Modern cars are GR8...

[mattblack]

As reported in the 'News 24' thread, at the weekend we went to look at a 2001 Vectra (O/H paid the deposit today, so for better or worse it's ours)

 

Tonight I was thinking about how things have changed from when I would look at cars for sale when I first started driving in 1987. Then if I went to look at a 9 year old Marina/Avenger/Cortina it was on with the overalls for a good crawl round on the floor looking for rot/fibreglass in the sills, floor, chassis ect. Then grab the rear arches to see how much was metal and who much was plop. A good look round doors was next, to see what the inevitable underseal tidemark was hiding. Then out with the choke, crank the donkey over and listen for knocking bearings as it started. While it warmed up I'd be rocking the front wheels to check the wheel bearings/balljoints. Then the 'bounce' check on each corner. If all was good(ish) at this point then maybe a spin round the block to see how bad the inevitable axle whine was. Get back, the engine's warm now so a good rev to see how much blue oil smoke there was. Whip the oil filler cap off, see if the engine's 'fuming'

 

The Vectra? A quick look round for obvious battle scars, check the tyres, look round the interior to see if seems cared for or abused. Start it up, do the ABS and airbag lights go out? Check the service history, check the aircon works, Check the clutch against the handbrake. No emulsion in the header tank, oil is clean. Lock to lock on the steering, no squealing. Both remote keys work. Didn't even look underneath...

[warren t claim]

I was unfortunate to own a Vectra B and if I was stupid enough to go and buy one now I'd do all of those checks.

[Negative Creep]

Until the engine management light comes on and it won't run

[CreepingJesus]

I still do all that if buying privately, most of it if having a flutter at the auctions. The one and only time I bought a car from a dealership, I didn't really check it all that well. 'Twas an Astra, and it turned out to be a bit of a horror - I was only too happy to see the back of it.

Thinking back to about '90, I went to view a Minor at Cochrane's Mini Centre in Glasgow, for a mate. When I put the screwdriver clean thro' the floor with no effort, the garage's man wasn't impressed, but my mate got the point. I had a few similar experiences looking at old sheds for mates, when we were 17/18 - but then cars were much simpler. And there was the implied reality that nothing in our price range would be an undiscovered diamond*.

Our implied reality as grown-ups, with fiscal means, is that buying from a dealers will provide some degree of security. Whether that turns out to be real reality or not, is another matter!

 

*Except for the chisel nose RS2000 that my Minor fancying mate picked up for a song, off a mate of his dad's...

[Cavcraft]

Until the engine management light comes on and it won't run

 

They do (run) to be fair but limp mode can kick in, yo.

 

Stating you like or own a Vectra on here is akin to admitting you have a fetish for some bizzarre sexual practise, but they're not all bad. Biggest problem I'm aware of is the stupid slave cylinder-in-gearbox arrangement, ala GM Saabs.

Minor (depending on what you see as minor of course) other traits are missing pixels on the dash display, surface rust on door bottoms and arches, the exhaust sometimes sounds like it's blowing from the manifold when cold and Ecotec engines are more prone to headgasket failure than the 8V Vauxhall engines.

It won't set the world alight and you won't win any 'best car in the pub'* awards but they do the job o.k and (dare I say it) be pretty reliable.

 

 

*Or anywhere come to think of it

[Inspector Morose]

Until the engine management light comes on and it won't run

 

They do (run) to be fair but limp mode can kick in, yo.

 

Stating you like or own a Vectra on here is akin to admitting you have a fetish for some bizzarre sexual practise, but they're not all bad. Biggest problem I'm aware of is the stupid slave cylinder-in-gearbox arrangement, ala GM Saabs.

 

Not mine - (non) self adjusting cable!

[Split_Pin]

Very true, I didnt look underneath mine when I viewed it because it started, drove, had no dash lights on that shouldnt be and had a years ticket. There was no major rust on the visible panels, so that would mean no tutting from Fatha_L when I brought round my new purchase.

 

Cue, inevetible Vectra bashing on AS. Yawn. Its quite an achievement when you own a car that isnt even acceptable to Autoshite

 

Agree with Cavette on all the ailments that he has pointed out. Mine has X20XEV with the ticking manifold problem and I have to keep my eye on a few bubbles on the bottom of the driver's door. I'm a member of a Vectra forum and they do indeed have some arse for tit design faults, like the clutch slave cylinder. I will add the handbrake, the inaccesible parts of the cooling system unless you completely dismantle it, and the rear suspension bushes.

 

Its not the most inspiring car to own or drive, and they will never have the simple charm of a Cavalier, but mine cost me £750 2 years ago, has only needed a timing belt (my choice), discs and pads and admittedly a new fuel tank. It went straight through its MOT 2 weeks ago for the 2nd time in my ownership so I cant see the problem. It also started tonight in sub zero temperatures with a foot and a half of snow on it. Its never let me down.

 

Mine has also been the cheapest car for parts that I know of. Not much costs over 15 quid. I've added the leather interior and wheels from a CDX and its not a bad place to be now.

 

'Honestly theyre cack I've had eleventy eight of them in my garage etc etc'

[ashmicro]

A mate has a last-gasp Vectra 3.2 Elite. Got it pre-regged with 35 miles on the clock for about 9 grand off list. VERY nice. Talk about a busmans holiday though, as he drives a slightly earlier example everyday at work, albeit with reflective blue and yellow squares on it ....

