ORL VOCSALZ R SHIT - BUT HOW SHIT ARE THEY?

[outlaw118]

Just perusing t'interweb while Mrs_Outlaw watches some unspeakable shit on the telly, and I've found this.

A 2006 Signum 1.9DTi. Currently £511 with no reserve, looks ok, and being a Signum, it'll be cheaper that the equivalent Ve**ra. 

So, hypothetically, are they worth a punt? There's a V6 3.0 Dizzler, and a 3.2Pez too. 

 

WHADDERYOORECKON?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-VAUXHALL-SIGNUM-1-9-CDTI-150-BHP-6-SPEED-SAT-NAV-PRIVACY-GLASS-STUNNING-/271931883782?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f50674106

 

[beko1987]

Id roll in one, always thought they looked nice.

 

Ive found the meriva easy to work on so far tbh

[outlaw118]

I'm sort of half-arsedly looking for something else....The Leon is currently behaving (barring EML light) so i'm wondering if it's a good time to flog it. 

And i've had it two years now, and the hot hatch itch has been scratched.

 

The last-gen Vectra Estates look ok, but these look a bit different, possibly because they didn't sell that well, and they look to be good value. Need summert with a bit of guts too, so the lower powered ones wouldn't appeal. 

 

Obviously a 3.2V6 Pez would be nice, but I fear the DVLA and the petrol companies may be tigger-bumming me at every turn. Hmmmmm.......

[Bren]

You cannot realistically sit three in the rear of a signum because they are somewhat like a 2+2 with a console in the middle.

 

You can consider yourself more discerning than a vectra owner while you wait for the RAC.....

[dollywobbler]

I know nothing about them, so can't offer an opinion. Oh. Sorry. This is the Internet! DEY IZ SHIT M8.

[Rusty_Rocket]

They have the Fiat JTD engine.  Beware swirl flaps in the inlet, dual mass flywheels, EGR failure etc.  Basically the same as any other modern diesel, using the same, fragile, mass-produced components from Bosch that are very expensive to replace and almost impossible to diagnose 100% accurately.

 

It could be worse though- see Fords with Siemens common rail injection.

[HH-R]

They're an acceptable looking Vauxhall, nicer looking than the Vectra estate and have a nice big boot. Middle rear seat has all the comfort of a paving slab, it's just a thin bit of foam and leather/cloth covering a plastic armrest. The other seats aren't that plush either and the interiors are horrible and cheap IMO (I can excuse it on a car that was cheap to buy in the first place, but weren't these £20k+?). The adjustments on all of the seats feel ready to snap, very cheap and nasty. Dash is scratchy plastic and Alba CD player quality spray painted silver, there's no "Audi plastics" here. Think more Corsa plastics.

 

I don't think they're meant to be too bad reliability wise, though my Dad had a 2.2 diesel and it was a disaster, generating big bills regularly and kept going into limp home. He's had a disastrous Fiat with this 1.9 diseasel donkey too, they don't have a great rep, so it would be a perfect storm of FAIL. I think the 1.9 in certain tune eats gearboxes too?

 

One thing to check is that the interior fan works properly, the scuttle can get full of leaves, it floods when it rains and seizes the interior fan motor which in turn breaks the resistor pack.

 

They're not too bad to drive though, very acceptable. Loads of leg room, they're one of the VERY few cars I don't have to have the driver's seat all the way back and think "ah no, is that it?"

[Hendry]

I like Signum's, distinctive looking, despite what people say they and the Vectra are actually reliable cars on the whole, and they are decent spec, even the entry level spec has plenty toys, and very roomy. Just avoid the bloody 1.9 diesel. The other engines are fine 2.2 DTi, 2.0 petrol Turbo, 2.8 and 3.2 V6 petrol and 3.0 V6 CDTi. Very refined cruisers too.

[warren t claim]

Warren's first law of Vauxhalls is if you don't active the heated rear window by pulling out the fan switch then your Vauxhall is shit.

[Angrydicky]

Grim. Carlton ftw.

[Bucketeer]

Just to help along the metamorphosis of AS into Pistonheads, I've never driven, owned or fornicated with a Signum and have no knowledge or interest in them but I can categorically state that they all lunch their engines, dinner their suspension and supper their gearboxes.

