I've just changed jobs recently and now need something big, diesel and cheap to run up and down to work. As I have said in my thread in Technical Matters I have the possibility of buying a 1999 V plate Vectra 2.0 DTi LS with A/C for about £2,500. It has covered 70K and had only one owner.
I have read the Car By Car breakdown and I'm not impressed by what I have read, are the 99 model Vectras really that bad? My uncle had one for a good while and didn't seem to have any major issues, but I was wondering what other Backroomers have found.
Ideally it is stories relationg to the 2.0 DTi that I am interested in as I couldn't find this mentioned in the Car-by-Car, it only mentioned the 2.2 DTi, but the insurance companies seem to acknowledge the existance of the 2.0 DTi.
Anyway, I'm after any general advice, technical or otherwise, about whether this is likely to be an ok buy, I will be using it daily to cover about 20K per year, and will keep it for under a year before selling it on and replacing it with something else.
Blue
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Hi Blue.
I have a W reg Vectra 1.8 Sxi and cover a similar amount of miles (84 per day) mainly on Motorways (M42 & M1).
I think we all know that they are not the most engaging of drives, but as a no nonense, relatively comfy vehicle to get you from A to B (with a large boot for kiddies stuff too) I would recommend it. Prices are typically keen too, and for £2.5k I think I would go for the car that you mention. I take it the car has a full service history? Does the air con work? I think there have been a number of reports of failing air con units (cracked pipes?), something that happened to mine a few months back!
It will not set your world on fire, but it will do the job. When we come to replace the current Veccy, it will not be with another VX.
TT.
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Bought a new 2.0DTI in 1998 Blue and found it an excellent car in all respects. Still has very low mileage and the only problem was the rubber spill pipes from the injectors which is apparently very common but only an half hours job.
Have averaged 47mpg from new which is good for a large car.
The engine is superb with easy acceleration from as low as just over 1000rpm. Will trickle along in third gear and still pulls away smoothly.
Brakes are excellent with disks all round.
Steering very good with the PAS perhaps a little to light for myself. Gearbox good.. remote central locking good..
The boot space on the hatchback is enormous.
I think the only aspect of the car which I don't like are the exterior mirrors.
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I bought a 1.8 ls 1998 Vectra 3 years ago, then read all the bad press on them and nearly carped myself, thinking i'd done a wrong move.Well I can honestly say the car has been one of the most reliable and economical i've ever owned. Its now on 98000 miles, I do 28000 mls a year and it doesn't use any oil and returns 43-45 mpg, will get the new shape next year, and it will be cheap 'cause everyone slags them off too.
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Blue,
There are a few reports of probs with the diesel engines in Tech Matters, but no worse than the other reports for VW's, Fords, Rover, etc.
I've just sold my 2.2 litre Vectra CD, and the only probs I had in the 2½ years of owning was a split air con pipe (replaced under warranty, and a common fault on the 2.2 engine anyway) one headlight and brakelight bulb failure, and a worn rear suspension bush - again, can be a common fault.
Take no notice of the Vectra knockers, if it gets you from A to B in comfort, then it's just as good as any other car on the market.
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We had a 2000 Vectra 2.0 DTi CD and found it to be a very competent car. It would regularly achieve well in excess of 40mpg and during a trip to Italy averaged 85mph at 40mpg over 800 miles with 5 people, a boot full of luggage and the air-con on full belt.
It would easily cruise at 100mph all day and was very comfortable and well equipped. Overall I found it a better drive than the Mondeo it replaced.
However when it started to go wrong it became incredibly frustrating and expensive.
We had the problem of air leaking into the fuel system preventing the car from starting. We did all the standard things, replaced the bleed off pipes, changed the injector seals, fitted a non-return valve by the fuel filter etc. When all else failed the Vauxhall technical service advised us that there is a problem with modern low-sulphur fuel stripping the coating from the inside of the fuel pump and allowing air leakage.
The cost for a replacement pump was in excess of £1,100.
Would I recommend buying a 2.0 DTi Vectra? Only with a 12 month warranty, then sell it after 11 months.
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Take no notice of the Vectra knockers, if it gets you from A to B in comfort, then it's just as good as any other car on the market.
The Vectra was the only car that has ever made me feel carsick whilst actually driving it, so I guess it fails this test?
I'm not joking, btw!
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No, you should not. The Vectra is a totally average car in every respect. Which would be fine if the rest of the class were not above average in some respects.
The steering lacks feel, the handling is stodgy, the build quality isn't fantastic, the interior feels low rent, the reliability is nothing special and the performance isn't exactly mindblowing. LS specification is mediocre.
You can do so much better by buying, well, virtually anything else.
