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2019MY Updates

22K views 50 replies 22 participants last post by  albany 
#1 ·
#31 ·
Thanks for the update - I will look under the front seats for air ducts - mine's a MY 17, but was built in the cusp between MY 16.5 and 17 so could have bits of both (it did get the colour coded shark's fin etc., but also acoustic sound deadening under the bonnet and front wheel arches etc.)
 
#34 ·
Finston Pickle said:
Thanks for the update - I will look under the front seats for air ducts - mine's a MY 17, but was built in the cusp between MY 16.5 and 17 so could have bits of both (it did get the colour coded shark's fin etc., but also acoustic sound deadening under the bonnet and front wheel arches etc.)
All 1.6T's have the acoustic pack.
 
#35 ·
Yes, all 1.6T petrol and BiTurbo diesel models have the acoustic pack and the Watt's Link. I have to say I still feel miffed that they were both removed and I could have done with the Watt's Link when doing some spirited driving the other day and had the rear end go very loose! :evil:

I've had this car for just over 2 years now and it just hasn't felt like an SRi should so unless I can get hold of a decent 1.6T model with 18" wheels, I may very well start looking elsewhere, even an end of the line J of some sort.

The rear heating ducts are under the front seats and have been a standard feature all the way back to the MK4 I think?
 
#36 ·
Is this downgrading common in the motor industry? The only other instance I can remember this happening was when mg rover introduced the cost cutting project drive prior to when they went tits up.

I've also never come across a car where you have to pay extra for sound proofing!
 
#37 ·
Kuro said:
Is this downgrading common in the motor industry? The only other instance I can remember this happening was when mg rover introduced the cost cutting project drive prior to when they went tits up.

I've also never come across a car where you have to pay extra for sound proofing!
Vauxhall have removed various bits from the cars as they went along. Of things that I know of, the Astra J SRi lost the spare wheel, the ambient lighting in the doors, the electric handbrake and the sunglasses holder but never anything structural.
All sound proofing and the Watt's Link were present right up until the end on the actual performance models, though the Watt's link may have been removed on the entry level engine models around about the time of the mustache face-lift?

With the K, the Watt's link went after about 3 months along with the sound proofing which is just pathetic to be honest. The fact that everyone test drove a car with both pieces on and then ended up with a car without either is just deceitful.
 
#38 ·
I can only assume the Watts linkage was removed to reduce cost and unsprung mass. On the lower versions with the more rigid body I suspect its effect was limited. Just strange to have it for three months then remove? Unless it was for production line ease as the K never really required it due to extra rigidity of its body shell?

However, it should have been communicated the exact rationale, we all know cost is one factor. Ford are similar to VX at removing stuff but VAG SEAT, VW, Audi and Skoda seem to add stuff. My MY18 Leon came with two extra USB ports in the rear, higher end models got illuminated sill protectors and the Cupra got a digital dash and DSG for the same price as a manual and even a small price reduction!
 
#39 ·
nsanderson said:
The fact that everyone test drove a car with both pieces on and then ended up with a car without either is just deceitful.
Hi

I do love it when people write things such as the above without actually having any hard evidence to back up their facts.

The car I bought has both so to claim as fact that everyone test drove a car with both items and then ended up with a car without either is just plain incorrect.

Cheers

Paul
 
#42 ·
nsanderson said:
Kuro said:
Is this downgrading common in the motor industry? The only other instance I can remember this happening was when mg rover introduced the cost cutting project drive prior to when they went tits up.

I've also never come across a car where you have to pay extra for sound proofing!
Vauxhall have removed various bits from the cars as they went along. Of things that I know of, the Astra J SRi lost the spare wheel, the ambient lighting in the doors, the electric handbrake and the sunglasses holder but never anything structural.
All sound proofing and the Watt's Link were present right up until the end on the actual performance models, though the Watt's link may have been removed on the entry level engine models around about the time of the mustache face-lift?

With the K, the Watt's link went after about 3 months along with the sound proofing which is just pathetic to be honest. The fact that everyone test drove a car with both pieces on and then ended up with a car without either is just deceitful.
I remember those changes on the J but they still had ambient lighting in the centre console and like you said full soundproofing. One of the first things I noticed after a week with my old K was that it wasn't as quiet and I had a full spec model.
 
#43 ·
Paulch said:
nsanderson said:
The fact that everyone test drove a car with both pieces on and then ended up with a car without either is just deceitful.
Hi

I do love it when people write things such as the above without actually having any hard evidence to back up their facts.

The car I bought has both so to claim as fact that everyone test drove a car with both items and then ended up with a car without either is just plain incorrect.

Cheers

Paul
As previously stated, the 1.6T and BiTurbo have always had (and still have) the acoustic pack and the Watt's Link.

However, those of us (like me) who test drove a 1.4T or a 136PS diesel in late 2015/early 2016 (pre-1.6T/BiTurbo being available) would've been wowed by the refinement and handling and then received a slight;y nobbled version due to Vx/Opel removing them so quietly that the press didn't even mention it- that's what I meant by it so maybe not everyone but I suspect quite a lot of people.

Question is with that new dash storage hole, where's the fuse box gone and how do you get to it to change a fuse? :?:
 
#46 ·
ultrashock said:
I noticed a few people complained about what those circular diets could be, I just worked it out (I believe) they are the front parking sensors, if you look close you can see two more in the lower front grill.

On another note, Australian spec vehicles don't seem to have rear under seat air vents on MY17 or sound proofing on the 1.6T (except behind the wings) but all models have Watt suspension. It seems Holden haven't brought any MY18.5 into the country except the wagons (due to having the new style steering wheel buttons).
 
#48 ·
Well what a shame, charge more and offer less equipment and in my case, the engine has been deleted totally (100hp 1.4) and the model (energy) has been deleted last year. I think mine has a better spec than buying a new K. Will have to think long and hard what car to have next. It is likely not to be a Vauxhall after 18 in the family since 1983.

Reading the other model updates looks like PSA have been harsh across the range. Having had two citroens before the same happened with them. I had a C3 SX which was mid range in 2004 and then in 2010 i had a C3 exclusive which had a similar spec to my then SX!

Its a shame about rioja red was a nice looking colour.

The new storage is nice i agree and would have looked better with a soft close lid. Would be a good place to put your phone and with modern phones, do wifi charging and a nice area for change etc.

Its a shame that only now Vauxhall have realised that a new console is necessary. It is still below sub par to the class and a great car is being devalued. When you look at the 308 look at the great levels of design and innovation and they have missed the boat here. I hope PSA are not making Vauxhall a subordinate brand, like for years they tried with Citroen.
 
#49 ·
Wasn't the Energy replaced by the slightly better specced SE?

I will wait to see what the refreshed one looks like in the metal and see if PSA do the decent thing and put the stripped out features back on the car but I think it's so unlikely and then the next one will be a 308 clone when the Astra has always been the better car.

Do you remember a few years ago when GM were considering selling the Europe brands to that Canadian parts company? I think we might have been in a better state if that would have happened...
 
#50 ·
Yes, the Energy was replaced by the SE. To be honest there was never much difference between the Design, Tech Line and Energy. The Tech Line had the sat nav system in. The Energy was the Design with the winter pack. There was not much difference between the three models so was probably a good thing to rationalise the trim.

Knowing first hand how PSA have worked, it seems to be that spec is drove down and many things become options or deleted in return for a price increase.

I agree that the Astra has been the better car and love my Astra K
 
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