Are Vauxhall Vectra SRI's or Signum's any good?
Discussion
s_zigmond said:
2ltr is the better engine (its actually a saab engine). 3.2 and 2.8 also worth considering. Get your self on vectra-c.com. Im on my second Vec at a 3ltr v6 cdti first and now a 2.8 v5, and would happily have another.
I thaught it was the diesel's that gave the Vectra the bad name? heard nothing but bad things about the cdti models..I had a 2.0 Turbo 3 or 4 years ago as my everyday car - Really liked it went very well, was reliable and handled well too (SRI's especially those facelifted ones are much much better in that department than the other models in the range). Interior was a bit drab but other than that no probs with it at all.
I had several )lots) of Vectras in a previous work life, and only one Signum. The one was enough to know it was a waste of space for me - no difference to the driving experience, only two real seats in the back with no more legroom than available in a Vectra Estate, and a small boot.
They cars are perfectly competent and give a lot of space but they really have nothing to recommend them over any other car. The build quality isn't particularly good, they aren't particularly quiet, and the aren't very involving to drive.
Only had problems with three of them, though mine were all replaced by 9k:
Elite 3.0 CDTI Estate - Ran over blocks in the road which broke two offside wheels and that put the car off the road for 6 weeks or so waiting for replacements to come from Germany.
1.9 CDTi SRI Hatch - Drove into town perfectly normally, but then went into limp-home mode when starting up to come home. Some engine bay wiring had a problem and was replaced under warranty with just 2 days off the road.
1.9 CDTi SRI Estate - This was my last and I actually bought it at 3 months old when leaving GM. Proved impossible to get rid of a drivetrain vibration so I sold it on at 30 months old, with 40k on the clock.
They cars are perfectly competent and give a lot of space but they really have nothing to recommend them over any other car. The build quality isn't particularly good, they aren't particularly quiet, and the aren't very involving to drive.
Only had problems with three of them, though mine were all replaced by 9k:
Elite 3.0 CDTI Estate - Ran over blocks in the road which broke two offside wheels and that put the car off the road for 6 weeks or so waiting for replacements to come from Germany.
1.9 CDTi SRI Hatch - Drove into town perfectly normally, but then went into limp-home mode when starting up to come home. Some engine bay wiring had a problem and was replaced under warranty with just 2 days off the road.
1.9 CDTi SRI Estate - This was my last and I actually bought it at 3 months old when leaving GM. Proved impossible to get rid of a drivetrain vibration so I sold it on at 30 months old, with 40k on the clock.
Edited by Iain XR4i on Wednesday 18th January 21:12
d parry said:
But what i cant understand is why is there lots of happy Vec drivers about and why do the police and Taxi drivers use them if there so unreliable?
As to the poster who mentioned the ST220, I don't think thats going to be realistic for the amount of NCB the OP has, considering where he lives.OP, you don't see many Vectra taxis round where I live. They are usually Skodas and Passats. That said, the police buy Vauxhall because they're so cheap. My local police force replaced all it's Focii with Astras and has probably lost all the cash they saved now through maintainence fees as I am told they have been far, far less reliable than the old Fords, which is a shame. The only Vauxhall that really impresses me with build quality (for the price) is the new Agila - possibly because it's a rebadged Suzuki!
If you're looking for a quick petrol saloon though, your choices at that price range are fairly limited and the Vectra probably won't be a bad buy. Just remember the usual foibles that they have, and that things will go wrong with it. They don't handle well (this has never been a strong point for Vauxhall), the interior trim is a bit tatty etc etc. But if you're looking for a big, quickish car they're probably alright.
At that sort of money though I'd go for a Volvo S60 2.0L Turbo. Group 14 on paper but pretty cheap to insure, much better handling than a Vectra and usefully quick in most scenarios. It handles well for a bigger car too, it was an absolute blast down B roads. The engineering and build quality was far better than a Vauxhall effort, I was impressed with many small design touches that struck me as good ideas, something that never happens when I'm in a Vauxhall.
I'm not wanting to pan Vauxhall too much, I think they've went through a bad couple of decades since the early 90's and they are definitely on the up again, compared to the rubbish they were making ten years ago. Get a few test drives done and see what you think.
Jon951 said:
I had a 2.0 Turbo 3 or 4 years ago as my everyday car - Really liked it went very well, was reliable and handled well too (SRI's especially those facelifted ones are much much better in that department than the other models in the range). Interior was a bit drab but other than that no probs with it at all.
