2003 Vauxhall Vectra SRi from UK and Ireland - Comments

Nothing at all.

Stunning looks without looking boy racerish, mine's in pearlescent black and it looks awesome.

Fuel economy is amazing, on my motorway run it averages 60 mpg! Cruise control makes for a comfortable stress free journey.

Quieter than my previous Omega! Total absence of wind noise due to a smooth edgeless contour and engine cannot be heard. Infact only tyre noise and its my guess the stock goodyears could be improved on in future for better noise performance.

2.2 DTI engine not only offers wallet friendly economy, but driver satisfaction with strong torque across the rev range, excellent overtaking performance (betters the petrol version) and low revs even at motorway speeds.

As a sports model, the seats tend to be quite firm, but having driven long distances I find them supportive and comfortable.. Don't be put off with first impressions, your back will thank you for it! Total control over seat for driver makes for comfort.

Sports suspension surprisingly comfortable yet still gives great control on corners without wallow. An excellent balance between handling and comfort.

Lots of nice creature comforts, previously only seen on top exec cars. These include auto fade up and down interior lighting when unlocking the car and removing the keys after stopping, exterior number plate lamps illuminate when unlocking boot, door to door allows headlamps and reverse lamps to stay on for 30 seconds after you leave the car. Cruise control is standard, as is air con, traction control, ABS with brake assistance, corner brake control and electronic brake distribution. You also get fog lamps front and back, a rather nice computer with high resolution centre display featuring all the usual trip statistics plus check control and cd/radio display. Interior mirror electronically darkens should you be dazzled from behind, and theres a nice orange glow emitted from beneath it over the gear stick area, as found on BMW's. The brightness of this appears to be controlled automatically according to light levels.

Indicator stalk and wiper stalk can get a bit of getting use to, but once you do it seems logical and is ideal for lane changing. However I found sometimes its easy to knock on the cruise control when indicating, not a good idea!

Audio system supplied very good as in all vauxhalls, good bass and treble, but mid range lacks presence and sound in rear of car is awful. However apertures are present in the rear doors to fit tweeters so I might have a go at putting some in.

Storage space is excellent, boot (hatch) is cavernous and there's plenty of pockets, cup holders and compartments (including beneath arm rests!).

Silver trim (plastic) initially looked a bit naff, but it grows on you and it does brighten up the cabin. Infact the cabin feels airy and roomy with good choice of greys instead of the gloomy blacks as were in my omega! Plastics are of high quality, soft and satin appearance. A bit more real metal though would be nice!

Handling is superb, but steering can feel a bit too light and doesn't offer much driver feedback at times. Pedal spacing is good, clutch seems to need a fairly extensive travel and brakes are sensitive, requiring the lightest of touch (after the omega!). Handbrake positioning is a bit awkward though, as the arm rest is close to it and it seems to be a bit far back (the handbrake). Steering wheel is adjustable for rake and position and feels good.

Speedometer and rev counter are rather smaller than previous models and the close spacing of the numbering and italic like lettering makes them a bit difficult to glance at.. Also controls for windows and mirrors are on the doors and quite closely spaced, requiring me to look down before operating.

Security is excellent, with immobiliser and alarm system fitted as standard. It also looks like the alarm system has a remote battery backed siren included, though I am not sure.

Overall a fine car and a lot of motor for the money if you buy nearly new! As a diesel its the best of both worlds, excellent economy combined with good looks, performance and creature comforts.

Nearly a month now that I've owned the 2.2dti sri and done over 1000 miles. What's my verdict so far?

Plus points : superb torque and acceleration for overtaking and manouevres. Great handling, brakes and safety features and good grip from stock goodyears and 17" wheels. Feels very safe in poor weather conditions (torrential rain at night on the motorway), excellent wipes and solid steering. Superb economy, even if driven hard. I have averaged 58 mpg so far with mostly motorway driving, computer useful to find best gearing points.

Negatives : In comparison to my previous omega, I find it difficult to get comfortable in the seats although they offer excellent support and prevent aches.. but I find them quite firm. With so many adjustments though I'm sure its just a matter of getting the right settings. Tyre noise can be quite prominent on rougher surfaces, especially on the motorway yet modern smoother surfaces give a superb floaty and quite cruise. Tyre noise is the prominent noise factor, since engine and wind noise are almost non existent. Suspension (sports) is excellent for handling and isn't too hard, but obviously stiffer than the wallowy omega. I wouldn't like it to be stiffer..

