Bringin' On Back The Good Times!

[eddyramrod]

A week and a half ago I got a message on Facebook from my friend Mike, offering me his late uncle's old car for £600.  Last Tuesday he brought it over for me to inspect (he lives 25 miles away).  We agreed a deal and this morning Mike brought it back.  Then we went for lunch and I took him home.

So: Morning poo count 1.  Breakfast: Frosties and coffee, and if you can't conjure up a picture of that in your head, what are you doing here?

Mike arrived almost bang-on 11.  Admin dealt with, followed by lunch.  Conversation turned to other old cars we've known; we are both ex-owners of the millennial Rover 75, for example, so a little detour was called for on the way back to Levens.  This is where you get the big reveal!

Oh look, a Rover 75, and something blue, as promised.  I am now the proud custodian of a 2001 Vauxhall Omega CD 2.2 auto.  Here's a better pic:

And here's the Minder Opening Titles shot:

I'm the one in the red.  And before I drove away, I had to do this one:

Let's look a bit closer, shall we?  In use, the car is missing a centre cap, but I do have it, in the boot.  Mike says it doesn't stay in place so that's the safest option for it.

Mike's Uncle Peter bought this car in 2002, when it was a mere one year old, and drove it until he was 93, so it has a few giffer scrapes, like all four corners...

Oh and the middle of the back bumper, following a bollard being installed while Pete was inside the garden centre...

And at some point, Auntie scraped the gatepost...

Those are the worst marks.  In fact they're ALL the marks!  Nothing to worry about there.  Especially as Mike threw in a pair of bumpers he salvaged from a funeral limo that was about to go round the oval...

Tidy interior...

And here it is in its new home!

No sooner had I taken this shot with its new sister than a neighbour's dad arrived, with a car that would have been a competitor when new:

I think there's going to be a theme here, given that I've already crossed off the Rover 75 and Honda Accord!  Omega With Rivals!

Pretty though, isn't it?

I am, for the first time in a long time, very happy.

And for anyone who hasn't noticed, I've even won a private plate for it!

So once I've got it in my name and taxed as Disabled, those plates will be going on.

Thanks Mike!

 

[Wibble]

Fantastic! I’m really pleased for you and hope it serves you well. There is much in common underneath these with my Senator, I’ll bet it drives lovely.

[FakeConcern]

What a cool car and a cool dude in the aviators!

Great buy Eddy and hopefully this will bring joy to your life...

[eddyramrod]

Thank you both; and yes, it drives beautifully.  Smooth, comfortable, powerful enough; everything an old bloke needs!

[BorniteIdentity]

I would like one of these. There’s a young chap locally who has a 2.6 and there’s a 3.2 FF around too. 

Enjoy it bud. I hope it behaves itself.

[BorniteIdentity]

Pistonheads had one a few years back in the same spec. Some useful stuff in here amongst the LOLs. 

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-features-sheds/vauxhall-omega-2-2--shed-of-the-week/44919

[outlaw118]

Top work Eddy, that's proper.

[morrisoxide]

That looks very tidy, let the good times roll.

[danthecapriman]

Nice one Eddy!

That looks a fabulous old rig, and an absolute bargain too. The colour is lovely. 
They don’t look their age imho, still a very handsome stylish car. Enjoy it!👍

[Rust Collector]

I like these omegas, a diesel estate is on the list of chod to be owned at some point.

@eddyramrod it looks like yours was a really good deal!

[horriblemercedes]

Omegas are good cars. Congrats Eddy, I hope it serves you well

[Popsicle]

Well purchased Eddy, seems a real bargain at that price.

Had a few of these, and the previous shape, back in the 90's/00's, always solid, reliable, enjoyable to own cars - Just what you need after the Jag experience. I've always had a soft spot for Vauxhalls, particularly big automatic, wafty ones.

[horriblemercedes]

It's a shame the Omega wasn't replaced directly. The Vectra/Signum were fine, but not quite the same. I've had them all! 

