HMC WBOD news

[Bren]

The biggest killer of vauxhalls of this vintage is subframe rot - while the bodywork is well protected the subframe has just paint - the undertray covers the subframe so MOT tester cannot see much of it. Poor sod who decides to drop the oil finds something akin to a doyley.

Might be worth having a look before you decide what to do.

[HMC]

^ will do, never ceases to amaze the detailed knowledge on here

[BorniteIdentity]

An old boss had one of these - a crazy 2.2 even though it was the year 2003 and big petrols were as popular as headlice. I still remember the reg: GY52ZMO (Gizmo)

I still remember how you can see SFA out of the back, and how the one touch indicators confused the fuck out of me.

Well bought! 

[HMC]

Thanks! yes the indicatiors are confusing me, the cancelling of them especially, I was yearning fir those generic gm ones that graced so many 80s/90s/00s Vauxhall models; think they debuted on the mk3 cav

[cort16]

The indicators are so agonising to use BMW decided to put them in the e60 5 series. 

What engine has it got? Is the 1.8 not almost unburstable?

[Split_Pin]

Billy won't* like this at all.

As long as the belts/waterpump are up-to-date/look reasonable then these are a decent engine. 2.2 'Direct' is the one to avoid.

I quite like the cuboid interior in these early ones.

[HMC]

24 minutes ago, cort16 said:

The indicators are so agonising to use BMW decided to put them in the e60 5 series. 

What engine has it got? Is the 1.8 not almost unburstable?

It’s a 1.8

[cort16]

It's probably a coil pack causing the misfire, Vauxhall coil packs just seem to be a square of toffee with a wire sticking though them.

I'm not a fan of these but defo cheap practical motoring.

[SiC]

I don't think it's not unknown for these 1.8 to loose compression on a cylinder as they get the miles on them. Also ECUs can die when they age, being bolted to the engine and buggering them upside. Tends to identify as misfire when hot. 

Coil packs certainly aren't unknown to not go too. 

[Split_Pin]

I'd also check the MAF. That and the coil pack are Vauxhall weak points. Dont bother with a pattern part as they simply don't work. A known good 2nd hand genuine item will be a better bet.

The ECU crapping out is an Astra MK4 thing I think. Mine was showing the first signs of it but never got any worse in a decade.

[sutty2006]

Used to use one of these in an old job when going to Swindon on courses. Very bland indeed. Horrible interior. Used to love getting back and jumping back into my Mk3 Mondeo. 

[wuvvum]

Mk3 Mondeos handle better and have nicer interiors, but the Vectra has a better ride I find, and is more relaxing on a long motorway run.  Those fucking indicators can get in the sea though.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Congratulations, you’ve finally managed to find a car that even I think is awful.

To be fair, in ten years time they’ll probably have grown on me.

[SiC]

They're all be mostly tinned bean cans by then. 

 

Thankfully. 

[HMC]

I hear you.

Nevertheless I’ve got a coil pack ordered, and thanks to not having an undertray fitted I can see unfortunately the subframe is actually fine; this may not be beans tins, at least for now.

[Bren]

Good news. The driving experience is automotive necrophilia, however I like the vectra because they are fairly straightforward to repair except for V6 diesel and petrol engines. I would have another.

[Andyrew]

I said to a customer about how these are disappearing quickly as we walked out of the shop to stick a pair of wiper blades on for him.  

I laughed when we got outside to find 3 parked in a row and one about 30ft away the other side of the car park. 

Like bloody buses. 

[holbeck]

At least it's beige.

[Tamworthbay]

When I had one as a hire car I spent about two miles indicating one way then the other trying to stop the bloody things. Just why?

[HMC]

Yeah give me those old gm parts bin stalks any day. What was wrong with them?! Seems a bit of a gimmick and counter intuitive.

[cort16]

1 hour ago, Tamworthbay said:

When I had one as a hire car I spent about two miles indicating one way then the other trying to stop the bloody things. Just why?

About 15 years ago I got one as a hire car just as they came out. I was excited to get a "new" car 20 miles dealing with those indicators I was almost ready to walk home.

They're so counter intuitive to EVERY person who every drove a car up to that point .

[Kiltox]

I’m definitely in the pro Vectra C camp for my sins. 

A few years ago I sold a very clean and tidy 1.9 120 estate and took a very not clean and very not tidy 1.9 150 estate in part exchange for buttons. 

Changed the oil and filters and proceeded to do thousands of miles in it, billing my then employer at 45p/mile for most of them. It paid for itself many times over.  Was surprisingly good at mile munching despite being really quite tired. Upscale models have far better seats than the bASe ones  

Swapped it for a knackered Corolla T Sport once I was done. 

[HMC]

Thinking of moving this on, assuming the coil pack fixes the vectra c

EDIT- vectra fixed so sale on.

1997 Volvo 940 LPT 2.3 classic estate. 5 speed manual. MOT June 2020. 270k on the clock.

Its a bit cosmetically challenged; roof has laquer peel, various knocks and bumps, and giffer repairs, see the pics. Looks to have had a bit of welding at the pack edge of the sills which looks tidy. It drives well and goes well; nice gearbox engine and brakes. Clutch bites high but doesn’t slip. There’s an exhaust blow near the manifold. New front tyres (Avon zv7s) interior not too bad, ive just noticed outside the swept area and right in the bottom corner a crack in the screen of about 5cm. 

Some old service books, and the plate is transferable. One ftp was when I stalled it shortly after a cold start and needed to rest for 5 mins before it started again; I think I flooded it and it hasn’t done it since; just done a 300 mile trip that it gobbled up with ease.

located Tavistock and I’d like £350

[cms206]

HNNNNNNNG

 

So much want, so far away

[cms206]

Bah

[Ghosty]

But you could have it taken to Shropshire for you! No excuses.

[dollywobbler]

Hold on. This was put up for sale hours ago and is still available?! Is that an HMC record?

[skattrd]

42 minutes ago, cms206 said:

Bah

Aren't some members of the SVM heading to middle England soon? and didn't someone (83C) say they might be able to deliver it to middle England?

I was reminded yesterday of SVM logistics, it's close, as no ferries are involved, unlike, say Arran, which is far as it involves a ferry …  

[cms206]

2 minutes ago, skattrd said:

Aren't some members of the SVM heading to middle England soon? and didn't someone (83C) say they might be able to deliver it to middle England?

I was reminded yesterday of SVM logistics, it's close, as no ferries are involved, unlike, say Arran, which is far as it involves a ferry …  

Cannock... next weekend. Unless 83C logistics moves that quickly, or someone in the area can stash it until I can get near it... ?

[The Moog]

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