£1000 Vectra SRI daily shed

[7 5 7]

Garage had the unpleasant task of letting me know (sarcasm) I couldn't have what I ordered, so I can try and match the same on the front axle, so, Delinte is what they said they have in stock, funny how if this was a car I actually cared about, it would bother me, but I really don't, these will work just fine.

[7 5 7]

140,000 miles

My daughter doesn't understand the shed way, so was constantly saying "...daddy, dirty car, dirty car..."

So I gave in, and had to give it a wash - tbh it's been a loyal old thing, it deserved abit of TLC, and I added a full body T-cut too with what I found in the shed, won't be getting another one for a while now!

Edited by 7 5 7 on Tuesday 8th August 08:36

[7 5 7]

Now, I did say I was going to do MOT roulette with this, but managed to have some downtime and get the Vectra in for an undercarriage inspection, as it's been banging around like a swingers party at the rear for some time, as it's been such a good car it deserved a look in.

So, needs rear shocks, stabilizer and rollbar bushes!

Not too bad, will be booked in soon.

Another 500 miles scheduled for next week.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Wednesday 21st June 15:06

[7 5 7]

aust240378 said:

That's not too bad, it's serving you well! It will keep going, Mine was way more reliable than my 3 E46 BMW's who'd have guessed

Yeah, it's not doing too bad, parts all ordered, £70 all in, so cheap the parts for these VX's.

One thing my mechanic did say, was the cam-phasers are rather rattly still, and I do think they are leaking a little oil, as found some leakage when I was underneath the car, rather not go down that route to replace as these are quite a costly job, so may be the end if these ste themselves, may never happen so, it will will keep plodding on I am sure.

It has been rather reliable and has completely changed my view on the marque tbh, would happily (like yourself) grab another one if this borks (but an estate one), the wife won't be happy like if I did ....I just love knocking about in cheap cars now!!

[7 5 7]

Mileage 142,000

Rare bit of down time on the car it's had new rear shocks and D bushes, the car is transformed!!

What a difference new ones make to the handling, they were well and truly buggered the shocks were!

So, as you were, I will keep piling the miles on the Vec!

[7 5 7]

Be sticking another 900'ish miles on it next week, on its errands (North West and the South West/Cornwall...again, end of next week) - ride is very plush now, well, plusher than it was with the new rear shocks - still pretty wooden the SRI springs tbh.

Its booked in for its MOT in September, had to book it in when it think it is free to go in, not unduly worried about anything now, will have another 2,3k on it before then, all easy motorway miles - oil leaks haven't returned either, so, happy that's fixed.

But so far, this Vectra is becoming abit of a cockroach!

It coming out at now - £150 per/month over 17 months of ownership all in - still friggin' cheap motoring!

[7 5 7]

soad said:

I quite fancy one of these, as a second car. Being bigger, certainly feels safer than a hatchback (been rear ended in one, at low speed).
But currently between jobs.

Yeah, they are proper tanks in all honesty, bigger than you think, certainly feel safe and remarkably well built, and dirt cheap as you have probably gathered.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Wednesday 12th July 19:24

[7 5 7]

Glosphil said:

Have you calculated the mpg or are you just believing the readout?

Yeah I did when I first got it used Fuelly App, which is pretty accurate for fill ups compared to the readouts, but got bored to keep it up

But reading around, 45/50mpg is very common on these 1.8 VVT's especially on the motorway where it's spends 80% of it's time at 65mph, they are really quite frugal for what they are.

[7 5 7]

aust240378 said:

I reckon that's about right for the 1.8VVT, I've been calculating when I've filled up, the worst I have had is 41mpg, the best is 44mpg and I reckon there's a bit more to be had if I actually made the effort. For comparison the 2.2 direct was about 5mpg less .

Yeah I routinely, when on business mileage make an effort to eeek out as much as I can on the motorway, 49/50mpg is really as high as I've got it - which I think is mighty impressive for a big heavy family car, which is usually lumbered with a boot full of gear too.

Still can't justify chopping this car in yet, still ticks alot of boxes as a good solid, simple tool of a motor, to pile the miles on.

[7 5 7]

aust240378 said:

7 5 7 said:

aust240378 said:

I reckon that's about right for the 1.8VVT, I've been calculating when I've filled up, the worst I have had is 41mpg, the best is 44mpg and I reckon there's a bit more to be had if I actually made the effort. For comparison the 2.2 direct was about 5mpg less .

Yeah I routinely, when on business mileage make an effort to eeek out as much as I can on the motorway, 49/50mpg is really as high as I've got it - which I think is mighty impressive for a big heavy family car, which is usually lumbered with a boot full of gear too.

Still can't justify chopping this car in yet, still ticks alot of boxes as a good solid, simple tool of a motor, to pile the miles on.

That is impressive, I'm going to make an effort to get closer to 50pmg Just out of interest what have you had out of a tank? I think the most I ever did on the 2.2 was 460 miles, Is 500 achievable on one tank do you think?

