Opel Meriva..any owners or previous owners to share?

[Rationalexuberance]

Hi all,

 

my friend just committed to a 2nd hand Opel Meriva, said that he liked the MTA transmission.

 

However read quite a few reviews on the down side of such transmission.

 

Maybe for slow city driving ok, but what abt gg up to KL on NSHW?

 

Articles complaints were usually on the computer not being able to gauge which gear to go to on Auto mode, where you have to release accelerator pedal momentarily and step again.

 

havent tried such a car before but looking forward to try his car when delivered.

 

 

 

Any owners or previous owners on the meriva or any opel models can share on fuel consumptions, service costs, repair costs, usual problems etc?

 

Cheers!!

[Meganut]

I joined the Opel group for a trip up to Kuantan and Malacca, and believe it or not, the Meriva and Astra 1.6 were the leading cars... They drop gear and swing in an out of lanes very easily and its incredibly powerful, I am shock too... My dad drove 2 generations of Vectra and currently the Zafira.

 

The downside is that the car works like a clutchless manual system when the gear is set on auto mode which people might not like cos they find it abit irritating for the gear drag because the MTA doesn't drive like a normal auto gear when its set to auto.. If you love the normal auto gear mode like most cars where you just step on the accelerator and it just changes like the corolla i drive, the you might not like this car... there is a technique to drive opel MTA cars.... The Meriva takes 160km/h VERY well...

 

My MIJ 7 year old Corolla, when just bought the car drive on nsh shakes like mad at 140km, scares the s--t out of me....

 

I think you might want to go ask the Opel owners in their own club.. go google them.

 

Hope this info, though little, helps

[Rationalexuberance]

That's good feedback, thanks alot dude.

 

Hope more participation from others to get more objective views and experiences.

 

I can agree with you fully that toyota is really not THE car anymore, and loyal customers should start test driving other cars and checking out servicing costs.

 

It ain't that cheap anymore.

[Kelpie]

That's good feedback, thanks alot dude.

 

Hope more participation from others to get more objective views and experiences.

 

I can agree with you fully that toyota is really not THE car anymore, and loyal customers should start test driving other cars and checking out servicing costs.

 

It ain't that cheap anymore.

 

I've tested the car almost 5 years ago. It used to be quoted as the most popular Supermini Conti in SG.

 

The gearbox was jerky, paritcularly if you're not used to MTA. I remembered my wife asking me whether there a problem with me or is was the car that made her felt giddy at the back . I used to read from the Opel forum that this problem can be resolved by doing a "software" update to make it less jerky. The new model could be much better these days though.

 

Is the hp still 100 something?

 

Regards,

 

 

[Silver_blade]

I have a 6yrs old Meriva, which my mum is driving now. It was almost problem free for the 1st 100,000km (5yrs) and after that, a few wear and tear items that needed replacing.

 

Parts are more expensive that most Jap cars...but it usually last much longer. FC depend a lot on the driver. When I was driving the car, it average around 9km/l (almost 100% city driving) and 15km/l-17km/l on NSHW. When I handed the car over to my mum, she averages around 11-12km/l (almost 100% city driving).

 

Re: gear change. Once you know how to deal with it, the gear change will be a lot smoother. On Auto mode, you will need to accelerate gently and release the gas pedal and step on it again in a fast and smooth motion when it is about to change from gear 1 to 2. It may take 1day to a week to get the hand of it (took my mum only 2 days to get it right). On manual mode, it is much easier...just release the gas and step on it again when changing gear....very much like when driving in manual car.

Edited August 11, 2010 by Silver_blade

[Ferraricalifornia]

the MTA (Manual-Transmission-Automatic) transmission does make your car feel more powerful than the paper figures otherwise suggests.....

 

new drivers to such transmission will need time to adjust to make the gearchange seamless and jerk-free....

 

alternatively, one can just pop into manual gear selection and drive like a manual, only without clutchwork....

 

and i find that this actually appeals to drivers who are tuned to the sporty side (like Alfa or Fiat's Dualogic system)....

 

but for those who just want to leave the gear to its own devices, i suggest a proper automatic torque converter transmission....

 

good buy on your Meriva though!!

[Vivienshoshanna]

do you have any photos of the car?

[Meganut]

That I fully agree with him...

 

It takes time to getting use to... Once you get the hang of it, as I said there is a technique to drive the car, either you like it or hate it... Our Zafira can go 220km/h on NSH to Penang and arrive in 6.5 hours

 

When I drive the Zafira we get like 10km/litre, my dad gets around 12km/litre, its his car... Our Vectra gets around that same mileage.. Our friends driving Mervia gets like 13km/litre... Now there is a 1.2 Opel Corsa that handles really well too :)

[Ferraricalifornia]

too bad the new Opel's (including the Astra, Insignia and Meriva), revert back to normal auto gearbox....

 

so i'm afraid, spare parts will be quite a problem should future problem for your friend arises....

[Ferraricalifornia]

treat all these "Clutchless Manual" gearbox as manual gearbox rather than auto-gearbox and it'll be easier to relate to it's operation.....

[Rationalexuberance]

wow, cool, that's lotsa good feedback, thanks alot guys.

 

however don't stop the comments, keep them coming.

 

Personally i think this car when bought 2nd hand, is a very value for money purchase.

 

Moreover i believe being a conti, the stability and chassis rigidity are one of the perks also.

 

High OMV, but not sure during scrap, how much will be paid for the body.

[Ferraricalifornia]

the fact that you're driving a conti car,

 

brand new or 2nd hand,

 

cost is a subjective matter....

[Furrynadz]

be prepared for expensive parts if accident though

 

[Kangadrool]

Never tried MTA before. But, saw one in my MSCP, the way it drives seem like super silky smoooooth. No jerks on slopes, reversing or forward. The driver must have been 100% acclimatized to it liao!

[Iygnaug]

Dear all,

i saw a couple of Opel Meriva ads in sgcarmart. I am just wondering why the pricing seems so reasonable.

a 1.6 conti car selling cheaper than most jap cars.

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/listing...VEH=0&AVL=2

 

besides MTA, any special things to take note?

 

 

[Silver_blade]

Meriva is a very reliable car. Even the MTA is fine. The actuator will be replacement at around 80,000km-120,000km and will cost around $2500. Mine previous one lasted still 110,000km.

[Silver_blade]

Dear all,

i saw a couple of Opel Meriva ads in sgcarmart. I am just wondering why the pricing seems so reasonable.

a 1.6 conti car selling cheaper than most jap cars.

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/listing...VEH=0&AVL=2

 

besides MTA, any special things to take note?

At least one of the Meriva listed there just had the MTA actuator replaced....but I am not sure which one. Can try asking in Opel forum Singapore Opel

[Iygnaug]

At least one of the Meriva listed there just had the MTA actuator replaced....but I am not sure which one. Can try asking in Opel forum Singapore Opel

 

That means it's more worth it to buy?