Car Reviews: Opel Agila
For three weeks I had the pleasure of driving a car to a client. The good bit was, the car was provided by the employer. Not wanting to let this beautiful experience go to waste, I wrote up a little review.
Now first, some points to be made. Opel is a german car manufacturer, in Brittain distributed as Vauxhall, in Australia as Holden. I might be a bit harsh on the car, but nevertheless, remember it is a European car. Therefore, any complaints should be scaled to the European market. You can't really compare European, or Asian cars with American products. American cars are horrible pieces of bolts and metal with all the technological refinement of a broomstick. Non-American cars are by default much cleaner, safer and more economical with fuel.
Looks
As you can see, It's a minty shade of green! The car has a pretty high profile. This makes it very easy to find on the parking lot, and you can slide inside quite easily. This is excellent in the morning, when you haven't consumed enough coffee yet. The bonnet is pretty short, and the headlamps make it look like someone punched it in the face. It had really cute tiny wheels.
Usability
After the shock of the outer appearance of the car, you might raise another eyebrow over the interior. In complete contrast with the outside look, the interior is grey, with dark blue seats. After you get seated, It's pretty easy to figure out how it works. I could go on about the equipment, but there wasn't really any. There was a radio, a heater, a steering wheel, the usual buttons and dials, and a gearshifter (manual, of course, automatic is for Americans).
Experience
I was pleased to find out the car didn't have a diesel engine, like most lease cars. This gave the car some more power with its 1.2 litre engine (That's right, you actually can't shove a V8 in any piece of metal you see!).
The first time you drive it, it can be a bit confusing. At first you think "wow, a racy sound", but soon you discover it sounds more like a go-cart or a lawnmower. Still, combined with the extremely low weight of the car, the engine has enough power to let you pull away with plenty of wheelspin.
However, the screeching tires highlight another problem: the tires are to small, and don't deliver enough grip on the road surface, particulary in wet conditions. This results in dangerous amounts of oversteer, making the rear of the car try to break out in corners with speeds as low as 30km/h. If you don't know how to handle that, it can be a frightening experience.
Another problem entirely, is the car's image. It's a car mainly bought by old ladies (with those handling problems? Oh my, indeed). This results in dangerous situations on the highway. People react very differently to this car then, for example, a BMW 3 series. I drove a BMW 320 once, and you immediately notice everyone trying to get out of your way. Its battleship-like build quality might attribute some to that. The Agila, however, has the exact opposite effect. Everyone assumes the driver can't drive properly, and try to pass, or even cut you off at every opportunity. Best not to loose your nerve.
Overall
The Agila's engine is through its size pretty economical. The "In Car Entertainment" may be basic, the sound is actually pretty good. You have a pretty good view, and no real blindspots. The high driving position gives you a good view of the road, but the high profile of the car coupled with the low weight makes it very hard to drive at speeds above 120km/h, when experiencing windy conditions.
Conclusion
For the cost (free, or very low), the Agila is a fine car. I would suggest saving some more money though, and go for a VW Polo or a Ford Fiesta. You can get it in The Netherlands for 11000 Euro (which is too expensive, I might add).
– Hayo
Discussion
Rogier said: on 05 Oct 2005 16:12:16 That is one fugly car! :S
Hayo said: on 05 Oct 2005 16:14:14 Hah, you noticed that too! :D
Arie said: on 05 Oct 2005 20:05:36 I can't believe that the client actually took you seriously.
Charl van Niekerk said: on 06 Oct 2005 09:07:58
I absolutely despise cars with small wheels; I like power and control I guess. :)
By the way, do Americans actually manufacture cars? That should be illegal!
Rogier said: on 06 Oct 2005 13:38:21 The new Ford GT is stunningly beautiful though...
Hayo Bethlehem said: on 07 Oct 2005 10:45:15 Oh yeah. Though I hope you can afford the huge maintenance and fuel bill.
owen said: on 15 Oct 2005 00:29:04 the car is just too much of a chick car. can you get body kits for it? or lower it on some 16" rims? what is 11000 Euro in US?
mimi said: on 16 Oct 2005 06:57:41 Gosh... that's a car? Hey... save some money to buy a VW Golf... Golf is better... go for the Golf!
Hayo said: on 16 Oct 2005 11:32:04
Owen, I believe you can get bodykits for these cars. At least, I have seen pictures of "pimped" Agilas. Coverted to US Monopoly money, the car would be 13000 USD. But you have to account for every car being 4x more expensive then in the states.
Oh really Mimi? A golf? So you like golfs ey? ;-)
Jochem said: on 17 Oct 2005 15:14:59 You don't even have to save up for a fiesta, not really atleast. They start at €11,995 iirc, and with a 1.3i engine being the smallest they have, you'll have a lot more bang for your buck too. They're light, surprisingly spacious, and they're just little workhorses. Our Fiesta had run over 220,000 kilometers with the (older) 1.1i engine, and everything still ran perfectly. It wasn't slow, the steering was still tight, all the electronics still worked (and amazingly enough, it still had it's original set of clutch plates... X_X)
Hayo said: on 17 Oct 2005 15:18:45 Maybe we should dragrace it against my dad's Ford Focus 1.6, and the Fiesta 1.8diesel my brother and I use :)
Clint Eastwood said: on 12 Nov 2005 02:56:04 The car is awesome(not). I've got one. Handles like a trolly. Uncomforable. Boring. I'm ebarrased/laughed at. Ugly. What's worse is mine is mucus green. Well, it's not mine, but mum's.
Matt Robin said: on 24 Nov 2005 03:16:49
Opel/Vauxhall now make bodykits for their lawnmower range...it's called the Agila! :D
Dorky fact: The Agila might look quite new - but it's underlying design is entirely based on a Suzuki Alto (GM who own Opel/Vauxhall have joint ventures with Suzuki)..and the Alto is not a great car either.
Hey, good article Hayo....(the 'Dutch' Jeremy Clarkson eh?!) :o
Matt Robin said: on 24 Nov 2005 03:20:26 whoops - did I put Suzuki Alto? I meant Suzuki Wagon R+ !!! (But similar standards and NOT in yer 'Web Standards' goodness type of way at that!)