Through the combination of sports suspension and diesel engine, there is some steering wheel vibration when standing at the lights, but pedals are OK.

First is a bit "soggy" compared to petrols and often you need to get into first when slowing down as second seems to be too high... best to get things moving well before applying 2nd. Again gearing and torque command learning.

A lot of car for the money if you get a used one, and lots of gadgetry for those who like it! Indicator lights still annoying with the electronic switching, and on several occasions I have been going left to right and left, dangerous! Handbrake awkwardly placed in respect to the armrest, and feels rather light in operation. Sound system not as good as the omegas, but stacks better than many other cars... Back door speakers sound dull and muffled, front is rather bright possibly due to the extra central small speaker in the dash top.

Indirect night lighting built into bottom of rear view mirror casts a nice orange glow over the gear selector and centre console, whilst rest of controls and dials are very clearly illuminated.

More to come!!

Simon.

Well had the car now for nearly 2 months and it gets sweeter everyday! I've just ordered a sunglasses holder now to fit into that 'cover' behind the courtesy light, just a few quid from the dealer as a spare part!

I am also expecting a second hand NCDC2013 navigation unit soon which I hope to replace the current cd unit with.

I don't expect its going to be a simple job, need to fit an antenna, but should save me a fortune on getting an upgrade from the dealer.

I am now doing 500 miles a week on my daily trip over to england and averaging 59mpg... pretty impressive! I generally get around 680 miles a tank.

Alas I am getting more comfortable in the seats, the cruise control is a godsend and great for the daily commute. I like that the air con doesn't cripple the fuel consumption, it seems that the compressor is actually power controlled. Whats more the air con radiator is huge! (hence why its sooo freeeezing when its on!)

Tyres seem to be wearing on the front rather rapidly too. Its running the standard Goodyear Eagle NCT5 215/50R17 91W's and it looks like they will probably do about 14-15,000 miles. At over £100 a tyre, this is going to be costly!

S.

Update! We are now several months down the line and over 7000 miles added. I am still enjoying this car every bit, always eager to find an excuse to go out! Nothing gone wrong whatsover, fuel consumption is still amazing - I am now averaging 650 miles between fill ups with about 80% motorway driving. I've also noticed that the car feels and sounds smoother, quieter and more refined when its cold and wet! I guess all british cars are tuned for this climate though. I've fitted the Siemens NCDC2013 sat nav unit with the mono display and its very impressive, amazing accuracy and the rest of the audio setup sounds superior to the standard radio cd fitted. Too bad that Vauxhall don't offer this as an extra after you've bought the car (I got mine from ebay via Germany and fitted it myself).

I haven't tried the newer 1.9 common rail diesels, but I have the feeling that this 2.2 DTI has better low down torque. Infact round town if your gentle on the gas you can keep the revs under 1000rpm almost all the time! Even on the motorway its very rare to exceed 2000 rpm in this car, so I am expecting this engine to last a long time!

I have to say that getting comfortable in this car can take a lot of time, so be patient and constantly tweak the seat settings as you drive. There are so many adjustments that it can take some time to find the best position. I now travel 100 miles every day of the week and never get any back ache or otherwise. Cruise control is great, lots of feet space and a solid feel to what is a great driving position.

Complaints? Well, if I had to be picky I suppose there's a few things I could bring up...

First the heater controls are rather low down and you need to take your eyes off the road to use them. Also the fog light buttons are obscured by the steering wheel without moving your head. Seats feel a bit too firm at first, but with time you get used to it and it feels right. First gear is very low, so don't expect frantic grandprix starts with it, but you could probably pull a bus! On the other side, 5th is very tall and gives great cruising at very low revs (about 2000rpm at 70mph). There's still ample torque to overtake. 4th can take you from about 20mph to licence losing figures in a very short time, with the rev counter hardly moving!

Another thing is the tyre noise is sometimes quite noticeable, still hoping that some miracle tyres might solve that, but I am getting used to it and it's very acceptable.

