£1000 Vectra SRI daily shed
Discussion
Ha, great username that! I was the same, I'd never thought I would still have this thing, been 3 years in April!!! 3 years with a Vectra!! Yours is providing fantastic service by the sounds of it.
It's in the garage now, awaiting it's matrix pipe and new thermostat, hopefully will have it back today...as it's needing to be back on the road asap!
Before it's incontinence...again, I polished the headlights to remove the cataracts it now has, it was a MOT advisory last year. Yellow/cloudyness has gone, meh, it's still not great but probably passable, which is all I care about - shall do it again the day before MOT in summer if it's still here.
Roughly, 151,000 miles now on it.
It's in the garage now, awaiting it's matrix pipe and new thermostat, hopefully will have it back today...as it's needing to be back on the road asap!
Before it's incontinence...again, I polished the headlights to remove the cataracts it now has, it was a MOT advisory last year. Yellow/cloudyness has gone, meh, it's still not great but probably passable, which is all I care about - shall do it again the day before MOT in summer if it's still here.
Roughly, 151,000 miles now on it.
Rich1973 said:
It appears to be already very good but you might see an improvement in economy with a new stat.
Yeah, it does seem to do pretty good economy for what it is (a big old hector), which is partly why I have put to bed the diesel replacement idea - only rational reason for wanting a diesel, is the cheaper VED - but even this Vectra's cost (which I think will increase a little come April with the new tax system) I can hide in the running costs to an extent if I keep it long enough.Bit of a quiet week, this week for mileage - couple hundred penned for next week, and the start of March is looking tentatively busy, potentially.
whytheory said:
I hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread - not sure PH needs two Vectra threads - but I'm 1 year and 16k miles into my copycat Vectra ownership.
With purchase price and maintenance I'm up to £2,624 which for me and cars is very good.
I still need practice at this shedding business - I've had a new spring and thermostat fitted which I'm not sure were actually needed and replaced a punctured budget tyre with another budget, only to replace all 4 with posh continentals when I got scared at the lack of grip in winter
Averaging 37.4 mpg using it for motorway commute but also a fair bit of town driving.
Normally I use man math to make a replacement car cheaper around this time of ownership but it's hard to argue with this one at the moment.
With purchase price and maintenance I'm up to £2,624 which for me and cars is very good.
I still need practice at this shedding business - I've had a new spring and thermostat fitted which I'm not sure were actually needed and replaced a punctured budget tyre with another budget, only to replace all 4 with posh continentals when I got scared at the lack of grip in winter
Averaging 37.4 mpg using it for motorway commute but also a fair bit of town driving.
Normally I use man math to make a replacement car cheaper around this time of ownership but it's hard to argue with this one at the moment.
No worries, jump aboard to the most undervalued, underdog of a car that is the Vectra C!Sounds like your doing ok tbh, apart from the tyre spend of course ha...that would of sunk my budget!!! Strictly budgets for me, I got annoyed when the garage only had Kuhmos in my size (215/50/17's) when I needed a nail repair new tyre £120!!), had me over a barrel as I needed to be back on the road asap, so I now have X3 different brands on mine.
Spring, Thermostat (will be needed eventually on these) anyway, so see it as preventative, the rest is just good old wear n' tear, so that is allowed in shedding circles of course, it is un-needed expense which is frowned upon
if it aint broke etc, keep rolling it.They are so cheap to run, like you have found out aren't they, and super economy also - thanks for the update
152,000
Not much to report, it's cracking on rather boringly (not complaining of course).
It's stopped it's coolant incontinence now, so I should in theory have a good few months steady'ness in the old nail, all being well.
Keep looking on AT etc, see if anything else tickles my fancy, but I always resort to just giving up, and thinking why am I bothering while this thing is still trundling on - think it's more out of habit me looking at different cheap sheds for something new to taste.
Oh, I have found some more rust on the rear arches, but the dirt is keeping that hidden from view, so all good there.
Anyway, boring update.
