1.8 VVT Vectra any good?
Discussion
Looking for an upgrade for my ageing 04 Astra 1.4 16v hatch, up to about £3500.
Just after some more poke, mpg in the 30 or higher, not loads to insure and fairly cheap to service.
Saw a Vectra 1.8 and apparently the VVT is a nice engine, has some toys like cruise control as well.
Worth a buy? Or anything better? I like the new shape Mondeo but its out of budget and i don't like the old shape.
Was going to get an MX5 but got turned off with all the rust horror stories, mine would have to be kept on the drive year round.
Thanks
Just after some more poke, mpg in the 30 or higher, not loads to insure and fairly cheap to service.
Saw a Vectra 1.8 and apparently the VVT is a nice engine, has some toys like cruise control as well.
Worth a buy? Or anything better? I like the new shape Mondeo but its out of budget and i don't like the old shape.
Was going to get an MX5 but got turned off with all the rust horror stories, mine would have to be kept on the drive year round.
Thanks
Should be perfectly fine, I had a 1.8 mk3 Mondeo and it was happy enough with 4 people and luggage. Overtaking wasn't a problem either.
Think the VVT engine has a cam belt so make sure the belt isn't due.
The 2.2 is a good engine if you get a post 2002 one and I can't imagine there will be much difference in economy. Worth a look?
Think the VVT engine has a cam belt so make sure the belt isn't due.
The 2.2 is a good engine if you get a post 2002 one and I can't imagine there will be much difference in economy. Worth a look?
My dad had a 2007 Vectra Life with this engine and i remember that it was actually fairly nice to drive.
Not fast...but not too bad, smooth and reasonable mpg.
My dads needed a coil pack and a gearbox-rebild though, at fairly low miles, and it put him off. Thats a shame as i think the later petrol Vectras were pretty much sorted out by then.
I gather that the Insignias are heavier and the engine struggles more in that compared to the Vectra.
Not fast...but not too bad, smooth and reasonable mpg.
My dads needed a coil pack and a gearbox-rebild though, at fairly low miles, and it put him off. Thats a shame as i think the later petrol Vectras were pretty much sorted out by then.
I gather that the Insignias are heavier and the engine struggles more in that compared to the Vectra.
The 1.8 VVT is decent enough, I'd certainly much rather have it than the 1.9 diesel. Cheaper, easier to find a tidy low mileage example, hugely more reliable and they are quite economical for what they are. Performance is 'ok', not fast of course but it's much better than the same engine in the heavier Insignia. Perfectly acceptable family bus imo.
I didn't think any Vectra's were worth £3.5k these days, apart from the VXR maybe, the 1.8 won't feel a great deal quicker than your current car, they are as dull as ditch water to drive but reliable enough.
Plenty of the 'new' last model petrol Mondeo's out there for your budget, if you are meaning this model
Which are leagues ahead of the Vectra in every way.
Plenty of the 'new' last model petrol Mondeo's out there for your budget, if you are meaning this model
Which are leagues ahead of the Vectra in every way.
Edited by Jazoli on Tuesday 12th January 19:15
Jazoli said:
I didn't think any Vectra's were worth £3.5k these days, apart from the VXR maybe, the 1.8 won't feel a great deal quicker than your current car, they are as dull as ditch water to drive but reliable enough.
That was my first thought too, the newest Vectras are nearly 8 years old now and a brief glance at Parkers suggests £3k is top money (i.e. main dealer asking price) for an 09 1.8 with low mileage and high spec.As for the 1.8 engine, it's OK, bit short on torque so not the most relaxing or quiet thing to drive.
DoubleD said:
So you've looked at Vectras and MX5s?!
Yes. All i really want it something with better performance30+ MPG
Reliable, cheap to service, cheap to insure
Some luggage space for a week away or camping
Some toys like cruise control, a reliable air con (mine leaks and the compressor broke once)
Leather interior but not that important to be honest
Thats it. I've looked at Vectra's but the interior is a bit boring. Mazda 6 is quite nice too and the 2 litre has good performance so ive heard, but again the interior isnt much to write home about.
MX5 is also cheap and seems like it would be great fun, but the rust has turned me off too much.
Older shape Mondeo is ugly and looks so similar to my Astra. Havn't seen a nice example of the newer shape Mondeo in my budget.
Series 3 BMW would probably be a money pit, as would a Saab 93/95, so im struggling a bit for something good.
You could get a top of the range one for that sort of money! If you don't mind an auto, I think the 2.0T was an option for the Elite. I had a 2.8T and can confirm it won't meet your mpg requirements, I averaged 24mpg with mixed use, 30mpg if doing a traffic-free motorway granny drive. 2.0T much more economical and can get 250bhp with a remap.
The 1.8vvt is gutless as f
k, driven dozens of them at my old work and every time i do i could swear they were faulty as the feel like they are constantly hesitating almost like they want to go well then holding back again nothing like the torque of a 2.0 cavalier. The 150 variant of the 1.9d is quite nice, especially with a remap and decat.
What makes you think a saab would be more of a money pit than a vectra, they share a platform but better built and nicer finish and light years more comfortable.
k, driven dozens of them at my old work and every time i do i could swear they were faulty as the feel like they are constantly hesitating almost like they want to go well then holding back again nothing like the torque of a 2.0 cavalier. The 150 variant of the 1.9d is quite nice, especially with a remap and decat.What makes you think a saab would be more of a money pit than a vectra, they share a platform but better built and nicer finish and light years more comfortable.
Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 13th January 01:40
Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 13th January 01:42
OldGermanHeaps said:
The 1.8vvt is gutless as fk, driven dozens of them at my old work and every time i do i could swear they were faulty as the feel like they are constantly hesitating almost like they want to go well then holding back again nothing like the torque of a 2.0 cavalier. The 150 variant of the 1.9d is quite nice, especially with a remap and decat.
What makes you think a saab would be more of a money pit than a vectra, they share a platform but better built and nicer finish and light years more comfortable.
Just heard a lot more horror stories from the Saab and not many with the Vectrak, driven dozens of them at my old work and every time i do i could swear they were faulty as the feel like they are constantly hesitating almost like they want to go well then holding back again nothing like the torque of a 2.0 cavalier. The 150 variant of the 1.9d is quite nice, especially with a remap and decat.What makes you think a saab would be more of a money pit than a vectra, they share a platform but better built and nicer finish and light years more comfortable.
Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 13th January 01:40
Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 13th January 01:42
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