Tigra is best looking coupe-convertible

Nov 17 2008 Peter Hayward

Tigra is best looking coupe-convertible

SMALL coupes and coupe-convertibles with folding roofs are coming out of the woodwork these days but none of them is as pretty as the little Vauxhall Tigra.

Earliest 2004 models are now down to a quite reasonable £7,000 four years down the line and it's closer to a sports car than a convertible, with only two seats and marvellous fun even with the base 1.4 petrol engine.

This engine develops about 90bhp and I once drove one hundreds of miles in a day. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It is also available with a 123bhp 1.8 and with the 70 or 90bhp Vauxhall 1.3 turbo diesel, with no less than 60mpg economy.

The tiny roof doesn't take up too much space in the boot and it goes up and down, at the touch of a button, in just a few seconds.

The power steering is wonderful, the handling vice-free and the road holding brilliant.

Interior

Comfort is well up to the best in class, despite the good road holding, and standard equipment is more than enough for most people, with air and electric windows, central locking and a good stereo.

FAST FACTS

Vauxhall Tigra 1.4

Price : Pay about £6,800 for an '04 54-reg 16 valve, £8,400 for an '05 55-reg Sport or £10,700 for an '07 07-reg Sport

Mechanical : 88bhp, 1,364cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox

Max speed : 112mph

0-62mph : 12 secs

Combined mpg : 46

Insurance group : 9

Marks : 10/10

Main rival : Ford SportKa