Not much to report, it's cracking on rather boringly (not complaining of course).
It's stopped it's coolant incontinence now, so I should in theory have a good few months steady'ness in the old nail, all being well.
Keep looking on AT etc, see if anything else tickles my fancy, but I always resort to just giving up, and thinking why am I bothering while this thing is still trundling on - think it's more out of habit me looking at different cheap sheds for something new to taste.
Oh, I have found some more rust on the rear arches, but the dirt is keeping that hidden from view, so all good there.
Anyway, boring update.
Edited by 7 5 7 on Friday 23 February 15:48
Superchickenn said:
It pleases me to see this constantly going
Ha! Yep, its still up and down the UK network, doing its thing as a tool (that so happens to have wheels also) Mr-B said:
Boils my piss this sort of thing. The fact that people don't give a f
k anymore, whoever did that would have driven off whether they hit your shed or a Rolls Royce, I just hope that it costs them a few hundred quid to sort it out before it "goes back" or they don't bother and the lease/finance company sort it for them and give them a dry bumming in the process.
Yeah, sums up modern society in all honesty sadly, but glad I don't have to worry about it with this, its covered up again nicely with more dirt, so happy days! k anymore, whoever did that would have driven off whether they hit your shed or a Rolls Royce, I just hope that it costs them a few hundred quid to sort it out before it "goes back" or they don't bother and the lease/finance company sort it for them and give them a dry bumming in the process.
the griffin said:
Good to see this is still going strong.
I'm running a Signum diesel, they are good cars for what they are.
I'm running a Signum diesel, they are good cars for what they are.
Yep its still going, keep looking of course for the next shed, but this is still earning its keep on the business mile expenses it is accumulating rapidly - still plenty of these about if I would swap it for a lesser tired/mileage one These are 'Ronseal' cars, most definitely - ah, the Signum was a cool car back in the day, but much maligned, unfairly I think - not many petrol ones of them about anymore, especially in 1.8 guise, it is mainly the 2.2, if any at all.
Edited by 7 5 7 on Friday 15th March 10:36
It still surprises me this old hector with it's economy, I did 531 miles on Saturday, and I still have 90 miles left on the OBC to go as I started it up this morning for the week...for a big 1.8 N/A petrol, I think that is excellent.
Business as usual (boring car, boring update) - but, a busy few months ahead by looks of it, with plenty more serious miles to to do.
Business as usual (boring car, boring update) - but, a busy few months ahead by looks of it, with plenty more serious miles to to do.
Edited by 7 5 7 on Monday 8th April 08:49
Mr-B said:
Do those OBC economy figures match any brim to brim measurements? Pretty impressive if they do. My 2.4 litre n/a gave me 289 miles over a brim to brim 10.1 gallons (28mpg) in a lighter 2+2 (GR86). Lots of local journeys doesn't help its cause mind. Would love to get close to your eco numbers
More or less yeah, did use Fuelly when I first got this car, and it was pretty accurate in all honesty.Usually hovers around 45-50mpg sat at 65mph on cruise - my use is predominantly all motorway use this car for work, very rarely gets used for local trips, so probably makes the difference.
New thermostat probably makes a difference and slightly overinflated tyres too
aust240378 said:
I would love to have a go at an economy run, I'm pretty sure I could get close to that figure, unfortunately it's rare i'm on my own in the car and doing just motorway miles, I've had 500 out of a tank before on a run up to Warrington, pretty sure if I slowed down a bit it would increase
Would you say for that engine 65mph is optimal? I've found lower than 60 doesn't always yield an improvement and could cause the car to labour slightly
Cheers
Austin
Go for it, they are very good motorway cars, I have to admit - definitely built for reps in mind Would you say for that engine 65mph is optimal? I've found lower than 60 doesn't always yield an improvement and could cause the car to labour slightly
Cheers
Austin
I got to 620 miles, and had to come in to refill on the above post.
It kind of depends, I have read if its at 3k rpm its 'breathing' better, like you said the car is laboring alot less, and the VVT is spinning if you like.
