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If you want to make a few quid, offer the travel assistant for sale on Vectra-C. Com, someone will bite your hand off.
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Cheers MLC, I might just do that !
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Yes the price wasn't too steamy at all in my opinion. £4799 with 12 months MOT, 2 months tax, 3 month warranty and a "free" service and full valet pre-delivery. Full service history from main dealer fully stamped up. All four tyres are virtually unworn. Happy enough with that. It will sadly, have a much harder life in my hands ! If it proves OK it will be run to a high mileage in a fairly short time. Would have also considered a Vectra / Mondeo estate but this was a much better deal than any of those which were around at the time. Anyway, I sort of like it.
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Less than a quarter of the original price for something that's a quarter of the way through its life sounds like an excellent deal. It's a good job some people buy new!
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Yes I thought it was quite a good buy. Time will tell of course. It will have to be pretty good to out do the Mondeo it replaces.
That has been the best car I have ever had for reliability. Mind you I have looked after it. The dealer would have given me £2000 for it but I decided against that as I convinced myself it was worth more to me. On reflection I think it was as much to do with an emotional attachment. I couldn't bear to think of such a good car going to be a mini cab ! If I thought it was going to a good home it's not so much the money but a feeling that it was going to someone who would really appreciate it if that makes sense ? I guess if a "Backroomer" or similar wanted it I would be happy enough with the same deal. We'll see. Maybe I'll pop it on the HJ classifieds in due course.
Thanks for all the tips everyone.
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2.2 petrols are fetching very low prices as they are due to hammered in the next round of tax increases unlike the 1.9 diesels which can still fetch good money and is by far the better buy the performance is also very similar in reality.They are very prone to wheel vibration can take some finding as there is not a common fault but they are a pretty robust car with parts easily available as said before its vectra.
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I found with the wheel vibration that the only real cure was to take it to a Vauxhall dealer for wheel balancing, they sorted it first time. High street tyre fitters and the like just can't balance a Vectra/Signum to save their lives...
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When it comes to changing tyres, if it has 215/50/17's fitted, then consider fitting 225/45/17's instead. This size is more popular, and therefore less expensive; with a bigger range of manufacturers to choose from. I should point out though that the speedo will slightly over-read. A small price to pay for cheaper tyres (pardon the pun).
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Yes it does have 215/50/17 Goodyear Eagles on it at present. The 225/45/17 would fit then Dave? Guess it would be wise to change all four simultaneously if I did decide to go for that suggestion ?
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DD - do you report that to your insurance co?
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The 225/45/17 would fit then Dave?
Yep, direct replacement.
Guess it would be wise to change all four simultaneously if I did decide to go for that suggestion ?
No. As long as you change either the front pair or rear pair. Remembering that you MUST have matching sized tyres on the front or rear axles.
I recently changed my fronts (as they were worn) for 225/45/17, but have left the original 215/50/17's on the rears. Personally I was glad to get shot of the NCT5's off the front of the car and fitted Goodyear GSD3 F1's instead. It got rid of the understeer, and improved the handling immensely. Mentioned quite often over on vectra-c.com about the alternate size. Some people have been told that a larger width tyre has to be fitted to the rear by law, but AFAIR, no one has proved that by backing it up with a link.
DD - do you report that to your insurance co?
Mapmaker, no need as the 225/45/17 tyre size is listed in the owners handbook as the alternate size that can be fitted to the 17" rims.
img180.imageshack.us/img180/626/tyresxk2.jpg
EDIT:- to include link
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 30/07/2008 at 14:23
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40k a year ?
Surely diesel is the only sensible choice - £750 a year extra in fuel by my calcs.
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You are of course right. However, I've been sensible for 12 years. Just fancied a couple of years of being silly !
;-)
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Congrats on the purchase, Signums are real bargains especially petrol variants.
"Kind of weird twin exhausts look fearsome but meekly feed back into the one normal pipe. I'm sure they are nothing other than cosmetic"
If you have two oval pipes, check the condition of your back boxes. They're double skinned but prone to rust and patterns are not yet available. Boxes only available from Vauxhall at around £360 each fitted. Most go for an aftermarket s/s system because of this.
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Just had a look at the exhaust/s. Looks as if they have been replaced already. Branded "Longlife Stainless steel" by "exhausts.uk.com." whatever that means. Phew !
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I don't feel so guilty now HB.
When you asked about the signum before purchase, i clean forgot to say to check the exhaust, as 6 or so month old defleet vectra's have surprisingly rusty exhausts, and i forgot to mention it. Very pleased for you its got a s steel, that sporty looking original exhaust does seem to carry a price penalty.
