2000 Opel Vectra GL review from Australia and New Zealand

Ignition system fails (jammed) at around 135,000km.

Exhaust pipe splits.

Seat belts do not retract properly.

LCD display unit is not working correctly.

Engine sounds as if its going to die when you go to accelerate, sometimes.

Cam belt, water pump and all associated pulleys must be replaced at ridiculous intervals (cam belt every 60,000km, water pump and all associated pulleys every 120,000km)

Tapper cover gasket blows at around 120,000km.

Engine very prone to over-heating in busy traffic, or hot conditions if radiator is not religiously flushed.

One of the many vacuum pipes becomes blocked, causing the engine light to turn on which in turn strands you at the side of the road.

Fuel gauge will read one level at one particular time, but when you go to use the car another time, the gauge will have a different level in it (substantially less than when the car was switched off)

Brakes overheat very quickly.

Horn does not work when steering wheel is turned either way.

Stereo speakers are beginning to give up the ghost (150,000km)

Oil leaks into spark plug bay, smothering every plug, compromising performance.

Electric engine fan is very weak and struggles to cool water.

Original thermostat would open too late (temperature gauge would be reading above 100 degrees before the thermostat opened)

You must spend money to get decent accessories eg: passenger airbag, electric windows, alloy wheels on the Vectra. So buying a GL model won't get you what you really want, which is performance WITH luxury. Instead, you only get performance.. which isn't too bad, but still, we all like a bit of luxury motoring!

However, the way the controls on the fascia are set up are very convenient (easily reached) for the driver and front passenger.

The car doesn't muck around, it really gets up and goes. Even the basic 2 litre and 2.2 litre models. Proven to beat some turbo-charged Japanese cars of around the same year.

The Manual gearbox is very smooth-shifting and the clutch is reasonably light-weight.

Rear seats are comfortable, but the front seats leave a lot to be desired.

Headlight strength is quite poor for a European car.

This car is very VERY economical. It is capable of reaching 850 to 900km, possibly even 1000km if driven very carefully, on 1 tank of 95/98 octane petrol (60 litres)

Handling is a little dodgy unless custom wheels and performance tyres are fitted.

Under heavy breaking, the Vectras rear wheels like to play games with the rear end, swaying from side to side.

Top speed is quite satisfactory for a small engine (250km/hr) at the redline in 5th.

Road noise is minimal, engine noise is blocked almost completely which allows for an enjoyable, fairly quiet ride.