Faults:

I've had several oil leaks, and the alternator went three months after buying it.

The roof rack rails on the passenger side leak water into the interior which I haven't yet fixed, but I cover the car when it becomes stormy!

The connection between the stereo and the outside aerial has failed preventing me listening to the radio.

General Comments:

I love my car! It's beautiful and elegant, but slightly underpowered. I managed to get a 0 - 60 time of 8.1 seconds on super unleaded, but I crave a more refined model such as the 2.5 V6. I want leather and air conditioning!

Faults:

At 106000 miles a cambelt tensioner wheel disintegrated allowing the belt to come off and destroy the engine.

I had been told that it had just been given a full service, but there was no real proof as it turns out and the dealer wriggled out of the warranty on the grounds that it was a serviceable item!!

So I would recommend a cambelt and tensioners change if you don't know the exact history of your car!!

A local garage fitted new valves, pistons and a rebuilt head which cost £900.

Vauxhall would charge much much more so be warned!

At 120000 miles it failed its MOT on emissions, so had to have a new exhaust system fitted as the cat converter had failed.

The engine management light had begun to flash periodically, but was sorted out with a new lamda sensor (checks emissions apparently). This was £69 fitted.

At approximately 130000 miles the alternator packed in.

I have had problems with the front discs warping, even though I do mainly motorway driving and rarely touch the brakes. I am on my 3rd set now, so I don't know if it's a problem with the car or that I'm not getting Vauxhall discs and these ones are cheaply made.

General Comments:

I have lowered the car by 30mm, fitted stiffer suspension and fitted 16" Oz racing wheels which I feel makes the car look and feel a lot more sporty. The lower stiffer suspension makes the car much more agile, but of course makes the ride a little harsher over bumpy roads (but not nearly as much as I thought it would!)

Since its first major engine problem back over 50000 miles ago, it's been almost faultless and a joy to own. It still looks fabulous inside and out and has no rust at all!!

The only signs of wear and tear where the gear stick and handbrake gaiters, which I replaced very easily, making the interior look as good as new.

One of its more practical features is its cavernous boot. With the back seats down as well, it will easily take several mountain bikes and all your gear!

I often take 3 bikes plus all our stuff in comfort, which I think is amazing for such a sporty car.

Faults:

The usual electric window problems.

Leaking fuel pipe (easy replacement).

Trip computer gives inaccurate MPG.

General Comments:

Very quick when you need it but quite serene when driven sensibly giving good consumption figures - even better than the 8v I owned previously.

Sporty handling and excellent brakes though the ride can be a little bumpy - then again, who cares.

Added bonus - it scares the hell out of the wife!!!

Faults:

At 40,000 miles the big ends went, needed an engine rebuild, quite costly.

Cooling fan micro switch went costing £15.

Apart from that, just little things.... Oh and the air intake hose split, minor cost to repair! Frightening though as it caused the car not to start? Arghhh...

General Comments:

Out of all the new company cars I've had the Calibra beats them hands down, so when I left that job that was the car for me!

It looks class, handles well, and there is so much you can do to it to customise it, performance and looks wise.

In other words, this car is the dog's danglies!..........