We'll be interested in how your new car shapes up over the coming months, are you going to consider LPGing the car, go on you know it makes sense, and some of us need a good guinea pig......
Rare too, unlike the vectra estate, usually black, which should really be driven by sombre chaps wearing top hats and gloves, with a sign 'private ambulance' discreetly placed in the rear blacked out window..;)
Edited by gordonbennet on 30/07/2008 at 23:13
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Were Signums included in the Vauxhall issue with car hand brakes releasing themselves and rolling away? Might be worth checking if any recall work has been done.
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Good thought Bobby thanks. Might not be too much of an issue when at home as we now live in about the flattest part of the Cheshire plain. Nowhere to roll !
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Funnily enough GB, I hired a Vectra Estate a couple of years ago. It happened to be black and was fitted with a 1.8 petrol engine. My wife had taken the Mondeo estate along with various children ( including our one ) for a short break in the Lakes. I had to get me and some stuff to Dusseldorf for a few days and also needed a largish car. I left it parked in baking sunshine for a couple of days outside my hotel. Cleverly, or so I imagined, under a tree. What I had not bargained for was the combination of sap, bird poo and high temperatures added to about 48 hours cooking time. The car ended up looking a bit......alternative. In fairness they were especially incontinent birds. I really did mean to get it cleaned up before returning it but simply ran out of time. Sort of shot into the hire office and lobbed the documents and keys at the guy like an american paperboy and legged it. Never heard any more but always felt a bit warm under the collar when passing that way for quite a while.
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Manual or auto - the Signum ?
Steve
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Thanks - just for interest regarding another recent thread about the merits of an auto box with the 2.2 in a Vectra.
Steve
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Ok Steve - Just found your post. Quite a few of the 2.2 (Signi ?) on the market are manuals by the look of it and are clearly less popular than Vectras judging by the prices. Might be worth a look for you maybe ?
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Yes - was thinking the same ! [goes to fire up Autotrader]
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Well, seventh day of Signuming. Still pleased with it. Discovering new cubby holes and storage places every day. Who needs to hide that much stuff ? Also discovered that it has auto wipers, didn't think I'd like that but it turns out to be very handy. Eats slice of virtual humble pie.
Averaging 34 mpg ( measured by brimming ) over mixed driving, not too bad. The "man-maths" bit which gets interesting is that I decided to quit smoking at the same time as getting the "new" car so although my fuel bill has gone up my other combustible expenditure has come down. Today for example I have done 100 miles and I calculate that I have spent £2.76 extra on fuel as against the previous cars usage but I have not spent my customary £5.76 on cigs. £3 up on the day and a sweet 2.2 petrol engine to play with !
Couldn't half do with a fag mind !
:-(
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Stash a packet in one of those cubby holes.
Is the build quality as good as I imagine ?
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So far so good re build quality, but of course time will tell. Like I mentioned before it will have to be good to beat the Mondeo which is still rattle free and faultless after 150k.
Must stop overtaking things for the sake of it ! ( soon )
;-)
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Think what a 3.2 version could do. (sorry)
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S'pose if I gave up lunch as well.................. and cancelled 'er indoors gym membership..........
;-)
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The petrol version may not be such a silly purchase, given that diesel Signa (correct plural if we're going to be pedantic!) presumably hold their value better, and you wouldn't have got one with that age and mileage for the price you paid (£4795 I think).
Good luck and enjoy it!
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Thanks Avant. I sort of justified it like that. It feels like a very refined version of the Cavalier SRi I had 25 years ago. I know it's really only a bit of a sheep in not very convincing wolf's clothing but I am enjoying the honeymoon. I can't honestly justify the switch from diesel and I shall probably go back in due course, but I am really enjoying the reasonably powerful petrol engine for now.
Not too outrageous a mid life crisis having a mainstream petrol estate really is it ? Stop it with the 3.2 thing PU. I only just managed to turn my back on an ST220 estate before going for the Signum.
Still have the Mondeo diesel estate as well for now and I shall use them both for a while I suppose, unless I suddenly decide to sell it.
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Humph,
Have never understood why the trade dislikes Signums so much.
Sounds like you've got a good car and if you offset the lower purchase price against the higher cost of petrol it might not cost you so much more in total.
Just mind those revs, though, and don't for goodness sake misfuel the Mondy. :)
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Been to Scotland in the "Siggy" this week. Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Total miles this week around 1200. Getting more used to the car now, wasn't sure about the seating position for me at first but it turned out to be just a case of fiddling with the adjustments a bit more. Good fuel economy in my opinion. Getting around 36 mpg fully laden. Enjoying the firm suspension. Was worried that it might not feel as connected to the road as the Mondeo but I really can't complain. For a mainstream car it really feels very good and planted.
