The Vauxhall Nova

Introduction

I do take the Mickey out of the Vauxhall Nova, but in reality this is because too many hard up boy racers buy a Nova, bodge a few modifications, stick on some tat and then drive the car like they stole it. However, well kept examples are decent enough cars, and superior to the Mark Two Fiesta in most respects.

Engines

Vauxhall used a number of engines in the Nova, totalling at least six capacities, but with different levels of tune. To this day, Vauxhall still use good engines (for the most part), which offer respectable figures on paper, but on the road, usually feel quite lively.

The entry level engine is a 1·0 litre, four cylinder unit. This delivers modest performance and decent fuel economy, but perhaps hindered by only having a four speed gearbox. However, most of competition also suffers from this handicap, and drive the 1·0 Nova back-to-back with the 950cc Fiesta, you’d prefer the Vauxhall’s donk.

The next engine up is a 1·2 litre four pot. In carburettor form, this engine delivered around 60 PS and equivalent fuel economy to the 1·0 litre. The fuel injected, catalyst-equipped 1·2 litre is, sadly, not so quick. The carburettor 1·2s that I’ve tried have both used four speed gearboxes; the 1·2i Luxe had a five speed gearbox. Overall, the 1·2l Vauxhall engine is superior to the 1·1l Ford donk - it’s not quite as smooth, but it has more power and torque and uses slightly less petrol.

Vauxhall dropped their 1·3 litre engines from the range, and used at least two levels of tune. The lower level was used in the ordinary “cooking” models and the more powerful unit, producing around and about 70 PS, was used in the 1300 SR. Derivatives of engine were also in the Astra and Cavalier, and it is a tough little engine which can stand a lot of abuse.

Vauxhall replaced the 1·3 with a 1·4 litre engine, using two states of tune. The “Hi Torq” version was used in cooking models, and the more powerful 70 PS version in the 1400 SR. Later cars came with fuel injection (hence the 1400 SRi).

The largest and most powerful petrol engine used in the Nova was the 1·6, which powered the GTE and GSi, producing around 100 PS. This was enough to propel the Nova to 60 in just over 9 seconds. This is quick for the Nova, but not really for the “hot hatch” class.

Later in the Nova’s life, Vauxhall introduced two diesel engines - the “atmo” 1·5 litre (which I have only experienced in a Novavan) and the turbocharged 1·5d-tc. The “atmo” diesel performs reasonably well, if a little clattery and smoky, and is reputed to be very economical. Conversely, the turbodiesel is a different animal. It’s quite a bit quicker than the “atmo” and would probably give the SR a run for its money. I’ve driven quite a few Nova TDs and they have a genuine, gutsy feeling, especially in the upper gears (in true TD fashion!). Furthermore, the TD is about as economical as the “atmo” diesel, but the engine is a good deal quieter.

Ride & Handling

Although rather dated compared to more modern machinery, the Nova was par for the course in its day - nothing special, but reasonable. All models have a rather jarring ride, and the cooking models have rather lurchy suspension. The sportier models have a firmer ride - in the case of the GSi, rather crashy.

Interior

It’s looking dated these days, and rather angular. But it’s reasonably well put together. All of the models that I’ve tried have suffered from a rather tepid ventilation system.

As far as space goes, par for the course, really. There’s a little bit more interior room compared with a mark two Fiesta and a larger boot.

Exterior

They’re a big angular, they look dated, indeed rather charm less. Special mention must go to the saloon, which is available with both two or four doors. The two door looks like a scaled down American V8 sedan - it’s not very attractive.

The sportier versions look a little bit better, at least, until they are butchered by the boy racer brigade.

Verdict

Like the mark two Fiesta, the Nova is cheap tat these days. There are some nice ones around, and some owners are as enthusiastic about their Nova as I am with the Ka (see here, for example).