This car is really nice through winding B roads, great body control and plenty of torque for those bends. Infact it seems to offer the best of all worlds!

Everytime I fill up, its always a challenge to see what range I can achieve before the next top up. With about 20% urban and 80% motorway mileage, I can average about 57 mpg if I am gentle. I'm sure with full motorway driving you could better that.

Update on my review... One year on!

It's been a year now since I bought the Vectra SRI 2.2DTi and in that time I've clocked up over 25,000 miles. So far nothing at all has gone wrong, has started straight away every time even in -5C conditions (excellent for a diesel!). I did once have the engine management light come on whilst cruising on the motorway and noticed a substantial lack of power, but upon restarting the engine the fault cleared and never returned! Must have been a glitch I suppose in the electronics or sensor.

I drive about 90 miles a day to work and back, virtually all motorway and average about 54-56 mpg. That means I can go about 650 miles on a full tank of diesel, probably a bit more if I ease of the throttle! Replaced the front tyres a few months back and they seem to be wearing well, always a worry for a FWD. I do sometimes feel the car though isn't quite as taught as I would expect through twists, the back feels as if its not as stiff on the road as it could be.. but maybe that's just me! Never had any problems with traction and all pressures of the tyres are fine. Extremely reliable and always fun to drive!

The 2.2DTI isn't common rail technology so can be a bit noisy and rattly when cold, and you can feel a bit of vibration at the lights... I guess the new ones are better and I'd like to test drive a CDti 1.9 sometime, I do miss the silky smooth quietness of a petrol at low speed, but on the other hand I enjoy the mid range acceleration and torque, the amazing economy and the quiet motorway cruising experience.

I think my next car would be another vectra, maybe the new model coming out late this year... I'd probably skip the sports models though and go for a elite or elegance, softer suspension and would like a sunroof too for a bit more light in the cabin! I also understand theres a beige interior, that sounds nice!

It's the best car I've had so far, solid and when clean it looks the part.. shame there's so many others on the road, but there again.. that shows its good!

Simon (simon@svpworld.com)

Excellent, clearly written reviews.

Thanks Simon! :)

I'm confident that the 2004 1.9 CDTI SRI (with Nav!) that I'm picking up on Wednesday will be a great car!

Nearly 60mpg? Now that's a challenge...

Simon, (and all)!

Nice to read your reviews.. and so well written.

I hope my supportive comments here do you justice!

I have the latest model Vectra 2.2 Direct (petrol,) SRI, and I have never been so pleased with a car.. I truly love it!.

I agree with all your comments, but would add, having come from a Saab 9-3 Tid 150, that the mid range power I was expecting to loose on balance for out right acceleration, low speed quietness and top speed etc, is suprisingly matched.

(95mph at just over 3000 revs)..6 spd box is fantastic.

The improvements and "tweaks" to the steering and handling characteristics make this 2006 model an absolute joy to drive and, in my opinion, better than the 9-3.. for £5k less!

The levels of equipment, build, quality, ride, comfort, cabin environment, audio and Nav in this car equal the quality expected from more premium executive marketed cars.

(and it looks awesome too, subtle body kit, lowered sports suspension, 17" alloys.. and dual branch tail pipes)!

The Vectra has won the long term battle with the Mondeo in most of the critical areas, and deserves some better general press.. and did I mention better than a 9-3?!.. the tarted up Vectra?.. hummmm.

I find the seats excellent on a long journey. firm yes.. but well supported and no complaints after a one hit 500 mile trip.

OK.. don't quite get the 60mpg mark.. but hey,38-45mpg on average is not such a bad trade off when out accelerating the majority of common boy racer stuff and not waking up your neighbours at 6.00am in the morning!

If you get the opportuniy to own the latest model, reading from the previous comments, will conclude your driving pleasure and expectations.. and will probably lead to weekly update positive reviews.

Enjoy!

Paul.

