1999 Vauxhall Vectra LS review from UK and Ireland

There was a leak from the power steering fluid reservoir.

The engine management light came on frequently.

Although I experienced no major problems with this car I found the "ownership experience" a disappointing one. Bland may well be a suitable word to describe the Vectra. It does most things adequately, but does not inspire enthuasiasm (at least it didn't for me)

The engine management warning light came on frequently and we took it in to a local Vauxhall dealer to go on their diagnostics machine. It showed the fault as being the crank shaft sensor. They offered to replace this for 123 pounds. We declined their kind offer and spoke to a local mechanic who said it most probably needed cleaned as he had seldom heard of one needing to be replaced. This was done and seemed to sort things.

The dipped beam headlights on this car are very poor. I found that the combination of the slight tint in the windows combined with these poor lights made driving on unlit B roads at night an unpleasant experience.

The car was prone to misting up and required full blast on the heater to clear it.

We kept the Vectra for about 8 or 9 months and in that time covered approx. 7 thousand miles. It is perhaps not a long time to keep a car that has never broken down on you or cost an arm and a leg to keep, but I never really took to it from day one so was pleased when we traded it in for a Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI. Now there's a car!