I would love the 2.0 Turbo as they can be remapped etc but the only thing that worries me is the Turbo going on it as that would set me back at least £800 would it not??Then again the 2.2 Direct model i have looked at had the fuel pump regulator problem which was on watchdog a few years back.
Not exciting cars, but we had a Signum (actually called something Chevrolet, but it was the same) on a skiing trip to the US and it was a perfectly capable car.
I'd think about one if I wanted a general purpose car (except it's a Vauxhall and that means dealing with Vauxhall dealers again, so perhaps I wouldn't...)
Hired a Vectra (of some sort, I forget what now, not an SRI) on a holiday in Scotland some years ago. Seemed nicely made and comfortable, but I didn't want one after driving it for a week.
M.
I'd think about one if I wanted a general purpose car (except it's a Vauxhall and that means dealing with Vauxhall dealers again, so perhaps I wouldn't...)
Hired a Vectra (of some sort, I forget what now, not an SRI) on a holiday in Scotland some years ago. Seemed nicely made and comfortable, but I didn't want one after driving it for a week.
M.
marcosgt said:
Not exciting cars, but we had a Signum (actually called something Chevrolet, but it was the same) on a skiing trip to the US and it was a perfectly capable car.
I'd think about one if I wanted a general purpose car (except it's a Vauxhall and that means dealing with Vauxhall dealers again, so perhaps I wouldn't...)
M.
I wasnt aware chevrolet did a version of the Signum! what was it?I'd think about one if I wanted a general purpose car (except it's a Vauxhall and that means dealing with Vauxhall dealers again, so perhaps I wouldn't...)
M.
d parry said:
I have been looking for a Vectra C lately between 04 and 06 plate in a 2.0 Turbo or 2.2 SRI Model With a maximum of £3400 to spend. Also looking at the Signums.
Have been on the Vec C site but find them a little biased as one minute there banging on about it being alot of car for the money and then in the next thread moaning that something else has fell apart on there car.
I also spoke to a local mechanic who proceeded to make the sign of a crucifix and said there rubbish. But what i cant understand is why is there lots of happy Vec drivers about and why do the police and Taxi drivers use them if there so unreliable?
I am only 24 and have been driving for 2 years. In that time i have owned 2 Ford Focus's which have never ever faulted once despite the abuse i have give them. I dont want a newer Focus and cant think of any other car for 3K that stands out and has a low insurance group with a good 0-60 time.
Any other suggestions of cars would be great but i live in a rough end of Liverpol with one of the most expensive postcodes and have to pay £100 per month TPFT for a Focus and will be £150 per month TPFT for a group 10 Vectra. So no i cant buy a ST Focus or a BMW or any other performance model.
Vec's that look like this look worth alot more than they cost.
OP: Have you considered a Mondeo Zetec-S with the 2.5 V6 engine? Might not be quite so bad insurance wise and they offer a reasnoble 170bhp. They look good too with a bodykit very similar to the ST220. They are absolute bargains, circa £2k should get a decent example. Have been on the Vec C site but find them a little biased as one minute there banging on about it being alot of car for the money and then in the next thread moaning that something else has fell apart on there car.
I also spoke to a local mechanic who proceeded to make the sign of a crucifix and said there rubbish. But what i cant understand is why is there lots of happy Vec drivers about and why do the police and Taxi drivers use them if there so unreliable?
I am only 24 and have been driving for 2 years. In that time i have owned 2 Ford Focus's which have never ever faulted once despite the abuse i have give them. I dont want a newer Focus and cant think of any other car for 3K that stands out and has a low insurance group with a good 0-60 time.
Any other suggestions of cars would be great but i live in a rough end of Liverpol with one of the most expensive postcodes and have to pay £100 per month TPFT for a Focus and will be £150 per month TPFT for a group 10 Vectra. So no i cant buy a ST Focus or a BMW or any other performance model.
Vec's that look like this look worth alot more than they cost.
IROC-Z said:
OP: Have you considered a Mondeo Zetec-S with the 2.5 V6 engine? Might not be quite so bad insurance wise and they offer a reasnoble 170bhp. They look good too with a bodykit very similar to the ST220. They are absolute bargains, circa £2k should get a decent example.
Yeh.They are nice.But Its still group 15 though and i got quoted £200 a month for one worth £2300 lol. Its so hard to find anything that matches the 155hp 2.2 Vectra SRI or 2.0T 170hp for group 10 insurance and around £150 a month..