I think I have easily had 450 out of it, definitely. I routinely do Edinburgh and back in a day with work, that's 458 miles round trip.

Will give it a proper test this weekend I think, I am doing North West to Cornwall - 610 miles round trip, so I am hoping to do that in one tank....

Edited by 7 5 7 on Monday 17th July 13:26

[7 5 7]

whytheory said:

This is mine, 85% motorway... need to get better at sticking at 60mph because it'll do 45/47mpg then.

I have just given mine a full service including a thermostat (which hasn't solved my wondering temperature gauge) and I also replaced a spring it didn't strictly speaking need.

Despite unnecessary parts I've spent only £1850 (purchase+servicing) on it so far and covered ~7500 miles.

65mph, even 70mph is pretty good tbh, just before the VVT kicks in, seems to be happier when sat at cruise at this higher speed - I knock off the cruise on the hills if I have too, as it plummets when engaged.

Still, good value that mate, not alot at all in the grand scheme of things is it, they do seem to eat suspension parts I heard, but still cheaper than a deposit on a lease

[7 5 7]

Well....one emergency stop, pushed it over the edge - blew a brake line on the M5, RAC confirmed as a corroded hard line.

Full recovery home, 300 miles away (I am stuck in Cornwall...) RAC have been utterly amazing, and giving me a hire car while I get the car back...over the next few days.

So, first hiccup with the Veccy

[7 5 7]

Hyundai Kona.....well it's alot newer, this is my Vectra for a few days - Newest car I've ever had tbh

[7 5 7]

Picked the Kona up from Plymouth, then did a family stop over in Taunton, Somerset for a quick coffee.

200 miles home from there, 56mpg, mightily impressive for a 1.0 petrol hybrid, terribly uncomfortable car though, must be the seats, tried every setting, but I could not get comfortable.

So that's (Vectra 1 - 0 Kona) on the comfort score anyway.

[7 5 7]

aust240378 said:

Damn sorry to hear about your brake issue, exactly the same thing happened to me! except it was on the MOT testers ramp a couple of years ago.

They pressed the brakes down hard and all brake fluid pissed out everywhere. I'd been lucky as I was light on the brakes but am happy it was fixed on the ramp

Yeah I have read this is an issue on the Vectra C's - especially above the fuel tank, hopefully get it back in few days, don't actually know where it is - it's with the RAC Logistics team at the moment.

[7 5 7]

A500leroy said:

Id sooner have the Vauxhall.

it's not too bad in all honesty, mainly just the bewildering array of infotainment that I am not use too, but it's terribly uncomfortable, reasonably nippy 3 cylinder though, but it's a car.

Looking forward to the Vectra back tbh, like a well worn lovely armchair in a country pub, by comparison. My wife thinks the opposite! Ha!

[7 5 7]

Hyundai 'Corona' Kona gets returned tomorrow, will I miss it??...hmmm, I will miss the infotainment system, but that is all tbh, it's not a bad car and I think Hyundai have really got something going at the moment with their range, and the 3 cylinder engine does sound quite cool in all honesty.... anyway the Vectra, the poor bloody Vectra!

It's back, after 3 days in storage in St Austell, it's on the ramps now down the road and should be done by tomorrow or end of the week.

Looks like a bigger job than we both (my mechanic) thought. It's not going to be beer money to fix as the internet sometimes says about these jobs, plus another section needs attention too....well 16 years on the road and approaching 150k y'know, it's gonna happen.

But, it's going to be repaired - I need the car back ASAP, it will be cruising down to Cornwall again next weekend to finish off what I didn't get to do, for some house clearing tasks.

I really haven't got the appetite or time to go hunting for another car at the moment...*cough* there is a few Insignia petrols down the road..reasonably priced....as it did cross my mind to chop it in, while I was driving back in my Kona!

My mechanic persuaded me not too in the end, and said see how we go over the next year with it.

Plus I have my brand new X4 budget tyres I need to at least get my wear out of!

So, that's where we are at with this.

[7 5 7]

Should be getting the shed back today...all being well, massive delay getting it on the ramps fitting it in, is what it is, been so fun juggling 1 car with my work/my wife's work and child duties...not! it will be a nice welcome back for It.

First big strike against it though, so let's hope it has a good year at least left in it, as the wife really wants me to swap it for something a little newer....I'm resisting as much as I can at the moment.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Wednesday 2nd August 08:36

[7 5 7]

Shaw Tarse said:

New title okay OP?

Ha yeah needed shed in it, thanks

[7 5 7]

whytheory said:

Had an Insignia previously and it didn't feel as well made as as this generation of Vauxhall

Yeah, they do feel pretty robustly built these Vectra's, very hardwearing, I looked at an insignia a few weeks back, came up cheap locally, the boot size was a disappointment in comparison too, one reason I have this Vectra, is due to its massive haulage capacity.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Thursday 3rd August 20:03