Went to clean the 'alloys' on my Vectra Exclusive only to find that they are actually silver plastic wheel trims. Took them off & there is a matt black 5 spoke wheel which I assume is alloy. Spoke to a colleague & his Astra Club is the same.
Why do Vauxhall do this?
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Cost?
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I think you will find that the matt black wheel is steel.
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I'd have thought a top of range Vectra which 'exclusive' presumably is would have come with alloys as standard.
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I thought the top two models for the Vectra C were Design and Elite. Exclusive would probably have been a special edition or low end model.
It looks like the plastic wheel trims fooled lents111 for a while so they be okay.
The wheel under the trim will be a steel one - otherwise they'd have not needed the plastic trim to make it look like an alloy wheel.
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Wouldn't a five-spoke matt black steel wheel be better looking than a bit of silver plastic tat?
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I thought the "Exclusive" was the base model.
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I'd have thought a top of range Vectra which 'exclusive' presumably is
Nope, it's the bottom of the range. The Elite is the top of the range.
The official name for these wheels is "structure wheels"
www.carpages.co.uk/vauxhall/vauxhall-vectra-27-08-...p
or
tinyurl.com/structure-wheels
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Nope it's the bottom of the range. The Elite is the top of the range.
I can't keep up with the model designations and silly names they have anymore, too pretentious by far.
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The wheel is steel - most entry level models of all makes (of which Exclusive is one) come with plastic wheel trims. Very cheap when you kerb them and they don't suffer lifting lacquer or brake dust damage like a genuine alloy wheel.
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They could just provide decent looking steel wheels that don't need trims.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=76...8
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This concept isn't new, btw. Back in 1991 I had a Sierra hire car for a couple of days. I thought the tear drop alloys looked reasonable ok. It wasn't until I looked more closely that I noticed they were actually wheel trims and the black coloured steel wheels hidden behind them were exactly the same design as the trims.
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Went to clean the 'alloys' on my Vectra Exclusive only to find that they are actually silver plastic wheel trims.
Do you mean to say you didn't know that before you chose it?
Edited by L'escargot on 13/07/2009 at 15:13
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Do you mean to say you didn't know that before you chose it?
To be fair, they do look quite realistic in that picture in DD's link.
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>> Do you mean to say you didn't know that before you chose it? To be fair they do look quite realistic in that picture in DD's link.
>>
Yes, They do seem to do a much better faux alloy wheel now than 20 years ago, I'd be happy with 'em to be honest.
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It was forced on me as a company car in May! Since Vauxhall was no longer selling them new there was no info on their website on spec, however, looking at various other sources & used models for sale, it appeared this model, one up from the bottom of the range Life model, had alloys. I think a number of sellers need to change their ads.
DD's links is good. Cheers
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DD's links is good. Cheers
Assuming the picture is 'real', what's unusual is that you cannot see any steel wheel at all; I'd be interested now to see one in the flesh.
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That's the weird/clever bit. The steel wheel has 5 spokes the same as the plastic trim.
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It's not weird just good design. They have cut out the steel wheel so you can see through it like an alloy. With the matching plastic wheel trim, at a distance it looks like an alloy wheel.
I remember seeing this in the car magazines a few years ago and thought it clever then. Surprised more companies did not follow suit.
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I remember seeing this in the car magazines a few years ago and thought it clever then. Surprised more companies did not follow suit.
Agreed, when you scratch them you will have to buy new trims from the manufacturer whereas you'll either refurb or go aftermarket with alloys which means no additional business.
They are a good looking trim and wheel combo though, much better than most.
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And new alloys or refurbishing the existing ones will cost more than new wheel trims.
I'd have thought when buying one of these cars new it makes sense to buy a spare set of the wheel trims. When you come to sell it you put on the brand new set.
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why not just take the trims off and just show the world you drive a rep mobile ?
after all not many people would want to admit they bought one with their own money would they?
no offence................runs and hides from DD
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So many cars have alloys as standard these days, I would now call steel rims and placcy trims the 'exclusive' trim!
Edited by boxsterboy on 13/07/2009 at 18:31
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I mentioned in another thread - I hardly saw any alloys at all in 4 weeks in the US recently... they're just an expensive fashion accessory
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