 

Quite often friends (mainly of the female variety) will ask if I'll go take a look at a car they're thinking of buying.

 

Girlie mate to independent dealer "I saw you have a (insert car name) for sale. Is it OK if I bring a friend to take a look around it"

Independent dealer, rubbing his mitts, thinking it'll be some clueless idiot "Yes, of course!"

 

Then upon arrival, I see Swiss Tony's jaw hit the floor when he sees me in overalls carrying a fault code reader. Four corner bounce test, crawl about under it etc etc. They really shit themselves when you're looking under the bonnet and take off your specs to examine something more closely.

 

All worth doing though, as I went with a pal in 1992 to look at a mark 4 Escort which looked good, but on closer inspection the car had been bashed pretty hard and not mended properly. In fairness, the dealer had no idea, and thanked me!

[RedSparrow]

Yeah but

Vectra = one of the most boring cars ever made; Marina / Avenger = interesting.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Marinas and Avengers were boring cars 35 years ago.

[Split_Pin]

Good idea turning up in overalls lol! I havent got much knowledge but I do have a pair plus a barely functioning ebay code reader. Might use these the next time I look at a car!

[Cavcraft]

Marinas at least were not only boring but bloody awful cars too.

[warren t claim]

If I'm looking at a car and there's a Haynes manual in the boot I always flick through it to see where the grubby fingerprints are. For example, if they're all over the gearbox chapter and the vendor looks like a total mong I'll walk away if the gears and clutch aren't perfect.

[Negative Creep]

I like the Vectra B's mirrors

 

 

 

That is all

[pogweasel]

Are Vectra's really that boring?

Mrs_Pog's brother has a Vectra, it's certainly a pretty useful bit of kit... does 35 to the gallon driven sensibly (not often), masses of space, plenty comfortable and goes like absolute shit off a shovel [ it's the 2.5 GSi MSD]...

probably not to most tastes here, but that's not a bad package for less than a grotty supermini would set you back...

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Barried-up Vectra = meatheads' second choice after Mitsubishi L200s.

My friend had a Vectra B estate for a while, it seemed OK - quite quiet, comfortable and did the job but had multitudinous sensor issues.

[warren t claim]

In all fairness I thought my Vectra B was the tits when I first got it. Seriously quick in a straight line and very nice power steering but it took less than a week for problems to start making me wish I had a Mondeo instead.

[Gompo]

I wouldnt get a Vectra because it looks like a shit version of the Mk3 Cav.

[alf892]

Guilty secret time then............a couple of months ago i got this as a daily driver:

 

I needed something cheap as the company i worked for went tits up so the car went back. This left me with my P2 Rover........not a daily driver with winter coming. I got this for £80 (inc 3/4 tank of fuel) although it did have 16 bent velves after the aux belt tensioner let go.

 

It is definitely better than walking

[fiatdaft]

i can't believe the snobbery regarding the vectra here! put the car into context.its just a normal run of the mill family car of the late 90's,just like the alpine/marina was in period but much better.they do have there faults like the rear bushes etc but what car doesn't.sensors are made by bosch mostly so blame them for failing,cambelt replacement was revised early on.slave cylinder in box can be a pain if it fails but have you tried doing a mondeo clutch?

[Justin Case]

Not generally liked, even on Autoshite, bit of a lottery as to whether it's a peach or a lemon, seems like the perfect car to me.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

i can't believe the snobbery regarding the vectra here!

 

They're just a bit miserable aren't they? People accuse Japanese cars of being appliance like, but I think GM Europe's products of the mid 1990s-on are the worst white goods imaginable.

[Guest]

I like Vectras and have never understood why people get so FURIOUS on here about them, even if they aren't as good as the Cavalier. I imagine if you get a good one they're alright, can't imagine one in Autoshite budget to be that cracking. Yeah they can have some pretty lousy owners, but that's Vauxhalls for you.

[fiatdaft]

hardly,vectra gsi,calibra turbo/dtm,omega mv6 ain't that dull compared to the japanese competition,the vast majority of new car buyers buy a new car like an appliance.like i said put the vectra into context.

[mattblack]

i can't believe the snobbery regarding the vectra here!

 

They're just a bit miserable aren't they? People accuse Japanese cars of being appliance like, but I think GM Europe's products of the mid 1990s-on are the worst white goods imaginable.

 

 

An 'appliance' is exactly what we want... it's a Vectra estate, FFS. It will be used to cart crap to the tip, not lap the frigging 'ring...

[Cavcraft]

One of the best cheapies I scored was a metallic blue Vectra estate from a smashing fella off Retro-Rides for 200 quid taxed and tested. Also wished I'd kept the (2.0) Supertouring I had.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I;d drive a Vectra alright, I cant see what the big deal is TBH, theyre inoffensive enough and are a decent tool, i'd happpily have one, a 2.0 pez estate ideally.

[RedSparrow]

I just think they are unbeleivably mediocre, but yes they serve a purpose and yes so was the Marina at the time.

I'm going now before people start calling eachother cunts again.

[Guest]

All cars are appliances anyway, I've never understood that argument. Even supercars are an appliance, just one aimed at gaudy drug dealers.

[fiatdaft]

what made them 'unbeleivably mediocre' redsparrow?