Vauxhall Vectra C (2002 - 2008) - Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv

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Wed 19 Mar 2008 23:02
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - hxj

Had the local Vauxhall dealer on the phone earlier tonight.

Will sell to me as first registered keeper the above car for £10,500 on the road. With my GM card points I can get another £1,500 off the car, leaving a net cost of £9k.

I do about 25-30k mileage a year so sounds like relatively cheap motoring to me, at least it would be cheaper than putting petrol in the Zafira GSi.

Should I do the deal?

(Either I do or I keep my current car so suggestions of an alternative are welcome but will be filed in the electronic round filing cabinet :-) )
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Thu 20 Mar 2008 00:09
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - Avant
I don't think we know enough about your current car to tell whether this is worthwhile or not.

I'm not sure but would imagine a GSi is a fairly upmarket Zafira with a bigger engine than a 1.8. So what are your priorities - is finance the one and only consideration or is driver enjoyment important too? If the latter, you might get bored doing a high mileage in a Vectra 1.8.

How old is your Zafira? - is it ready to be changed?

Incidentally what on earth are Vauxhall trying to achieve by misspelling Exclusive? I don't imagine it impresses anyone - it just looks stupid.

Edited by Avant on 20/03/2008 at 00:09

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Thu 20 Mar 2008 08:43
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - TheOilBurner
If you want a new car for very little money and can live with the slightly limp engine and low spec (although it's better than the Life with it's weedy single tone horn!) then it's nearly impossible to find anything else that size for anything like the money.

I'd say drive one first and see if you like it, if so then you really can't go wrong with one of these. Fuel economy should be a little better than the Zafira, but if you really want the big numbers, then you'll have to stretch for the 1.9 CDTI really. 50+mpg is just achievable with restrained motorway driving.
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Thu 20 Mar 2008 09:51
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - hxj

Thanks for the comments.

The Zafira is approaching 90k in 3.5 years, it's a brilliant car, but I feel is reaching a point where it is likely to become more unreliable and expensive to run.

Plus eldest moving on in next year or so, so extra seats are not so necessary and if we need to transport large numbers we have two cars.

I should point out that I come from an era where 140 bhp would have been considered outrageous even in a sports car!
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Thu 20 Mar 2008 12:13
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - TheOilBurner
Ah yes, but 1.5t and 140bhp does not a sports car make! :)
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Thu 20 Mar 2008 12:32
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - dnc1781
I've emailed you.
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Thu 20 Mar 2008 20:28
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - Rats
Had one of these for about six weeks and 2000 miles now. Quite impressed with it, it's my first petrol car since 1987. Seems pretty good on acceleration, plus you get cruise control which is nice.

Chopped a VW Sharan in for it, fuel costs are comparable.

Are you a member of any of the Vauxhall "Partners", if you are you might get a very good deal against a diesel version as your mileage is in the range where diesel may be beneficial, plus the diesels come with a six speed box.

For us, going back to petrol seemed to be a good choice as our mileage is more in the 10,000 range now.
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Thu 20 Mar 2008 20:45
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - Alby Back
I hired a Vectra Estate 1.8 Club a while back when my wife wanted to borrow my Mondeo diesel estate to transport a load of stuff and kids on another trip. Have to say, despite a noticeable lack of torque by comparison to my diesel it was a very pleasant drive. Not sure if Club trim would have provided more or less toys than Exclusiv but I think it had everything and more that anyone would actually need. A very nice, easy to live with car which while I had it seemed to achieve high 30's in mpg despite being fully laden and thrashed to Germany and back in three days. I would certainly not discount the possibility of buying one in the future but would probably personally prefer the seat comfort /position of a Mondeo. Don't think you would be disappointed though.
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Fri 21 Mar 2008 09:08
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - Victorbox
Good deal, but the replacement for the Vectra is out later this year so dealers must have loads of "old" models to shift for Vauxhall. Try squeezing a bit more off?
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Fri 21 Mar 2008 09:35
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - ifithelps
Vauxhall dealers in the North East are advertising this car for £9995 - not looked into it, but there seems to be £500 there straightaway.
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Fri 21 Mar 2008 09:45
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - hxj

Took a 1.8 out for a test drive yesterday - not a bad car at all. A little slow on the uptake compared with the Zafira but that was expected. Overall pretty impressed. Salesman sighed and agreed to meet the £9999 price elsewhere so maybe some room to knock them down further ....

I appreciate that these are the run out models, but that doesn't bother me at all.

The diesel models are still a lot more expensive, about 11.9k for the 120 and 12.3 for the 150, but I'll be out in 1 50 on Monday :-)
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Fri 21 Mar 2008 15:48
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - Pugugly
Looks like a genuine bargain. They're for sale on the website for 15k, local Vauxhall dealer carries the same offer for an 08 car for 10,400. Bargain time I think if you want to keep your car any length of time.
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Tue 25 Mar 2008 23:21
Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv - hxj

Thanks for all those that replied and e-mailed me.

Took out a 1.9CDTi 150 for a test drive, fine car, last diesel I drove for any real distance was my wonderful 1.7 td K reg Cavalier. Bought at 6 months old ex-demo for £10,500 in early 1993 iirc, the vectra was available for £12,500 so effectively negative inflation over the last 15 years in car prices. Not sure why people complain about the cost of motoring.

The 150 diesel was a better car than the 1.8 petrol, in particular the 6 speed gearbox which would probably save me an extra chunk in fuel.

Anyway reworked the figures and the diesel Vectra looks good.

Drove the Zafira GSi home and realised that I really didn't want to change, so wont be. I'll put up with the petrol costs etc and enjoy it for a few more years until it dies a death.

I'm happy :-)




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