Faults:

Radiator mounts 4,000 miles

Rear shockers 12,000

Alarm System 13,000.

General Comments:

I got a signum 2.2 petrol Design 6 months old with delivery miles in 2004. In general I am very pleased with the car. The seats are very comfortable, but the dash is dull and straight out of the Vectra. As with some of the other comments I soon had this loud rattle from the front of the car, which was traced to the radiator mounts.

Even with the sports suspension I find the car is more of a cruiser than sporty with regards handling. It certainly is not a patch on the Primera GT I had before this.

As with other comments the servicing interval on the display popped up after 10,000 miles not the 2 years or 20,000 I expected. It is just over a year since the service (just 14,000 on the clock) the local Vauxhall dealer phoned to say that the car required servicing.

At 12,000 I had to have both rear shockers replaced as they were both leaking. This is not covered under warranty if the car has done more than 3,000 miles (so the dealer said).

Just before Christmas I had to get the alarm system repaired as the display was saying "check safeguard". This was repaired under warranty and traced to a faulty switch inside the car. However, I have now just noticed one of the air conditioning buttons no longer works.

Another thing I have noticed is that the car is totally useless in the snow even when there is virtually no slope. I could not get out the street which is probably about a 2 degree slope. I could not try switching of the traction control as there no way to do this as there is in the Vectra GSi.

The signum is in my opinion a smart looking vehicle and unusual, as there are not many about. I just wish Vauxhall had done something with the front end.

It is roomy and although not as big as the vectra estate in the back, it will be big enough for most folks.

In retrospect I would probably go for the 150bhp CDTi, if I were to get another signum in the future. For all its faults and I would never get one new, but it is car that should be considered as a good second hand low mileage buy.

Faults:

Had creaking sound which sounded as if it was coming from suspension - fixed by reading another review on carsurvey and contacting dealer (front top radiator mounts have now been changed)- problem solved

General Comments:

Ride is quite hard - probably because the design spec has 'sport' suspension.

Seats very comfortable and able to be adjusted over a wide range. Very good seat set up in the rear - apart from the centre seat which is only really any good for emergencies as it is high and hard.

Cabin is quite dull but solid looking.

Engine is a peach - with lots of power, but power tends to be top end. Its my first auto and I think its just me! but when you want to accelerate you squeeze the throttle and nothing much happens - so you press a bit more and suddenly you are in kickdown mode and you are off like a rocket!! - I need to find the middle ground!