vectra c 1.8 sri
Discussion
I would ask this in the VX forum, but there isnt much life in there.
I am considering one as a cheap daily. I know what a vectra is like having owned a 3.2 for 4 years previously.
Does anyone have any experience of these with running costs, mpg etc? I don't need it to be fast, just safe, comfy and able to deal with the 400+ Mile trek up north and back once a month. Otherwise it's an 80 mile a week round trip to Aylesbury and local running, which in 6 months will just be a 20 mile round trip a day and the odd trip up north when i don't take my m5.
Cheers
I am considering one as a cheap daily. I know what a vectra is like having owned a 3.2 for 4 years previously.
Does anyone have any experience of these with running costs, mpg etc? I don't need it to be fast, just safe, comfy and able to deal with the 400+ Mile trek up north and back once a month. Otherwise it's an 80 mile a week round trip to Aylesbury and local running, which in 6 months will just be a 20 mile round trip a day and the odd trip up north when i don't take my m5.
Cheers
With apologies if I'm being a dumbo and have slightly the wrong model - I have a 58 Reg Vectra SRI with a 1.8 petrol engine. I bought it at a year old with 9k on the clock.
It does about 37 mpg, but I do drive like a grandad. At a cruise the MPG is always really good, but it's a fairly heavy car so in traffic more than 30 MPG is hard to get. It's dead reliable and servicing is very affordable. I have had the air con play up a couple of times though and a joint in the steering (replaced under warranty just before the car was 2 years old).
To drive, the car is a comfy cruiser, but it is a bit dull.
It does about 37 mpg, but I do drive like a grandad. At a cruise the MPG is always really good, but it's a fairly heavy car so in traffic more than 30 MPG is hard to get. It's dead reliable and servicing is very affordable. I have had the air con play up a couple of times though and a joint in the steering (replaced under warranty just before the car was 2 years old).
To drive, the car is a comfy cruiser, but it is a bit dull.
Although they are meant to be an all-rounder that sort of car is particulary biased towards motorway slog. It's a 'rep' car for sales reps to drive up and down the motorway at low cost to the company with as little amount of hassle as possible. It sounds perfect for what you want.
The only thing I'm not understanding is why it would have to be an SRI. Could you not get a lower spec one?
The only thing I'm not understanding is why it would have to be an SRI. Could you not get a lower spec one?
DKS said:
Personally, the 1.8 engine in my experience is ok in the older Astras (Mk4s) but is just too gutless in anything larger.
What about the 2.0T? Or even the relatively simple 2.0 or 2.2 DTi? I wouldn't touch the 2.2 petrols though.
Depends on the age of the car, the Mk4 Astra had a 120bhp old variant as did the earlier Vectra C's. The later cars had the newer 1.8VVT with 140bhp far better engine. For general driving they will do the job, not exactly a Fast & Furios contender, but will do exactly what it says on the tin. I also found them to be great on fuel and on motorway driving you can easily stretch nigh on 600miles out of a tank (I actually found them better than the 150bhp 1.9CDTi's in that respect)What about the 2.0T? Or even the relatively simple 2.0 or 2.2 DTi? I wouldn't touch the 2.2 petrols though.
The other bonus is the abundance of them, so replacement parts are easily sourced.
2.0 & 2.2DTi's simple? not so much, slower than a week in the jail and a fuel pump failure will see the car written off as they have a phenomenal cost to replace.
2.0T - nice engine, nice power, sacrificing fuel consumption though tbh and again few around.
JimmyConwayNW said:
The exclusiv with dab radio is a good choice almost the Sri looks bar the spoiler everything else the same and a comfy place for your requirements. Got from Glasgow to Cheshire on just over half a tank on a recent clear motorway trip at a healthy speed.
Was that the 1.8? I am hoping for around 40mpg on a motorway run and 25mpg around town. I would get a smaller car if it wasnt for the need to travel North each month, I'd just feel safer being in a larger car. Plus the boot space is handy. I want a car I can get in, drive, pretty much forget about, but be reliable and not cost the earth to fix if it goes wrong. That and being able to leave it in car parks and not care if someone has banged their door into it, or when I go to my gf's parents and its vandalised like my M5 keeps getting 
.Cheers.
SRi's probably have the best seats for long journeys - the base spec ones don't have enough lumbar support & the leather in the Elite looks good but I found myself sliding around on a test drive. A 1.9 CDTi is a good choice if you do a lot of motorway work, but the 1.8 is probably the simplest option.
Symbolica said:
SRi's probably have the best seats for long journeys - the base spec ones don't have enough lumbar support & the leather in the Elite looks good but I found myself sliding around on a test drive. A 1.9 CDTi is a good choice if you do a lot of motorway work, but the 1.8 is probably the simplest option.
I had an Elite when I had my 3.2. Was ok, but it was an auto, when I should've got a manual.I do around 600 miles a month. 560 motorway / A roads, the rest is local driving. That will be changing to around 700 miles, with 580 being motorway / a road in Summer.
I have had 2 vectra C's in the past, both had a few issues.
quick version:
1. check for juddering in reverse
2. check clutch isn't worn - expensive labour charge
3. check for oil leaks
4. check for water in boot
5. check for noisy/creaky front suspension
6. join vectra-c.com and look at forums (great source of info all things vectra/signum)
1. 2004 1.9cdti 120bhp (had some engine issues but irrelevant to the OP since you're interested in a petrol) but also had a water leak into the boot floor. It took months to find out it was coming in through the roof bar fittings under the rain gutter panels on the roof. I had to drill out some rivets, seal and re-rivet. During this time i joined vectra-c . com and found out water leaks are pretty common.
