Shed motoring with a....... Vectra!
Discussion
Yes I know, doesn't sound very interesting, one of the most universally panned cars of all time etc etc. But you know, needs must sometimes. Despite my fair share of big luxo barges in my time, I'm currently out of work with virtually no money, and my last car fell to bits.
So when I saw 54 plate Vectra outside a car dealer, looking forlorn, I decided to hold my nose and have a look. Up for £495 with 3 months MOT, after some argument it became mine for £300. Crazy? Maybe not so much when I actually looked at it.
It's pretty much rust free, and clean inside. It's huuuuuuge, with a huuuuuuge boot, and comfortable seats, a sterio, working aircon, and joy of joys cruise control! The 1.8 engine has all the vigour of wet lettuce, but it cruises well and is plenty quick enough for going to Tesco.
Any problems? Of course, but pleasingly cheap and simple to resolve.
Expenses so far?
Overcooling - £23 for new thermostat
Crazy alarm - £3.50 for key repair kit which resolved all the electrical issues
Rattling tailgate - free, piece of tape over the lock.
£99 for full exhaust from Eurocarparts as the original looked shaky
EML light - £13 for secondhand oxygen sensor from eBay.
99p toothpaste to clean the headlights
And the MOT after 3 months? I admit I never normally buy a car with a short MOT, but took a chance, and come the day it failed with a leaking fuel pipe, and 1 brake pipe. Result! MOT man said "not a bad motor."
Tyres? Well it has them. Black and round, with all kinds of names you've never heard of. But they are reasonably ok for the present, and I don't drive like Stirling Moss.
So far Ive found this car quiet, comfortable, reliable, and surprisingly economical - 48mpg on a cruise is excellent for a non diesel. It's now on 130000 miles, and feels ready for quite a few more.
All hail the overlooked Vectra - it might surprise you. And before the hate pours in about dullness and lack of style, none of that really matters with a 14 year old banger. It's keeping me mobile, so at the moment, it's the best thing since sliced bread!
I'll keep this updated
So when I saw 54 plate Vectra outside a car dealer, looking forlorn, I decided to hold my nose and have a look. Up for £495 with 3 months MOT, after some argument it became mine for £300. Crazy? Maybe not so much when I actually looked at it.
It's pretty much rust free, and clean inside. It's huuuuuuge, with a huuuuuuge boot, and comfortable seats, a sterio, working aircon, and joy of joys cruise control! The 1.8 engine has all the vigour of wet lettuce, but it cruises well and is plenty quick enough for going to Tesco.
Any problems? Of course, but pleasingly cheap and simple to resolve.
Expenses so far?
Overcooling - £23 for new thermostat
Crazy alarm - £3.50 for key repair kit which resolved all the electrical issues
Rattling tailgate - free, piece of tape over the lock.
£99 for full exhaust from Eurocarparts as the original looked shaky
EML light - £13 for secondhand oxygen sensor from eBay.
99p toothpaste to clean the headlights
And the MOT after 3 months? I admit I never normally buy a car with a short MOT, but took a chance, and come the day it failed with a leaking fuel pipe, and 1 brake pipe. Result! MOT man said "not a bad motor."
Tyres? Well it has them. Black and round, with all kinds of names you've never heard of. But they are reasonably ok for the present, and I don't drive like Stirling Moss.
So far Ive found this car quiet, comfortable, reliable, and surprisingly economical - 48mpg on a cruise is excellent for a non diesel. It's now on 130000 miles, and feels ready for quite a few more.
All hail the overlooked Vectra - it might surprise you. And before the hate pours in about dullness and lack of style, none of that really matters with a 14 year old banger. It's keeping me mobile, so at the moment, it's the best thing since sliced bread!
I'll keep this updated
Edited by SirGriffin on Sunday 26th August 11:59
Edited by SirGriffin on Sunday 26th August 12:04
so fair play to you. I hope it does what you need it to do and doesn't throw a huge bill at you.
steve-5snwi said:
Drop the plastic undertray and check the subframe for rot.
Interesting comment - the subframe does look quite rusty, although the MOT man made no comments, I was thinking about rubbing it down and heavily rustproofing it. It's about the only corrosion underneath. On the other hand, if it gets the length of the MOT and fails on subframe rot, it would owe me nothing.
