2005 Vauxhall Vectra SRi 1.8 from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Last Vauxhall I will own; shame as really nice looking car!
Faults:
I manage an estate agency, so my car is in constant use. I purchased this car four months ago (with 12k miles on it) and have had constant problems with the handbrake disengaging (luckily this seems to alway happen whilst the handbrake is being applied); however my car is never off the road long enough to have this sorted out. I find it very disconcerting to hear many other owners have not been so fortunate. This has prompted me to ring Vauxhall and have the car booked in for early next week.
The other problem happened at Thursday just gone lunchtime. I have noticed a little play in the gear knob, and it has come away in my hand and shot across the car. It won't stay on for very long; quite annoying apart from the fact I never intended to buy a manual anyway (can't stand changing gears)
On the upside the car does run well, and seems effortless to drive. This is definitely the last manual for me though; back to a stick shift!
Can anyone else let me know if they have had the same problem with the gear stick falling off?
Email Nroberts@fastmail.fm
Regards and thanks for reading this.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 11th August, 2007
3rd Nov 2009, 11:48
Like all modern 'high-performance' diesels, I see it almost everyday.
What you save in fuel and tax over a more powerful petrol, you more than make up for in parts and breakdowns!.
A modern diesel might still be quite quick and economical, and under the idiot governments tax scheme cheaper than the equivalent petrol model, but the petrols are almost superior nowadays reliability-wise, not because petrols are getting better especially, its because of how much more over complicated and such the diesels are becoming, hardly instills much confidence really.
The old diesels were slow, clattery and got smoky with age, but my god they last forever, and are still running with no problems, that's Peugeots, Fords, Rovers etc. because there simple, easy to work on, and the turbo is about the most complicated part on it! (and that's simple mechanics).
I think these modern diesels need to go back to the drawing board for another 5-10 years at least until the manufacturers have worked out how to make them perform 'AND' be reliable, something they have yet to achieve.