The front suspension used to make creaking/groaning noises all the time. Another very common problem with front bushes and/or seating of front coil springs. Very annoying but not a big problem.
2. 2007 1.8 vvt (140bhp) - 3 yrs old when i bought it and i had to reject it.
Not too bad to drive, pretty economical, but in reverse it shuddered like i was a learner driver again. The Vauxhall garage originally said "they all do this sir - trait of the car".
After a couple more weeks i got fed up of the juddering so took it back, kicked up a fuss and got them to look at it again.
They replaced the clutch/bearings etc with genuine parts. Picked it up next day, worse than before!
They took it back in, used different vauxhall parts ('kit' parts are different so we found out), also replaced the flywheel, still bad juddering.
The dealers then said they couldn't fix it (read 'wouldn't put any more money into it') saying it could be driveshafts/gearbox/etc etc so i had a full refund.
Note - clutch replacement is a 6 hour labour charge!.
This little escapade really put me off the 1.8 engine.
We also had a 1.8 zafira before this which had a small oil leak coming from the crankshaft oil seal. Quite an expensive fix, so we left it and luckily it got written off a few months later.
quick version:
1. check for juddering in reverse
2. check clutch isn't worn - expensive labour charge
3. check for oil leaks
4. check for water in boot
5. check for noisy/creaky front suspension
6. join vectra-c.com and look at forums (great source of info all things vectra/signum)
1. 2004 1.9cdti 120bhp (had some engine issues but irrelevant to the OP since you're interested in a petrol) but also had a water leak into the boot floor. It took months to find out it was coming in through the roof bar fittings under the rain gutter panels on the roof. I had to drill out some rivets, seal and re-rivet. During this time i joined vectra-c . com and found out water leaks are pretty common.
The front suspension used to make creaking/groaning noises all the time. Another very common problem with front bushes and/or seating of front coil springs. Very annoying but not a big problem.
2. 2007 1.8 vvt (140bhp) - 3 yrs old when i bought it and i had to reject it.
Not too bad to drive, pretty economical, but in reverse it shuddered like i was a learner driver again. The Vauxhall garage originally said "they all do this sir - trait of the car".
After a couple more weeks i got fed up of the juddering so took it back, kicked up a fuss and got them to look at it again.
They replaced the clutch/bearings etc with genuine parts. Picked it up next day, worse than before!
They took it back in, used different vauxhall parts ('kit' parts are different so we found out), also replaced the flywheel, still bad juddering.
The dealers then said they couldn't fix it (read 'wouldn't put any more money into it') saying it could be driveshafts/gearbox/etc etc so i had a full refund.
Note - clutch replacement is a 6 hour labour charge!.
This little escapade really put me off the 1.8 engine.
We also had a 1.8 zafira before this which had a small oil leak coming from the crankshaft oil seal. Quite an expensive fix, so we left it and luckily it got written off a few months later.
TheAngryDog said:
Symbolica said:
SRi's probably have the best seats for long journeys - the base spec ones don't have enough lumbar support & the leather in the Elite looks good but I found myself sliding around on a test drive. A 1.9 CDTi is a good choice if you do a lot of motorway work, but the 1.8 is probably the simplest option.
I had an Elite when I had my 3.2. Was ok, but it was an auto, when I should've got a manual.I do around 600 miles a month. 560 motorway / A roads, the rest is local driving. That will be changing to around 700 miles, with 580 being motorway / a road in Summer.
Yes on a motorway the 1.8 petrol should be pushing 40mpg.
They have an armrest, and the seats are nice and comfy for a long journey like that. SRI visually look quite nice, and as far as I recall the exclusiv are just marginally cheaper on insurance without the sri kit.
Quite a lot of car for money if you go for a petrol can get an 57/08 for same money as a 54/05 diesel (comparable mileages etc)
They have an armrest, and the seats are nice and comfy for a long journey like that. SRI visually look quite nice, and as far as I recall the exclusiv are just marginally cheaper on insurance without the sri kit.
Quite a lot of car for money if you go for a petrol can get an 57/08 for same money as a 54/05 diesel (comparable mileages etc)
kiethton said:
My experience (briefly) with a Vectra says get a Mondeo
Depends what it's for really. I've owned a Mondeo ST220 and a Vectra diesel. Both had their positives and negatives, but it depends what your overall goal is. For purely motorway work I'd choose the Vectra anyday, but for A-Roads I'd take the Mondeo.kiethton said:
My experience (briefly) with a Vectra says get a Mondeo
This is usually the first response. It's unheard of for a Vectra thread to last 12 hours on here without the car getting a bit of a bashing. For what it's worth, I've had 3 Vectras (and a Mondeo). But never a 1.8 Vectra. My current Vectra 2.0T has been perfectly decent - 8000 miles of trouble free motoring thus far, driven sensibly it returns just under 40mpg on a run but not so good around town.Sorry about the Mondeo comment but the Vectra (2004, 1.8) I had was dire, uncomfortable and inefficient. What was worst was the gearbox and power delivery/how it handled - saggy is the best word to describe and the front end went v. light under hard acceleration (may have been due to the huge Irmmscher wing though).
The Mondeo however was a good 3pg better on fuel, more comfortable and better to drive. Al my opinion though - I was responsible for selling on my dad's co's old CC fleet from 2002- 2005 so had a few focus/mondeos/vectras plus the partners cars to move on if not part-exed
The Mondeo however was a good 3pg better on fuel, more comfortable and better to drive. Al my opinion though - I was responsible for selling on my dad's co's old CC fleet from 2002- 2005 so had a few focus/mondeos/vectras plus the partners cars to move on if not part-exed
Edited by kiethton on Monday 23 December 00:22
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