65/70mph I kind of stay at to get this economy if I have a clear run, having the tyres over-inflated does help I am running between 40-45PSI on this with its 17's, and I do carry heavy photographic/rigging gear in the boot, and usually one other passenger so this helps with this.
Very nearly took a punt on another one that came up locally, as a backup tool Vectra 2008 1.8 to stick on the drive
- was way cheap!! But, came to my senses.Edited by 7 5 7 on Wednesday 10th April 10:58
RazerSauber said:
Keep looking on AutoTrader. If it thinks you're waiting for it to die so you can get something else then it will last forever.
Get it some Kurust and hammerite on the rust if you can. I think the little Vectra has earned it!
Very true, kind of a funny way of looking at it Get it some Kurust and hammerite on the rust if you can. I think the little Vectra has earned it!
It would be good to get it to at least 200,000 miles, that is my kind of ceiling I am aiming for with this.
153,000
NSF fog light is still saying it has a bulb out...hmmm dash alert is annoying me now, looks to me to be a earthing issue, so took out 10mins to crawl underneath, locate the fog lamp and sand/clean metal parts - bingo, light on dashboard gone out...
After another 1,000 miles adding on it, a few more knocks have been making there way into the cabin from underneath, these terrible roads I think are taking it's toll on the old girls undercarriage.
NSF fog light is still saying it has a bulb out...hmmm dash alert is annoying me now, looks to me to be a earthing issue, so took out 10mins to crawl underneath, locate the fog lamp and sand/clean metal parts - bingo, light on dashboard gone out...
After another 1,000 miles adding on it, a few more knocks have been making there way into the cabin from underneath, these terrible roads I think are taking it's toll on the old girls undercarriage.
Another 1,500 miles to add on the "dirty mule" over the next two weeks, no update as such, I did glue the gear knob down, so that's fixed - but i do need to get it in for it's rear bushes and springs soon....
I am hoping I can put it off until MOT time (Aug/Sept), but not sure how many miles I am sticking on it until then
I am hoping I can put it off until MOT time (Aug/Sept), but not sure how many miles I am sticking on it until then
Superchickenn said:
I'm always a believer with these things that sometimes its better the Devil you know.. buying a newer car doesn't always mean better. Glad to see its putting in good work.
It's been a bloody good car in all respects, quite enjoyed running it so far, be great to get it to 200k - that's my mental aim with this now.It's just despatched 197 miles today, run down to the midlands and back, it's a pretty good mile muncher - the adjustable lumbar support is quite excellent, if a little rudimental in it's hand levered operation
Another 290 miles done today, Northampton and back, it can still hustle with the newest of rep cars
Down to Somerset tomorrow then around the South West this week with work as far as Poole, probably another 5/600 miles to do by end of this week.
Then, up to the Lakes next week for more client work...it's keeping busy this shed!
Down to Somerset tomorrow then around the South West this week with work as far as Poole, probably another 5/600 miles to do by end of this week.
Then, up to the Lakes next week for more client work...it's keeping busy this shed!
Edited by 7 5 7 on Monday 13th May 20:19
155,400 miles, sure dumped some mileage on it the past few weeks...1,900 miles when I reset my OBC 2 weeks ago!
Cruise control is now a little flaky, disengages when I hit a bump or when it starts to accelerate - maybe dirty contacts on the stalk (I've read), may investigate if I can be bothered.
Think a droplink has gone again drivers side as feel it knocking beneath my feet at times, will hang on till August for MOT, drop it in early see what it needs...love abit of "MOT Roulette".
Only 400 miles this week, after the bank holiday today.
Cruise control is now a little flaky, disengages when I hit a bump or when it starts to accelerate - maybe dirty contacts on the stalk (I've read), may investigate if I can be bothered.
Think a droplink has gone again drivers side as feel it knocking beneath my feet at times, will hang on till August for MOT, drop it in early see what it needs...love abit of "MOT Roulette".
Only 400 miles this week, after the bank holiday today.
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