Faults:

Crank timing sensor went 6 times. Cost £167. Vauxhall guaranteed the part for 12 months and said they were willing to change as many times as it went in 12 months, then had the cheek to charge me £167 once every 12 months.

Leaks water out of head gasket. Losing about 1 pint a week. Quoted £800 to replace the head gasket by the dealer. As it's done this for 2 years now I will pass.

Rocker cover gasket replaced when oil filled the spark plug hole. Cost £180.

Ignition leads replaced outside of service time. Cost £160.

Liquid wishbone bushes replaced. Cost £180.

General Comments:

I have put leather seats in and changed the wheels from an Elite which gives it more of a quality feel. This car has been chipped and is quick and comfortable. Fuel consumption is good on the motorway at around 28-30 mpg at (80-90). In town it's a nightmare at around 17-19mpg.

Faults:

Headlamp failure indication is always on when the headlamps are on - this is known fault which is only apparent when towbar electrics are fitted, needed the sensor unit upgrading. Took three visits to the dealer to correct this known problem. Fixed under warranty.

Oil pump (gasket) failed 2200 miles, this took 2 weeks to fix (engine removed 5 times!). After ringing one of two partners at the dealers at 9.00am, the whole pump was replaced, car valeted and back on the road by lunchtime. No charge.

High voltage leads failed 20000 miles and took 10 days to diagnose and correct, although I correctly guessed the cause of the problem from the outset. Dealers excuse "these never fail", however no charge for repair.

Wipers always give one sweep when starting (not very handy when the wiper blade is frozen or melted to the screen).

Water pump failed at 36000 miles.

Cambelt changed at 40,000 miles (service book says 80,000). However, the camshaft pulley meshed with an adjacent pulley causing failure of both cylinder heads at 60,000 miles. Vauxhall totally uninterested and refused any compensation or assistance. So far cannot find any evidence this is a known problem, except cambelt area and pulleys seem to be a generic Vauxhall problem area.

ABS light came on intermittently between 10000 and 20000 miles. No serious attempt to diagnose this by the dealer (they "didn't have the right computer for this engine"). This apparently cured itself as the dealer didn't confess to correcting it.

Now due for a second high-level brake light replacement (£70) as water ingress has corroded the circuit board again.

General Comments:

Huge boot (estate model) out-sizes Volvo models of a similar vintage.

Good performance (when running), but consumption is not good (28mpg average and I'm not a boy-racer).

Competent towcar, but keep the revs up.