2000 Vauxhall Vectra SRi from UK and Ireland - Comments

Concerned about functionality of the air conditioning (keeps steaming up the windows), but too cold in England at the moment to test this properly.

Otherwise very reliable (unlike previous 3 year old 1.6 Vectra).

Feels like driving a train - always feels like its got power in reserve, but doesn't feel as quick as you would expect from a standstill (tall gearing?).

Handling OK, better than non-SRi Vectras, but hardly sporty.

Great stereo, but the air conditioning in Vectras seems unreliable.

Gearchange, steering and fuel economy poor, but trip computer and bootspace a bonus. Mine is a manual, but automatic Vectras I have driven seem very good.

Don't worry about the air conditioning condensation; It is simply coming out of the vapour trap. Every car with A/C I have owned does this, if the A/C is used, and then switched off when the weather is cool or damp.

A/C will not function properly below 4 deg C either, so even if you turn it on to clear the windows, if the air is cooler than this, the condensation will remain.

Interesting about the lack of power around town - my previous car was a 2.0LS 16v cavalier, it went well from standstill and was dead economical (40+ mpg), so I didn't hesitate to replace it with a 2.0SRI, as it was the same engine. I've had the usual problems with this engine, ie: engine management & sensors, but also poor fuel economy and lack of power below 3000rpm. I even have to switch off the air con. if I want to overtake, just to get some power! It's been to 2 dealers, they say it's OK, but I think the engine mapping is wrong. My work colleagues who also have SRI's complain about the same lack of low end grunt, I had a 1.8LS as a hire car - what a difference! Great off the line! I won't be getting another Vauxhall.

I agree AC saps power to the extent that the car nearly stalls (DANGEROUS??). Main Dealers say that nothing is wrong or it that we don't know what is wrong.

Also the car runs very hot with the AC on and the fan runs nearly continually unless you're belting down the motorway.

I can't drive hard or overtake quickly with the AC on as I lose about half the power.

I have owned my 2000 Vectra SRi for nearly a year now and was surprised at what appears to be a real lack of power from a stand still yet once it is moving it always feels that there is plenty in reserve for over taking etc.

The A/C only seemed to work well for the first few months I had the car and now doesn't appear to work at all, will have it serviced and hope that improves things, but even when it was fully functional it never seemed to reduce power.

My only real complaint has to be the awful headlights, I've tried several ways of improving them, but they really are poor. Other than that, an all round reasonable car with very little road noise & respectable handling.