Test drive Opel Meriva 2003 - 2005 Minivan

For beautiful eyes

The creators of this machine firmly intend to grab the fourth part of the European CD market. In Russia, however, to do such a focus will be much more difficult.

We are looking for talents
So, dear, what can you surprise? What role to play? Anyone, say? What, you are erased, cook alone, remove one and, it seems, even apply for the title of People's Artist. Well, well, let's see. I don’t know whether you have noticed or not, but getting to know a new car often resembles a popular television book. Some old Hello, we are looking for talents! Or the current factory of stars.
 
So now, in front of me as an ambitious girl-prospector Opelian compact lure based on Supermini. He arrived in the capital recently and full of confidence and grandiose plans. Even at first glance it is clear that his talents have a barrel of honey. As if it can easily conquer, charm, earn confidence. And everything would be fine, if not one very important circumstance. But let's try not to violate the laws of the genre.
  
And I am so, all groovy
Meriva was waiting for me in a close underground parking. Half -dark driveways, steep turns, screw -shaped climbs, and the cars are talked to each other, like pies on a baking sheet. It seems easier to put a thick thread into a deliberately more thin needle ear than to squeeze out into that narrow gap between the wall and a huge black cadillac. But the eyes are said, they are afraid, but they do their hands. I touch, taxi, a mine obstacle for an obstacle and only having left on the street, I realize how easy it was for me to get out into the light of God. Well, not bad. They coped with the first task.
 
As if inspired by what I like, the Meriva continues to shimmer the strict members of the jury now on the city streets. Here, cooling the steering wheel, I traveled around the broken gazelle. Little Opel is ready to turn around literally on a handkerchief. The motor was slightly twisted and the first leaving the traffic light. I rebuild, slow down, accelerate again. Excellent visibility, modest dimensions, a convenient place for the driver to travel through the city banned by machines is a pleasure.
 
Now let's try to drive more. Eh, now the suspension would be a little softer (here in front is the same as on Corses, McEzerson, and behind the levers connected by an elastic beam, as if on a backbone), and it would be good for the surrounding. And then, looking at the good-natured face of the merchants, there is no, no, and some rude navel of the Earth will stick. He is not aware that on the first line of 125 forces hidden under a small hood, they will allow me to immediately deal with him.
 
N-yes, this motor is not just another plus of the merchants, but a real talent. On that day, there were times when, thanks to this, due to this, the engine who lies with turning (he, as you know, successfully carries larger Safira and Vectru), I even began to regret that there is still no autobahns in the Moscow Region. It turns out that Meriva was so well adapted for flights in the left row of a suburban highway. When necessary, you can click on gas at 110120 km/h and continue cheerful acceleration. If I have now the opportunity to accelerate to the maximum speed, for sure it would not be very different from the declared 192 km/h.
 
However, in some places a fashionista is replayed. The role of a frank athlete is still not for her. About 140 in the cabin, the licking side racks of the wind is well heard. And the exchange rate stability in lateral gusts of wind is far from the best.
 
However, in general, with appearance and gait, the meriva is all right. Now let's see how it is managed by the household.
 
  Game of centimeters
If you do not know in advance that this compactwane is built on the Corsa platform, it will be difficult to guess. In comparison with the donor, the wheelbase of the measure is more than 14 cm and only 6.5 cm is shorter than that of Safira. Yes, the overall impression is a small, compact machine remains. But try to look inside, and you will surely be amazed at its capacity. Miracles? No, the features of the Opelian layout of the flex-pass or in Russian are flexible space. If desired, the salon can be turned into a cargo compartment with a capacity of ... more than two cubic meters! With such data, the title of folk vehicle can really be earned. However, it is easy to verify the theory by practice, looking at the supermarket for an hour.
 
The contents of three large carts with a all kinds of office chancellery migrated to the trunk. And there, it seems, it would have been almost so much not so much. True, before loading all this, I had to deal with all the possibilities of the layout for a minute or two. Not the most, I will report to you, a simple task. Judge for yourself. Easily pulling the lever on the back of the central section of the sofa, it can be folded in the blink of an eye. Then do the same operation with the right side chair. But immediately a flat site does not work. To do this, press on the back on top and pull the handle. Now we have three full -fledged places and a very roomy, convenient trunk.
 
