Two Vectra driving Moderators...
Better not say anything nasty about Vectra now... ;-)
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I bought a Vectra 3.2 Elite auto two years ago. Second hand and so very cheap, I hasten to add. Prior to that I had a V6 Mondeo auto, which I was impressed with until the transmission disintegrated. My reason for choosing this Vectra was the engine, which is a beauty.
It?s a better car than I expected. The Vectra is amazingly quiet and smooth on a long trip, really impressed with that. As others have said, if you want sharp handling on a switchback B road, it?s not as good as the Mondeo - though it does have stability control if you want to push your luck.
On the up side
? Quiet - amazingly quiet - even at illegal speed.
? Elite version has lots of spec.
? Did I mention that engine?
On the down side.
? I hate the indicators with a passion (I know they aren?t unique to the Vectra these days). I know others get on fine with them. They still annoy me immensely.
? The fake wood is so obviously fake.
? Unlike dynamic dave, I?m not hugely impressed with the auto box. It is usually as smooth as silk, but it is just far too reluctant to change down for my taste. Yes, the thing has bags of torque, so perhaps it doesn?t need to shift, but if I?m doing an overtake I want a downshift. If you give it a sharp jab to provoke kickdown, that often results in a double downshift, which can be more violent than you might expect. The tiptronic feature is slow - it can take a long time for the transmission to actually react to your command. My criticism is about changes when you are already moving - but if you are doing the traffic light grand prix, the box works fine and will hold the revs in every gear.
Watch for the suspension recall to fix the front end graunching noise (see HJ feature) - which was done on mine with no fuss. My only cost above standard service has been brake discs at 30,000 miles - which was less mileage than I?d expected. Oh, and front tyres of course?.
Would I buy another. For the right price - yes, definitely.
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The tiptronic feature is slow - it can take a long time for the transmission to actually react to your command.
I believe a software update overcomes this *problem*.
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According to someone who buys from auctions quite regularly (an auction buyer) the supply of quality second hand cars during the last few weeks have been rather low. As such prices are up, by around 5-8% on what they fetched in June 06. I suppose we will have to wait till about the 3rd week of Sept. for the supply to increase.
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The Mondeo is chain cam where as the Vectra is belt, I remember the bill for a belt job on my old 2.5 V6 Vectra. I agree with Adam re the ST220 being a bit in your face, looks great in silver or grey though OTT in Subaru blue. The Zetec S is now obsolete though the later manual ones came with the 3.0 V6 (2.5 is auto) and are cracking looking cars, subtely sporty, and well equipped, otherwise the Ghia X is still the best equipped Mondeo, Michael R mentions the Titanium X though IIRC the Ghia X is the only one to have aircon seats as standard.
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The Titanium X sits above the Ghia X in the Mondeo range.
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I know it does Mike but I think C's right re the seats.
With regards to the ST, if I do end up getting one, it has to be in the blue or the black (with the red leather). OTT yes. Smokie's cup of tea? No.
Do I like them? YES!
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I wouldn't say no to one, but I prefer the more understated power. Wolf in sheeps clothing.
That, and ST220s are about £1k + more than the equivalent ST220. And the Vectra is quicker...
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The Titanium X sits above the Ghia X in the Mondeo range.
No it doesnt.
It might do in a simple list of models however they are both the same list price because the Titanium X has more body kit and the Ghia X more goodies like power seats, you only get power seats on the Ghia X and ST220, optional only on the ST TDCi. You are right, the TIt X has the climate seats along with the Ghia X however the Ghia, Ghia X and the ST's have a better standard audio set up. The Ghia X is still the top-of-the-range for kit. Shame a sunroof is not still standard as it was when I got mine, means it is difficult to find a used one with a sunroof.
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No, really, it does.
Check the Ford website if you won't take my word for it - and the Titanium X does not have a bodykit, either. It lost that in early 2005 when it stopped being a special edition and became part of the usual range. Prior to this it did indeed have a variation on the ST220 bodykit, but this has not been the case since 54 registered vehicles.
They are both VERY similar, the only real difference appears to be that the Titanium X has sportier wheels, privacy glass, Bluetooth and Leather/Alcantara cooled seats, whereas the Ghia X has wood trim and a wooden steering wheel.
As for the radio - it's debatable which is the better unit out of the Ghia's 6006 6 CD changer and the Titaniums MP3 Player.
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No it really doesnt.
As I say if you look down the list of models the Titanium X come after Ghia X but then so does the Titanium which is priced the same as the Ghia where as the Titanium X is priced as per the Ghia X. It is simply a matter of positioning models together in the list with the different model groups targeting differing customer wants.
