Sold Vauxhall Signum 3.0 CDTi Elite Auto Oct '18 MO. T £650 - Unmissable* opportunity**. SOLD

[rantingYoof]

'Evening,

 

I'm selling this on behalf of SnrYoof. It's been on AutoGum and TreeTrader for a couple of weeks and got a bit of interest but from people who ultimately didn't want to buy it (although they didn't appear to have the time to tell us this...). There've been a lot of blunt '£300 CASH 2 DAY M9' emails which have been courteously and thoroughly responded to (genuinely), only for the person to fall off the face of the earth immediately.

 

Ideally it needs to be gone before Christmas. I understand this sorta modern contraption thing is unlikely to be of particular interest here, particularly at this time of year, but as it could be a great if little late in the game WBOD for someone on here or as Vauxhalls are generally known for being superb well-regarded automobiles possibly a Christmas present maybe their partner I thought it was worth a punt.

 

WAT IS?

• 2005 Vauxhall Signum 3.0CDTi Elite Automatic
• MOT 2nd October 2018
• Taxed to get you home
• 101k
• FSH (some Vauxhall stamps)
• Lots of paperwork

I'm sure you're all aware, but a Signum is essentially a Vectra-estate with a hatchback body. It has acres of rear legroom, a cavernous boot and rear seats that fold flat to essentially create a motorhome. It was in production from 2003-2008 and had a wide variety of engines. It never caught on because members of the public lacked imagination all Vauxhalls are shit.

 

This model has the 3.0CDTi V6 diesel engine - good for 170hp and oodles of torque - mated to a 5spd triptronic automatic gearbox. While not the most economical or 'modern' engine out there, it allows you to go from any speed to any speed while on the go rather quickly. On a steady 50-60mph run it's good for 42mpg or so. Around town, 22-25. I think over its life SnrYoof's Signum has averaged bang on 30mpg. It doesn't make a bad noise for a derv either.

 

This car came into the family in 2008, when it was just three, and was SnrYoof's daily until around two years ago when he bought his retirement present. Since then it's been more of a runabout/tip-run/DIY-focussed car. It has done both jobs with impeccable reliability, only FTPing once when it predictably snapped a coil spring parked on the drive (TADTS). Given its annual mileage and average trip length a bit ol' derv isn't really suitable, so it's time to move it on to a new home.

 

PROS

• All electric extras (i.e. cruise control/heated seats/sat nav) work; I think the air-con also works although I wouldn't claim it's the bestest ever
• Sat Nav disc is 2011; while it's the slightly older black-on-yellow screen it works very well
• Bodywork is very good with no signs of rot and no significant dings, scrapes or marks
• Interior is also superb - the black leather seats are quite firm but supportive; driver's bolster has a small nick on it, and the rear of the front seats are a little scuffed from the car's use as a tip-run/DIY duty vehicle for a couple of years
• Rear leg-room is daft for a hatchback
• Automatic gearbox is smooth, no hunting, banging, kicks-down fine and trip-tronic mode works fine
• Car has been generally well kept and maintained by a careful owner for most of its life

CONS

• Cambelt roulette (10yr/90k interval)
• Spanner/EML on dash very likely signifies glow-plug fault of some kind - this has been on for two years or more and the car has always started first turn of the key and driven perfectly with it on. Friendly mechanic says they can go through the process of determining fault and fixing it at some cost but not worth it if car is functioning properly
• Water is getting into boot; very likely through rubber seal around aerial. Hole in boot allows water to drain; new seal being ordered from eBay and will either be fitted or will come with the car
• Since the recent cold weather snap, the car appears to have developed a very small coolant leak of some kind; after being driven for a while when warm steam rises from under bonnet on passenger side only (where coolant tank is). This happens when car is being stopped/parked up. Coolant level remains above the minimum line, it has never ever overheated, and there is no mayonnaise or any HGF signs at all. It's likely the super-cold weather has hair-line split a pipe. Radweld was being considered but may not be appropriate.

It is also worth mentioning that it's had its EGR valve blanked to solve lumpy running. However, the blanking plate had no hole drilled in it initially and the car went into limp home mode twice throwing an error regarding circulating gasses. The EML was reset by a plug-in OBD device. A hole has now been drilled in the plate and the car has run like a dream since with no limp home modes at all.

 

Personally, I'd have no concerns jumping in the car and driving it to Scotland tomorrow. SnrYoof and I did about 15 miles of pottering through and around town today getting bits and pieces, and it behaved itself. Didn't seem to use any coolant; the level remained well above the minimum (and, when cold, was bang-on).

 

However, the price is reflective of the fact that mechanically sound ones on 'Trader appear to be fetching upwards of £1600, and the fact it needs a little bit of proper TLC for anyone wanting to keep it long-term. Although it really could be used as a workhorse until October for anyone wanting to carry things about, like small towns.

 

Photographs:

 

Vauxhall provide only six stamping spaces in the service book; apparently it has 20k intervals!

 

This looks a little worse than it is (leak into boot)

 

 

I obviously encourage you to check its MOT history and if interested please drop me a PM. I've explained to SnrYoof that its the done thing to offer a Shiter's discount; as it's not my car the slightly reduced price of £650 should be regarded as firm.

 

Roffle could happen if enough interest but it's not really special enough to warrant that sort of thing, particularly at £11 per ticket.

[SiC]

Calling station Cavcraft. Cavcraft are you there, reading this??

[rantingYoof]

That sounds like 1) it won't fix the issue. 2) an all round bad idea

 

Assume I'm an idiot (not difficult), an elaboration would be welcome?

 

EDIT - spoken to SnrYoof; he's not done it yet and is actually waiting to see if it's worth doing. He's aware it makes some issues worse. Glad he was!

