Have had this car 6 years and this has been the first time I have had any problems - a new exhaust under £100, power steering rack £95, this is all it needed to pass its MOT.
Very reliable economical family car with comfort and power, cheap and easy to repair if you shop around.
I am now trading it for a Vectra!!!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th November, 1999
Nothing major.
I have just fitted a new clutch cable, as the old (original) one started to stick. Also took time to replace the cambelt as the old one looked a bit iffy. Sticking auto choke was soon freed.
The car has been 100% reliable, considering it has done 99,500 miles. It gives a good ride, despite a one or two interior rattles - door trim, passenger seat. I will sort these out in due time.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th February, 1999
Rear demister fuse (30A) blew and mullered the fuse box. Replacement 'box £12, £130 to fit.
Passenger wing mirror, electric and heated, stolen. Dealer-only job, £200 to replace.
Electric aerial mast broken three times by listening to the radio while reversing into my garage (humourous but not fault of car!) £16 to replace from dealer each time.
Original battery died after 132k miles.
Reliable, starship mileage common.
Beware of the hidden costs of the toys, eg electric heater wing mirror units replacement cost £200 each.
With 134000+ miles on clock, it's still plenty of *go* left!
Some Vauxhall dealers (especially in Milton Keynes) charge a fortune! Advise shopping around a bit fot the best prices.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th January, 1999
Old type fuel injection relay stopped car starting when hot. Heater control bulbs are too much trouble to replace! Has now done 93K with just tyres every 25K at front (NCT2's at £49 each) and 1 exhaust. Otherwise just change the oil regularly.
38mpg on run, high 5th means it cruises effortlessly. Watch for rust at the bottom rear of both front wheelarches and at the offside front wheelarch/chassis rail joint. Waxoyl the cavities behind if you want an MOT in the future. If the engine management light comes on check the plugs on the sensors first - it is usually a dirty contact.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th October, 1998
I've had it from 77,000 miles to its current 140,000 and all I've had to spend has been a wiper arm (£20) and a wheelbearing (£30 plus fitting).
Front pads do wear v. quick.
Cheap second-hand family car. Comfortable on motorway thrashes and does nothing to upset on country lanes.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 29th June, 1998
Starter motor developed a grinding noise at 66,000 miles, repaired easily by dealer.
Ace car, fast, comfortable, reliable, well equipped, safe, reasonably cheap to run - what more could you ask?
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th April, 1998
Electric Window Malfunction.
CV Joint failure.
Worn Distributer Cap.
Very High Oil Use.
Night Dash Bulbs Gone.
Requires new clutch (after 80,000 on clock miles though, possibly more see below).
Noisy Transmission.
Main problem is it seems to use a lot of oil - not through leaks, it loses it through the exhaust.(Valve guides ?). Does about 32 mpg on a good day. Due to its condition I suspect this vehicle may have been clocked.
Excellent Motorway Cruiser.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 11th February, 1998
Air mass meter.
Clutch cable.
Heater panel bulb.
Starter motor.
Excellent mpg (30 ish) for a two litre. Central locking fails occasionally on rear near side door. Despite faults, would definitely buy another one (V6 or turbo). Join Performance Vauxhall Club to get discounts everywhere and top advice.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 3rd February, 1998
Very little has gone wrong with the car that wouldn't be considered normal wear and tear - I have had no major work done on it in 4 1/2 years of ownership.
Avoid Vauxhall dealers! I made the mistake initially of entrusting servicing to the local main dealer, whose only objective was to part me and my money. One example was the suggestion that my rear brake discs and pads needed changing at £200 plus when even the pads still had plenty of wear. The discs are still fine 30k miles later!
I bought the car with 51,000 on the clock and it has now done 127,000 and shows no signs of fading - performance appears no different from when I bought it. Handling is not great and fuel consumption rises steeply with a heavy right foot.
It's a good spec car that is cheap to run (if you avoid the main dealers) and has proven incredibly reliable.
Don't buy one for excitement, but if you have 2 kids, like a degree of comfort and don't want reliability hassles, you could do a lot worse.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 9th November, 1997
8th Jan 2002, 12:30
I own a 1990 Cav SRi 8v and discovered to my horror that the front offside wheel arch was as rotten as a pear, but apparently a common fault.
Also the cost of replacing the two rear arches is £225 which I think is reasonable.
P.s Don't follow the haynes manual when it comes to changing the heater control bulb, it's impossible unless your fingers are 12 inches long.