[Isaac Hunt]

Hiya folks,

I`ve been pretty quiet of late for a few reasons, not least of which being that I`ve been chipping away at Vauxhall again, right from Dealership level, to Vauxhall Customer Assistance etc, regarding my 2 x major gripes with my Antara, these being the DPF, (surprise, surprise), and the still annoying "Crunchy" Gearbox, and excessive noise from the Transmission, especially from cold. To cut a long story short, I`ve got nowhere at all, one particularly "pleasant" person at Vauxhall "Customer Assist", actually saying that if I`m that unhappy with my car, and seeing that it`s a Motability Vehicle, just ask them for a change !!. (In other words "stop bugging us, as we don`t want to know mate" !!). This wasn`t exactly the answer and/or attitude I was looking for from Vauxhall, so, and after another 2 x DPF Regen`s in just under 400 miles, I decided to throw in the towel, and have now contacted Motability, explained my situation, (and my disgust with Vauxhall), and they have authorised a change of vehicle on the scheme. I`ve had to pay a £250.00 "Cancellation Fee" on the Antara, which I wasn`t over the moon about, and face another "Upfront Payment" on a replacement car, but I think that in the long run, it`s the way to go. I`ve also decided to go back to Petrol, as opposed to Diesel, as after speaking to a number of Manufacturer`s, it`s obvious that these DPF issues apply across the board, and affect all newer cars with a DPF fitted, so that`s that for me with Diesel. It`s interesting that a number of Motabilty Staff in Dealership`s that I have spoken too, are now telling Customers NOT to consider a Diesel car, unless they are doing at least 15k miles p/year, and plenty of long Motorway, or similar runs, so it`s odds on that complaints have been coming in thick and fast, from previously unwary Customers.

Earlier today, I went over to Brindley Mazda in Wolverhampton, and gave the Mazda CX5 "Sport Nav" 165bhp Petrol a good going over.

http://www.mazda.co.uk/cars/mazda-c...KS Brand CX5&gclid=CN_ZmcLtyrgCFcjKtAodBnwAsg

It`s a cracking car, and VERY hard to find fault with. I had already researched it as much as I could on `tinternet, and it`s won awards galore, and also has a What Car 5 star Rating. It looks very much as if this will be the one for me now. I want to stick with an SUV, for Physical Health Reasons, and the access/egress on the CX5 is fantastic compared to the Antara. I will most likely be placing an order for an all Black car, within the next 24 Hours by the looks of things, so it seems like the end of the road for my Antara. To be honest, I think it`s a real shame, as the Antara could have been so much better, if Vauxhall had just made that extra bit of effort with the location of the DPF in the Exhaust System, and Regen Procedure/ECU Programming etc, and other issues such as the "Crunchy/Noisy" Manual Gearbox on my car, (which could be something as simple as the incorrect Viscosity of G/Box Oil), but it wasn`t to be, and Vauxhall`s attitude in attempting to make out that the car is nothing but perfect, as well as their unwillingness to assist in any way, hasn`t helped either.

Even if I should decide not to go down the Mazda CX5 route for any reason, I`ll be changing my Antara whatever happens. So, adios Amigos, it`s been really nice being involved with you all on here, and I wish you all the very best of Health, Wealth & Happiness for the future, as well as nothing but good fortune with your respective Antara`s !!.

 

[Inchindown]

Good luck with what ever you choose.

 

[Isaac Hunt]

Thanks Inchy.

I forgot to say in my first post, that I will be selling my JSG Chrome Side Bars if I get rid of my Antara. They are only 4/5 Months old, and guaranteed to fit, as they have obviously already been on my car, and the n/side rear bracket has had the slight modification required for a direct fit.

Let me know if you are interested, but it may have to be collection only, (WS10), or arrange your own Courier, as these things are heavy !!.

 

[Grumps]

All the best Isaac. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on with your new car whatever it might be.

 

[♠ChumBucket♠]

We easily do 15k per year & virtually all our miles are on motorway, dual carriageway & rural with no city stop/start driving AND we've just had 3 regens within 200 miles!!!!

You have to ask the question of Vauxhall as to why they fitted a stop/start system to the Antara if they suggest (as they seem to do) that the vehicle is not suitable for city driving???