Next job on the horizon - front strut bearings. Just £8 each, but requires dismantling of the struts.
I (briefly) ran about in an abused one of these, recently and was surprised at just how rust-free it was. I didn't check the subframe, but it was MOT'd after I got it and my mechanic commented on how clean it was. I had both bumpers off, all lights out etc and there was hardly a spot of rust. This from a 12 yr old car. When compared to my similar aged Fabia, it was in much better condition. Also didn't break one clip - same couldn't be said for the Skoda, which snapped clips just by looking at them.
My first car was an R reg Vectra SRi 130. I never really pushed it that hard as I was learning in it and I got myself an E36 318ti Sport as soon as I passed my test, but the car had been in the family for a while and when I got rid of it, had covered about 230k miles. In later years I actually regretted being quite so hasty to get rid as it had had practically everything replaced on it, the most recent thing being the alternator which cost more than I got for the car :/
In its favour, it was pretty comfortable (although less so than the BMW) and the 4-door hatch format was indeed very practical. Also, the stereo in it was a load better than the BMW, the speakers actually had some bass!
It was a decent drive and also quite a bit better looking than the subsequent version.
In its favour, it was pretty comfortable (although less so than the BMW) and the 4-door hatch format was indeed very practical. Also, the stereo in it was a load better than the BMW, the speakers actually had some bass!
It was a decent drive and also quite a bit better looking than the subsequent version.
SirGriffin said:
Interesting comment - the subframe does look quite rusty, although the MOT man made no comments, I was thinking about rubbing it down and heavily rustproofing it. It's about the only corrosion underneath.
On the other hand, if it gets the length of the MOT and fails on subframe rot, it would owe me nothing.
Next job on the horizon - front strut bearings. Just £8 each, but requires dismantling of the struts.
You cannot see the rot when MOT'ing it, its well hidden by the undertray, you could push your fingers through it.On the other hand, if it gets the length of the MOT and fails on subframe rot, it would owe me nothing.
Next job on the horizon - front strut bearings. Just £8 each, but requires dismantling of the struts.
Well in answer to concerns about subframe corrosion hiding behind undertrays, I noticed today that it er...doesn't actually have one...so the subframe was displayed in all its glory for the MOT tester. One assumes therefore that he didn't get his knickers in a twist about it.
However at 10.00pm last night on the motorway when the oil light came on, I certainly did get my knickers twisted, along with several other things. Yet there was actually oil in it, above the min on the dipstick.
After much internet searching, it seems that electronic overzealous brains scream blue murder if the oil level drops a certain amount. Well intentioned, but I don't need a heart check up for the next 12 months.
However at 10.00pm last night on the motorway when the oil light came on, I certainly did get my knickers twisted, along with several other things. Yet there was actually oil in it, above the min on the dipstick.
After much internet searching, it seems that electronic overzealous brains scream blue murder if the oil level drops a certain amount. Well intentioned, but I don't need a heart check up for the next 12 months.
SirGriffin said:
P.S why don't smilies appear when I add them?
Depends how you type them, chap?https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/smilies.htm
Snap. Got this yesterday as part payment on an old Megane Scenic I was selling for £650. The lad that had it didn't want to spend money to repair the knock coming from the front end and the broken headlight. £400 cash and the Vectra and he took the Megane.
Investigated the knock, strut top mount, ordered a pair including bearings for £38. The headlight issue involves the indicator bulb hole, the connection ring inside of the light appears to be broken as it is moving around. Ordered a second hand light from eBay for £26. Other then that i can see any other problems. It was absolutely filthy inside and out so a day spent cleaning and it now looks respectable.
Oh, it's a 2.2 direct SRi satnav model. Before and after, I forgot to take a before pic of the interior.
Investigated the knock, strut top mount, ordered a pair including bearings for £38. The headlight issue involves the indicator bulb hole, the connection ring inside of the light appears to be broken as it is moving around. Ordered a second hand light from eBay for £26. Other then that i can see any other problems. It was absolutely filthy inside and out so a day spent cleaning and it now looks respectable.
Oh, it's a 2.2 direct SRi satnav model. Before and after, I forgot to take a before pic of the interior.
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