 

I've edited the opening post to avoid causing alarm, at any rate.

[Bren]

Split header tanks are a common issue - could be responsible for the steam. I was hoping it was at fault on our vectra. Unfortunately it was either HG or EGR cooler.

[bigfella2]

I thought you would have put a deposit on this by now.

[Hendry]

Yup split or cracked coolant expansion tank is common on Vec C/Signum.

 

For an Elite this looks like one of the very rare cost cut models where they removed the auto lights, rain sensor wipers and auto dim rear view mirror for a very brief time before reinstating them.

[Rusty_Rocket]

I thought you would have put a deposit on this by now.

Yeah, this has got your name written all over it Bren !

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'd love this I would. Bad timing!

[rantingYoof]

Yup split or cracked coolant expansion tank is common on Vec C/Signum.

 

For an Elite this looks like one of the very rare cost cut models where they removed the auto lights, rain sensor wipers and auto dim rear view mirror for a very brief time before reinstating them.

 

This explains the occasional steam on the passenger side where the tank is then.

 

Also, a cost-cut top spec! Prime Autoshite, would you not agree?

[Bren]

No offence to Yoof but having previously had a Vauxhall with this lump I would rather have a cactus violently inserted into my rectum than own another vehicle with the isuzu 3.0 engine.

[rantingYoof]

No offence taken. I understand there's a reputation and it's no doubt been earned.

 

This one has done 60000 or so miles without any engine related FTPs and appears to be a good egg. It seems they were particularly fragile when fitted to the 9-5.

 

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[sierraman]

No offence to Yoof but having previously had a Vauxhall with this lump I would rather have a cactus violently inserted into my rectum than own another vehicle with the isuzu 3.0 engine.

£650 though. Run it till it blows money. See it out while October then break it if it wants money chucking at it. Wouldn’t get involved in sorting the warning light out, no point if it runs well. Chuck some K seal in and away you go if it’s not the header tank split.

[Cavcraft]

Calling station Cavcraft. Cavcraft are you there, reading this??

Our buying department are watching, but I’d need the lazy fucker in sales to get rid of the P5 first.

[rantingYoof]

SnrYoof is investigating further re where split is.

 

If it helps, there is space to keep it pending collection if selling departments need time to arrange for a commensurate amount of space to be created.

 

The pre-Christmas sale thing is very idealistic and it can easily be kept on the drive for the time being, at least until its replacement is sourced and collected.

 

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[purplebargeken]

That looks rather spiffingly ace even if it is a Vauxhall. I approve.

[HMC]

^Agreed, I like the spec and the slightly left field body design, would be a great cruiser to take to Germany in Jan but I've already got something pencilled in for that job.

[HMC]

Were these marketed as a handy big hatch or some sort of lifestyle machine for the upwardly mobile? In these pretentious time I think I already know the answer to that one.

 

Just trying to figure out where in their product line up the signum was perched.

[Bren]

For the money it is a good buy. Run it till it goes kaput. A vauxhall breaker will then take it off your hands.

[drum]

I had a yearning for these years ago. Isn't there a big cool box thing for between the back seats?

[rantingYoof]

Were these marketed as a handy big hatch or some sort of lifestyle machine for the upwardly mobile? In these pretentious time I think I already know the answer to that one.

 

Just trying to figure out where in their product line up the signum was perched.

 

Yes, a 'trendy' four-seat hatchback with cubby holes and fold-flat seats. It simply borrowed the Vectra estate's floor-plan, which gave it a turning circle that'd make the Jahre Viking blush.

 

And yes, you could get them with a fridge in between the rear seats. This one doesn't have a fridge, just a big cubby hole.

 

Signums never caught on and sold in very small numbers. According to HowManyLeft there are just over 190 3.0 CDTi Elites out there, with a near 50/50 split auto/manual. Neither version sold more than 150 units!

 

Latest news is that SnrYoof will be seeing if local friendly mechanic is able to do a pressure test and get the actual issue identified. While it is a £650 car I appreciate that not knowing exactly what the issue is (although having a good idea) adds uncertainty to the success of a drive home, so knowing this will either help allay fears or may prompt a price drop depending on the outcome.

[Cavcraft]

200 M8

[Bren]

^^ and an ancient rover

[rantingYoof]

200 M8

 

+ Eggsbox?

 

12-egger, none of that half-dozen nonsense.

[sierraman]

And 36 metres of Waney Lap fencing.

[Cavcraft]

^^ and an ancient rover

 

Soz M8 wife said no.

[Datsuncog]

Were these marketed as a handy big hatch or some sort of lifestyle machine for the upwardly mobile? In these pretentious time I think I already know the answer to that one.

 

Just trying to figure out where in their product line up the signum was perched.

 

I've already posted this on RustyRockets' Signum thread so apologies for duplication, but Vauxhall initially seem to have touted it as 'a new generation of family estates' and made a point of mentioning load space - as well as the 3.0 V6.

 

This article dates from 1997, so there really wasn't a lot of change between concept and production, bar making the lights and grille more like the Vectra C.

 

[rantingYoof]

Car sold to Polish man who turned up from Wembley with 700 quid heard it start paid the money and drove off.

 

Bought either for parts or for Paris.

 

Will edit thread title when I have access to a desktop.

 

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[sierraman]

Good times. You find that with the Poles, they turn up, have money in their hand then take it away. No agg. No talking nonsense and asking if you’ll keep it a week or quibbling about scratches.

[Datsuncog]

^^ Sounds like a win to me.

[drum]

Good times. You find that with the Poles, they turn up, have money in their hand then take it away. No agg. No talking nonsense and asking if you’ll keep it a week or quibbling about scratches.

Exactly this with my old A4.