320touring's 2001 Vectra SRi 150 daily beater

[320touring]

benjijames28 said:

Currently the plan is to pay off what I owe on my Audi, then I'm going to buy a family friendly another, clean it up and give it the girlfriend as her first car when she passes her test.

What's more likely to happen is I end up in the snotter and she takes the Audi.

Bonnes Chances squire

[Barchettaman]

benjijames28 said:

Love these banger threads, it really makes me want to get in on the action.

+1. Banger and shed threads are the best. They usually have the funniest writing, too - maybe a warped sense of humour goes with the territory!

[Jimmy Recard]

HaroldBishop said:

Mrs Bishop had a Tigra of similar vintage with the 1.6l engine in it and that got through a fair bit of oil as well. The general consensus at the time was, as you say, 'they all do that sir'.

1990s Vauxhalls definitely were oil users. A salesman would say that it was a feature to keep oil changes easy, at a guess

[320touring]

Barchettaman said:

+1. Banger and shed threads are the best. They usually have the funniest writing, too - maybe a warped sense of humour goes with the territory!

lol!warped will likely cover it..

Jimmy Recard said:

1990s Vauxhalls definitely were oil users. A salesman would say that it was a feature to keep oil changes easy, at a guess

The thought had occurred- just pop a new filter in every 6 k..total loss oiling ftw

[Davie]

Outstanding... and oddly, I can relate as I bought a "forum car" from a bloke also in Croydon having read all about how this thing was the dugs baws. Flew down with the woman in tow, got to Croydon by public transport... emerged and suddenly felt very very venerable so took a taxi to the blokes house. Walked round the car, wondered where the mint Vectra was hiding but nope... this was it... took it anyways and by the M25 I was seriously debating melting it into the central reservation. Sadly, the thing made it back to Fife and I tried hard to like it but in the end I decided that no, it was horrific and promptly sold it for a profit.

Good to see you've had a slightly better experience... they aren't bad things, getting rare these days which I never thought I'd hear myself saying! My local breakers don't even have any these days "Nah, too old mate" WFT?

[320touring]

This is off to pastures new as of this evening..

All in all,a pleasant ownership experience,if not a particularly stimulating drive.

I'd have another if it were cheap enough.Great on petrol, plenty of room and comfortable enough. Could have done with another 50bhp and something approaching handling.

[Alan_I_W]

320touring said:

This is off to pastures new as of this evening..

All in all,a pleasant ownership experience,if not a particularly stimulating drive.

I'd have another if it were cheap enough.Great on petrol, plenty of room and comfortable enough. Could have done with another 50bhp and something approaching handling.

Why're you selling it? And how much for if you don't mind me asking?

[SHutchinson]

Get yourself a nice V6 GSi estate to run around in. The parts are dirt cheap, the engine is pretty strong (200bhp on the facelift plus the better F23 gearbox as opposed to the pre-facelift with circa 160bhp and the leggy F25) and the load area is big enough to sleep in.

A pal of mine has just picked one up for £400 and after a bit of fettling it's making me a bit envious.

[320touring]

Alan_I_W said:

Why're you selling it? And how much for if you don't mind me asking?

Sorry its already sold and collected!

SHutchinson said:

Get yourself a nice V6 GSi estate to run around in. The parts are dirt cheap, the engine is pretty strong (200bhp on the facelift plus the better F23 gearbox as opposed to the pre-facelift with circa 160bhp and the leggy F25) and the load area is big enough to sleep in.

A pal of mine has just picked one up for £400 and after a bit of fettling it's making me a bit envious.

I would, except the chassis is ropey enough with 150bhp, 200 would be a bit lairy;)

For a couple of hundred more, an Alfa 156 with the 2.5 busso v6 would likely be the winner in my books!

[Alan_I_W]

320touring said:

I would, except the chassis is ropey enough with 150bhp, 200 would be a bit lairy;)

For a couple of hundred more, an Alfa 156 with the 2.5 busso v6 would likely be the winner in my books!

I wasn't looking to buy I was just curious

[320touring]

Alan_I_W said:

I wasn't looking to buy I was just curious

No problemski

Sold it as have a new job and need a diesel. I already have the replacemnt.

I covered my costs on it to be fair, and put almost 10k on it

[Alan_I_W]

320touring said:

No problemski

Sold it as have a new job and need a diesel. I already have the replacemnt.

I covered my costs on it to be fair, and put almost 10k on it

Not bad at all, what's the replacement?

[320touring]

Alan_I_W said:

Not bad at all, what's the replacement?

Aye have had worse results..may pap up a thread for the new brief soon

[rxe]

Only just seen this thread. My mother drives a 2.0 Vectra in the same colour - I think it is 130 HP, the damn thing would be terrifying with 150. As you say, a reliable, but utterly uninspiring drive. I can't help but think your Alfa was utterly shagged in the suspension department if it was in any way comparable to a Vectra.

[320touring]

rxe said:

Only just seen this thread. My mother drives a 2.0 Vectra in the same colour - I think it is 130 HP, the damn thing would be terrifying with 150. As you say, a reliable, but utterly uninspiring drive. I can't help but think your Alfa was utterly shagged in the suspension department if it was in any way comparable to a Vectra.

Never said my Alfa was comparable?Alfa has a much better setup and better handling-my 200 quid 156 was much better.

All I was saying was that I'd rather have a v6 156 over a vectra gsi!

[benjijames28]

You must be doing some right mileage now to warrant getting yourself a diesel.

Please don't tell me it's a BMW 320d.

[320touring]

benjijames28 said:

You must be doing some right mileage now to warrant getting yourself a diesel.

Please don't tell me it's a BMW 320d.

Indeed it is not it is a thing of exquisite beauty and extraordinary taste..

I totally blew the budget on it too

[SHutchinson]

320touring said:

SHutchinson said:

Get yourself a nice V6 GSi estate to run around in. The parts are dirt cheap, the engine is pretty strong (200bhp on the facelift plus the better F23 gearbox as opposed to the pre-facelift with circa 160bhp and the leggy F25) and the load area is big enough to sleep in.

A pal of mine has just picked one up for £400 and after a bit of fettling it's making me a bit envious.

I would, except the chassis is ropey enough with 150bhp, 200 would be a bit lairy;)

For a couple of hundred more, an Alfa 156 with the 2.5 busso v6 would likely be the winner in my books!

The chassis is fine for 200bhp. They used to race them in the Vectra challenge series which was a warm-up race for the super saloon era of BTCC. These days though, most are abused and on Chinese tyres so I'm not surprised they might feel a bit spongy.

[320touring]

SHutchinson said:

The chassis is fine for 200bhp. They used to race them in the Vectra challenge series which was a warm-up race for the super saloon era of BTCC. These days though, most are abused and on Chinese tyres so I'm not surprised they might feel a bit spongy.

Yeah that was the white ones that they did as a limited edition?

[320touring]

During my habitual early morning "cheap car perusing" session, what appeared into view?

That's right, this old tub.

It left me in Nov 2016, and I'd not seen it since.

If anyone is interested in it, the ad is below(I have no association with the seller)

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/vau...