 

[Inchindown]

We easily do 15k per year & virtually all our miles are on motorway, dual carriageway & rural with no city stop/start driving AND we've just had 3 regens within 200 miles!!!!

You have to ask the question of Vauxhall as to why they fitted a stop/start system to the Antara if they suggest (as they seem to do) that the vehicle is not suitable for city driving???

Are you sure you have had 3 complete regens in 200 miles and not just the same regen restarting because you didn't finish it in one go?

I'm struggling to understand why some people are having such trouble with the DPF when I, and others, seem to have very few problems with it and only have a regen every 500+ miles.

 

[♠ChumBucket♠]

We easily do 15k per year & virtually all our miles are on motorway, dual carriageway & rural with no city stop/start driving AND we've just had 3 regens within 200 miles!!!!

You have to ask the question of Vauxhall as to why they fitted a stop/start system to the Antara if they suggest (as they seem to do) that the vehicle is not suitable for city driving???

Are you sure you have had 3 complete regens in 200 miles and not just the same regen restarting because you didn't finish it in one go?

I'm struggling to understand why some people are having such trouble with the DPF when I, and others, seem to have very few problems with it and only have a regen every 500+ miles.

Yep, everyone finished in one go. Two were on the motorway & the third on a rural 20 mile drive.


Up to this point they had been approx 500 miles apart. I've set the trip meter to zero on the last one & I'm now going to monitor them down to the mile. I'm hoping this is just a blip (wishful thinking I know). 500 mile intervals is bad enough but anything less is unacceptable IMO. It's not the regen, it's the amount of fuel it drinks for 20 minutes while it's doing it!!

 

[Isaac Hunt]

I`m afraid that there seems no logic at all to the frequency of Regen`s on the Antara. If mine was going into Regen every 500 miles or so, I could just about live with that, although still not entirely happy with the system. But Chum Bucket`s circumstances simply highlight the fact that these cars just seem to have a mind of their own, which I personally find totally unacceptable, especially given the Technology available in this day and age. In one of the conversations I had with Vauxhall Customer Assistance, I was told that the Antara was "programmed" via the ECU, to Regen every 310 miles, which is a ridiculously short distance, especially if you are covering quite a high mileage, most of which is on Motorways, and other fast A Roads etc. My Motability rep also told me that the Antara had been withdrawn from the Scheme, due it`s unsuitability for low/average mileage "every day" urban driving, and the amount of complaints received from Motability Customers. (So the car is actually unfit for purpose). Even so, and obviously having been inundated with complaints, Vauxhall still refuse to admit that there is a problem, which again, I find disgraceful. I`m even more sure now that I`m doing the right thing by changing my car, and going back to a Petrol Engine, with no DPF, etc, etc. Peace of mind is priceless sometimes !!.

Just a thought, but why don't some of you get together, and contact Watchdog at the BBC, and see what they have to say if they decide to speak to Vauxhall ??!!. Edited by: Isaac Hunt

 

[Isaac Hunt]

All the best Isaac. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on with your new car whatever it might be.

Thanks Grumps, I`ll be sure to do that pal.

 

[piddy]

I have had enough of mine as well and Vauxhall are a total disgrace and of no help at all. Customer services is staffed by idiots

Mine goes for part ex in September

 

[Johnno55]

Think I will be doing the same, the car is ok a good mile muncher but not economical, the lifetime warranty is only as good as the dealerships who from many visits are useless, the depreciation terrible, so in general I would not touch Vauxhall again, the FACTS are there, the last time I took my car back to the dealer it was returned to me in a worse condition than when it went in, but the manager told me to live with it! I fixed the defect myself in 3 hours,the dealer had my car for 6 days but made it worse, joke dealerships don't know there product, don't care....

 

[piddy]

I have to laugh really as a friend of mine warned me not to get involved with Vauxhall

He had a lot of problems a couple of years back and could get no help at all

Taking into account the manufacturers I have dealt with before ( Mercedes, Jaguar, Ford, BMW, Toyota ) I have never experienced anything like this before..truly appalling

 

[Inchindown]

I have to laugh really as a friend of mine warned me not to get involved with Vauxhall

He had a lot of problems a couple of years back and could get no help at all

Taking into account the manufacturers I have dealt with before ( Mercedes, Jaguar, Ford, BMW, Toyota ) I have never experienced anything like this before..truly appalling

If you go to any forum of any manufacturer you will find a few people who seem to have insurmountable problems with their cars, the dealers or the manufacturers themselves. It's just a fact of life that forums attract people with problems looking for help. It doesn't necessarily mean any one manufacturer is worse than any other.

