2006 Vauxhall Vectra Reviews - Page 4 of 4

You may remember the Vauxhall Vectra VXR understeering badly when going around the corners of the Top Gear test-track.

Now, you don't have to be a genius to realize that lap was clearly staged. Jeremy Clarkson never liked and probably will never like the Vauxhall Vectra. And of course, he had to find a way, that even the ultimate Vectra ever still was a rubbish car. As far ANY driver knows, if you apply power to a FWD car when cornering, no matter how powerful or even how weak, the car will understeer severely even with the steering full lock on.

Plainly then, the show producers thought it would be a great idea, to tell The Stig, to turn the Traction Control off and drive the Vectra like a complete idiot. Therefore, Vauxhall would look ridiculous and Clarkson's overinflated ego would get a huge boost. The result was a lap time of 1:35 - Not bad, but not good. 2 seconds faster than a Honda Civic Type-R (1:37) and a whooping 3 seconds faster than the Saab 9-5 HOT Aero Turbo. These other two were also tested on the dry track.

Thing is though, other British motoring press publications (EVO, AutoExpress, Parker's, The Independent - Motoring) reckon the VXR is fairly competent for what it is.

I would say the VXR is not as involving to drive as you would like for a high performance car. But it does the job quite well as a very fast practical family car. At 24 to 25K it may be expensive for a Vectra, but then there is no other mainstream family rep-mobile on the market that can do 160 Mph and costs 25K and that's for the Estate version, the Hatchback costs a grand less.

If somebody wants to give me a black Vauxhall Vectra VXR Estate as a Christmas gift, I'd be delighted.

Why not just leave the car in gear?

There is nothing wrong with these cars I have had one for five years now and nothing has gone wrong yet.

I am a consulting engineer investigating the failure of a handbrake on a client's Vectra C. I have actually found a fault with the automatic adjuster which sometimes seems to slip a couple of threads. Please let me know of any more experiences you have had or heard of.

Additionally, let me know if you have any repairs carried out to your handbrake. I know that, from time to time, people think their handbrake failed, but have simply not applied it suffiently hard enough; moreso on car with rear disc brakes. The situation is that as a drum brake cools, the parts contract and so the diameter of the drum reduces probably at the same or slightly faster rate than the brake shoes and linings. The situation is slightly different on disc brakes onto which the handbrake acts. As a disc brake cools and contracts, the disc, pads and linings can all contract, but the tendency is for a relaxation of the braking effect and if not pulled on hard, the car can be allowed to roll. I believe the potential for Vectra C handbrake release is enhanced by what I think may be a fault with the design of the automatic adjuster.

Have you consulted VOSA? They are the Government organisation who drive the car manufacturer's recall system - unless they hear about such things, the cars will not be recalled if the dealers or manufacturer's do not report an issue.

My e-mail address is mark@brown72.fsnet.co.uk