2003 Vauxhall Vectra GSi review from UK and Ireland

Faulty headlamp sensor was showing a warning light on the dash board, but Vauxhall fixed it straight away.

This is the best car I have ever had. The acceleration is fantastic despite being the automatic version. The thing you seem to lose by having the auto version is a slight reduction in fuel consumption. It is currently averaging around 24mpg, rural and urban driving.

It looks really smart without being too 'boy racer' like and the self levelling xenon headlights are excellent.

Love all the extra gadgets,

variable heating for passenger and driver has prevented many arguments between myself and co-pilot!

The auto sensing rear mirror dimming function, the little light that lights up the gear stick at night is really useful. The fact that the CD changer does not leave you without a glove box (Which it did in my old 2.0 cdx)

Flash the headlights when you get out the car at night so it turns the headlights and reversing lights on so you don't fall over on the drive!

Hold down the open or shut button on the key and the windows will open or close - great for summer when you return to your car after a days hot sunshine!

The indicators have taken a little time to get used to and I'm not sure whether the 3 flashes vauxhall programme the indicators to stay on for when you gently push the stick is long enough, but on the whole as long as you can figure them out, they are fine. I always wondered why I often saw new vectras driving down the road indicating constantly left to right - they were trying to turn their indicators off. Alas I have managed to stop doing this myself now. This does mean that I am no longer able to flash someone thank you if they let me out on the motorway because you can't get them to flash once, not without great skill anyway (which I don't have)!

I love the styling of the interior with the silver strip and part leather seats. The on board computer has many useful functions, however this means that to work your way through the menu, you need to be stareing at the computer screen as well as the road!!

Alloy wheels are really smart, but they constantly churn out black brake dust in wet weather so they are never completely clean.

I think this car is excellent value, I got it £8000 off list price less than a year old. When I shopped for this car, I looked at everything and you cannot get a BM, Merc or audi the same age or mileage with as much kit (and good looks in some cases). It was cheaper to insure than my 2.0 cdx vectra as well!

I was originally concerned about things I had heard about the hardness of the suspension, but it is the smoothest most comfortable car I have ever driven. More comfortable than my previous 2.0 cdx ('T' Reg) in fact.

People told me I am mad to spend so much on a vauxhall vectra, but I truly believe this has been the most sensible purchase I have ever made taking into consideration mileage, age and amount of kit, you will struggle argue in favor of anything else this powerful?