"New" Vectra - date of manufacture?

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Thu 25 Mar 2004 13:08
"New" Vectra - date of manufacture? - Weissach
I've seen a very good deal on a new 04 reg Vectra elegance saloon. The dealer is vague about when it was manufactured, so does anyone know how I can work this out? I'm guessing it was built towards the end of 03. Additional useful information would be if anyone also knows what happens to Vectras after they roll off the production line - are there fields full outside Ellesmere Port? Thanks for any help
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 25 Mar 2004 13:23
"New" Vectra - date of manufacture? - Marc
I'm pretty sure the "Elegance" spec is now discontinued so it may be several months old. They replaced it with the "Design"

Try looking for a plastic component that has been date stamped eg removable ashtray.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 25 Mar 2004 13:27
"New" Vectra - date of manufacture? - Aprilia
There should be plenty of parts with visible date stamp or month/year 'clock' moulded in. E.g. hoses, radiator, air cleaner assy., battery.
Window glass is also coded, but you have to know how to read the dots!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 25 Mar 2004 13:48
"New" Vectra - date of manufacture? - bertj
There are yards full of Vectras, Astra Vans etc. at the old Cammell Lairds shipyard in Birkenhead, a few metres from the salty, windy River Mersey!
The Vauxhall plant is built on the old Hooton airfield at Ellesmere Port which provides even more space to store completed vehicles.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 4 Apr 2004 17:39
"New" Vectra - date of manufacture? - robert
Hi,

For Vauxhalls - I KNOW that all the vehicles have a special code called the SONO number (sales order number). This is in the form AB1234 and is stamped on the VIN plate which is under the bonnet. Make a note of the SONO and ask a friendly dealer to enter the SONO into his computer - this will reveal exactly when the car was made. Don't be fobbed off with can't do it - make a note by looking under the bonnet and ask him (or others to assist you). The service depts also have access to the information.

VIN encoding may also help - but won't give an actual date - just location, model year and assembly sequence number.

Good luck - & let me know know how you got on.

Regards .............. Robert
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....