As you say the Titanium X has 18" wheels (as did the cheaper Zetec S) to the Ghia X's 17", only the Titaniums have privacy glass as std, it is optional on all other including the STs. The Ghia X has full leather rather than leather/alcantara though both have aircon cooled seats, the Ghia X has wood trim and a half wooden steering wheel, Ford clearly rate the Ghia/Ghia X 6 CD changer as higher in the range because it is also standard on the STs and is an optional extra on the Titanium / Titanium X.
However only the Ghia X and ST220 have power seats, you can only them as an option on the ST TDCi.
If you spec them as close as possible by adding 18" alloys, Bluetooth and the Tech pack (which gives privacy glass plus s/r, and Xenons) to the Ghia X , and add s/r, Xenons and 6CD to the Titanium X, the Titanium X comes out a slightly more expensive though still does not have the leather or the power seats.
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List price new is probably a good indicator. I believe list price is the same for both for the standard car. So they are equivalent.
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Smokie - a suggestion.
Post a question regarding the differences between the Mondeo Ghia X and Titanium X and you'll get some useful information on the Vectra.
Chris M
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Smokie - a suggestion. Post a question regarding the differences between the Mondeo Ghia X and Titanium X and you'll get some useful information on the Vectra. Chris M
Fair comment! Though both Michael and myself had commented on the Vectra and Smokie had expressed an interest in a Mondeo.
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Agree with all the comments earlier about Mondeo being a better drive in the twisties. However, the engine in he Vectra is phenomenal and the car is ultra refined (within it's class), even at autobahn speeds. The copper who got clocked in a Vectra at 159 was in the 3.2 model! Just too quiet! We got a 2003 3.2 Elite Auto when it was a year old. It still smells and looks new!
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I fail to understand why people get so excited about the Mondeo having such good handling. Where in this ridiculously crowded country are you going to exploit such handling on such a regular basis to make it a factor in choosing it? And if you can find a place, there will probably be a speed camera around the next bend to wipe the smile off your face.
The Vectra IMO is a more comfortable car and would be my choice.
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>>The Vectra IMO is a more comfortable car and would be my choice.
I tend to agree.
Once you add in the "Clarkson Factor", which after many years of constant griding down, makes many people view all Vauxhalls as a poor option; their relatively low demand in the marketplace and therefore lower price makes them more appealing. Generally good German engineering, reasonable performance at a reasonable price. Shhh - don't tell anyone!
Number_Cruncher
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I had to drive a number of hire Vectra and Astra cars a few years back, and they were all (IMO) awful. Even the Vectra SRi was geared all wrong and not much fun. They completely deserved the trouncing they got in reviews, compared to the Mondeo or Focus anyway.
The new Astra is nice tho, and I recommended that a friend got one. She likes it, although it is the 1.8 Auto and appears to be ruinously thirsty. Ah well, you can't win them all!
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I suspect you're talking about the Vectra B? (i.e. pre-2002) That's a very different kettle of fish to Vectra C discussed here.
As for the new Astra, my FiL also has the 1.8 Auto, driving style and conditions must count for a lot because he's gets around 30-33mpg typically. Not bad for a 1.8 petrol auto IMHO. Ruinously thirsty? Not quite. Maybe your friend's Astra isn't run in yet?
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Certainly I was talking about the B, I was actually meaning to post in support of Vauxhall, my direct experience of the Astra suggests that they have transformed it. I would far rather have one than the Focus, except for the VXR vs ST models.
As for fuel, the car was less than 1k run in, so you're probably right.
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Once you add in the "Clarkson Factor", which after many years of constant griding down, makes many people view all Vauxhalls as a poor option; their relatively low demand in the marketplace and therefore lower price makes them more appealing. >>
I had a couple of Vectras and loved my 2.5 V6 SRi estate however the Mondeo is IMO better engineered and the Ford dealers are oh so much better to deal with.
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I would hate to have to deal with Vauxall dealers then!!!
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I would hate to have to deal with Vauxall dealers then!!!
Yup, you sure would!
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LOL - good point Chris...
Today's update. Been to see a Network Q car - on t'internet at £8495. Late 03 plate, 22k miles, good nick, drove well (but certainly felt smaller than the Omega).
Anyway, they offered to get me a trade in value for the Omega. They did the sums then offered me the Veccie at £8100. When quizzed, they had the start price as £8995, which, sure enough, was the window sticker price. I showed them the internet ad and they went off in a huddle. Apparently they expect people to buy over the internet with no sales effort hence the cheaper price... (should I believe that?)
