Vauxhall Vectra 2.2SRi130 DTi (Y)

Goumet · 23 Jul 2006 at 18:09

Anyone had one of these, whats the verdict?

Been offered one for £2K.

Scania · 23 Jul 2006 at 18:34

No thanks would be mine.

Adz · 23 Jul 2006 at 18:41

Not my choice but it's got a strong engine and a Y plate for £2000 seems pretty cheap. Is it mega mileage?

[TW]Fox · 23 Jul 2006 at 18:48

Goumet said:
Anyone had one of these, whats the verdict?

Awful.

Been offered one for £2K.

Click to expand...

Someone pays you to £2k to drive one? Sounds just about fair.

Seriously unless you simply want transport from A to B and nothing more, dont bother.

Richdog · 23 Jul 2006 at 18:50

Don't seem bad cars from what I can see, good reviews from the motoring media from a quick search on Google. If the mileage wasn't completely insane I reckon it'd possibly be a good buy.

Demon · 23 Jul 2006 at 18:53

I've got a facelift 99 Veccie CDX Dti...

It's not a 'bad' car at all, very reliable, the suspension (CDX/SRi are the same) is actually fairly competant.. the diesel is a smidge agricultural, but then it is very proven unit.

If you could squeeze a 2001> Mondeo that is an allround much better car, but I think you won't find anything decent for £2K. the previous Mondeo is a great alternative, but quite frankly there isn't enough in it to be anything other then personal preference.

I find 1999> Veccie a good everyday/motorway cruiser, it ain't no sportscar, but it's suspension is firm enough not to be a complete barge either..

[TW]Fox · 23 Jul 2006 at 18:55

Demon said:
If you could squeeze a 2001> Mondeo that is an allround much better car, but I think you won't find anything decent for £2K. the previous Mondeo is a great alternative, but quite frankly there isn't enough in it to be anything other then personal preference

The previous Mondeo is a noticeably better car BUT the diesel engine in it is garbage

Adz · 23 Jul 2006 at 19:01

I'm not Vectra fan as you know but that's not really fair. If he wants a reliable, cheap to run, £2k diesel and driver involvement/enjoyment isn't top of his priority list, he could do a lot worse. If it's not a shed and/or mega mileage, £2k for a Y plate SRI diesel sounds like a bargain.

Personally I'd buy a petrol Mondeo or, if it has to be a diesel, a 406 HDI.

[TW]Fox said:
Goumet said:

Anyone had one of these, whats the verdict?

Awful.

Someone pays you to £2k to drive one? Sounds just about fair.

Seriously unless you simply want transport from A to B and nothing more, dont bother.

Click to expand...

Demon · 23 Jul 2006 at 19:02

[TW]Fox said:
The previous Mondeo is a noticeably better car BUT the diesel engine in it is garbage

Noticeably better?? in what way??
1. Interior quality is almost identical, very much down to personal preference
2. Reliability is almost indentical (Both are actually very good)
3. Handling wise, the Sri veccie is more then competant more then close enough to the Mondeo to only make the driver the real 'difference'
4. Looks wise - totally personal preference.. RSAP is a good bodky kit though..

Seriously, the 406/Mondeo/Veccie of that era for around £2K will be a very competant car.. People in work run all three as commuters, and we've been out in each others cars, and quite frankly no one has ever complained about my Veccie's handling, but then again no-one has really moaned about any of them we all run them as cheap reliable cars that soak up the mileage well..

Mr Joshua · 23 Jul 2006 at 19:20

Goumet said:
Anyone had one of these, whats the verdict?

There's lots of keyboard experts here who will tell you they're horrible but only you can decide if it's right for you (and that goes for any car). Seems like a good price especially if it has been looked after.

Scania · 23 Jul 2006 at 20:10

Mr Joshua said:
There's lots of keyboard experts here who will tell you they're horrible but only you can decide if it's right for you (and that goes for any car). Seems like a good price especially if it has been looked after.

Indeed, plenty of keyboard experts here.

However, you don't need to be an expert on cars to know the Vectra is generally regarded as rubbish - especially compared to a Mondeo.

Demon · 23 Jul 2006 at 20:22

Indeed, there are plenty of keyboard experts who have never really driven these exact cars either.. just regurgitating journo sensationalism, and would then be extremely surprised when they come accross one of these alledgedly dog-poo handling cars and it is either A, keeping up with them, or B, actually going quicker then them, they appear all confused for a while and daren't admit to anyone that their supposed hyper sports car beating mondeo was bested by a blamange on wheels, never realising that the difference in drivers has a magnitude higher effect then then the few percent difference in a car's ability..

Goumet · 24 Jul 2006 at 18:30

Well, I think I'll get a test drive and see what its like.

Thanks for the advice.

Mr Nice · 24 Jul 2006 at 18:37

I've got the 2.0Dti and it does exactly what it says on the tin. I do around 150 miles a day along the M25, M3 & M4 (Kent to Berkshire).

Fairly economical, if I drive sensibly (traffic permitting, which is never) I will get around 650-700 miles out of tank.

Bottom line is it's a motor mile muncher and fine going in a straight line, don't try chucking it round corners or overcook it in the twisties because it the suspension is almost like a bouncy castle.