1998 Vauxhall Vectra CDX from UK and Ireland - Comments

Exhaust Gas Recirculator valve replaced.

Light on air conditioning control panel blew, whole unit has to be replaced.

Fan belt snapped.

Warning that headlights not working, even when lights are switched off.

Rear windscreen wiper motor worked loose from it's mounting.

Lid to storage pot between front seats clips driver's seat, leather wearing away.

Stitching on seats pulling through the leather like a cheeswire.

Map pockets in back of front seats not very strong, pulling away from the seat.

One speaker replaced in drivers door.

CD player does not like CDs at random and refuses to play them.

Steering wheel squeaks turning corners.

This car has all the gadgets and none of the reliability.

The depreciation is horrendous, even after buying it secondhand.

It is difficult to find a comfortable driving position.

Wing mirrors need to be adjusted every so often as they drop out of position, or is that the seat going out of position?

It strikes me as a little odd that you purchase a car in which you can't find a suitable driving position in the first place.

My experiences with a 98 Vectra 2.0 CDX Estate are very different. I have run my CDX for 3 years in which I have covered 45k. The car had done 26k when I bought it at 3.5yrs old.

Only problems have been a crankshaft sensor packing up in the first 9months- repaired under Network Q warranty - and a problem with the central locking which scrambled itself and was sorted by main dealer in five minutes. Otherwise, total reliability. My car is very well screwed together and nothing has come loose or fallen off in 70 plus k. Bodywork is perfect, except for the sort of trivial dings inevitably sustained if you have to use public car parks - why are some folk so ruddy careless?

I like the firm seating which enables me to drive long distances without getting cramp, as used to happen in my previous car, an Alfa 164. The Vectra is a superb motorway cruiser, giving 40 plus to the gallon and although the tall gearing that makes this possible means that you have to employ 2nd and 3rd a lot round the lanes, and also in order to comply with urban speed limits, this isn't really a chore.

I really love this car, almost as much as I loved my old Volvo 240 Estate, my favourite motor of all time.

I am currently looking out for an Elite model of the current Vectra Estate, in my opinion a big, awesome looking motor rivalling the current V70 for sheer presence on the road, but at a much lesser cost, so should suit me down to the ground.

I am 6ft 3in and find this car much more comfortable than a lot of cars, it has a very good headroom.

Yes my steering squeaks a bit, but not so much as to annoy,

your fan belt snapped??? don't think these cars have fan belts, or are you on about the timing belt that should be replaced at 40.K.

So at what mileage did you run it before it snapped??

I own a 1998 CDX Vectra Diesel. I would take it abroad to Southern Spain at least twice a year, without any hassle or trouble. I have owned it from new, currently it has 149,000 on the clock and in all those miles, never put a mark on anybody.

I change major components every 3 years, the last major being a new Turbo and Fuel pump. Show me a car that runs as good for it's age and I would buy it - I very much doubt that you could so I will be keeping my old faithful for a good long time yet.

I recently added facelift parts to it -New bumpers, bootlid etc, it now looks fabulous!!.