Such a popular car. This was quite a step up from the Nova, similar to Fiat's move from Uno to Punto. Many manufacturers were responding to consumer's demand for more refinement at this time. Mr. Manning's challenge was not too bad on this occasion. Thank you, sir!
Yes, similar to the Nova underneath (but not identical), and the early engines were similar to the Nova too. They actually look and feel surprisingly modern for something designed in the early 1990s. Thank you again, sir!
Perhaps mentioned this before on the previous Corsa video but back in 2001 I hired a 1.2 16v 5 door when my Fiat was behaving in a very Italian way. It performed excellently. Felt like a little rocketship!
Another excellent review Sir, remember when when these would be on every street corner, my friend used to own one of these but the 1.2 12v, he had it from new in 1997 to 2009.
Nice video sir,Corsa B's are very underrated,brings back fond memories of hooning around the South Derbyshire countryside in an N reg SRI in the late 90's!
Don’t see many this old anymore. Your right the original was updated in 1997….which is what is in the video. The 2nd generation launched in 2000. I had a couple of the 2nd generation…..an original series 2.0 and a facelifted 2003….both manual. Btw they changed the steering to full electric in the 2003 update….and it isn’t as good and a number of the steering racks failed on those. I also test drove a series 2 (pre 03 update) in automatic form….it was a 1.4 petrol. Wasn’t great. I believe those were torque converters but “lockup” was only on 1st or something….so noise a plenty! The 1.2 petrols pre 2000 and post 2000 were also available with an EasyTronic semi-automatic, aka not a proper automatic. From the 1997 series 1 facelift you could get 1.0 3 cylinder petrol engine. Winter mode (on the automatic) very useful in south of U.K. modest winters - I had that feature in my Astra series 4…..that got me to work when the roads were officially impassable. Only works upto 30mph. Very impressive-shame the rest of the Astra 4 didn’t live anywhere upto the same level….most unreliable car I ever owned.
I think we discussed the good old Family 0 in the video, but yes, it was first used in these, and more extensively throughout the Corsa range when the Corsa C came out in 2000. The 2001 Corsa C I drove when it was brand new and I was taking some lessons had the electric steering system, I believe. Similar to the Mark II Punto really for steering rack failure.
The original Corsa B was a very beautiful design whether Base Model or Top of the range but it inherited the suspension of the Nova which was not dynamic in any way. This facelift looked much better and got upgraded suspension by Lotus which rode and handled more competitively. The interior was very roomy and the engines were great but the real Corsa masterstroke was ease of ownership and the ability to imitate a big car in most situations.
Yes, relatively spacious for a small car of the time, very contemporary design, albeit based on an older model. The facelift cars are better, and back in the day, I am sure they were extremely cheap and easy to service (as they remain today).
Always found if interesting that the complete rear end was different from the 3 to 5 door . And were the door mirrors different too? I remember on Furious Drivings' channel the Corsa he tested had rather decadent heated seats. Gosh.
Yes, he drove a very early 1993 Corsa B. That video came out after I had driven the 1995 E-Drive Merit I filmed in May 2022, an absolute coincidence! I think the mirrors were the same.
We had a number of these a 1.2 and we had to do the head gasket , 1.4 hi-torq and also 1.5 d , yes very good cars , just dont buy a red one as the fade .
Still great looking cars. Rev counter , factory sunroof (rather than the pop up variety) , make this a special edition. The only thing that could improve it would be an aircon button , available on some later cars I believe. Today’s Corsa is bigger than early Astras ! and a damned sight uglier .
Yes, sort of well equipped for something towards the bottom of the range, I imagine. They did a lot of special edition Corsa Bs. Thank you again for watching, sir!
These capital special editions were a limited run of around 500 but don’t quote me on that number that were produced and sold across London vauxhall dealers, not sure what the motive was behind these but quirky nonetheless
Yes, I imagine that must be it. They don't appear on the official list of trim levels that I would normally use for a car like this. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting.
The Capital Corsa was a special edition exclusively for London dealers. The production run had a higher mix of automatics than other special editions as it was designed to appeal to London buyers. The Capital Corsa “celebrated” (if that’s the right word) bringing all Vauxhall’s London dealers into one sales territory, focused on the unique challenges of doing business inside the M25.
Existing sporty corsa's are like a middle aged man trying to keep on to his youth. Base models are more gentleman like and ask for repect rather than enthusiasm.
Such a popular car. This was quite a step up from the Nova, similar to Fiat's move from Uno to Punto. Many manufacturers were responding to consumer's demand for more refinement at this time. Mr. Manning's challenge was not too bad on this occasion. Thank you, sir!
Yes, similar to the Nova underneath (but not identical), and the early engines were similar to the Nova too. They actually look and feel surprisingly modern for something designed in the early 1990s. Thank you again, sir!
Perhaps mentioned this before on the previous Corsa video but back in 2001 I hired a 1.2 16v 5 door when my Fiat was behaving in a very Italian way. It performed excellently. Felt like a little rocketship!
The Corsas always seemed to go quite well, even the old 45 bhp 1.2 Family I engined cars.
