1999 Vauxhall Omega Elite (old model) review from UK and Ireland

Oil drip from new. New oil pump fitted because oil pressure relief valve screw was cross threaded during manufacture.

Engine stopping when slowing down. With an automatic the first you know of it is when you can't steer, and you can't start with your right hand until the shift is put into neutral with the left, while you're trying to steer.

Dangerous or what!

Letter away to dealer.

Ride is bloomin awful, and passengers have complained. Why stiffer springs from 1998? Had to pull fuse 27 to stop the self levelling from pumping the back of the car up too hard when going over minor roads, better now but much inferior to trusty Senator. Dealer looking into this.

Front seats - poor side and thigh support, also too hard and bouncy.

Steering far too heavy and non-linear, very tiring when countering camber changes on a straight road. Dealer says OK, but not.

Brakes dead for 20mm of pedal travel, then they go on so hard that passengers are thrown forwards, even when you are doing your very best to drive smoothly. Dealer says OK, but not.

Boot opens too far, luggage gets wet.

Good performance for big car, good auto box, reassuring drive, every extra, better styled than new model, super headlights.

Update 26/9/2000:

The suspension has 'run in' to become acceptable, but the self-levelling remains disconnected because it still pumps up and becomes rock hard when driving up hills or riding over bumpy roads when no load is being carried.

The engine ECU was *checked* by the dealer, and confirmed as being of the latest mod state. I know that they did more than just check it, because the petrol consumption has increased when cold. At least the engine now keeps running whilst the car is moving, which is vitally important on an automatic vehicle.

In spite of expert Vauxhall and dealer organised independent RAC reporting that stated my car test-drove satisfactorily, plus a simultaneous offer of an 'equivalent' vehicle because mine did not appear to meet 'my' expectations, I held firm stating that this car was the model I had chosen, but I remained concerned about its brakes and steering. Myself and friends, have been driving bigger cars for over thirty years, so we do know when things are not right.

The brakes were eventually pressure bled by the dealer at 4000 miles....... Yahoo!..... Finally I have the brake pedal that should have been provided when new. No dealer comment!! Manufacturer's quality control??

The power steering box was changed at 4500 miles. Previous workshop changes that had boosted the fluid pressure did not alleviate problems. The steering is measured as 25% lighter, but it is still too heavy for town driving, parking and when countering the cars tendency to drift off line due to road camber. It is much heavier than Escort/Golf cars that do *not* have power steering. There is also a shocking amount of steering box free play when the wheel is turned beyond 140 degrees. Thus to keep between the

hedges through bends on undulating country roads, or to keep from oversteering onto roundabout islands, you must constantly watch out for and be ready to reactively counter the car's own body-roll induced free-play direction changes: Dealers cannot correct such in-built problems, and Vauxhall are not interested because they say that these are 'characteristics' of the model. So do be warned; you would not normally be able to observe these aspects during a test drive on good roads around a dealer's showroom, or when tentatively driving a new car that has taken your fancy.

Even Jeremy Clarkson in the Sun on 28th July 2000 commented on woolly Omega steering that is very bad in corners. The previous Senator model had first class steering, so I cannot understand why changes were made; changes that spoil what is otherwise a competent rear wheel drive replacement model.

From my very recent experience of rebuttal, Vauxhall wilfully intend that their customers accept the Omega as it is. Thus I have bought, and I am stuck with, a brand new example of the worst steering of any post 1960s car that I have ever driven, without any hope for improvement.