Help please! Tell me your opinion of Opel Frontera!

M

MS

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #1

Hi!

I am looking for a car of the subject.
Please tell me your opinions and general experience ot the car.

I have spent hours at the Internet to find reviews and information
and found it too but i would like to hear your side too becouse
you are 4x4 enthusiasts and propably know something about it... (=

My usage would be mostly on the road, occasionally on bad ones.
Here in Finland the winter is sometimes a little bit harsh so there
are allso good reason to get an 4x4. I'm not in to off-roading.

Intrested: gasoline or diesel, 4/5 doors, all year models from 1992 to
1999...
Just testdrove a 92 2,4i gasoline Frontera. I did like it but it was quite
sluggish...
I have read that that is 'normal'. It felt like a diesel... (?)

Allso please tell if you know if there are spesific year models i should
beware/look for. Is it true story that those early British made cars are
crappy?

Thanks for your answers. This is not very easy task, buying a car...
specially 4x4.

Cheers!

Mika

 

P

Peter

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #2

> I am looking for a car of the subject.
> Please tell me your opinions and general experience ot the car.

I have Frontera 2000 2.2Tdi, and it's a good car. If you thought 2.4i
gasoline is sluggish, you'll probably find 2.2tdi underpowered as well, but
it's enough for me. Especially when the turbine kicks in.

From what I've heard Fronteras before 1999 are plagued with all sorts of
problems due to bad quality control. They supposedly revamped the production
line in 98/99.

Peter

 

R

rnf2

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #3

"MS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi!
>
> I am looking for a car of the subject.
> Please tell me your opinions and general experience ot the car.
>
> I have spent hours at the Internet to find reviews and information
> and found it too but i would like to hear your side too becouse
> you are 4x4 enthusiasts and propably know something about it... (=
>
> My usage would be mostly on the road, occasionally on bad ones.
> Here in Finland the winter is sometimes a little bit harsh so there
> are allso good reason to get an 4x4. I'm not in to off-roading.
>
> Intrested: gasoline or diesel, 4/5 doors, all year models from 1992 to
> 1999...
> Just testdrove a 92 2,4i gasoline Frontera. I did like it but it was quite
> sluggish...
> I have read that that is 'normal'. It felt like a diesel... (?)
>
> Allso please tell if you know if there are spesific year models i should
> beware/look for. Is it true story that those early British made cars are
> crappy?
>
> Thanks for your answers. This is not very easy task, buying a car...
> specially 4x4.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Mika
>
>

The early Vauxhalls are supposed to have a lot of QA propblems, fixed with
the later models, If you have them I'd get the turbo diesel 3.1L engine,
simple, reliable and with plenty of torque at lower revs, useful in ice
since you can start in higher gears without stalling when you need to avoid
any wheelspin.
Also if on ice the TOD apparantly makes an enormous differance, the
Americans facing snow seem to love the TOD.

google for ITOG, the frontera 3 door is the american isuzu Amigo, not sure
what the 5 door is called.

rhys

 

M

MS

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #4

Thanks guys!

Suppose if i buy an older 92 model and it seems ok
(there are no rust and everythinkg seems to work ok)
then it is propably allready had its share of quality problems
and they are then solved during warranty time...

This one does not have ac, abs, airbags, alarm/immobilizer
and remote central locking. I believe the lack of those can be
understud so that there are less problem sources.
I could accept those "little deficensy's". Most of them are bolt in stuff
now days...

There are mostly money issues why i cannot even think of getting mutch newer
that 92--> or so...
There are allso very few on market here in finland. (There were tax related
relief for 4x4 cars pre 92...) After that they got even more expensive so
finnish people stopped buying them...