Well I am back again to update my review, and thanks to those who have commented. It's now been nearly 2 years that I've owned the car and its now at just over 50,000 miles. Since purchase the only fault was a broken wiper linkage that was replaced under warranty. The problem I mentioned before about the engine light coming on occasionally and loss of power has been resolved through a software update. Car is still driving as smooth as the day I purchased it, though tyre noise seems to be getting worse (the dealer reckons its just the way the tyres have worn). Anyway to overcome the increased road noise, I decided to upgrade the audio system once again. I've replaced the sat nav siemens system with a double din adaptor and the new alpine cde-9850ri head unit - complete with ipod interface! Even using the standard factory fit speakers it sounds great, much stronger top mid range and amazing definition.. but those back door speakers are absolutely pathetic! Well... fortunately I don't sit in the back! Maybe a sub woofer is next...

I've no plans yet to change the car, though I'm guessing the manufacturers warranty must be up soon. So if anything is going to go wrong, hope its sooner than later!

Few more little mods I have in mind... may change the courtesy lamp for the map lights version, looks to be easy enough. Would also like to add some tweeters in the rear doors, as provision for them is already in place.. just no wiring.

The engine is running sweet, just having the standard service intervals and oil changes, plenty of windscreen washer fluid for this wonderful wintry weather and driving it gently on the motorway cruise back and forth to work at around 60mph. Headlamp bulbs eventually blew after 40,000 miles, I was amazed that the offside one blew only a day after the nearside.. now that's quality control! Nice that the info display even showed me a picture of which bulb had failed!

I'll keep you all informed as to how the car continues to perform, but for now I can thoroughly recommend this vehicle!

Simon.

Simon.

Many thanks for your excellent reviews, I was only looking for fuel consumption figures when I came across your articles.

I've been singing the praises of the Vectra 2.2 SRi DTi to freinds and family since getting mine in 2004 (Nepal Yellow on an 03) and have to agree with absolutely everything you've said.

When I originally got mine, there were hardly any on the road, there's 3 in my cul-de-sac alone now and I dare say we're all more than happy with them, albeit one of my neighbours has the 2.2 petrol which is nowhere near as economical.

The best positive I can see from my own experiences is that every time I get in the car, I can't help but smile. My first SRi was a 1987 Cavalier when I was young, foolish and single and I always said I'd have another if ever I could afford one. Well, here we are 16 years later and I'm driving a DIESEL with the same power (over 120bhp) the only differences now are the fact I'm married with 2 kids and this SRi now gives over 50mpg.

When I got mine, which was ex-fleet, it had 42,000 miles on the clock with a full service history. I've run it for 18 months and put 20,000 on top of that and I've had absolutely nothing to grumble about. The wife and kids love it as it's very quiet on the road and extremely spacious on all fronts.

It had it's first MOT last month and, unsurprisingly, sailed through with the only requirement being 2 rear indicator bulbs which had faded from yellow to white. The mechanic was asking what I thought of the car, needless to say I sang like a lark finishing with the fact that if I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd have another straight away... even if I only used it to drive to the garage for the Lamborghini.

I own a 2005 1.9 cdi vectra ls. I do about 80,000 miles a year mostly at night and find I get around 43 mpg which is good because my typical speed is 85 90. I find it a very good motorway car and think that being the saloon helps because when I test drove the hatchback there seemed to be a lot of road noise coming from the boot area. With 210,000 it is still going strong with no major problems appart from a recent wheel bearing. That's exellent for such a high mileage car.

Hi all; I have a 2005 2.2 direct sri petrol Vectra estate with the full irmsha body kit and quad exhaust, tinted windows and nav. I have had it for 2 months now and it is far better than the Astra SRi I had before. The only problem I have had is with the AFL. It has been in twice with that, but I don't mind as it's a pleasure to drive and handles very well indeed. Also it's a real head turner. If you would like pics of it please email me at theebayer11@aol.com and I will send you some.

Matt.

Yep I am back again, it's now November 2008 and I've still got my Vectra SRI. I've now covered 114,000 miles and so far it's still going great. Other than changing the rear shock absorbers, I've had no problems. Still on the original exhaust, original brake pads and discs, clutch and other bits.

Fuel economy seems fine, on my motorway journey to work I am averaging 700 miles a tank. Probably the only routine expense is the tyres, currently replacing the fronts about once a year, which at 24,000 miles is OK. Finding the door switch panel for the electric windows a bit sticky on times, but otherwise fine. Great car!