The Mk1 Vectra didn't suffer years of flak becuase it was a good car. It suffered years of flak becuase it was a bad car. Obviously, those who spend several thousand pounds on a Vectra will now leap forth to defend their purchase, stating actually its the worlds best car, but I absolutely hated the CDX I looked at and chose a Mondeo instead.
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And what exactly isn't average about a mundano,the vectra is better on juice and easier to work on
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I have mixed feelings about this one! On the one hand, you say that you will keep it for under a year before selling on, so prospects for reselling are important. Having sold a diesel Peugeot 406 for £2,500 last year, judging by the amount of calls I received, there is a lot of demand for diesels in this price range. I like the Vectra and they are very good on motorways.
But, middle aged diesel and 'cheap to run' does not always go together. If it does go wrong it could be expensive. I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell you that if you want 'cheap to run' in this price range you want the least possible chance of any repair costs. a Primera 2.0 petrol will only cost about £25 per month extra in fuel and you could end the year much better off.
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Agree with Paul. Middle aged diesels can be real wallet thinners, as I know to my cost. High mpg is quickly cancelled out by one big repair bill... If you're not too bothered about image, driving pleasure etc. (and considering a Vectra suggests you're not;) I'd second Paul and think about the Japanese options. As well as the Nissan, the Toyota Avensis is incredibly dull but not much goes wrong, and it's safe. The Honda Accord would suggest itself too. Both are arguably nicer than a Vectra, IMO.
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All the upper middle sector models seem to have six letters in their name i.e. Mondeo, Laguna, Vectra, Passat etc except for the Primera.
Of these, although build quality and engines are sound, the Vectra would always be my last choice (in fact make that no way!) - mediocre ride, handling and driving position have always been to the fore and the only reason so many were sold is because 99 per cent of them were company purchased.
But, in fairness, the new model is much better although easily confused with the new Avensis or vice versa.
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"although easily confused with the new Avensis or vice versa"
I would have thought only if your eyes are closed.
Chris M
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My son ran an early Vectra 2.0d and it burnt oil at less than 1000 miles per litre, I personally would not touch it, but have personal experience of the earlier 1.7d with the Izusu engine, which is extremely reliable and capable of 250k miles without major problems. The main possible expense being the alternator/power steering pump unit, which is combined and would cost approx £150 to £200 to replace, - otherwise very reliable and still being used by many taxi firms in the Bucks/Oxford area, many having covered well in excess of 500k miles.
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I would not entertain a 70k mi. Vectra at £2500 unless it comes with a good warranty. Any significant problem with the engine (which would be unlikely, but not at all unusual) could mean a bill of half the value of the car.
For a similar price you could get a lower mileage '98 Primera petrol which would be nicer to drive, still have working A/C (!), cost very little more in fuel and be very very reliable.
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"I would not entertain a 70k mi. Vectra at £2500 unless it comes with a good warranty."
I'm sorry,but I disagree with that.My Vectra diesel had 72k on it when I bought it,and I paid £5k for it at the time,and apart from the small injection pump problem,it hasn't let me down yet.
Ken.
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Forgot.It's now got 106k on the clock now,and never misses a beat.
Ken.
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Mother's 1.8 T reg Vectra that has done at least 35k - and that mostly motorway - uses a pint every 1000 miles.
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Not even my old 157k miles TD Xantia used that much oil.
And in the 4000 miles since the last service in the Mondeo, it's used approximately zero oil.
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But my '83 Polo (mileage unknown) in its last days used a pint every time it saw a motorway!
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This is a bit like the line of argument "My Uncle Joe has smoked 40 a day for all his life and is still going strong at 86, so pass the Rothmans please", isn't it? The general consensus of opinion seems to be anti-Vectra. A mileagy Vectra is likely to cause problems in the same way as smoking is likely to cause fatal damage to your health.
As far as I can see, there are cars for people who "enjoy" cars, and will put up with unreliability in the pursuit of a better drive or a bit of character, eg. Alfas.
Then there are cars as domestic appliances, which do the job reliably and well, but which would be difficult to describe as "interesting", eg. Primeras.
My opinion would be that the Vectra falls into neither category, which is why they're very cheap used...
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As far as I can see, there are cars for people who "enjoy" cars, and will put up with unreliability in the pursuit of a better drive or a bit of character, eg. Alfas. Then there are cars as domestic appliances, which do the job reliably and well, but which would be difficult to describe as "interesting", eg. Primeras.
That's sound comment, although the previous-model Primera example is not the best since the handling and roadholding are excellent and its definitely fun to drive ('Car' magazine rated the Primera 2.0iGT above the BMW 320i as a driver's car a few years back).
There are also cars that are both reliable and unarguably good to drive, of course (Subaru comes to mind).
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