An economy car
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Stuart Bladon
ALL manufacturers are struggling to improve their reputations for fuel economy, and Talbot seems to be doing better than most. Business Cars has been trying the revised Solara 1.6, which seems a prime choice for company uses.
Consumption proved always better than 30mpg even in hard driving with sustained fast cruising, and easily covered 350 miles between refuelling stops.
This is surely the formula for which every fleet manager should be aiming — fewer fuel entries to deal with, less time spent by staff at fuelling stations, and well within what should be virtually everyone's target today: a maximum of 5p per mile for fuel.
The Solara tried had the SX specification, which adds such refinements as central locking, alloy wheels and headlamps with wash/wipe, but all this moves the total price up to £7,379 before discounting. The GLS seems better value at £6,938, which still brings comprehensive equipment, even the intriguing trip computer and fuel consumption indicator.
Key to the Solara's success is a five-speed gearbox, which is also obtainable in the GL at £6,121. It is a pity that the quality of the gear change cannot be improved a bit, as it is still rather imprecise. In other respects, the Solara is a pleasing car, affording excellent comfort, good internal space, and impressively low noise-level at speed.
A four-cylinder 1,592cc engine is transversely mounted, giving 89bhp, and it has electronic ignition. Performance is very lively, and an initial tendency for the engine to hesitate and stall when moving off at the beginning 3f the test soon cured itself. Starting is prompt, and there is a manual choke.
Power-assisted steering is standard on GL models and above, and gives precise control with minimal effort. Directional stability is also very good, but linked with this is the inevitable fairly marked understeer of an essentially nose-heavy design. There is also quite a lot of roll on corners.
A three-box saloon, with 12month unlimited mileage warranty, six-year anti-corrosion warranty, requiring service only every 10,000 miles, and with the economy potential mentioned at the outset, the Solara has genuine appeal as a business car. My advice is — go for the 1.6 G or the GL five-speed.
These seem to represent the best value for money.
GM diesel: significant ONE of the most significant announcements at the Brussels Motor Show was the launch of a new 1.6-litre diesel engine by GM. Based on GM's petrol engine, it gives 54bhp, and will be offered in the Vauxhall Astra and Cavalier in the spring. VW-Audi specials WITH A record year behind it, and sales up by 20 per cent, Volkswagen-Audi has launched two special models. First is a CD version of the Audi 80, bringing power steering to this model for the first time. It also has a number of special equipment features, including steel sunroof, central locking and electric window lifts, and costs £7,956.
Second is a special version of the Audi 100, called the CS. At £8,549 (manual) it is very fully equipped yet is packaged to save £700 against the cost of the current Audi 100GL.