1998 Vauxhall Vectra LS review from UK and Ireland

Problems with the rear suspension (garages fault), apparrantly the mechanic bolted the antiroll bar bushes onto the wrong mounting!!! So the handling wasn't all that great for a few days!

Drivers window decided to fall out, due to a bent track which it runs up and down on when the motor winds it up or down! Glass fell onto the floor, but didn't smash! - Fixed for £30.

Touch wood - nothing else has happened...

Overall, I'm impressed with the car.

It sounds like a van, but goes much better, and the economy is unfaultable. It returns around 50mpg if driven carefully, and high 30's if not.

I don't think the handling is brilliant, but it's much better to my previous car, a nissan micra!

My car has done over 150,000 miles, and the engine is noisy, whether this is because of the mileage, or because it's an old diesel I don't know.

The interior has worn very well, with virtually no wear on any of the seats, only the gear stick and steering wheel seem to have shown the wear.

Mine is reasonably attractive with alloy wheels, and the dark blue exterior with the black interior.

It is nice to drive, but the only thing I have noticed is on startup it smokes very dark smoke for a few seconds, and anytime I put my foot down there is a puff of black smoke emitted from the exhaust.

It has always done this, and therefore I think it must just be a typical characteristic of a diesel engine, and unless it causes me any bother then I won't get it checked out.

I would recommend a Vectra to someone who doesn't like spending a large sum of cash at the pumps, and is ideal for high mileage drivers who want a largeish car without the usual obligatory running costs.