Vauxhall Vectra SRi but 1.8 or 2.2i ????

[Rick the Builder]

Help needed!!! My son is looking to buy a Vauxhall Vectra SRi, 5-6 years old, circa £4,000, but he can't decide between the 1.8 and 2.2i model. Obviously he prefers the 2.2i because it's quicker, but are there any handling/performance differences, or reliability/maintenance issues he should know about???

[ChrisDT]

I was looking at these as well as E39's and the tax on a 2.2 direct SRi is very high!

[Randy Winkman]

I don't know much about the 2.2 - but I have a 3 year old 1.8 and am perfectly happy with it. But it's (obviously) in no way a performance car. It's performance is adequate for me, but that's about it. I get about 36 mpg by the way. I drive like a grandad, but on busy roads. On the motorway, the mpg is miles better.

[66comanche]

I'll say the dreaded PH words - get the diesel instead!

1.9CDTi
0 to 62mph 9.8 seconds
Top Speed 135 mph
Engine power 150 bhp
Engine torque 235 lbs/ft
MPG 49.6 mpg
RFL Tax Band G

2.2SRi
0 to 62mph 9.7 seconds
Top Speed 135 mph
Engine power 155 bhp
Engine torque 162 lbs/ft
MPG 37.7 mpg
RFL Tax Band I

The Astra and Vectra 2.2's are renowned for being hopeless, may as well have the equivalent performance and save a packet on RFL/fuel, of course the PH engineers will assure you it will self-destruct weekly...

[Torquey]

Would this be the same 2.2 used in older vx220's and mk 4 astra's??
If so google for 2.2 vauxhall cam chain issues.

Not a lot in the 2 engines if they are the same engines used in the vectra B. Very similar performance, equally rubbish mpg's, usual reliability issues expected from most vauxhalls.

[Rick the Builder]

66comanche said:

I'll say the dreaded PH words - get the diesel instead!

1.9CDTi
0 to 62mph 9.8 seconds
Top Speed 135 mph
Engine power 150 bhp
Engine torque 235 lbs/ft
MPG 49.6 mpg
RFL Tax Band G

2.2SRi
0 to 62mph 9.7 seconds
Top Speed 135 mph
Engine power 155 bhp
Engine torque 162 lbs/ft
MPG 37.7 mpg
RFL Tax Band I

The Astra and Vectra 2.2's are renowned for being hopeless, may as well have the equivalent performance and save a packet on RFL/fuel, of course the PH engineers will assure you it will self-destruct weekly...

I'd say that's a pretty powerfull argument in favour of the diesel. Can you get it in SRi trim??

[TRUENOSAM]

2.2 is a hopeless engine in my opinion

[66comanche]

Rick the Builder said:

I'd say that's a pretty powerfull argument in favour of the diesel. Can you get it in SRi trim??

Yep.

[adsvx220]

I have a 2.2 vx220 and I have had no probs whatsoever. The 2.2 lump is quite a lazy motor but touqey. The timing chains are the only issue really and they Seem to let go around the 100k mile Mark but I have known them to go at 50k miles.

They are also easy to s/c and will produce 250bhp on standard internals.

[Davie]

Cam chain issues only effected earlier cars (ie, Vectra B's) as the oil squirter was rubbish and thus, the chain went unlubricated and all hell broke loose. Later engines had revised oil squirters and don't suffer the same issues however chains can still stretch with age and rattle due to worn tensioners. The 2.2 16v is actually an ok engine, but even it's a bit underpowered in something the size/weight of a Vectra C so as for the 1.8... they're worse. Not by much to be fair as the later VVC engines are circa 140bhp compared tot he 2.2's circa 150bhp.

If it were my cash, I'd also be going for the CDTi 150 then adding a remap and be happy with 200bhp/300lbft and potential 50mpg figures. They come in SRi guise, also estate flavour. They have their issues, DPF's, duel mass flywheels, injectors, EGR swirl flap actuators and so on but there's a wealth of knowledge on the likes of www.vectra-c.com and there are repairs out there that save you alot of expense. Failing that, if you're anti-diesel then consider a 2.0T petrol. Saab derived engines and whilst a bit thirsty, seem pretty bombprrof so far and 200bhp is easily achievable with a remap/exhaust.

Cheers