I would never have one, unless it was cheap, and then I wouldn't have one, unless it wasn't expensive, and even then I wouldn't have one, unless it wasn't a petrol or diesel.

They are also often found painted in a colour, are rude to old people and are very insensitive lovers.

 

Edit : Extensive research has also revealed that they like a bit of veg, but only if you mush it up a bit and cover it with gravy or hide it under some meat so they don't know they're having it.

[Cavcraft]

My Vauxhall loving local garage owner said it's the only one he wouldn't have.

 

 

To me, they're just a sort of odd looking Vectra that's reversed into an Astra H estate, but I'd 100% roll in one because I'm just the sort of target audience (knobhead) that likes this sort of shit.

 

Verdict: Get the 1.9 (150) diesel and become win.

[wuvvum]

I'd avoid the 3.0 V6 diesel too tbh - it's the same engine as the Vel Shatis and, whilst it doesn't seem to suffer quite so badly from overheating in Vauxhalls as it did in the Renner, it's still not the most reliable engine in the world, and it's bloody awkward to work on when it does go wrong.

 

3.2 V6 is nice, quite torquey for a modern engine and does about 35mpg on a run (with a manual 'box).

[Junkman]

It has been built 20 years after the last cars were made, so for me it's not 'no', but 'hell no',

completely irrespectively of whether it's a RHD Opel Shitnum, or not.

Oh, and we do need a 'don't like' button.

[CortinaDave]

These things are pretty dull imo. Like a ryvita cracker with no spread on. But given they're in the 500 quid bracket now I'd probably roll in one. As a winter beater they'll do a decent enough job.

[mercrocker]

Christ, winter's fucking depressing enough without looking at it from inside stuff like this....

[Pete-M]

Dismal.

[Lord Sterling]

If its cheap enough for you to chuck away and you want to scratch that itch then I say take avpunt. Yeah, it's a bit new for some us here and yes it does look like the front of a Vectra welded to the back of an Astra but you clearly seem to be bored of the Leon and sou d like you want summat new and interesting, whether interesting is a good or bad thing.

[chaseracer]

Mo, didn't one of these go across the block at Cannock for some pitiful amount last time we were there?

[twosmoke300]

I like the signum as a car but the 1.9 is a shit engine

[outlaw118]

Hmmmm......thanks chaps.....perhaps I'll abandon the one that i've "watched" as the general consensus is that 1.9Dti iz shit.

 

A 2.2pez may make it onto "this list" once I make my mind up to change...I reckon the Signum is the most "Autoshite" of the most recent Vauxhall ranges..ie unloved, unpopular sales-wide, and possibly overpriced and heavily depreciating.

 

All comments gratefully received as before.

[Lord Sterling]

Mo, didn't one of these go across the block at Cannock for some pitiful amount last time we were there?

Yes, in fact I think I remember picking it on my list as the 'motorway cruiser' as it had leather and higher capacity engine (over a 2.5) most people thought it was a standard Vectra because it was parked nose out.

[twosmoke300]

The 2.2 pez motor doesn't have the best rep either I'm afraid

[beko1987]

I do quite like the shape, would make a great drug dealer car as youd blend in so much even other motorists would forgrt your there. would a 1.7 izuzu hammer in easily?

[barefoot]

....and for some bizarre reason which escapes me now, you can't drive them effectively whilst sat in the back.

[Bren]

1.9 engines.

 

There are 2 types - more powerful one is best. Only foible is swirl flaps. Has 148 hp.

 

The other has 118 hp and is a fiat lump - my vectra had this. Geared for cruising as 118 hp in a big car is not much.

 

Glow plugs are a PITA to do, EGR problems and the gearbox mated to this engine has issues.

[Lacquer Peel]

Poor man's Fiat Croma.

[Joey spud]

2.2 petrol snaps its cam chain just for fun..

[cms206]

I'd have one. But I'm a Vauxhall pervert like Billy and have about as much taste in cars.

[bub2006]

I like them but I've never understood what they are meant to be. Shooting brake? Sport estate?