Vauxhall Nova Hatchback 1.4 Flair 3d (1991/J) Owner Review
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Economy
Costs
Went through an expensive patch at around 70,000 miles. Cheap motoring either side of that.
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On the road
Driving
Basic fun. Neutral, nimble handling at speed. A bit heavy around car parks. Responsive, positive gearbox. Very firm ride but never rattled my teeth. The brakes were the only weak point.
Performance
Bags of acceleration at 'fast mororway speeds', and quick from a standing start, too. Gotta love that S Engine hidden behind the Flair paintwork.
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Living with it
Reliability
Only let me down once in six years. A bit grumpy on cold, wet mornings, though, for first 200 metres.
Image
Max Power readers kept challenging me for traffic light Grand Prixs.
Comfort
Perfect drivers position and seat. Firm ride gets wearing long distance on bad roads.
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Security and Service
Security
Not broken into once, despite only the standard locks.
Service
Shoddy and overpriced. Only company or new cars welcomed.
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Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
Cylinder head gasket at 70,000. Sweet as a nut until then.
Other
Lights on minor dashboard controls liable to blow.
Ownership
Did you buy the car new?
Used
Would you buy the same model again?
No
Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?
No