 

I suppose there was a declining market for non-premium big cars and by that point, GM had full control of Saab so the 95 covered that market segment for GM. That's also a good car, but very different from the Omega. I like them both though. Also, by that point, the Vectra C was on the market and not much smaller than the Omega anyway (particularly the Vectra estate) 

[clayts450]

Well played, Eddy - that looks a right bargain.

[Jazoli]

Nice one mr RR I’m in BIF a couple of times a week so I’ll have to look out for you 👍

[horriblemercedes]

@eddyramrod yours looks in good shape, but the main enemy will be corrosion. 

It gets into the rear arches, the door bottoms, the front subframe and bulkhead mostly, in my Omega experience. Check for leaves building up in the heater blower intake. That seems to be an issue from my research when I had an Omega, but mine was fine. 

 

OOF (Omega Owners Forum) was the best owners forum I've ever known, but I think it's quiet these days as the cars are quite rare now. Regardless, the Omega community was fantastic 

[MrGTI6]

Congrats on the new car. I love an Omega! Looks an absolute steal for £600. 

[Split_Pin]

Super work there Eddy!

You'll need a Gama 1/43 model of it now although I'm sure you'll already have one!

[Dobloseven]

Hopefully we'll be up to Barrow in the summer,so looking forward to having a look.If you've still got it!

[brownnova]

Excellent!!! 
Hope this brings you lots of joy! 

[Frontier Fred]

I remembered that I did have an account on here Eddy. My Cars gone to a good home and I'm glad it's made you happy. It certainly brought me a lot of pleasure getting it back on the road. See you and the Omega soon! Mike.

[eddyramrod]

44 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Super work there Eddy!

You'll need a Gama 1/43 model of it now although I'm sure you'll already have one!

I'm glad you mentioned that, Iain.  It's one I don't have!  I do have a couple of the El Cheapo police Omegas that are fairly easy to find, but of course they are the mk1.

 

In other news, to tidy up the Compulsory Elements:  Poo count for the whole day was two.  Pez station will have to be later in the week, because Mike left me half a tank.

[Sunny Jim]

Joy of new wheels to you, what a great way to your mojo back. Here's to many miles and smiles of happiness.

[eddyramrod]

I'm hoping I'll have little to write about this car!  Occasional snaps of it with a contemporary, maybe; here and there a 1/43 version; with a bit of luck there won't be much more.  I will do a pez shot soon to at least complete that requirement.

[Dobloseven]

20 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

I'm hoping I'll have little to write about this car!  Occasional snaps of it with a contemporary, maybe; here and there a 1/43 version; with a bit of luck there won't be much more.  I will do a pez shot soon to at least complete that requirement.

Always the optimist! It's 24 years old.It's a Vauxhall.WCPGW! Seriously,hope it brings much joy to you.

[danthecapriman]

24 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

I'm hoping I'll have little to write about this car!  Occasional snaps of it with a contemporary, maybe; here and there a 1/43 version; with a bit of luck there won't be much more.  I will do a pez shot soon to at least complete that requirement.

With any luck you’ll have to get used to NOT going to the garage every other day to get it fixed!😆

Im positive it’ll be no bother and a complete change compared to the Jag. 
On the face of it, could these be ideal shite?? Old enough to be obsolete and undesirable to the masses, yet also old enough to be interesting.

[Split_Pin]

You'll have no bother getting that car sorted at a garage, as simple as they came back then!

[lesapandre]

Congratulations Eddy. Nice to look forward to some pleasant summer runs.

Cool image - I know it's the earlier iteration.

[Asimo]

A set of Catera badges and you have Huggy2!

[eddyramrod]

6 minutes ago, Asimo said:

A set of Catera badges and you have Huggy2!

Don't think I haven't thought of that!  April next year I'm over there too.  Perhaps this is the time to put a call out to @PhilA, since I'll be on his turf!