MonkeyMatt said:
marcosgt said:
Not exciting cars, but we had a Signum (actually called something Chevrolet, but it was the same) on a skiing trip to the US and it was a perfectly capable car.
I'd think about one if I wanted a general purpose car (except it's a Vauxhall and that means dealing with Vauxhall dealers again, so perhaps I wouldn't...)
M.
I wasnt aware chevrolet did a version of the Signum! what was it?I'd think about one if I wanted a general purpose car (except it's a Vauxhall and that means dealing with Vauxhall dealers again, so perhaps I wouldn't...)
M.
Similar idea, but...?
Edit : Yeah, seems very similar, but a different base sorry
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 18th January 19:39
All I can say is I wouldn't touch the 3.0 CDTI (isuzu engine I think?). Bought a vectra and a signum (both 3.0 cdti) in the space of a month and both had to go back to the dealer for a refund due to major faults. Plus they are very expensive/difficult to work on, easily £600++ for a cambelt.
Other models may be better but two bad experiences really put me off Vauxhall. Having browsed the owners forums at the time it also became apparent that they all suffer from annoying sensor problems but the diesels are especially problematic (2.0/2.2dti slightly less so than the 1.9or 3.0s).
Also, even for a big car, they really do not handle well. It is like driving a boat.
Other models may be better but two bad experiences really put me off Vauxhall. Having browsed the owners forums at the time it also became apparent that they all suffer from annoying sensor problems but the diesels are especially problematic (2.0/2.2dti slightly less so than the 1.9or 3.0s).
Also, even for a big car, they really do not handle well. It is like driving a boat.
Edited by VolvoT5 on Wednesday 18th January 20:46
I had the 2.2 one, mine was a lease car and I ran it for 8 months, I think it was the SXi trim level and was N/A rather than turbo
First impressions were that inside was very square. You get used to it. Reasonable amount of kit, the cruise control was a bit dodgy on mine with re-engaging. Bags of room in it, mine was a saloon and I never suffered with getting anything in or out of it, other than the boot was so big you had a stretch reaching it if something was up against the back seats.
Performance was OK, quicker than an equivalent Mondeo, cheap to insure as well. Nothing broke, it was serviced once (long life servicing), it didn't cause any hassle and thats about as much as I can say about it really.
I did have a 1.9 DTi Vectra once as a courtesy car and that engine is truly awful
First impressions were that inside was very square. You get used to it. Reasonable amount of kit, the cruise control was a bit dodgy on mine with re-engaging. Bags of room in it, mine was a saloon and I never suffered with getting anything in or out of it, other than the boot was so big you had a stretch reaching it if something was up against the back seats.
Performance was OK, quicker than an equivalent Mondeo, cheap to insure as well. Nothing broke, it was serviced once (long life servicing), it didn't cause any hassle and thats about as much as I can say about it really.
I did have a 1.9 DTi Vectra once as a courtesy car and that engine is truly awful
I had three Vectra B's and was a committed Vauxhall man until I made the error of buying a Vectra C.
I hated the thing minutes after buying it. I had the alternator and droplinks need replacing within weeks, and I then got a warning light start to illuminate on the dash. The interior was very very drab and utilitarian, even with the colour sat-nav built in.
Mine was the 1.9 cdti and I felt like it was a ticking time bomb just waiting to rape my wallet. That said, it was enormous (I had the estate), was pretty damn quick (at least as quick once rolling as the 2.6 V6 petrol it replaced) and returned high forties MPG everywhere!
I HATED it with a passion though and sold it within weeks.
Vauxhall Vectra Owners Club is a very friendy Vectra site that may give you some impartial advice.
http://vvoc.com/
Oh, and the Signum is the same but very ugly and oddly proportioned.
I hated the thing minutes after buying it. I had the alternator and droplinks need replacing within weeks, and I then got a warning light start to illuminate on the dash. The interior was very very drab and utilitarian, even with the colour sat-nav built in.
Mine was the 1.9 cdti and I felt like it was a ticking time bomb just waiting to rape my wallet. That said, it was enormous (I had the estate), was pretty damn quick (at least as quick once rolling as the 2.6 V6 petrol it replaced) and returned high forties MPG everywhere!
I HATED it with a passion though and sold it within weeks.
Vauxhall Vectra Owners Club is a very friendy Vectra site that may give you some impartial advice.
http://vvoc.com/
Oh, and the Signum is the same but very ugly and oddly proportioned.
Edited by V8Wagon on Wednesday 18th January 20:45
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