But no matter how much such a bag is voluntary, the role of the first violin in the orchestra of the merits of the meriva is still not spacious. The main highlight of the merchants is magnificent chairs. Today, few will surprise anyone with the sliding rear seats (with a five -seater layout, Opelian can move 130 mm forward/back). But these can also be shifted to the side, to the central axis of the machine. We move the chairs to each other. Then, we move back another 70 mm back, they will be exactly between the wheel arches. And for convenience, the back can be tilted to a larger angle. And we get a spacious and comfortable 4-seater car.
 
It is convenient to sit down, it is convenient to ride, it is convenient to operate. A wonderful car. It seems that it is not without reason that Opel's leadership is confident in her star future. The Germans believe that by 2005, the European market will absorb about 800 thousand compactwenes. And at the Spanish factory, firms near Saragos by that time will produce 200 thousand small Opel annually. Like Safira, they will surely be in Favor in Europe.
 
   
The rear sofa can be one-, two- or triple

With the rear chairs pushed 20 cm away, the galleries will be more free than in other business class machines

Under the right seat there is a roomy tray, and on the front console a mesh for a card or newspapers
 
 
If you fold all the chairs with the exception of the driver’s exception, then the volume of the luggage space will be 2005 liters

Twin-Audio system allows the rear passengers to enjoy your favorite CD when they listen to the front in front
 
 
Windows buttons on the driver's door are small in size

Under the label of the trunk there are spacious secretaries. For the spare, there was a place below the floor
  

In pursuit of high fees
There is no doubt, the title of People's Artist of Europe in the meriva is almost in his pocket. Here is the symbiosis of such compact sizes, spaciousness, safety, good equipment, efficiency, temperament so beloved there. Dad! My little son demanded, swinging on a Meriva, who pleased him with a fairy tale about Karlsson in the back seat. Buy such a car! And I looked into the price list ...
 
The price turned out to be so expensive that I did not even immediately answer my son, they say, while I will have to wait. You’ll grow up ... What is the popularity in the broad masses, when, for example, a 125-horsepower car costs no less than $ 19 thousand.
  
And for a car that visited on the test, they want as much as $ 20,980. Only large pop divas can ask such fees, but certainly not small ascending stars. It turns out that, in fact, they offer us for beautiful eyes to give for a measure the amount that is Safira.
 
I don’t know how you are, but I am against it. If only because a small car is simply obliged to cost cheaper. In Europe, by the way, it is. The difference between these machines in a similar equipment there is 33.5 thousand euros. Who would explain to me why Opel, in the last two years, has been distinguished by a very reasonable and flexible pricing policy in Russia, suddenly chased a high fee? Sorry, I really liked the contestant ...
    
For everyday life and space pleasure
Meriva is delivered to Russia with engines of 1.6 liters (87 hp and 101 hp) or 1.8 l 125 liters. p., with automatic or mechanical gearbox, in one of three configurations. The basic equipment of Essenshia ($ 16,000) is quite modest: ABS, central castle and immobilizer, frontal airbags, athermal glazing and a cassette radio. Having paid $ 1500, you get a meriva-en-joy with air conditioning, an electric drive of front windows and heated mirrors, a folding back of the front passenger seat and a multifunctional armrest of the rear sofa. And, finally, the top -free equipment of space implies fog lights and light alloy wheels.
 
In addition, those who wish can order traditionally inexpensive Opel options: metallic coloring ($ 250), heating the front seats ($ 200), alarm ($ 275), Twin-Audio ($ 250), climate control ($ 450). And, of course, you should not do without xenon headlights ($ 800). The star should be noticeable everywhere.
 
Opel Meriva 1.8
common data
 
Length x width x height, mm
4042x1694x1624
 
Trunk volume, l
350/1410/2005*
 
Radius of turning, m
5.15
 
Speed, km/h
192
 
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, with
11.3
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km highway/city
6.6/10.9
 
 
Engine
 
Working volume, SMZ
1796
 
Power, L.S. at rpm
125/5600
 
Torque, kgsm at rpm
17.3/3800
 
Price
$ 20 980;
basic 1.6 l (87 l. p.) $ 16,000;
1.6 l (101 l. P.) $ 18,000;
1.8 l (125 hp) $ 19,000
 
 

* With a folded front seat.
 
 
Alexey Sergeev, photo of Maxim Goncharov
 
 

Source: Magazine "Limousine" [12/03]