Had a problem with the tailgate though. It decided to jam shut and given that my cars have to be in van mode during the week this was a royal pain. I carry my stuff in 10 very heavy and large holdall type containers and believe me packing and unpacking them through a side door is not fun. Big back doors though. There is of course a law which says that the one you want is the one least reachable. Combine this with firehose pressure rain and it made me long for a "proper" job !
Took it back to the supplying dealer this morning and in fairness to them the boss tried his best to fix it himself but although he managed to free it it, immediately seized up again on being closed. They think it's a "solenoid" problem which may as well be witchcraft to me so I'm glad I didn't try to fix it myself. He has kept it in to be fettled on Monday and has loaned me a new Clio. The Clio is some sort of "Eco" model and is basic in the extreme but it's wheels and will be a lot handier than walking. Whatever happened to keyholes ?
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There were a lot of naysayers (not least on this site) in respect of the Vectra - C. I think that the current car has been quite a (quiet) success.
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Not to blow anything out of proportion but that is one more problem in ten days of ownership of the Vauxhall than I have had in 3.5 years on the Ford. I hope it is just a one off. Maybe I've been spoiled by the Mondeo. Three strikes and it's out. I'll justify that ST220 or ST155 estate somehow if need be ! ( or maybe a Jag estate.......nah, not old enough yet ! )
:-(
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...or maybe a Jag estate.......nah not old enough yet ! >>
You, or the Jag estate? :)
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Given how much you enjoyed the Mondeo I'm struggling to understand why you didn't reward Ford with your custom a second time.
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Suppose I just fancied a change Michael. I've had a lot of Fords for the very reason you give. Not disappointed yet with my choice, just mildly niggled !
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Tend to agree with Michael R re loyalty, Ford deserved your business.
I was the other way around, I had Vauxhalls for 9 years, the 1st a Cav and the last a V6 Vectra estate were fine though the dealers were carp.
I went for the Mondeo because no diesel compared at the time and Ford dealers have been a revelation.
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This is not helping guys !
:-(
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How are you managing to get such decent fuel consumption out of what I think you said was a 2.2 petrol?
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Hi Optimist. Well, I suppose it's a combination of things. This engine seems to have exceptionally good low rev torque for a petrol. therefore you can drive it like a diesel if you see what I mean. The other factor is that this week I have done a lot of long distance motorway driving and have restricted myself to within 10% of any speed limits. Have had a few little mad bursts on rural roads I know very well but by and large I have driven it decorously. I do notice that mpg suffers greatly in urban conditions but that has represented a small percentage of this week's activity.
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Used to get high thirties as a matter of course (after a run) in my 2.2 Vectra.
Mid thirties was the norm.
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Humph. Don't stray back, give your poor Signum a chance. I've been driving Vauxhalls for the last 28 years and they've all been ultra reliable. A company car choice of Renault or nothing once made me stray, but never again!
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This is not helping guys !
Sorry :)
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No worries Cheddar, only sparring !
The thing which is most irritating is that you might have a point !
Got an 08 Clio loaner at present and it is truly horrid. The seats are covered in something which feels a bit like womens tights. Not that I am any expert in....oh never mind. It must have an engine as it moves but it does not feel like it really wants to be an engine. The controls are just silly. At least Ford put things in logical places and they work intuitively.
The Vauxhall has all these "clever" switches and I have got used to them but at first it took me about half an hour to switch off the rear wiper !
This may turn out to be an affair but I do hope for a more permanent relationship with the Signum. It had better just behave !
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Only half an hour - On Mrs P's Golf it took us longer, including a delve into the tome like manual - pathetic over complex design.
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For inverted snobs like me, the combination of unpopularity/rarity and subsequent undervaluing is pretty irresistible. The trick is to find cars that are in that state for reasons of fashion or clumsy marketing, rather than inherent faultiness!
That's pretty much what led me to get an Almera rather than spending thousands extra on a Focus or whatever. The unfashionability of some cars can be a real cost-saver for those of us who don't get sucked in by the marketing :)
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Got the Signum back from the dealers on Monday with the boot lock fixed. Happy again. Except for the cracked tail light I discovered on Monday evening. That was definately not there before it went in to have the lock fixed but as I had done another 100 miles until I found it I guess I can't prove anything.
Today, however, at the head of a queue at traffic lights, the "chrome" release knob at the end of the handbrake lever flew off as I pressed it and disappeared under the passenger seat. This left me unable to release the handbrake as the lights changed. Sheepishly drove the car with handbrake applied in a sort of kangaroo imitation until I could pull over.
Found the knob and shoved it back on and it works OK but doesn't feel very secure.
