1998 Vauxhall Sintra CD 2.2 16v

Summary:

A fantastic car

Faults:

Things that have gone wrong are the headlights have been fixed cheaply by previous owner, and are now very dull; that's all.

Passed it MoT straight away, no problems.

General Comments:

Very quick. Outpulls sport cars; MG TF LOL, and handles well, as it's lowered 50mm on springs with Zafira 17 inch alloys.

Stops on button with green stuff pads and drilled and grooved discs; that's front and rear.

Only downside is no styling bits!

8 seater version, so very very versatile.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th October, 2010

7th Jan 2024, 16:20

Wow a positive review of a Sintra. This was one of the most unreliable and unsafe cars in the UK in modern times. Surprised you like it and surprised there are any other positive reviews here at all!

In reply to 7th Jan 2024, 16:20

13th Jan 2026, 11:53

A bloke my dad used to know had a Sintra 3.0 V6 as a taxi. He loved the thing! Was great for taxing and ferrying his family around in. It eventually got into a crash though in around the mid 2000s, t-boned by a lorry on a junction. Despite all the poor reviews on how they do in crashes, everyone walked out of it fine, few injuries.

Despite their poor reviews, from what I have been told I don't think they are all that bad, just a cheaply made product of their time. Would argue it's aged well compared to some other MPV's of the same age.

1998 Vauxhall Sintra CD 2.2i

Summary:

A potentially excellent vehicle, let down by Vauxhall's decision to withdraw support for the model

Faults:

Headlight glass fell off.

Rear disk warped. Had to be replaced.

Front wheel bearing very noisy - had to be replaced.

Drive belt pulley noisy. Had to be replaced.

Central locking a bit unreliable.

Starter motor went. Replaced it myself. Difficult!

Leads and coil pack needed replacing (wear and tear).

Makes slight clonking noise when turning corners. Two garages have had it to bits. Neither can find a reason! One changed a drive shaft, but noise was still there!

A mechanic friend says it may be a bearing at the top of the shock absorber. Doesn't seem to cause any bother, though.

General Comments:

Very good for its purpose.

Carries 7 adults and a bit of luggage in comfort.

Powerful and economical (30 mpg. 100 mph+ if you are brave enough!)

Pulls like a diesel due to the injection.

Very cheap on the second hand market.

Engine is stock Vauxhall 2.2 engine, so parts available.

Body parts and some spares are a nightmare to find, and some have to be ordered from the main dealers at great expense.

Some pattern parts are available, wheel bearings etc. Need to shop around.

Brought out to compete with the Chrysler Voyager. Failed! Only 3000 sold, so Vauxhall brought out the smaller, less versatile Zafira and later stopped supporting the vehicle.

Spares are available from the USA where the Sintra is still sold as the Chevrolet Venturer.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th January, 2008

30th Jan 2008, 05:32

Just don't whatever you do crash it! The NCAP performance in the head on impact was frightening.

23rd Jun 2009, 16:28

The clonking noise when turning could be the track rod end. I had the same problem; cheap and easy to fix, but will need tracking afterwards.

1998 Vauxhall Sintra CD 2.2 petrol

Summary:

Reliable

Faults:

Water pump at 42.000 miles.

General Comments:

Nice car to drive and live with.

The kids love the space, and there's plenty of room for the mother in law.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th December, 2005

20th Dec 2005, 04:55

I traded my 1997 Sintra in earlier this year for a Fiat Doblo and it was one of the best decisions I have made. The electrical faults were becoming so frequent that the Vauxhall Main dealer wanted to charge £100 just for trying to find out what was wrong. It used to do about 15mph around the doors. In contrast my diesel Doblo does 45mph, is cheap and reliable to run and can carry all the stuff that I used to carry in the Sintra. I really liked my Sintra, but the Doblo is better in almost every respect.