£1000 Vectra SRI daily shed

[7 5 7]

New rear shocks fitted today, and springs I ordered were the wrong size (my fault), so it's back on with the old ones for now while I return these, the old ones weren't too bad in all honesty, but will address them and a few more bushes it will require next year now come MOT time.

Another 700 miles to stick on it between now and next weekend, with another trip down to North Cornwall next weekend, it's driving nice enough now anyway.

Will be punching around 146,000, been little quiet past week or so mileage wise - I'm not complaining like.

[A500leroy]

Thats you settled in for the winter then!
What rubber do you have on all 4 corners?

[7 5 7]

A500leroy said:

Thats you settled in for the winter then!
What rubber do you have on all 4 corners?

X4 budgets (Delintes and Hiflys) - all new this year, lovely stuff!

[SirGriffin]

Still say the Vectra was one of the best cars I've had, got my 1.8 up to 167000 before the MOT man said "no."

Mine was was the pre vvt 1.8, still smooth and economical up to the end, just used dreadful amounts of oil.

Regularly got 50mpg on a run, amazing for such a big comfy car. Always felt they were an overlooked gem.

[7 5 7]

Yeah, do agree with you with the 'overlooked' bit. Its doing a grand job of just being a tool to not worry about, it just gets on with it. Beginning to think this thing will hang around for a couple more years yet, feels like it will!

Current monthly cost over roughly 23 months ownership (as I work it out, as that is the deciding factor if it stays or not)...

Purchase price/repairs/tax - not including fuel or insurance - all lumped together, its costing me £123 per month now, and I can still get £300 scrap with no quibbles tomorrow, utterly marvelous!

Edited by 7 5 7 on Thursday 12th October 14:44

[7 5 7]

She's a knocking real good now, gonna bring it in when there is downtime, 500 more miles to stick on it next week.

I'm thinking....X2 droplinks (they eat these for breakfast I've heard) X2 rear springs (will get these done then, after my bugger up), needs another bush at the rear by sounds of it also.

Will give it a fresh oil and filter, already ordered off eBay this morning (£29 all in, so seems daft not too tbh, it's gone over 10k since the last one anyway) may even give the gearbox oil a refresh too, oil is cheap again.

I think I am going to try get another MOT out for this thing, it's proven itself a decent useful tool, a bit like a hammer, let's see what the next year brings, just stuck tax on it.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Saturday 28th October 11:08

[A500leroy]

7 5 7 said:

She's a knocking real good now, gonna bring it in when there is downtime, 500 more miles to stick on it next week.

I'm thinking....X2 droplinks (they eat these for breakfast I've heard) X2 rear springs (will get these done then, after my bugger up), needs another bush at the rear by sounds of it also.

Will give it a fresh oil and filter, already ordered off eBay this morning (£29 all in, so seems daft not too tbh, it's gone over 10k since the last one anyway) may even give the gearbox oil a refresh too, oil is cheap again.

I think I am going to try get another MOT out for this thing, it's proven itself a decent useful tool, a bit like a hammer, let's see what the next year brings, just stuck tax on it.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Saturday 28th October 11:08

Would it have killed you to spend another fiver on some wash and wax?

[7 5 7]

A500leroy said:

Would it have killed you to spend another fiver on some wash and wax?

I did last week, thankless task the miles I do, well not a wax, that's pushing it.

[7 5 7]

Washed up well when it had its £2 "scratch n' shine"



...didn't last long, 1 day later - going to give up washing it again this year.

[A500leroy]

Forgive me for I may sin next year.

Really getting an itch to swap my Panda, nothing wrong with it other than ive had it 8 years and my previous best with a car is 2 years.

So whats tempting me?

A Meriva Tech line...


I know, I know, but what appealing is the low tech engine with a chain, loads of kit as standard, and I know MPV's are not cool but I think it looks half decent.

Really sorry.

[7 5 7]

A500leroy said:

Forgive me for I may sin next year.

Really getting an itch to swap my Panda, nothing wrong with it other than ive had it 8 years and my previous best with a car is 2 years.

So whats tempting me?

A Meriva Tech line...


I know, I know, but what appealing is the low tech engine with a chain, loads of kit as standard, and I know MPV's are not cool but I think it looks half decent.

Really sorry.

dont worry, I too hated Vauxhall, ever since I was 17, that was 20+ years ago...and look where we are now!

Don't feel too down trodden, the Meriva is probably a very good car, and I dont blame you as an MPV make great shedvans...pssst, a Zafira is just as good, but don't let anyone else hear me say that....feel dirrrrty now

[A500leroy]

7 5 7 said:

dont worry, I too hated Vauxhall, ever since I was 17, that was 20+ years ago...and look where we are now!

Don't feel too down trodden, the Meriva is probably a very good car, and I dont blame you as an MPV make great shedvans...pssst, a Zafira is just as good, but don't let anyone else hear me say that....feel dirrrrty now

I would have a Zaffy, But I dont like being warm

[7 5 7]

270+ miles this morning, all cruise control (M6 > M40) and back, 49mpg+ seriously impressive again with this economy on this thing, even if adjusted for OBC accuracy, serious diesel territory when cruising.

[daqinggregg]

Considering that’s a large and heavy old Hector, you must have the clodhoppers of a teenage Russian ballerina, to get that mpg.

[7 5 7]

daqinggregg said:

Considering that’s a large and heavy old Hector, you must have the clodhoppers of a teenage Russian ballerina, to get that mpg.

a steady (65mph) and just let cruise do its thing, didn't touch the brakes, or clutch for a good couple of hours, the beauty of 4am motorway jaunts.

[aust240378]

I reckon I'm about there on a run (Same engine) , worked out at the pump:-

Cost per litre £154.9
£67.72
Distance £468.1 miles

Real world MPG 48.68

That was at 5am on a run from Southend to Warrington.

[7 5 7]

aust240378 said:

I reckon I'm about there on a run (Same engine) , worked out at the pump:-

Cost per litre £154.9
£67.72
Distance £468.1 miles

Real world MPG 48.68

That was at 5am on a run from Southend to Warrington.

Yeah, that's good going too - seem pretty happy on the motorway, once running local errands they aernt as good, but then running a diesel (cold) you ain't seeing 50mpg!

Would happily run another Vec C as a tool car if this sts itself, still plenty about in the classifieds online, and many still under £1500! Would just swap the roofbars over

[csd19]

7 5 7 said:

daqinggregg said:

Considering that’s a large and heavy old Hector, you must have the clodhoppers of a teenage Russian ballerina, to get that mpg.

a steady (65mph) and just let cruise do its thing, didn't touch the brakes, or clutch for a good couple of hours, the beauty of 4am motorway jaunts.

It's also not heavy, it's under 1400kg. Large, yes, but it's not a chonker.

[7 5 7]

350 miles stuck on today, another 1,000+ to do before end of this month, big miles at moment with this thing.

Had a nail in the sidewall last night, not repairable, so had to stump up for a new tyre the night before I left to do the miles today...so had no choice but have what they had on the shelf - was a Kuhmo so better than all the other X3 on the car, just didn't want the expense! I now have X3 different brands on the car, proper shedding

Edited by 7 5 7 on Saturday 11th November 07:16

[7 5 7]

...and, with all that mileage, we're dirty again!