got the dog guard as we would be very interested thanks.Steve
 
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mat1

Oct 6, 2008
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Steve,
Two weeks too late unfortunately.
We have bought a dog, so it is now fitted to the Antara.
Got mine from here http://www.travall.co.uk/dog_guards/vauxhall/antara__2007-on_1/tdg1076.html
Very impressed with its ease of fit and security.
If you do get one from here, then a tip. Attach the retaining hooks to the lash points on the back of the seats instead of the ones on the boot floor. A much better and secure fit. If like me you will get a full boot liner which will need to be cut if you attach to the floor, unlike the seats.

Mat
 
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DJGB

Mar 4, 2008
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Hi All
After 2400 miles took the Antara back to the dealers today - and left it there - having owned the car less than 3 months. The dealer is giving me some money back due to errors made by the sales team (the car had more owners than they advised, messed up the finance) and poor prep of the car on delivery (CD not working, washers not working) and when car went to have steering shudder looked at, wheel nuts loose on one wheel, one nut came off in my hand, all other finger tight.
Lost complete faith in the car and the service from the main Vauxhall dealer in the area. Was at the garage over 6 hours yesterday trying to sort out the problem, the final staw was a 'favourable' deal against an ex-rental Insignia the 42000 miles on the clock, and the service manager said Vauxhall did not know what the shudder was, but to try to change the front bushes to see if that helps. Decided to take the offer of a cheque and buy elsewhere, apparantly I have the only car in Europe where the steering shudders going down hill between 62-70mph.
Dont get me wrong and think I bought the wrong car, I liked the Antara, it's just I lost all confidence in the quality and safety of the service provided and could not face having to go back to the dealer week after week to try and fix the problems, and I was still told the wrong infromation about the number of previous owners.
Anyway, take delivery of a low milage Mondeo TDCi on Wednesday from a nice Ford dealer, towbar due to be fitted on Thursday.
It's been a traumatic time and it feels strange not having my own car, first time this has happend since I was 17.
Thanks
DJGB
ps, if anyone is interested in a 4 owner, 2 year old manual Antara CDTi S (in silver) I know where there is one for sale!
 
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