Overall very good family car
Driver's side window came out of runners at 35,000 miles.
The interior now looks dated.
The front electric window switches are in an awkward position next to gearstick.
Car has good acceleration and braking very good.
Good family car, with good size boot.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 31st May, 2005
Quick, Comfortable and very good car to own
No problems as yet, just purchased the car 2 weeks ago, but gave it a good test drive up to Scotland to see my girlfriend.
The car is seriously quick for just a 2.0Di, coming back home to Bradford from Scotland, it managed to touch around 118mph.
The seats are excellent for long journeys. Once you arrive, you just feel like you have just gone down to the shops.
The driving position is very good and clear.
People who pull down Vectra's should not, it is a great car to own.
I am only 21 and my mates have a good laugh, asking me where the baby seat is. The reason I bought the car, is that I travel from Bradford to Scotland and back home again which is 400+ mile and this car can do it easily.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st November, 2004
UPDATE 1 JANUARY 2005.
I no longer have the Vectra now, it was really just a runabout car until a found one that I really liked.
So now? I have bought a VW Golf GT TDi (150bhp) 5 door on a 52 plate. Set me back nearly 12k, but it is a superb car and the torque is fantastic.
Check the new review in the 2002 section of the VW Golfs.
Well done though Vauxhall for making an excellent car, which I enjoyed putting 3,000 miles on.
My original car, a Nissan Primera, was written off in an accident, and I needed another car in a hurry. I bought a 2000 LS Vectra hatch for 1175 pounds from a small country dealer my brother knows. I've had the car for 3 months now, and no problems, and it passed its recent MOT no problems. This I was quite surprised at, as the car has done 105000 miles.
It's a good car to drive, and very good on the motorway. It feels solid and safe. The only thing I'm not happy with is the handling, and I find it wallows through bends, and despite all the suspension bushes being replaced by the previous owner, it still handles like a wet sponge. I can live with it, as I don't do a lot of miles. I just wish it could handle corners like my Primera used to; then it would be an excellent all round car.
Would I recommend a Vectra for a family car? Yes.
A Vectra Di does not have a timing belt. So may I suggest your "mate" is ripping you off?
Comfortable, reliable, muscular mile-eater with plenty of space front and back
Warm start can take a few seconds, sometimes cuts out immediately afterward. This developed at about 30000 miles, and has worsened considerably at 38000. Engine temperature sensor has probably packed in.
Erratic idling (since 28000 miles). I believe this is known as "Vectra-itis"!
Nice comfortable drive - long journeys are no chore. We do a lot of miles, so simple things like comfy and easily-adjustable seats make the difference between enjoying and suffering a journey.
Plenty of space in the front and back, and the boot's massive. I can fit guitar, amp and speaker cabinet in the back, and still give 3 or 4 mates a lift to the gig! One thing though - the seat pockets aren't deep enough to stick a road atlas in without it coming out when you open the door.
The car packs plenty of muscle. Acceleration and overtaking is responsive, especially between 2500 and 3500 rpm. The car will go up a reasonably steep hill in fifth at 40 mph without complaining, which is considerably better than my previous Astra.
The fuel economy's okay - the worst I've had is 350 miles out of the 60 litre tank (27mpg) (all-urban driving). Once you get out on the motorways and open roads, you can easily get 450 to 500 miles out of one tank, even with the air-con on (35-38mpg). Hopefully this will improve after the imminent service when I won't be going to Vauxhall's Masterfit people.
Dealer service is a bit lacking. The mechanics at our local Masterfit didn't do most of the things I'd pointed out, and had the cheek to razz my car about whilst I was looking on - I was not amused, to say the least. I've been led to believe that this is pretty much par for the course for main dealers, so the next service will be at a local specialist.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th October, 2004
19th Dec 2004, 08:52
UPDATE ON 19 DECEMBER 2005.
Thanks for your comment, very much appreciated.
I took the car down to a friend who's in the motor trade and he changed the timing belt and tensioners for me, just be on the safe side. Cost me £75 which I was happy about.
As for the servicing, I have just completed that now. The car is running nice and smooth now and the new glow plugs took a little to get into, but everything is fine now.