Mika


"MS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi!
>
> I am looking for a car of the subject.
> Please tell me your opinions and general experience ot the car.
>
> I have spent hours at the Internet to find reviews and information
> and found it too but i would like to hear your side too becouse
> you are 4x4 enthusiasts and propably know something about it... (=
>
> My usage would be mostly on the road, occasionally on bad ones.
> Here in Finland the winter is sometimes a little bit harsh so there
> are allso good reason to get an 4x4. I'm not in to off-roading.
>
> Intrested: gasoline or diesel, 4/5 doors, all year models from 1992 to
> 1999...
> Just testdrove a 92 2,4i gasoline Frontera. I did like it but it was quite
> sluggish...
> I have read that that is 'normal'. It felt like a diesel... (?)
>
> Allso please tell if you know if there are spesific year models i should
> beware/look for. Is it true story that those early British made cars are
> crappy?
>
> Thanks for your answers. This is not very easy task, buying a car...
> specially 4x4.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Mika
>
>

 

P

Peter

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #5

> There are mostly money issues why i cannot even think of getting
> mutch newer that 92--> or so...
> There are allso very few on market here in finland. (There were tax
> related relief for 4x4 cars pre 92...) After that they got even more
> expensive so finnish people stopped buying them...

Consider buying one in nearby Estonia, and keep driving it with Eesti
license plates May or may not work out - dunno how Finnish laws would
look at it, but I know of similar practices here in Latvia.

Peter

 

M

MS

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #6

After six moths the police stops you and slamms finnish car tax to your
face.
That is not small money we are talking about... (=

Seriousely speaking, i have considered import from Germany or so.
It would get more or less the same prize as cars in finland (after taxes)
There are drawbacks, the travelling, moving of the vehicle, tax fuzz +
more...
Adventure thow...

In what prizes the Fronteras are in Latvia?

Mika

> Consider buying one in nearby Estonia, and keep driving it with Eesti
> license plates May or may not work out - dunno how Finnish laws would
> look at it, but I know of similar practices here in Latvia.
>
> Peter

 

P

Peter

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #7

> After six moths the police stops you and slamms finnish car tax to
> your face.
> That is not small money we are talking about... (=

My condolences... ;-/

I worked in US for more than 9 months and was allowed to import one vehicle
duty-free back into Latvia. You should have similar laws in Finland, it's a
loophole worth checking out.

> Seriousely speaking, i have considered import from Germany or so.
> It would get more or less the same prize as cars in finland (after
> taxes) There are drawbacks, the travelling, moving of the vehicle,
> tax fuzz + more...
> Adventure thow...

I believe lowest prices in Europe were in Belgium (or was it Netherlands?).
Look around...

> In what prizes the Fronteras are in Latvia?

I paid 13K EUR for mine, 75000km on it. Fronteras, Montereys and other Isuzu
clones are not common in this market, it's not easy to find one.

Peter

 

M

MS

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #8

> > That is not small money we are talking about... (=
>
> My condolences... ;-/
>
> I worked in US for more than 9 months and was allowed to import one
vehicle
> duty-free back into Latvia. You should have similar laws in Finland, it's
a
> loophole worth checking out.

Yep. If i remember right, one year abrod and you and your wife can import a
car without car tax to finland.
After that you cannot sell it for 2 yrs (or so) and no one else can drive it
exept you and your family...

> > In what prizes the Fronteras are in Latvia?
>
> I paid 13K EUR for mine, 75000km on it. Fronteras, Montereys and other
Isuzu
> clones are not common in this market, it's not easy to find one.
>
> Peter

Not bad deal, even thow market are small, like finland.

Mika

 

M

MS

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #9

> The early Vauxhalls are supposed to have a lot of QA propblems, fixed with
> the later models, If you have them I'd get the turbo diesel 3.1L engine,

I know about the British *quality* at early 90's. I drive a Rover 820Si 91.
It is a very god car and has not cost too mutch to maintain. Actually cheap!

There were some problems when it was new (it was my fathers car then)
Previous Rover 820Si had been even sabotaged at the factory 8(
I like "english" cars thow and i'm not afraid to take that chance...

> Also if on ice the TOD apparantly makes an enormous differance, the
> Americans facing snow seem to love the TOD.

Sorry to be dumb, but what is TOD?

> google for ITOG, the frontera 3 door is the american isuzu Amigo, not sure
> what the 5 door is called.