It is parked outside in front of the "resting" Mondy which I am sure has a quiet twinkle in its headlights !
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Except for the cracked tail light I discovered on Monday evening. That was definately not there before it went in to have the lock fixed but as I had done another 100 miles until I found it I guess I can't prove anything.
Complain - you picked up the car, did 100 miles, and then noticed the cracked light, you know it didnt happen during the 100 miles and you know it wasnt there before.
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Humph, the handbrake problem could be because that whilst the car was at the dealers they will have done the handbrake re-call work and messed something up. Definitely take it back to them and have a good moan!!
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Hi Cheddar and TOB. I know, you are both right, I should take it back again. Trouble is I am incredibly busy at this time of year and it is a two hour round trip to the garage. I have also now done an additional 400 miles since Monday. I know it will eventually cost me to get both items sorted if I don't, but being self employed, time is also money and I really can't justify the hassle and time to go back again right now.
Blinkin' cars !
Should've bought another Ford :-(
Sweet engine in the Signum mind.
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 13/08/2008 at 20:26
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Fair enough. I always find the dealers to be far more trouble than the cars ever are though, much like your experience in fact! I always found my local Ford dealer quite infuriating, but Vauxhall dealers seem to be more than their equal these days...
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Buy a Skoda Humph - good cars, good dealers !
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Having previously run a Signum 2.2 and now a Honda accord tourer 2.2 diesel the difference in quality is amazing,with the Signum you were just waiting for the next niggley problem to occur I cannot understand Opel producing such a poor car and letting such rubbish build quality through its QA.
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I always found my local Ford dealer quite infuriating but Vauxhall dealers seem to be more than their equal these days...
Vaux dealers must have improved massively in the past six years then. I found that the car was not too bad when it came out of the factory though always a few niggles, nevertheless it always left the dealer in a worse state after service or repair. Three different dealers too.
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Well, everthing sorted on the Signum now. Popped along to my local Vauxhall dealer and got it fettled. I think I may have to make a rather odd decision. The clincher is that while it really is a lovely car, the loadspace is just a wee bit smaller than my Mondeo estate and I can't get all my work stuff in comfortably.
So, reluctantly, I think I'm going to have to let it go. I'll have to think about the best way to do that but in the meanwhile I have posted it in the classifieds on here in case a Backroomer fancies it.
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But what will be the replacement?
Or will the old Mondeo be put back into service again?
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For now, I think I'll just press on with the Mondeo. It has been quite the the most useful and reliable car I have ever had. I think I bought the Signum on a bit of a whim because it seemed like a lot of car for the money. In due course I may well just replace it with a newer one. If no one wants the Signum, well it's not the end of the world, it's a very nice car and I don't mind having a "spare" for a while. I think Mrs B quietly has her eye on it !
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I assume of course that you've tried moving the rear seat forwards to increase the load space? I believe it slides back and forth to balance rear leg room vs boot space.
You could always replace it with a Vectra estate, but maybe the 3.2 V6 this time... :)
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No, sadly I need all the space as in with the seats flat. Stop it with the 3.2 notions, I have to say I am a bit seduced by the petrol engine in the Signum after so many years with worthy but reasonably underwhelming diesels. I can feel a need for multi cylinders starting to form....... When you do the maths the 2.2 isn't too steamy on running costs.........
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That's the spirit!
Just think how cheap the V6 will be these days, dealers would bite your arm off to swap it for a 2.2... LOL!
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Stop it, now. Behave !................... Might have a point though......................
;-)
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Now I think that you havent really hit it off with the Signum to get rid of it after just two weeks (does the dealer have a 14 day/28 day exchange plan?).
Must say though, seems quite a lot of car for the money.
Edit: I mean in relationship terms you fancied it enough to ask it out so to chuck it after just two weeks, well you cant be getting on well !
Edited by cheddar on 14/08/2008 at 18:01
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It is Cheddar. I actually rather like it. I really don't mind keeping it for now. Put it this way, if someone wanted it, I would sell it but it's really no big deal at present. Knowing how I am about cars I may have a different view again next week ! Today, however, it is for sale !
;-)
Re your edit. Sometimes the briefest of dalliances can be the most memorable.............
;-)
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 14/08/2008 at 18:11
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Re your edit. Sometimes the briefest of dalliances can be the most memorable.............
:)
Ah, but it was not a passionate one night stand, you have taken it out enough and got to know its foibles as well as its virtues, perhaps you dont like being alone together enjoying each other company, I know, it has taken you to meet its parents one too many times ! ;)
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Insightful analogy C ! Maybe I'll just keep it as a mistress, it hanging on hoping that I'll get that divorce eventually !
;-)
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 14/08/2008 at 18:25
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