Anyway, they have offered me the car at £8k incl 6 mths tax, 1 years Network Q cover, full MOT and service, and a full tank of fuel, with no trade in. Seems quite a deal. As my company pay my fuel I will try to swap the fulltank for the other half year's road tax :-)
However, the auction car comes up tomorrow so I'm going to see what happens there. After talking wityh Joe Dowd (did I say what a nice bloke he is?) I'm hoping that maybe £8k will secure a 7 month newer car with the auto ("tiptronic") box. I have to add about £600 to that in costs (delivery, VAT, Joe, buyers premium) and then tax etc - so I' probably looking at an additional £1k over the hammer price to get the car on the road in a similar state to the Network Q one. I'm probably expecting too much there.
Thanks all for the input to date, will keep you posted.
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I would rather buy the car from a dealer and have a dealer / Network Q warranty. Also it is lower mileage.
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Forgot to mention, I get 37mpg at 65mph with the car on cruise. Not bad for a 150mph car! In stop start traffic, it goes down to 17! First service was 115 quid at dealer.
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oh and the tiptronic feature is not brilliant - best left in D.
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oh and the tiptronic feature is not brilliant - best left in D.
Never had a problem with it myself. Use both D and the tiptronic box quite frequently.
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Joe Dowd called me yesterday - his buyer was at Brighouse and had looked at the car. It had non-std 18" alloys and a cracked skirt so he recommeended avoiding it, and I took his advice. So at the moment I'm left with the Network Q car, which I think I will go for...just a shame it doesn't have the auto box
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Smokie, Is it that urgent? My impression is that you're paying dealer margin to get a car now rather than waiting a week or two for the right car to come up at auction. I know this view is heavily biased by my own opinions, but it seems a lot of extra money for something that could wait awhile. Though I do, of course, understand the pressure exterted by money burning holes in one's pockets.
V
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Although IME vauxhall dealers are carp I would pay a few hundred quid on a 8 grand car for a Network Q warranty and dealer support.
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Vin - don't go all sensible on me! :-) Once I have money burning a hole, I can't usually keep it in control... (Also I currently have permission from SWMBO to soend - that could easily be retracted at any time...LOL)
I'm just going out to look at (and probably buy) an 04 3.2 Elite, 23k, Auto Network Q etc. Just under £8.5k.
Comparing it to the 53 auction one above, which expected to sell at about £7.5k or a bit over, I'm looking at a grand for something a bit newer (OK, only a few months) but also with the opportunity to test drive and also as Cheddar says, the warranty (which usefully includes European breakdown cover)
The price compares v favourably with others. which are mostly dealers (v few private ones around).
Often when they come up at auction (and these are relatively rare) the mileage is somewhat higher, and there is always the risk associated with buying at auction. Plus once I add on the delivery, buyers fee, maybe Joe's costs and road tax I'm looking at the best part of £600 over hammer price.
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Thats a lot of car for the money.
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Check the features on that 04 model very carefully, it may not be as well specced as the 53 plate models and older. Around this time severe spec trimming took place.
For instance, check for electric memory seats, later models lost these.
I assume the spec is important, otherwise you wouldn't be looking at Elite models?
HTH!
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I bought it. You're right, for a top spec car it doesn't have too many bells & whistles but it's the performance I was after rather than the gadgets - but I preferred the Elite to the GSi as it looks less in yer face.
It's the first time I'd driven the auto version, it seemed really rather good - so much so that I fear losing it to Mrs S for her daily commute.... Very smooth gear changes, even under heavy acceleration. Given the apparent performance as a fully auto, I'm, not sure I'll use the "manual" mode but we'll see...
Now I have to get the Omega spruced up and sold. I'm thinking a couple of weeks in Autotrader then onto eBay if it doesn't sell. It's still a really nice car despite starting to show it's age - it has a full year's MOT, 6 months tax, good tyres (incl 1 new one for MOT) - I will be quite sad to see it go...
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I bought it.
Good man. Now all we have to do is convince Pologirl & HJ to get one and we can take over the world.
In all seriousness though, once you get used to it, you'll start using the tipronic side of the box. There will be times when you want to change down a gear without relying on the kickdown to do it for you.
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In all seriousness though, once you get used to it, you'll start using the tipronic side of the box. There will be times when you want to change down a gear without relying on the kickdown to do it for you.
The times I have driven Tiptronic I found it most useful for getting in the right gear in advance rather like a manual, changing down to overtake or when coming up to a roundabout on a dual carriageway, even the best autos are not at there best when it takes them half a second to kick down after you have decided to go. Also it can be fun on the back lanes flicking up and down the box sans clutch.
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