- Car brand: Vauxhall-Opel
- Convertible roof type: Hardtop
- Vauxhall/Opel Tigra Twintop 1.4 16v
- Vauxhall/Opel Tigra Twintop Exclusiv 1.8 16v
- Vauxhall/Opel Tigra Twintop 1.3 CDTi 16v
With the growing trend of the roadster, GM followed Toyota’s lead and cut the top off the latest version of a popular small coupe. The Vauxhall Tigra Twintop is a fun little sports car. Vauxhall/Opel took their time to develop this car and it seems time well spent. Unlike the old Tigra which looked like a coupe but drove like the Corsa hatchback it was based on, this model has a more sporting drive. It is still not as fun to drive as it looks, but the Vauxhall Tigra Twintop is great value, and both practical and economical to own.
The ride is reasonably refined for a small convertible and for a small car the luggage space is good even when the roof is down. The interior comes straight out of the Corsa Hatchback and comes as a disappointment after looking at the exterior styling. With competition from the more fashionable Mini, the Tigra struggled to make a big impact on the ‘fun car’ market.
The Tigra was sold as a Vauxhall in the UK, Opel in Europe and with a Holden badge in Austrailia.
I love my Tigra. Mine is a company car and the second one I’ve had, I would have had a 3rd but am gutted to learn Vauxhall have stopped making them. It is small but perfectly formed and loads of fun especially with the roof down. It seems compact but a passenger over 6ft assured me he wasn’t uncomfortable. I prefer reverse parking and initially found the restricted rear window view awkward; it’s fine when you get used to it but I did go for parking sensors on my 2nd Tigra. When I have to renew whatever alternative car I end up with, I hope they have a new Tigra on the market, because I would definitely want another one.
We bought our 2006 “one owner from new”, low milage 1.4 Tigra Exclusive in June 2009 and have been extremely happy with it from the day we picked it up from Vauxhall. I am 6’4″, plenty of head and leg room, good size boot, even with the roof down. Economical, £130:00 to tax, low insurance, easy to park. So far, has sailed through the MOT’s and serviceing.
Went to the Algarve and back in 2010 and what a great drive it was, relaxed, good comfy seats, excellent sound system with the roof down. I/we would recommend a Tigra, its a fun car with the roof up or down, fantastic heating system as the roof is down on dry days throughout the year. Most certainly have another one if the were still being made.
Used to own the diesel version when I lived in France. Very slow but economical and reliable. No problems at all with the folding roof and a decent size boot even with the roof down. If its just fresh air and a drop top you want then this is the car but be prepared to be overtaken by every boy racer on the road.
Own a 1.4 Vauxhall Tigra which I love. Never had a convertible of my own before. Its a smooth ride and real fun. Lots of space within the car and a handy netted area behind the seats. Not bad on petrol too on a long run. Has a larger boot than first thought so you can drive with the top down with your luggage in the boot. Never written a comment before but felt I needed to as there was so much negative press about the tigra that it nearly put me off buying one – glad it didnt as I would have missed out on all the fun.
Great fun little car cheap to run great with roof down ì have two own them for 2 years love them to bites