It is called 'Rodeo' (hope not becouse its driving abilities (= )


Mika

 

W

www.amogen.com

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #10

I have had 2 Frontera's.
The first one was a 2.0i Sport and was VERY good in Snow.
The second one, which i still have is a 3.2 V6 Long Wheel Base Frontera.
Only ever had 1 problem with the first Frontera, when an injector failed and
caused a misfire. This could happen on any car at any time!!!
I would recommend anyone to get one, as i will be getting another one when i
get bored of this one.
The 3.2 V6 is ideally powered with plenty of low power. Only slight
disadvantage is the fuel consumption. It gets around 15-18MPG around towns,
but on a good run, you can expect up to 25-30MPG even with the car fully
laden!!
Buy one... They are Ace!!!

--
Regards,
Andy W...
I Wasn't Born To Ski, I Was Born To Work.... But I Got Made Redundant!!!!
A Bad Day's Ski-ing Is Always Better Than A Good Day At Work!!!
www.amc-comm.demon.co.uk
www.amogen.com

 

R

rnf2

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #11

"MS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:J%[email protected]...
> > The early Vauxhalls are supposed to have a lot of QA propblems, fixed
with
> > the later models, If you have them I'd get the turbo diesel 3.1L engine,
>
> I know about the British *quality* at early 90's. I drive a Rover 820Si
91.
> It is a very god car and has not cost too mutch to maintain. Actually
cheap!
>
> There were some problems when it was new (it was my fathers car then)
> Previous Rover 820Si had been even sabotaged at the factory 8(
> I like "english" cars thow and i'm not afraid to take that chance...
>
> > Also if on ice the TOD apparantly makes an enormous differance, the
> > Americans facing snow seem to love the TOD.
>
> Sorry to be dumb, but what is TOD?

Torque on Demand. A variation of a Torque Converter that kicks in extra
torque when the computer senses it's needed.
>
> > google for ITOG, the frontera 3 door is the american isuzu Amigo, not
sure
> > what the 5 door is called.
>
> It is called 'Rodeo' (hope not becouse its driving abilities (= )
>
Here it's the Wizard, Very good vehicle, one of my freinds has one and I've
driven it, handles very smoothly, more like a large sedan than a 4x4 like my
'88 Bighorn

>
> Mika
>
>

 

R

rnf2

Guest

• Jan 19, 2004

• #12

"MS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thanks guys!
>
> Suppose if i buy an older 92 model and it seems ok
> (there are no rust and everythinkg seems to work ok)
> then it is propably allready had its share of quality problems
> and they are then solved during warranty time...
>
If it looks in good shape, then take it an AA apraisal center and they'll
usually look it over for you and give a comprehensive list of all good
points, bad points, and what needs seeing to soon, and this will tell you
how good a deal it is.


> This one does not have ac, abs, airbags, alarm/immobilizer
> and remote central locking. I believe the lack of those can be
> understud so that there are less problem sources.
> I could accept those "little deficensy's". Most of them are bolt in stuff
> now days...
>
> There are mostly money issues why i cannot even think of getting mutch
newer
> that 92--> or so...
> There are allso very few on market here in finland. (There were tax
related
> relief for 4x4 cars pre 92...) After that they got even more expensive so
> finnish people stopped buying them...
>
> Mika
>

rhys

 

M

MS

Guest

• Jan 20, 2004

• #13

Hi!

> I have had 2 Frontera's.
> The first one was a 2.0i Sport and was VERY good in Snow.
> The second one, which i still have is a 3.2 V6 Long Wheel Base Frontera.
> Only ever had 1 problem with the first Frontera, when an injector failed
and
> caused a misfire. This could happen on any car at any time!!!
> I would recommend anyone to get one, as i will be getting another one when
i
> get bored of this one.
> The 3.2 V6 is ideally powered with plenty of low power. Only slight
> disadvantage is the fuel consumption. It gets around 15-18MPG around
towns,
> but on a good run, you can expect up to 25-30MPG even with the car fully
> laden!!
> Buy one... They are Ace!!!

Thanks for the supporting comment! This one is with 2,4i engine so there are
not that much power but enough i suppose.
One of the important reasons is that fuel consumption is not redicilous.
(sorry if spelt wrong)

I start to believe my guts and may very well buy that Frontie for me (=

Mika