1997 Opel Vectra Caravan 1.6 16V

Summary:

The Vectra is a very low quality car

Faults:

Very many expensive faults have appeared during my 4 years with the Vectra.

The engine blew up at 114 000 kilometers.

Now it has its 3rd engine. High oil consumption and engine breakdown relatively often happens to the 1.4 and 1.6 engines produced from the mid nineties and up to around 2002 (at least), according to surveys I have found.

AC-system has been leaky, and was expensive to fix; close to 1000 pounds / 2000 USD.

Displays fail. Lamps blow up too often. Airbag sensors often fail.

Cambelt has to be replaced relatively often.

The car has been terribly expensive, and I tell all my friends what a catastrophe the car has been.

General Comments:

It has very low quality, and is very expensive to fix. According to the Norwegian newspaper VG "Verdens Gang", both the Opel Vectra and Opel Omega produced between 1995 and 2002 happened to be on a list of the 12 worst used cars one could buy.

The newspaper (http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=209997) concluded; "Opel Vectra (oktober 1995 - juni 2002) "gir eierne massevis av problemer og feil", heter det ifølge testen."

This means: "Opel Vectra (October 1995 - June 2002) gives the owners loads of problems and faults, according to the test.

Consumer's Association was behind the test.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 13th April, 2006

7th Aug 2009, 02:52

I totally agree. The Vectra B was a major drawback compared to Vectra A that was very reliable. In fact I see on the streets more Vectra A in good condition than Vectra B!

11th May 2012, 08:25

Unfortunately I still have this car. It has now 200000 km on the tacho and engine number 4(!). Just paid in excess of 1000 USD (6400 NOK) for some small repairs, but noises in the AC remain. A terrible disaster of a car...

Bought a 1.3 Toyota Corolla '95 about a year ago, and haven't even changed a light bulb..

In reply to 11th May 2012, 08:25

27th Oct 2012, 17:26

At about 206 000 km the 4th engine gave up, due to a snapped cambelt. It was changed at 163000 km, in November '08. Horrible lack of quality!!

1994 Opel Vectra express 2.0 8 V turbo

Summary:

Very fast

Faults:

Nothing wrong yet.

General Comments:

The car is perfect for Norwegian conditions.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd February, 2004

1994 Opel Vectra Sedan 2.0i

Summary:

Nice looking and cheap to own!

Faults:

The lower ball-joints and front bearings had to be changed at 200000km.

Breakdiscs also needed to be changed at 215000km.

General Comments:

The car offers nice comfort and a outstanding automatic transmission (it changes gears just as smooth as it did 100000km`s ago.)

However the car dont handle well inside the city, with small bumps etc it feels a bit "stiff".

After I change the shocks from oil to gas, the car handles more accurant than with original shocks and are more balanced.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd July, 2002