Vectra - Brand snobbery or truly awful?
Discussion
daemon said:
Ross1303 said:
Maybe Im a bit misled due to mainly owning vauxhalls and my dad having a number of them but I simply dont get the negativity surrounding the last version of the vectra.
Maybe I'm not ph enough but for a decent sized family hatch it ticks all the boxes I need.
Cheap to buy, on par with similarly priced and sized looks wise, eats miles without a grumble, pushes along well enough when asked and swallows all of our family luggage.
So is it simply case of vauxhall having a certain image or am I completely missing something?
I've sold quite a few and have no issues with them. They are as cheap as chips. Bought an 08 1.8i petrol with 75K miles on it, years MOT, timing belt done and FSH for £1750 including fees at auction. Maybe I'm not ph enough but for a decent sized family hatch it ticks all the boxes I need.
Cheap to buy, on par with similarly priced and sized looks wise, eats miles without a grumble, pushes along well enough when asked and swallows all of our family luggage.
So is it simply case of vauxhall having a certain image or am I completely missing something?
The 'standard' cars are desperately average though. Driving a Vectra is the motoring equivalent of saying "i've given up"
.tali1 said:
I think vast majority of mainstream mass produced cars (no matter how critically acclaimed) have that "i've given up" vibe
I actually think that a lot of cars actually have a "cars are a functional device that get me from A to B" vibe.The idea that everyone driving a dull car has 'given up' would imply that deap down they desired a different car. For many drivers this just isn't the case.
Devil2575 said:
I actually think that a lot of cars actually have a "cars are a functional device that get me from A to B" vibe.
The idea that everyone driving a dull car has 'given up' would imply that deap down they desired a different car. For many drivers this just isn't the case.
I Agree, I think its probably why I've liked my two Vauxhalls. They have both been what I term 'Ronseal' cars. Neither were amazing or class leading in anything. But they were safe, affordable, relatively comfortable, someone in every garage can fix one, every parts stockist can get the parts. I also find that they don't really have any driving compromises. I'm curious about this skipping issue people have talked about, I only noticed something similar on mine when I broke a rear spring - I know the early MK1s were known for breaking springs regularly? I just personally like the fact that I feel I can just get in and go without any fuss, or wondering if what I bought from B&Q will fit etc..The idea that everyone driving a dull car has 'given up' would imply that deap down they desired a different car. For many drivers this just isn't the case.
I wouldn't be comparing them to a BMW mind, its a different market and ownership ideal really?!
I had a one (2 years old) as a 60 mile/day commuting car and whilst it was ok in most areas, the handling was scary. Not anywhere near the limit along back roads it genuinely felt as if the back and front ends were somehow not connected. I had the car checked and all was as it should be yet it still felt unsafe.
Others cars prior and since have all been fine on the same stretches of road at the same or greater speed.
I actually had a Cavalier SRI at one point a few years earlier and it was a better car in most ways than the Vectra.
Others cars prior and since have all been fine on the same stretches of road at the same or greater speed.
I actually had a Cavalier SRI at one point a few years earlier and it was a better car in most ways than the Vectra.
XJ Flyer said:
It's not the brand it's the product that matters.The VXR8 is also a Vauxhall but it's in a different league to a Vectra.
If it's the product that matters, according to your analogy, then it's the brand that's at fault, seeing as the VXR8 is not a product from Vauxhall, but a rebadged Holden. 
NadiR said:
XJ Flyer said:
It's not the brand it's the product that matters.The VXR8 is also a Vauxhall but it's in a different league to a Vectra.
If it's the product that matters, according to your analogy, then it's the brand that's at fault, seeing as the VXR8 is not a product from Vauxhall, but a rebadged Holden. 
t box fwd Vectras. Edited by XJ Flyer on Sunday 22 September 03:45
Edited by XJ Flyer on Sunday 22 September 03:47
I used to hire early Vectras all the time. I preferred them to the equivalent Sierra/Mondeo of the time. There was a slightly weird wooden steering feel for the first 15 minutes until you got used to it. Then you would anticipate it and it was as good as any family box for hustling around for reasonable progress.
The B was rubbish. The ecotec engines were dogged by crappy siemens engine management, what possessed them to switch away from bosch I don't know. The hardware was actually pretty good, it was just the management system. The V6 engine was dire.
The car itself was also rubbish, I can remember being in one with a mate and there were all sorts of knocks and noises coming from the front and back "wtf is that?"
"what ?" "all the noises" "oh, they all do that" he said. and they did. Subframe and suspension bushes rattling away, horrendous.
The Cavalier that the B replaced was a better car in pretty much every way, despite its age. IMHO Opel/Vauxhall rushed the Vectra out in response to Ford releasing the Mondeo to finally replace thecortina sierra. The press started raving about the Mondeo because it was much better than the Sierra - no surprise given it was only a rehashed cortina really. At the time I didn't see what was so great about the Mondeo and I'm still not sure now really.
The last of the C were actually pretty good cars imho. Problem was it had taken 8/9 years to get there. I liked the VXRs which certainly had absolutely no "dangerous" handling traits around Thruxton on the VXR Track days.
