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Vauxhall Corsa (1993 – 2000) Review

Vauxhall Corsa (1993 – 2000) At A Glance

3/5

+Simple, practical supermini. Good engines. Cheap to buy and run. Generally reliable. Plenty of choice.

-Unremarkable drive. Premature wear on the front suspension.

We witnessed the beginnings of Britpop, played Doom on our PCs and went to see Jurassic Park at the cinema... 1993 was quite the year. It was also when Vauxhall decided to drop the Nova name and give us the Corsa.

A range of petrol or diesels were available, and the car even got a rather snazzy advertising campaign where it got more looks than the supermodels who were appearing with it.

Sadly, it couldn't have been further from the truth. The Corsa B is perhaps best known for its sterling work in the courtesy car sector - beloved of bodyshops, franchised dealers and car rental companies all over the UK.

These days though, it's having a bit of a second wind as younger enthusiasts discover the joys of Corsa motoring (and that four-speed automatic). If only we'd been lucky enough to get the saloon version...

Ask Honest John

How can I keep an old cheap car going?

"My runabout is a 26 year-old Corsa, approaching a genuine 60K. I bought it for £240 8 years ago from an old chap who had started to bump into other cars while parking and decided to give up driving. Since owning it, it has passed all its MoTs and I have had to replace only the battery and handbrake cable. How can I best keep it going? Incidentally, I thought it was essentially worthless, but renewing by insurance showed this is not necessarily the case."
For many car owners this is the dream scenario - a very cheap but sturdy vehicle that does everything you need it to and costs very little to maintain. Given that you have more than had £240s worth of use out of it already, some preventative measures will help keep it going for years to come. Regular servicing is key - as an older car it will be much easier to service yourself and if you can perform your own oil changes then doing so every 6000 to 8000 miles will help to increase its lifespan. If you have not done so already then a cambelt change is probably overdue - this is a more expensive job but essential. A car of this age is more prone to rust, so thorough cleaning - particularly the underside - and using a protectant such as Waxoyl or Lanoguard will help keep the rot at bay.
Answered by David Ross

How much is my Vauxhall Corsa Cabriolet worth?

"I own a Vauxhall Corsa Cabriolet with 75k on the clock and 2 owners, I wish to sell it. How is the best way to get a good valuation?"
It is quite difficult to provide a valuation for a car such as this, as the value is determined by what a buyer is prepared to pay for it, because much of the used car trade are only interested in newer vehicles. in addition, the Corsa Cabriolet is a rare car, so it is difficult to compare with other examples for sale. One option would be to take the car to auction or use an online auction site so you can set a reserve price. This way you can gauge interest for the vehicle and avoid the car being sold for less than you are prepared to let it go for.
Answered by David Ross
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