RE: Shed of the Week: Vauxhall Vectra SRI
Discussion
edward1 said:
Whilst this may well be a pretty dull uninspiring car, that is probably best used for lugging stuff up and sown the m/way. What I don't get is the real hate for anything VX on here vs the love for Ford. I know we are all obviously driving gods who can instant;y tell the difference between the subtle handling differences between the standard models of ford and vauxhall. Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference and once a car gets to shed value how tired the dampers are will probably make more difference than the relative out the show room abilities.
We used to get lots of mondeo's and vectra's of this era as hire cars and to be honest the vectra handled OK and under normal driving the mondeo was no better. What was bad was the Mondeo diesel engines, horrible things compared to even the 4 pot vectra engine. Those indicators that BMW and VX fitted around this time were dreadful though.
Ford: Escort MKI, MKII, XR3i, RS Turbo, Cossie. Sierra Cossie, Xr4x4, Xr4i Capri, Cortina, Granada, Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo. We used to get lots of mondeo's and vectra's of this era as hire cars and to be honest the vectra handled OK and under normal driving the mondeo was no better. What was bad was the Mondeo diesel engines, horrible things compared to even the 4 pot vectra engine. Those indicators that BMW and VX fitted around this time were dreadful though.
Vauxhall: Astra GTE, Nova SRI, Cavalier GSI, Calibra.
Ford make cars that the average guy can enjoy driving, they pretty much reinvented the hatchback with the Focus. Vauxhall on the whole make soulless appliances, even the VXR's understeered and torque steered like crazy.
daemon said:
AC43 said:
The FIL had an Insignia with that engine. I never drove it but I passengered in it and that engine was actually quite tuneful. A million times better than a four pot.
A 3.0CDTI Insignia?It was deffo a diesel. But I remembered being pleasantly surprised when he fired it up as it didn't sound like it just put a rod through the block.
Maybe it was a 2.5 or something.
EDIT; it was a Signum not an Insignia. Not bad for a soot chucker.
Edited by AC43 on Friday 28th July 12:49
I used to quite enjoy driving these when I worked for Vauxhall. They handled OK, rode quite nicely and were a comfy motorway barge with a characterful engine to boot. I'd happily shed this although I'd be worried about the bills potential-they didn't go wrong a huge amount but when they did the costs were shocking!
I ran a 56 plate Signum with this engine & box for 3 and a half years/85,000 miles.
It was an OK car and did everything well enough, but twice in that time it needed the injection pump replacing due to failed suction valves.
The first time was under warranty and all was good for another 45K, but the second time I had to pay for it myself (although I did get some 'goodwill' back from Vx) and it never drove the same again after that.
The pump was about £800 if I remember correctly.
It was an OK car and did everything well enough, but twice in that time it needed the injection pump replacing due to failed suction valves.
The first time was under warranty and all was good for another 45K, but the second time I had to pay for it myself (although I did get some 'goodwill' back from Vx) and it never drove the same again after that.
The pump was about £800 if I remember correctly.
"Before BMW realised you only need a 2.0TD to go that fast"
Have you not seen the 30D and 35D? Lets not forget the X/M550D with supercar power outputs.
My run of the mill X3 has 255bhp and 410lb of torque.
Seems to me that BMW are the ones actually pushing big powerful diesels not trying to get rid of them.
Have you not seen the 30D and 35D? Lets not forget the X/M550D with supercar power outputs.
My run of the mill X3 has 255bhp and 410lb of torque.
Seems to me that BMW are the ones actually pushing big powerful diesels not trying to get rid of them.
aaron_2000 said:
Ford: Escort MKI, MKII, XR3i, RS Turbo, Cossie. Sierra Cossie, Xr4x4, Xr4i Capri, Cortina, Granada, Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo.
Vauxhall: Astra GTE, Nova SRI, Cavalier GSI, Calibra.
Ford make cars that the average guy can enjoy driving, they pretty much reinvented the hatchback with the Focus. Vauxhall on the whole make soulless appliances, even the VXR's understeered and torque steered like crazy.
Ah, the hate for Vauxhall comes through loud and clear in both your posts this week. A shame you listed most Fords and made the Vauxhall list short.Vauxhall: Astra GTE, Nova SRI, Cavalier GSI, Calibra.
Ford make cars that the average guy can enjoy driving, they pretty much reinvented the hatchback with the Focus. Vauxhall on the whole make soulless appliances, even the VXR's understeered and torque steered like crazy.
Why not include the Firenze or even the Lotus Carlton (especially as it seems to be in your own fav list)? The XR3i was hardly showered with 1st class honours when launched.
