Plenty of space, decent performance and a Made In Britain badge made the Vauxhall Omega a popular choice for our custodians of the law in the 1990s. Not just the BIB, but also senior Government figures up to and including the PM.
Some call it the last good fast Vauxhall...
This week's Shed is a sparkling example of the Omega bloodline. If it was politically acceptable to acknowledge the existence of such a thing as a man's car, this would probably be it. Some say it's the last good Vauxhall, preferring it even over the revered E39 BMW. It was a comical depreciator, but the good ones that are still around are maintaining a quiet reputation for reliable bargery.
As an all-rounder, this late model 2.6 is arguably the ultimate development of the Vauxhall V6 engine. The auto 'box in our Shed makes it a lover not a fighter, but irrespective of its drivetrain the core Omega was a well mannered beast with a good ride and gentle, forgiving handling that garnered it plenty of fans among contemporary road testers.
2.6 V6 was only around for three years
Our Shed is not VIP spec, but the CD model's cloth was good quality schmutter. The shape of the car is certainly of a different age, but the silver paint on this one doesn't date it as badly as some of the Omega's other Saga-inspired hues. The comfy cabin, meaty alloys, fat specification and stonking sound system ramp up its appeal.
Outside town you can expect mpg figures in the mid-30s and high 20s overall, which even by 2014 standards isn't so bad for a big saloon with a massive boot.
This towbar-free specimen looks like it may have dodged the baggy rear suspension fate of caravan-abused Omegas. Watch out for weak cam cover gaskets. Left unattended, they'll oil up the plugs and duff up DIS packs. If in doubt about gasket vintage, adopt best practice and fit new ones. Check also oil coolers, breather pipes and wishbones, and look for tinworm on the door bottoms and wheelarches.
Has anyone sat in the passenger seat?
The recent cambelt change adds value to this car, as you could easily spill £600 on that (quad-cam) job. Or you could save yourself the bother of the next 40k belt change, and simultaneously take a performance step up from adequate to ample, by lobbing in a V8. In 1999 Opel built up some prototype Omegas powered by the 5.7 GM LS1 lump. What could have been a rather tasty European Holden was kiboshed in 2001 following worries about the engine's durability on extended high-speed autobahn runs. Shame. There again, the opportunities for maxing out on motorways are somewhat limited these days, and we did eventually get the Monaro. The Omega was an important link in the chain.
The 2.6 V6 replaced the 2.5 in 2000, but the last Omega disappeared in 2003 after only four years on sale. Not many low-mileage cars remain in the UK. For a grand, or very probably less, this is an appealing combination of effortless mile munching and slow-mo RWD revelry.
2001/Y Vauxhall Omega 2.6 V6 CD. 4 door saloon. Automatic. Metallic Silver with stunning Light Tan complementing luxury cloth interior. ABS brakes, Alarm, Air conditioning, Alloys, Audio remote control. CD Stereo, Colour coded body. Driver airbag, Dual climate control. Electric windows, Electric seats, Electric mirrors. Front armrest, Front fogs. Heated Seats, Heated screens. Immobiliser, Interior wood trim. Multi function steering wheel. Passenger airbag, Power steering. Remote locking, Rear armrest, Rear headrests. Sport & winter mode, Side airbags. Traction control, Trip computer, Tinted glass. All usual refinements. 2 Keys. Only 2 former keepers since new, Last owner since 2007. Only 69,179 miles with a full comprehensive service history. Recent work includes replacement exhaust, timing belt and water pump. This vehicle is in excellent condition for its age and mileage. Looks and drives well.. Superb luxury and value for money. Always maintained. Mot & Taxed. Bargain. £995.