Vectra GSI by MSD
Discussion
I'm slightly biased (ex admin on vvoc.com) but they're a really decent car for the money. I've recently sold a a persia saloon (the pic is in my profile) that I'd owned for the last 7 years. I could never bring myself to sell it so used to keep it for shows etc. Anyway, I wrote it off at xmas and sold it to a guy who has rebuilt it to a very high standard.
Edited by SHutchinson on Friday 8th October 14:45
soad said:
What's MSD? Tuning company of sorts?
Could say that, Motor Sport Developments. Used to run Vauxhalls BTCC effort during the days they championed the Vectra before Triple Eight took over the reigns.MSD had a finger in the upgrades for the road going Vectra GSi and also the subsiquent limited edition version.
its not bad, i think the build quality of vauxhall in this timeline were far superior to the compitition, with full electric recaros.
i found a web site that said lotus had a say in the chasis, and the wheels were by O.Z although there are no markings.
as far as performance, im only 23 and went to this from a 1.8 vec so to me when i first got it i felt like i was in a STI lol
She is hard work to get off the line, bit of a fatty.
she will sit and cruise around 130 all day long, runs out of gas around 148.
I am an estate agent, and when i have a busy day on the road i can get as little as 15mpg!
i found a web site that said lotus had a say in the chasis, and the wheels were by O.Z although there are no markings.
as far as performance, im only 23 and went to this from a 1.8 vec so to me when i first got it i felt like i was in a STI lol
She is hard work to get off the line, bit of a fatty.
she will sit and cruise around 130 all day long, runs out of gas around 148.
I am an estate agent, and when i have a busy day on the road i can get as little as 15mpg!
SHutchinson said:
I'm slightly biased (ex admin on vvoc.com) but they're a really decent car for the money. I've recently sold a a persia saloon (the pic is in my profile) that I'd owned for the last 7 years. I could never bring myself to sell it so used to keep it for shows etc. Anyway, I wrote it off at xmas and sold it to a guy who has rebuilt it to a very high standard.
i think i have seen quite a few of your posts! Edited by SHutchinson on Friday 8th October 14:45
I had a minter a few years ago, loved it but hated the economy. A great sounding engine with induction kit and handled better than most people would give it credit for.
A picture attached. Quite rare as a hatch in this colour. I had the irmscher lower and upper grille fitted with the prefacelift surround instead of the chrome, also irmscher side repeaters to finish off.
A picture attached. Quite rare as a hatch in this colour. I had the irmscher lower and upper grille fitted with the prefacelift surround instead of the chrome, also irmscher side repeaters to finish off.
I used to work for MSD making these, I may have even converted your car! They were pretty capable & we even did a couple of 'special' ones with a 3.0 litre engine, ported & polished heads, remap, full leather (inc door cards), low final drive & an LSD. I can't remember who made the wheels but they were supplied by TSW & fitted with Yokohama tyres.
eta: the op's car looks like a 2.6 not 2.5. The 2.5 had different wheels, bumper, side skirts, headlights. Also all 4 camshafts were changed on the 2.6, only the inlet cams on the 2.5.
eta: the op's car looks like a 2.6 not 2.5. The 2.5 had different wheels, bumper, side skirts, headlights. Also all 4 camshafts were changed on the 2.6, only the inlet cams on the 2.5.
Edited by bertelli_1 on Saturday 9th October 09:14
bertelli_1 said:
eta: the op's car looks like a 2.6 not 2.5. The 2.5 had different wheels, bumper, side skirts, headlights. Also all 4 camshafts were changed on the 2.6, only the inlet cams on the 2.5
They made a facelift 2.5 before doing the 2.6's though.Mine's a pre FL 2.5 with the FL front end.(bumper,grille and headlights)
OP,nice looking car you have there
Always liked the look of these but i owned a 1999 Vectra Sri 140 and tbh it was the worst car I've ever owned. The handling was utterly appalling, terrible driving position, etc. How does the Gsi handle and hows the mpg? My Sri drank petrol and it was dog slow 
Yours looks good though.
Yours looks good though.
insanelewis21 said:
She is hard work to get off the line, bit of a fatty.
That's such a good way of describing it 
I had a dark green X reg GSi hatchback and before that I had a Cavalier V6. Both of them needed working hard to get going, but once you've got it wound up it really pulled hard. As for the fuel economy I used to average about 31mpg, it was slightly more economical than my Mondeo ST24. You guys must be caning yours everywhere!
Mine did 24mpg and never ever did i get more than 28 even on a run. Handling wise mine was stock but had a geometary gone, good tyres and i though it was awsome. Faster you went the better it got just like the engine they need provoking to get the best from them. I found it was not until you really pushed one that they showed them self.
During my ownership mine only ever had a egr pipe split (common) otherwise nothing ever went wrong with it.
A lightened fly wheel makes the world of difference to these motors as the stock ones are obese. If the economy was not so bad i would still be driving it.
During my ownership mine only ever had a egr pipe split (common) otherwise nothing ever went wrong with it.
A lightened fly wheel makes the world of difference to these motors as the stock ones are obese. If the economy was not so bad i would still be driving it.
been a while since i have been on here.
prob really thick thing to say, but im guessing op means original poster??
they lights are 6k HIDs not something i would of done, but they were already fitted.
coming up to 24 months of ownership now, and everything is still great. (touches wood)
the 2.5 MSD was made up until 2001 roughly then went to the 2.6 fly by wire version, which had less HP but more torque, aparently they suffer with sensors and ecu problems.
have now fitter a de silenced centre section with a 6x4 magnex back box.
in the engine bay, i have a Ramair JS-108 cone with cold air feed.
other pans include, getting a 2nd vectra. Must be a saloon and pref a 2ltr.
She will become a z20let/z20leh powered BTCC rep! so im looking forward to start that and will get a project thread up.
prob really thick thing to say, but im guessing op means original poster??
they lights are 6k HIDs not something i would of done, but they were already fitted.
coming up to 24 months of ownership now, and everything is still great. (touches wood)
the 2.5 MSD was made up until 2001 roughly then went to the 2.6 fly by wire version, which had less HP but more torque, aparently they suffer with sensors and ecu problems.
have now fitter a de silenced centre section with a 6x4 magnex back box.
in the engine bay, i have a Ramair JS-108 cone with cold air feed.
other pans include, getting a 2nd vectra. Must be a saloon and pref a 2ltr.
She will become a z20let/z20leh powered BTCC rep! so im looking forward to start that and will get a project thread up.
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