I don't get how many people expect a brand new car up to 2017 standards for £1000 or less each week. Someone will buy it and be happy - end of.
Warpspeed1 said:
the Lotus Carlton (especially as it seems to be in your own fav list)?
The Lotus Carlton is hardly a Vauxhall with a bodykit. It was massively reworked by Lotus, hence why most brand it as a Lotus, not a Vauxhall. Feel free to provide an equal list of Vauxhalls that were as good as the Fords listed. aaron_2000 said:
Warpspeed1 said:
the Lotus Carlton (especially as it seems to be in your own fav list)?
The Lotus Carlton is hardly a Vauxhall with a bodykit. It was massively reworked by Lotus, hence why most brand it as a Lotus, not a Vauxhall. Feel free to provide an equal list of Vauxhalls that were as good as the Fords listed. monzaxjr said:
aaron_2000 said:
Warpspeed1 said:
the Lotus Carlton (especially as it seems to be in your own fav list)?
The Lotus Carlton is hardly a Vauxhall with a bodykit. It was massively reworked by Lotus, hence why most brand it as a Lotus, not a Vauxhall. Feel free to provide an equal list of Vauxhalls that were as good as the Fords listed. aaron_2000 said:
Warpspeed1 said:
the Lotus Carlton (especially as it seems to be in your own fav list)?
The Lotus Carlton is hardly a Vauxhall with a bodykit. It was massively reworked by Lotus, hence why most brand it as a Lotus, not a Vauxhall. Feel free to provide an equal list of Vauxhalls that were as good as the Fords listed. I'm no expert on either model, just asking the question. Seems to me either both can be claimed by the parent manufacturer's fans, or neither.
AC43 said:
daemon said:
AC43 said:
The FIL had an Insignia with that engine. I never drove it but I passengered in it and that engine was actually quite tuneful. A million times better than a four pot.
A 3.0CDTI Insignia?It was deffo a diesel. But I remembered being pleasantly surprised when he fired it up as it didn't sound like it just put a rod through the block.
Maybe it was a 2.5 or something.
EDIT; it was a Signum not an Insignia. Not bad for a soot chucker.
Edited by AC43 on Friday 28th July 12:49
Warpspeed1 said:
I don't get how many people expect a brand new car up to 2017 standards for £1000 or less each week. Someone will buy it and be happy - end of.
To be fair, I don't think this is a "Vauxhall hate" issue. I think the Vectra is getting a pasting because it's featured in SOTW. The good people of PH expect something interesting, quirky, or desirable from SOTW, and find the Vectra a tad uninspiring in this context.To redress the balance somewhat; If I remember rightly, a Mondeo ST24 received similar levels of abuse when it was SOTW recently.
Maybe we should have a parallel thread to SOTW, called something like "honest transport for a bag of sand". Cars like the Vectra would shine in such an environment.
I often think people are too hard on Shed of the Week, but in this case people should be harder. This is surely the nastiest thing we've ever had in the column.
I have often preferred GM cars to Ford equivalents, and would always have chosen e.g. a Mark I Cav over a Cortina, or a Mark 2 Cav over an early Sierra, but at every point through the years when Vectras competed head-on with Mondeos, the equivalent Mondy was streets ahead.
I have often preferred GM cars to Ford equivalents, and would always have chosen e.g. a Mark I Cav over a Cortina, or a Mark 2 Cav over an early Sierra, but at every point through the years when Vectras competed head-on with Mondeos, the equivalent Mondy was streets ahead.
Edited by Lowtimer on Friday 28th July 14:25
Looks a bit too sheddy for my money. The true shedder wants a car that looks a million dollars . . . for less than a grand. ;-)
Don't know about the Vectra C, but I drove both pre and post facelift Vectra Bs and they weren't the worst things I've ever driven. The current Mrs PB had one as a company motor when we met and it was quite good fun as long as I straightlined my favourite stretch of twisty road as best I could. :-p
Yeah, I know, I just contradicted myself! I suppose what I'm really saying is there's nothing faster than a company motor!
Don't know about the Vectra C, but I drove both pre and post facelift Vectra Bs and they weren't the worst things I've ever driven. The current Mrs PB had one as a company motor when we met and it was quite good fun as long as I straightlined my favourite stretch of twisty road as best I could. :-p
Yeah, I know, I just contradicted myself! I suppose what I'm really saying is there's nothing faster than a company motor!
MorganP104 said:
Maybe we should have a parallel thread to SOTW, called something like "honest transport for a bag of sand". Cars like the Vectra would shine in such an environment.
This is not a bad idea. It would not be a glamorous weekly column but it would serve a purpose. Bring on the Avensisisises, Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff