What's so bad about Vectra's?

Dav4 said:
The majority of the cheap one's for sale are the 2.2 Direct engine which was on BBC watchdogs programme as nearly all of them have had to have fuel pump regulators replaced I've even heard of them going 3 times in 1 year and at around £500 a time to get replaced u wonder why people sell that model for cheap?
If u have around 3-3.5k go and look for and test drive a mk3 Mondeo Titanium x or even better the ST220 with leather recaro's u will soon realise how crap Vectra's are in comparison.
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It's the 1.8 VVT engines that seem most common

I've scoured Auto Trader for the past hour and haven't found a nice example Mondeo Titanium X for ~£3k
 
rossk26 said:
It's the 1.8 VVT engines that seem most common

I've scoured Auto Trader for the past hour and haven't found a nice example Mondeo Titanium X for ~£3k
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what engine size u after? as i have heard the 1.8vvt is painfully slow. the only Vectra worth buying other than the VXR is the 2.0 Turbo SRI but they are rare. I spent months looking for one a few years ago but was disappointed when i had a go of one. Don't know what it is with Vauxhall's but the throttle response was awful in the Vectra and the Astra i had as a hire car.
IMO the Mondeo and the Focus in petrol form have always been better and more reliable than Vauxhall's offerings.

My dad purchased a mint 55 plate 3.0 Titanium X with 58k on for 2.8k that is a lot of car for the money and i have the ST220 which are cheaper to run and insure than u think. would spend just over 3k any day on one rather than a Vectra.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201501130142068/sort/default/maximum-mileage/up_to_90000_miles/make/ford/usedcars/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/model/mondeo/postcode/l54sy/radius/1501/engine-size-cars/3l_to_3-9l?logcode=p
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201412059462826/sort/default/maximum-mileage/up_to_90000_miles/make/ford/usedcars/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/model/mondeo/postcode/l54sy/radius/1501/engine-size-cars/3l_to_3-9l?logcode=p
 
I always found the handling on Fords to be better, though I have not tried the latest Vaxhalls (which are apparently improved). All the ones I've driven and owned tended to understeer and torque steer a lot. A corsa I had as a hire car was just horrific in the wet.
 
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ST220 would probably cost u less to own than a Vectra over a year with all the silly things that break on Vauxhall's.

Forgot about the 2.5 Zetec S model with 18 inch alloys etc in the Mondeo.my dad ran one for 5 yrs and it was faultless altough sadly there's hardly any around now.
Great nippy barge for 1k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201501120103798/sort/default/page/1/postcode/l54sy/keywords/zetec%20s/usedcars/radius/1501/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/ford/maximum-mileage/up_to_90000_miles/fuel-type/petrol/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/model/mondeo?logcode=p
 
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Friend of mine had a Vectra 2.5 on a Y plate for three years, he changed it for an Y plate 165k mile 530i Sport e39 two years back and has found the BMW cheaper to run, more reliable and far nicer to drive, perhaps you'd expect the BMW to be better to drive but perhaps not cheaper to own over two years!
His Vectra was temperamental and forever breaking down, not what you'd expect from a one owner 50k mile example which it was when he got it.
 
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rossk26 said:
It's this basically,

Every advert I see for a <£3k Mondeo, they look terrible and dreary, stained interiors, corroded alloys, discoloured healights etc. Looks wise I find the Mk3 Mondeo very very dull except in ST guise.

Whereas the Vectra just looks newer, cleaner, and a nicer place to be. Yes the interior isn't VW group class, but it doesn't look that much worse than the mk3 Mondeo's.
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I always thought the Vectra outclassed the Mondeo in exterior looks, but the Mondeo beat it senseless in every other department.
 
Dogbreath said:
I always thought the Vectra outclassed the Mondeo in exterior looks, but the Mondeo beat it senseless in every other department.
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I'd agree re looks with regard to the first incarnation of the Vectra, the later one was bland beyond belief compared to the Mondeo IMO.
 
rossk26 said:
It's the 1.8 VVT engines that seem most common

I've scoured Auto Trader for the past hour and haven't found a nice example Mondeo Titanium X for ~£3k
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My boss used to have one with the 1.8 engine, he said it was ok but much slower than the 2.0 Astra he had before.

The leather interior I thought was nice.

Did you rule out the Accord ?

I know your question was about the Vectra but I gather you are still looking for the focus' replacement.
 
rossk26 said:
It's this basically,

Every advert I see for a <£3k Mondeo, they look terrible and dreary, stained interiors, corroded alloys, discoloured healights etc. Looks wise I find the Mk3 Mondeo very very dull except in ST guise.

Whereas the Vectra just looks newer, cleaner, and a nicer place to be. Yes the interior isn't VW group class, but it doesn't look that much worse than the mk3 Mondeo's.
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Actually I have to agree with you there. Mondeo's being pretty rock solid attract the kind of people who can't really be bothered with looking after the car, it is just transport to them.

That isn't any downer on the Mondeo rather a compliment that they can take some abuse and keep going. They sell on their good reputation so good money can still be had even for tatty examples.

Just to throw a complete wildcard into the bunch how about an Alfa 156/159 (depending on budget). The 156 is easily as reliable as the Vectra but with a lot more flair and look after examples are easy to come by. If you can stretch to the 159 you can get a very capable saloon and petrol's are good (GM 2.2 bottom end with Alfa's specially tuned heads).

I still drive 156's. Not because they are fantastic cars but I have got to know them and their niggles. 90% of the work I can do myself.
 
I like my Vectra (1.8i vvt). But then I'm not after a super fun, dynamic drive. I just need to transport my family about in comfort and it does that perfectly.

And it was cheap. A 57 plate 1.8i vvt Design (partial leather interior, air con, 6cd changer etc) in excellent condition inside and out, 84k on the clock was £2400.
 
My friend had one temporarily.

It was a slow, understeery mess.

It was really reliable for him but if you take any pleasure at all in driving, then a Vectra will ruin every last ounce of enthusiasm you have.
 
I've had one for the past 4 years now. 2008 Vectra sri 1.9cdti (150 bhp).

It's just... fine. I really can't have any complaints at all.

Not a single penny has been spent other than tyres, mot and servicing.
I've done around 70k in it, taking it up to 110k on the clock.
Mpg over that time is 43mpg, can get much more on a long run.
It does the basic job fine fine, and it's relatively comfortable.

Sure it's not exciting to drive but it's just a work horse and that suits me at the moment. Can't really have any complaints.

I see cars like this as much of a muchness, they're all pretty crap compared to a 6 cyl BMW, but if you want a car to get you from A to B in a little more comfort than your basic small hatch/supermini, I don't think it makes that much of a difference which you go for. The mondeo may be slightly better built but let's face it, your not going to get much enjoyment from any of these cars.
 
Chap at work had a Vectra 1.9cdti

He had no end of trouble with it, must have spent more on repairs than what he paid for the car.
 
Manbatius said:
My boss used to have one with the 1.8 engine, he said it was ok but much slower than the 2.0 Astra he had before.

The leather interior I thought was nice.

Did you rule out the Accord ?

I know your question was about the Vectra but I gather you are still looking for the focus' replacement.
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I've always wanted the 2.0 Type S Accord, but they have appreciated recently and gone out of my budget. Shame as they ticked every single box for me.

rodenal said:
Thought about a signum? (Not this one, just an example)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201411249196119

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/271729255942?nav=SEARCH

Always felt like they were a bit closer at heart to the omega, not sure why though, as it's just a vectra. Still, they're quote rare.

In fact, spend pennies and buy a lovely omega??
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Thought the Signum was essentially just and estate Vectra?

I like the Omega, but they seem very rare in manual petrol...

Dav4 said:
ST220 would probably cost u less to own than a Vectra over a year with all the silly things that break on Vauxhall's.

Forgot about the 2.5 Zetec S model with 18 inch alloys etc in the Mondeo.my dad ran one for 5 yrs and it was faultless altough sadly there's hardly any around now.
Great nippy barge for 1k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201501120103798/sort/default/page/1/postcode/l54sy/keywords/zetec%20s/usedcars/radius/1501/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/ford/maximum-mileage/up_to_90000_miles/fuel-type/petrol/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/model/mondeo?logcode=p
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Why do all Mondeo's look like they are on stilts? I couldn't live with that arch gap at all.

Really don't want a heavy thirsty petrol engine if I'm honest.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201411038708294 - Love these
 
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The signum is just a vectra with 4 seats you're right, just less of then about.

The a4 is a decent car, just avoid muktitronic as it will break, also the avant is tiny boot wise for an estate (If you actually need the space)
 
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