Aargh - how hard is it to try and test drive a Barina SRi?

[blackSRi]

Ok, I live in Perth, and I have been chasing a test drive of the new(ish) Barina SRi for four weeks - before I leave for 7 weeks in Europe.
I have to order a car on Friday to replace my current lease thats ceasing in July.
As soon as I ask a dealer that I see one at they say we just got it in and its already sold, or if I visit another dealer (that has been confirmed by the dealer I visit as having one), they haven't got it or it's sold, in fact what most say is that they only get one in if it's ordered (and built to order).

What I want to know is:
1. Is it worth test driving? I mean I have an '02 Astra SRi, will I find the Barina SRi a great drive? or won't I be impressed? Is it really small compared to my SRi?
2. How different is it to the '02 Barina SRi? much of a difference?
3. Is it true production has slowed and not many are reaching Oz?
4. Is the motor the same as the 1.8 in the Astra Classic?
5. Is it really a suitable car for driving long distances in the country?
6. How long will I have to wait if I order?

Any advice would be great, or a test drive even better (anyone with dealer info about Perth stock?) - darn dealers out here in the West only want to flog V8's and Commodore V6s.
Might have to go Corolla Sportivo..... :wink:

Warning: This is an Old Thread This discussion is older than 120 days. information contained in it may no longer be current . Please think of the children before resurrecting this ancient thread!

[Gildo]

Hey, black SRi
well to start off The barina SRi has won motors bang for your buck under $30,000 3 years in arow, that has to say something about the car!!
I drive it regually about 45 min at a time, and there is no problem the car handles beautifly and is very comftable.
The size is very decieving, i normally have 3 big guys (around 90 kg) in the back and they are fine.
The basic engine is the same as the astra classic, but the torque band is different and there is no engine deadening on the top so you can hear the engine alot more.
The production hasnt slowed, its just that less and less are reaching australia becuase we get the overflow from the other countries, meaning what ever isnt sold comes to australia.
Im not 100% sure about the differencec from the 02 - the face lift model, but from what i can tell its just a body facelift, lost its traction control, and a few things added in the interior.

It took 2 weeks for mine to arive as i ordered 1 that was already on the boat heading to australia.

p.s Have you herd the tinny engine/exhaust noise of the new corolla sportivo?????

[break]

I'm wondering why your looking to downgrade from the Astra SRi to the Barina SRi?!

I would be trying to move up in the world to something like a Clio Sport/206 GTi etc.

[oneightoo]

i am 6'5" drive the astra SRI, drove my flatmates barina SRi a few times, no problem with leg room.. the car feels good to drive, i reckon it would go pretty well against other astra SRi's at the line..

[rjastra]

My sister has a MY05 Sri... great car - she loves it. But she had to wait 7 weeks for it to arrive. Sis has a black one... but I thinkthe silver is the best colour.

As for this idea of Oz getting "overflow" from other countries... sounds a bit suss. Holden just doesn't bring in boatloads of the SRI.. It is a small seller and they don't want to have unwanted stock lying around.

As for the idea of trading upto a 206/Clio.. think very carefully.
The Clio depreciates like a lead ballon and the quaility/service is extremely patchy.
For a car that is suppose to be best in class and fairly rare there seems to be an awful lot for sale secondhand.

The 206 is better in this regard but is not the best drive in the class so why bother buying it?

Get the Barina and save some money or.... get a Golf Gti

Forget the corolla. The only reason people look at it is because of the power output - 141kw. The effective rev range is about 1200rpm. It was a pain in the Celica and the corolla makes it worse by being even heavier.

[break]

As for the idea of trading upto a 206/Clio.. think very carefully.
The Clio depreciates like a lead ballon and the quaility/service is extremely patchy.
For a car that is suppose to be best in class and fairly rare there seems to be an awful lot for sale secondhand.

The 206 is better in this regard but is not the best drive in the class so why bother buying it?

I haven't seen even one Clio Sport in the Qld trading post for the last few weeks

I'd like to hear where you experienced bad quality/service with the Renault however.

[oneightoo]

my mate has the corolla sportivo, and if it has 141kw of power and that excites you, think again.. it doesnt go that well.. my SRi beats it every time..

[Vampire]

I've got the 03 model, took the dealers 3 weeks to get it in.. which dealers did you go to may i ask?

[blackSRi]

Hi, all, thanks for the info.
I am not looking at trading up as I can't really afford to - I have a new mortgage.
The Astra SRi I have is lease (I have extended it to it's max of 3yrs so in July it must go back for sale by the fleet company) - and no, I don't want a secondhand car cos of depreciation, and a lease is better for tax savings for me.

This week I have driven a manual Mazda3 SP23 and auto Magna ES and a manual Corolla Sportivo. The Corolla was hard to push it into the high rev ranges to get the power, it's torque wasn't good (not like the Astra SRi), but I thought it drove fine on the hwy and around the burbs at 50km (smooth 6-speed gearbox, climate control and seating possie were all fine in my book).
As it's a leased car next that I am going for, the fleet and Aussie manufacturer discount is also a consideration for final price (hence why the Magna is included).

Which dealers- Citys, North City, Brian Gardner, Goldies, Shacks, Melville, Youngs.
(I have rang or visited the first two every week for the last 5 weeks as AHG are the biggest, then I also called in on both last wed and on Sat when I got a bulb. I called then both again last night, and I visited the middle 4 - Gardners etc last night, Youngs on Monday after work).

[JohnBu]

if money is an issue..

why dont you release your current car?