This is my current test car. Guess what it is

"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey) 11/01/2013 at 12:33 • Filed to: Test car

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No cheating by Europeans who know exactly what it is, or sniggering at the back by everyone else.

This is my current test car. I asked for it because it represents a big deal for the manufacturer in question, attempting to muscle in on a profitable market - and do something about its dowdy image. So I wanted to see what it's like.

I just didn't think it would come in Flaming Yellow.

PelicanHazard > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:34

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Why does that Adam accent on the rear make it look like a hearse?

dogisbadob > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:36

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Nice Buick :p

ddavidn > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:36

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Vauxhall Astra!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:36

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Dawwww

Wit's a wittle Wopel Wadam....It's so cute!

Hooker > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:37

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I'm looking forward to reading your comments on this Adam.

Speedmonkey > ddavidn 11/01/2013 at 12:37

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Close. It's the Astra's baby cousin

Speedmonkey > Hooker 11/01/2013 at 12:38

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You are expecting derision and confoundment at why it exists? So far I quite like it. Having to put myself in the mindset of someone other than a 42 year old biker though

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:39

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If you tickle it right here, where the mirror meets the A-pillar, does it roll over and wag its tail?

Party-vi > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:40

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I'm trying to think of why I knew it was an Adam. Fancy wheels too.

porkpiehat > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:40

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So close to sweet...but they have got to lose that chrome accent above the windows. Looks like they bought trim from Auto Zone and slapped it on.

Same for head and tail lights. Chrome innards=bad(so 90's). At least go with a black chrome finish.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 11/01/2013 at 12:40

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Only if you tell it that it's a good boy and give it a treat.

ddavidn > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:41

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It was a better guess than I thought, then. Having never seen an Astra in the flesh before.

Speedmonkey > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 11/01/2013 at 12:42

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That triangular piece of bodywork ahead of the mirror hurts my inner OCD

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:44

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You had to point that out. Can't unsee

Speedmonkey > ddavidn 11/01/2013 at 12:53

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Ta daaaaaa. Astra is bigger and less obviously trying to be funky

Speedmonkey > porkpiehat 11/01/2013 at 12:54

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Agree with you there. Not a fan of chrome

Hooker > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:54

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It's definitely hard to review a vehicle when you are not the target audience. That's for sure. Good luck.

Ghost Dog - For the kittens > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:55

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What trim level is it?

Your boy, BJR > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 12:55

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Opel Adam, but You're in the UK if I recall correctly so Vauxhall Adam. VXR? Do they make that?

Speedmonkey > Hooker 11/01/2013 at 13:01

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Driven and reviewed 60 cars in the past 12 months from a Bentley GT Speed to a Renault Clio. Getting the hang of it now but (note to self) must understand that some people prefer economy over POWER

Speedmonkey > Ghost Dog - For the kittens 11/01/2013 at 13:02

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SLAM

Speedmonkey > Your boy, BJR 11/01/2013 at 13:03

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Unfortunately not. Only engine choices are a wheezy 1.2 and a wheezy 1.4. Needs turbo and/or the new GM 1 litre

duurtlang > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:04

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I had one of those for three days the last summer. Great city car, poor highway car with poor practicality. The latter two mostly due to the short wheelbase, which meant it was bouncy on the highway and made the space between the back end of the front seats and the rear bumper rather useless, unless when you folded the bench down. Mine was purple with purple leather and a purple dash.

Does your car have the rear park collision detectors or whatever they're called as well? I thought they were quite silly on such a tiny car.

duurtlang > ddavidn 11/01/2013 at 13:07

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Never seen a Saturn Astra or Buick Verano either? Or a late 80s Pontiac LeMans? All Astras, although the latter two were slightly altered, the Buick a little bit redesigned for the US market and the Pontiac was a poorly made Deawoo clone of the Astra/Kadett. They're all compacts though, this Adam isn't even a subcompact. Imagine a GM Fiat 500.

Speedmonkey > duurtlang 11/01/2013 at 13:07

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Rear seats are tiny and the boot lip far too high. The front seats should be nearer the bulkhead but I suppose that's crash testing for you. It doesn't have the parking sensors. NB I tested a Lotus last week that does have parking sensors. Duh?

Your boy, BJR > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:07

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I'd still be happy with it. That car looks good as hell.

ddavidn > duurtlang 11/01/2013 at 13:11

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Gotcha.

duurtlang > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:17

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How would you judge the rear visibility? I resented that about the car. (second quiz: guess the vehicle parked next to 'mine')

This was the rear seat with the driver seat (LHD car) adjusted for my average frame. You'd need to be a double amputee to fit in there.

Speedmonkey > duurtlang 11/01/2013 at 13:24

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Terrible. I was thinking that as I reversed out of the drive earlier.

No idea what the other car is! Looks like a modern day Messerschmidt

Mikeado > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:26

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I drove one of these on the same day that I drove an electric car... and preferred the electric car.

dogisbadob > duurtlang 11/01/2013 at 14:00

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Yeah but is it any worse than a stupid smart car or the Fiat 500 or anything else on the list of cute lil cars you guys get but we don't?

duurtlang > dogisbadob 11/01/2013 at 14:04

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It's not a bad car at all, not for what it is. But why choose it over the competition? What's the unique selling point? I wouldn't know. That's GM's main problem right there, at least in Europe it is.

I wouldn't want a car this small though, not as an only car. I don't need a large car, my 80s model Golf suited me fine, but this Opel is too small for me. Practicality and high speed comfort were too compromised to me.

Hooker > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 14:06

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I'm that guy. I actually geek out over how much MPG's I can get out of my Equinox, a decidedly not economical ride. Still, I enjoy a good bit of power here or there but daily driving is all about efficiency.

dogisbadob > duurtlang 11/01/2013 at 14:16

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That's what the Adam OPC is for :)

I hope it comes here as the Buick Adam T-Type!

Dogapult > duurtlang 11/01/2013 at 14:55

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Vehicle parked next to yours is a Diahatsu Midget II.