I, for one, have never had any major problems, (so far), with any of the Vauxhall cars I've had. Five out of the last seven cars I've had have been Vauxhalls. The previous ones were a Cavalier,a Vectra Estateand two Astra Estates. The other two were a Ford focus estate and a Volvo XC70. It may be a surprise but the Volvo was the absolute worst car out of all of them and was plagued by problems that required the car to be constantly in an out of the garage for repair.

So while I have sympathy for those who are not happy with their cars, it's worth pointing out that there are lots of people who are not having problems.

 

[♠ChumBucket♠]

Good point. I have had no problems with ours apart from this recent issue with the DPF. Apart from that, I can't fault it to be honest.

IF, the DPF becomes an issue for me AND Vauxhall don't help I will do two things-


1. Take legal action to try & force Vauxhall's hand (we have insurance which will cover this)


2. Have the car chipped/re-mapped etc & cure it that way.


Hopefully, neither will be necessary though.

 

[davidb]

Hi Isaac
I hope all works out for you and that your change of car is better than the one you had all the issues with, take care and keep us all posted on how you get on.

 

[piddy]

You must also take into account that there are many people who rose tinted glasses and are frightened to admit they have bought a bad vehicle.

Plus also take into account the people who wouldn't know the difference between a bad car and good car. I have a very good friend who claims he puts fuel in and drives his car and that's it, he doesn't do bonnet lifting or anything else as he has no interest other than driving

 

[Inchindown]

You must also take into account that there are many people who rose tinted glasses and are frightened to admit they have bought a bad vehicle.

Plus also take into account the people who wouldn't know the difference between a bad car and good car. I have a very good friend who claims he puts fuel in and drives his car and that's it, he doesn't do bonnet lifting or anything else as he has no interest other than driving

That's an interesting observation.

So because you are unhappy with your car, everybody else must be lying about being happy with theirs,because they are scared to admit they bought a bad car?

I've never heard such aidiotic remark in my whole life.

If you're unhappy with your car, do something about it. There's no need to try to do the rest of us down just because you're having problems with your car.

 

[JR123]

.Edited by: JR123

 

[fjaimo10]

i think what piddy is saying is that the antara is known in the trade as a bad car the branch manager at my local vx dealer is currently sorting ours out and looking at a swap due to all the problems we have with car and he said youd be better in an insignia the antara is vx worst car and he wont drive one even as a company car when his demo was sold he could of took the demo antara home which is 35 miles away and he took the 1.0 litre 12v corsa instead as he wudnt drive the anatara what does that say

 

[Grumps]

You must also take into account that there are many people who rose tinted glasses and are frightened to admit they have bought a bad vehicle.

Plus also take into account the people who wouldn't know the difference between a bad car and good car. I have a very good friend who claims he puts fuel in and drives his car and that's it, he doesn't do bonnet lifting or anything else as he has no interest other than driving

Oh dear think about what your saying. I have to agree with Inchindown on this and not because I think the Antara is the best car in the world etc because its not but personally I have had my Antara for 18 months now I use it every day, it ,mosftly does city driving during the week and I treat it no different to any other car and in that time I have had no problems. Much the same as I did with my previous Zafira.

If I had issues I would be the first to complain. I agree most Vauxhall dealers are crap but then again I have had many makes of cars and find most dealers are not that good in general. I have also had many makes of car some good some bad but I have to say the Antara is one of the better ones. Like a few people on here I actually did my homework and tested all the competition befores I bought my Antara so I knew what to expect.

Some people on here have are now on their second Antara they loved the first one so much.

Unfortunately some people get a bad car or they buy something that doesn't suite their needs but that could happen to anyone and any make of car just pop onto any car forum that includes the high end brands and their will be plenty people having dealer and car issues.

It's a car that's what happens now and again unfortunately.

Can we keep this thread running without it turning into an argument please post your points and leave it at that without it ending up a 20 page argument and people end up getting stressed over nothing.