1996 Vauxhall Calibra 16v Ecotec 2.0

Summary:

Bargain basement performer

Faults:

1) Camshaft sensor

2) Water pump

3) Engine cut out after it warmed up and stopped at junctions - but fixed its self

4) £60 for a heated wing mirror glass when someone broke it. OUCH.

General Comments:

Excellent car very comfortable if your in the front not to sure about the back seats due to head room.

Reasonably quick on the road, I find the handling very good for a car of this size.

Fuel economy is great from the ecotec engine for a car if its size.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 20th July, 2003

1996 Vauxhall Calibra ECOTEC 2.0 16v petrol

Summary:

A powerful and eye-catching car

Faults:

Cam belt was due for a change, a process which cost nearly three hundred quid once they had changed the jockey wheels it runs on.

General Comments:

It is a very comfortable car as well as deceptively spacious.

It is very impressive at high speeds - 100mph at 4,000 rpm, accelerating to 120mph in seconds from that speed.

It could do with being less combursome at slower speeds - the clutch is a nightmare to engage on cold mornings from a standing start.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th January, 2003

1996 Vauxhall Calibra V6 2.5 V6

Summary:

A surprising stylish car that goes well from Vauxhall

Faults:

Cam shaft sensor went and it cost £170.

General Comments:

Nice smooth toque curve and the kickdown is great. Go for the cream leather seats as they are a lot better.

Avoid the Turbo as it has lots of problems.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th February, 2002

1996 Vauxhall Calibra V6 3.0 V6

Summary:

Fairly good performance, let down by unreliability

Faults:

Practically everything that is mega expensive :-

Both front lower arm bushes £145.00 each.

Traction control actuator @ £600.00.

Alternator £250.

Air conditioning compressor £1000.

New alloy wheel???!?! £140.

Air con water leak £350.

Exhaust £300.

Oil Cooler £300.

Expansion tank £35.

Hand brake welding failed £200.

The list goes on and on...

General Comments:

Despite this car having relatively good handling, performance and fuel economy, the same cannot be said for reliability.

It seems such a pity that a car with such great looks should be condemned to a reputation of persistent faults and dealers who simply just don't understand the simple mechanics of these vehicles. For example in the case of the air conditioning compressor this is a problem which doesn't appear to affect the Calibra. A colleague of mine has an X reg Vectra which has developed the self same "rattle of death". Needless to say he won't be paying the £1000 bill. To sum up, if you must insist on a Calibra, consider purchasing a third-party warranty!

This will definitely be my last Vauxhall car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 20th January, 2002

28th Apr 2004, 08:49

£145 for lower arm bushes???!!! You can buy new arms with all new bushes & bottom ball joint in for about £40 a side.

28th Nov 2004, 10:54

I am sure that he placed the cost of 140.00 per side including the labour from a main dealer and not just the parts on their own!

If you look at the entire list they must be including labour!!!

27th Jun 2005, 16:25

Looks like you got hold of a bad example, I have a 1994 v6 manual and have had almost no bother with it at all, a few minor niggles that were easily sorted, but then again I have had the car from its Fourth year and the previous owner took the same care of it as I do, when you service a car regularly you will avoid big surprises. I have a Remus full stainless system, OZ 17" wheels, and a Pi lowering kit fitted.

26th Jan 2006, 08:35

Yep that £140 for the bushes seem steep even including labour. The front wishbone complete is £23 from a motor factor and takes about 15 minutes a side to fit. Someone ripped you off mate.

1996 Vauxhall Calibra 16V 2.0 petrol

Summary:

Fast, comfortable and looks the part

Faults:

Crankshaft sensor failed twice.

Rear boot catch need tightening (noisy).

General Comments:

1) I'll miss it greatly.

2) I guess I'm a bad driver because I don't complain about the handling - I have never thrown another car so hard into corners so safely - it eats it up - must be a moan from rear wheel drive fans?

3) Great comfort on the motorway all day.

4) 8 seconds to 60 puts most new cars behind it.

5) Why are they making an Astra version?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd May, 2000