What a superb find sir. Always had a soft spot for these hope it’s brought back to its former glory.
Yes sir, Mr Young has been enjoying it very much. I actually quite like these myself too....
Another excellent review Sir, remember when when these would be on every street corner, my friend used to own one of these but the 1.2 12v, he had it from new in 1997 to 2009.
Oh yes, absolutely everywhere back in the day, weren't they? I think these in the Top Five best sellers for years.
Nice video sir,Corsa B's are very underrated,brings back fond memories of hooning around the South Derbyshire countryside in an N reg SRI in the late 90's!
Sir, the SRi would have an entertaining little car back in the day, wouldn't it?
Always liked this shape Corsa, especially the very rare CDX with the optional leather interior and air conditioning and heated seats.
Sir, we need the CDX, as it was the only one available with a beige leather interior.
@lloydvehicleconsulting
Absolutely, Mr Lloyd
I remember Ruby Wax in the advert of these , she drove the CDX model .
@@lordstiffupperlip3095
Handling by Lotus.....
It handled all right, not much trace of Lotus influence, really.
Was the one you mention on OFITG the car that got driven into the greenhouse?
Gosh, I can't remember now! Thank you for watching, sir.
Don’t see many this old anymore.
Your right the original was updated in 1997….which is what is in the video.
The 2nd generation launched in 2000.
I had a couple of the 2nd generation…..an original series 2.0 and a facelifted 2003….both manual.
Btw they changed the steering to full electric in the 2003 update….and it isn’t as good and a number of the steering racks failed on those.
I also test drove a series 2 (pre 03 update) in automatic form….it was a 1.4 petrol. Wasn’t great. I believe those were torque converters but “lockup” was only on 1st or something….so noise a plenty!
The 1.2 petrols pre 2000 and post 2000 were also available with an EasyTronic semi-automatic, aka not a proper automatic.
From the 1997 series 1 facelift you could get 1.0 3 cylinder petrol engine.
Winter mode (on the automatic) very useful in south of U.K. modest winters - I had that feature in my Astra series 4…..that got me to work when the roads were officially impassable. Only works upto 30mph. Very impressive-shame the rest of the Astra 4 didn’t live anywhere upto the same level….most unreliable car I ever owned.
I think we discussed the good old Family 0 in the video, but yes, it was first used in these, and more extensively throughout the Corsa range when the Corsa C came out in 2000. The 2001 Corsa C I drove when it was brand new and I was taking some lessons had the electric steering system, I believe. Similar to the Mark II Punto really for steering rack failure.
The original Corsa B was a very beautiful design whether Base Model or Top of the range but it inherited the suspension of the Nova which was not dynamic in any way. This facelift looked much better and got upgraded suspension by Lotus which rode and handled more competitively.
The interior was very roomy and the engines were great but the real Corsa masterstroke was ease of ownership and the ability to imitate a big car in most situations.
Yes, relatively spacious for a small car of the time, very contemporary design, albeit based on an older model. The facelift cars are better, and back in the day, I am sure they were extremely cheap and easy to service (as they remain today).
Always found if interesting that the complete rear end was different from the 3 to 5 door . And were the door mirrors different too?
I remember on Furious Drivings' channel the Corsa he tested had rather decadent heated seats. Gosh.
Yes, he drove a very early 1993 Corsa B. That video came out after I had driven the 1995 E-Drive Merit I filmed in May 2022, an absolute coincidence! I think the mirrors were the same.
Hy Sir , I just checked out the sedan , that looks very odd glad we never had that one , the estate wagon looked a bit better .🚗🏁
Yes, the saloons based on the Corsa B were very strange, weren't they?
We had a number of these a 1.2 and we had to do the head gasket , 1.4 hi-torq and also 1.5 d , yes very good cars , just dont buy a red one as the fade .
Sir, the last Corsa B we filmed was a 1995 in non-metallic red. The paint on it was remarkably good.
Still great looking cars. Rev counter , factory sunroof (rather than the pop up variety) , make this a special edition. The only thing that could improve it would be an aircon button , available on some later cars I believe. Today’s Corsa is bigger than early Astras ! and a damned sight uglier .
Yes, sort of well equipped for something towards the bottom of the range, I imagine. They did a lot of special edition Corsa Bs. Thank you again for watching, sir!
These capital special editions were a limited run of around 500 but don’t quote me on that number that were produced and sold across London vauxhall dealers, not sure what the motive was behind these but quirky nonetheless
Yes, I imagine that must be it. They don't appear on the official list of trim levels that I would normally use for a car like this. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting.
The Capital Corsa was a special edition exclusively for London dealers. The production run had a higher mix of automatics than other special editions as it was designed to appeal to London buyers. The Capital Corsa “celebrated” (if that’s the right word) bringing all Vauxhall’s London dealers into one sales territory, focused on the unique challenges of doing business inside the M25.
Thank you very much indeed for the clarification and for watching and commenting! Very appropriate Radio Jackie sticker in the back window.
Existing sporty corsa's are like a middle aged man trying to keep on to his youth. Base models are more gentleman like and ask for repect rather than enthusiasm.
That is why we would prefer the CDX with the beige leather interior, sir...