2001 Holden Vectra CD Hatch from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Rocker cover and gasket replaced (can't remember why)

Had problem with the engine dying whilst accelerating, and then recovering again, it has been sent to the dealer twice to address this problem, fixed the second time after replacing the fuel pump.

The Blaupunkt stereo got a CD stuck in it and the unit had to be replaced as it was damaged.

The car was hit by a van that rolled out of a driveway and across the road, crushing the car between the kerb and the van, the right mudguard, bumper, right hand side front light had to be replaced, and the bonnet had to be repainted, the left front wheel, hub and driveshaft were also damaged (cost the lease company at least a few grand to fix) The paint finish on the bonnet is better than the original finish!

The drivers seat mechanism is a bit squeaky sometimes.

The rear quarter windows leak air when the air conditioning is on, producing an annoying high pitched noise.

This car is a bit of a wolf in sheeps' clothing, It looks like a 2.2 CD hatchback, but it is really quick.

It was the first 2.6 German-made Vectra to be registered in New Zealand. They replaced the 2.5 V6 Aussie made Vectra.

This car is nice, but if I had about $45 000 to spend on a car, I wouldn't buy a Vectra as there are many much better cars for the same price, like the Mazda6 for example.

The quality is a bit average - but what can you expect as they are the cheapest German made cars of their class.

Since this review the car has spent 3 weeks at the dealership as the headgasket had blown. The car hasn't even traveled 50,000km! It has been serviced regularly (as it is a lease car) and it is not even driven hard. I hope that it won't spend even more time at the dealer over the next two years. May god have mercy on GM and their poorly made cars!

I have just bought a 2002 Holden Vectra CD Sedan (automatic). Will the problems happen to me with my car such as the stalling (IAC) and the small problems? Other people have said it's a great car, but not too reliable. Is this true??? I think the car is great. I haven't had any problems with it as of yet, but, just incase the car does form some sort of problem what would I do? I hear the Holden Dealerships are pretty average...

Any replys please email me: jackson_ritchie@hotmail.com or add another comment to this review.

Thanx, Jacko.

I would advise you to get rid of it before the warranty runs out.

I must say that some of the comments made here make me look up in wonder. I have a J II series 2.5, V6 Hatch. Had have it from new. I, have owned and driven hundreds of cars over thousands of miles in many countries around the world.

This current VECTRA, I purchased new in Jan 2000. I, have now clocked over 135000klms., (the first 100000 in the first 2 years.) It has been served regularly and I have done a few tweaks to it. I requlaly travel to Sydney from Warwick in Queensland with a fuel consuption of 5.5 ~ 6 litres per 100 km., that's not a bad return on fuel with constant speeds of 100kph.

I've have the normal visitations to holden, Door Seals, Alternator Pulley, Air Cond Dash Light and a few of other owner mentioned items.

But, when it comes down to judging the car, I cannot and will not fault it. I is a German GM master piece with Style, comfort, power, reliability and pan-ash second to none. I know there will be knockers, Knockers of every description, who seem to want to make a living out of it, but in some 55 years of driving, I can honestly say without fear of contradiction, "I HAVE NEVER HAD OR DRIVEN A LEMON". So much noise is made about the condition of such cars, my comment in conclusion is, 'they are made by man and machine, man is not infalible and a machine is only as good as the operator/programmer". So if there is a problem, talk politely to the dealer/supplier and do not shout, he/she to is only human.

I bought a 2001 v6 Vectra about 4 months ago. After about 2 months, the "emissions" light (looks like a little engine) started coming on and going off again. After taking it to Holden and being told it was the "air flow meter", I got a second opinion by another mechanic who told me that it is a common problem with the Vectra, but is not the air flow meter.

If anyone has had this problem before with the v6 vectra, I would greatly appreciate knowing what the problem is and how to fix it. Please email tovers@hotmail.com.

It is sounding like this car is going to cost me a fortune.

Hi, all.

AS an ex-GM staff, I can vouch that the J2900 Vectra models as covered by the original writer are excellent cars up to a point.

The car thrives best on open road runs and middling ambient temperature environments. Show it constant stop/start traffic with the mercury hitting 25C and above day in and day out and the flaws will show - inadequate engine cooling, weak AC system and overly tall final drive making it feel sluggish in give and take traffic situations.

The stylish merged with the bonnet flukes door mirrors are also a hazard as the field of view provided by them is way too narrow.

Cheers!

I bought a new. red 2 litre vectra in 1998. the paint faded within 6 months and the local holden dealership didn't want to know about it. there were a couple of other major ($800+) problems you wouldn't expect of a car that vintage. again, holden didn't want to know about it. otherwise, good car and I did 900km on a tank of petrol (60 L) driving from sydney to brisbane. the bad outweighs the good though...

Not all Vectras are lemons. In terms of reliability, they are a bit like Lada's and Italian cars - they are a mixed bag.

Some owners swear by them (e.g:comment #4), though the majority of people seem to be swearing at them...

Hi.

I saw your comments on the Vectra's engine light coming on and the same has happened to me twice. First it was the fuel something, now they tell me is the air flow meter. What was it if not the air flow meter?

Holden in Sydney wants $800+ to fix it, they tell me the air flow meter is not covered by the warranty. I think Holden is ripping me off.

The car has steering problems, I also had problems with the key lock and I had to replace the key barrel. The mechanic said this is also a common problem with the Vectra.

This car is a lemon and it is costing me a fortune in repairs every 4-6 months. I would not recommend it.

I think we should all form a group petition/litigation to Holden for such a badly engineered car.

I own a 2001 Holden Vectra CD. I have found this car to be so reliable and I highly recommend them to anyone who needs a reliable car with very few problems. There is a lead that goes to the dash and it is responsible for telling me fuel levels and distance traveled and all that sort of thing. It is the only thing I have had replaced and I am sure it didn't even need replacing. I put it in for a service and the guy said the lead needed replacing. It was reading all levels and distances perfectly. I had never had a prob with it but I told him to replace it if he thought it needed it and ever since then it has read inaccurately and it turns off sometimes. Other than that it has been perfect and I am pretty sure the problem with the lead was the mechanics fault since it all worked perfectly before he replaced it. It consumes a lot more fuel than I thought a 4 cylinder would but it still fairly economical. Thumbs up from me.