The car itself was also rubbish, I can remember being in one with a mate and there were all sorts of knocks and noises coming from the front and back "wtf is that?"
"what ?" "all the noises" "oh, they all do that" he said. and they did. Subframe and suspension bushes rattling away, horrendous.
The Cavalier that the B replaced was a better car in pretty much every way, despite its age. IMHO Opel/Vauxhall rushed the Vectra out in response to Ford releasing the Mondeo to finally replace the
The last of the C were actually pretty good cars imho. Problem was it had taken 8/9 years to get there. I liked the VXRs which certainly had absolutely no "dangerous" handling traits around Thruxton on the VXR Track days.
My daughter, who is no dummy, bought a new Vectra about 5 years ago. She liked it so much she replaced it with a new one a couple of years ago.
When they bought a much larger boat they needed a more capable tow vehicle than her blokes V8 Holden Commodore, so her Vectra was replaced with the new 5 pot 3.0L turbo diesel 4WD dual cab Ford Ranger. Now that is a capable vehicle, but she would much prefer her Vectra back.
I drove the Vectra a few times, & thought nothing of it. It did everything I asked of it reasonably well, & neither annoyed or pleased me, leaving no impression at all.
I was then unfortunate enough to have to drive my ladies new Ford Fiesta. Now that did leave an impression. It did everything dreadfully, with particularly bad throttle response & horrible steering. Compared to the Fiesta, the Vectra was a limousine.
When they bought a much larger boat they needed a more capable tow vehicle than her blokes V8 Holden Commodore, so her Vectra was replaced with the new 5 pot 3.0L turbo diesel 4WD dual cab Ford Ranger. Now that is a capable vehicle, but she would much prefer her Vectra back.
I drove the Vectra a few times, & thought nothing of it. It did everything I asked of it reasonably well, & neither annoyed or pleased me, leaving no impression at all.
I was then unfortunate enough to have to drive my ladies new Ford Fiesta. Now that did leave an impression. It did everything dreadfully, with particularly bad throttle response & horrible steering. Compared to the Fiesta, the Vectra was a limousine.
I love how people think that any of the "normal" cars in competition with the vectra are in any way exciting. I mean is a mondeo really going to set your pulse racing? Does a honda accord turn heads every where it goes? Is a passat as luxurious as a rolls Royce inside?
A vectra in my opinion is a mode of transport & not a full on drivers machine. As are all of the other similar cars in its class. Does any real ph'er aspire to drive a middle of the road family hatch? My Mrs drives a vectra as she likes a big boot for chucking a pram in the back of!
A vectra in my opinion is a mode of transport & not a full on drivers machine. As are all of the other similar cars in its class. Does any real ph'er aspire to drive a middle of the road family hatch? My Mrs drives a vectra as she likes a big boot for chucking a pram in the back of!
rolo0151 said:
A vectra in my opinion is a mode of transport & not a full on drivers machine. As are all of the other similar cars in its class. Does any real ph'er aspire to drive a middle of the road family hatch? My Mrs drives a vectra as she likes a big boot for chucking a pram in the back of!
No it's like the Dacia Duster. Cheap daily transport that frees up money for the more important things like living and motor racing.Except I got so bored with mine I bought the MG TF as a relief which sort of blew all the savings I'd made...
rolo0151 said:
I love how people think that any of the "normal" cars in competition with the vectra are in any way exciting. I mean is a mondeo really going to set your pulse racing? Does a honda accord turn heads every where it goes? Is a passat as luxurious as a rolls Royce inside?
A vectra in my opinion is a mode of transport & not a full on drivers machine. As are all of the other similar cars in its class. Does any real ph'er aspire to drive a middle of the road family hatch? My Mrs drives a vectra as she likes a big boot for chucking a pram in the back of!
Yup sums it up.A vectra in my opinion is a mode of transport & not a full on drivers machine. As are all of the other similar cars in its class. Does any real ph'er aspire to drive a middle of the road family hatch? My Mrs drives a vectra as she likes a big boot for chucking a pram in the back of!
Only the sporty and large engined versions differ in criteria
Wow, this is a very long thread where everyone who knows anything about cars and makes purchasing decisions on motoring requirements that Vectras are quite OK.
Amongst my multi car collection of interesting cars, I needed a regular practical mile munching load carrying saloon. I could have ended with a Vectras, Passat or Mondeo. I ended up with the Ford but the Vectra would have been just as OK.
Amongst my multi car collection of interesting cars, I needed a regular practical mile munching load carrying saloon. I could have ended with a Vectras, Passat or Mondeo. I ended up with the Ford but the Vectra would have been just as OK.
Pistom said:
Wow, this is a very long thread where everyone who knows anything about cars and makes purchasing decisions on motoring requirements that Vectras are quite OK.
Amongst my multi car collection of interesting cars, I needed a regular practical mile munching load carrying saloon. I could have ended with a Vectras, Passat or Mondeo. I ended up with the Ford but the Vectra would have been just as OK.
Aye they're grand and as cheap as chips. Dull but worthy.Amongst my multi car collection of interesting cars, I needed a regular practical mile munching load carrying saloon. I could have ended with a Vectras, Passat or Mondeo. I ended up with the Ford but the Vectra would have been just as OK.
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