Faults:

Oil and coolant leaks.

Suspension.

ABS sensors.

Water pump leaked, replaced when timing belt was changed.

Cosmetically the car's paint chipped very easily, especially at the front, bumper looked terrible when I was done with it, headlights faded also.

General Comments:

I had this Vectra a long time. Certainly nothing special, but looked after they are OK cars.

Club model is very basic, no fancy electrics here. But the seats were OK and the ride was smooth. Interior materials felt they had decent quality and were hard wearing.

1.8 petrol engine does around 37 mpg on average with fairly plodding performance.

Despite its reputation as a dull car, it drove all right I thought. Didn't mind long journeys in it, felt it was at home on at its best on the motorways, for which this car was designed for.

Overall a pretty mediocre experience, not a bad car by any means, but very dull, average everything, running costs, driving, looks, etc this Vectra is the definition of average!

Faults:

Biggest pain was coolant leaks, from thermostat and other places.

Most expensive thing was the clutch needed changed.

Air con stopped working long ago.

Cosmetically the car is rough looking, but it is older now.

The rest was honestly just the wear and tear expected of an older high mileage car (brakes, exhaust, suspension parts, etc). I service the car on time and it gets any belts or anything else it needs changed on time.

General Comments:

Yes I still have this 18 year old Vectra as a daily driver. Why? It's cheap enough to run and still has reliability.

Average performance, running costs and economy, this car is nothing special, but I like it for simplicity. The mid 2000's were the last time cars were simple and easy to work on simple jobs yourself if you are handy with tools.

1.8 petrol is arguably more reliable than diesels, but is also a bit dear to tax, but it can still achieve a solid 35 mpg or more if you drive carefully. Insurance is reasonable and parts are cheap. SRi spec is good (plenty of electrics) and is nice to drive, sporty and comfortable.

Interior still modern looking for its age in my opinion. Exterior also styled nicely.

Still worth a look if you find a nice one for cheap enough, but only buy a looked after car. The Vectra is getting on now however and you can even get early Insignia's for the same price on the used market. So only consider a Vectra if it is really cheap.

Faults:

Nothing. Absolutely nothing (touch wood).

Other than consumables like tyres, brake pads and bulbs.

General Comments:

I really don't know why people dis on Vauxhall/Opel and GM products. I have had Vauxhalls on and off for 30 years, and have had some of the best motoring experiences with them, covering over half a million miles in them in total, commuting from the south coast to Devon several times per month without a single glitch or problem worth noting. Vauxhalls have always been solid durable cars, and I think people don't give them enough credit. They have been to me anyways; maybe some people don't treat cars the way they should be, I don't know.

Coming from a Passat, which I loved for 4 weeks until the problems rolled in, there is nothing I miss or wish the Vectra had over the Passat. Volkswagens are over rated anyway, but I really like my Vectra and am looking into getting an Insignia soon.

It's comfortable, super refined. Wind and road noise are hushed, it glides over our terrible UK roads. It doesn't handle with much thrill, but it's stable, bags of grip, and if it makes any difference, I put comfort above handling anyway.

Controls are well laid out, the seats are supportive, good all round visibility, everything works well. I can't really criticize anything about it.

The interior still looks fresh and modern even today, and there are no squeaks or signs of wear. The doors close with an amazing thud, it has even panel gaps, and the materials are strong and tough. Double layered blue metallic paint, it's very nicely finished and hasn't aged at all, and it doesn't chip as easily as the Passats.

The auto box is brilliant. Shifts are very smooth and it responds quickly. Servicing and parts are cheap. Just look after your Vectra, get it serviced regularly, get the gearbox oil (manual and auto) changed regularly and it will go on forever.

I get 37 MPG consistently. The car has not given me a moment's trouble and is certainly the most reliable car I have ever had (including a Honda and two Toyotas). Just a very satisfying car to have. Shame they get so much stick. They can't be that bad, people. British police tend to use Vauxhall over any other manufacturer.

I don't know what country of origin Vauxhall/Opel are. They are designed and engineered in Britain and Germany, manufactured in Germany and England, and it's a US company. Maybe the three work well together. Whatever, they are decent cars and I am most happy with them. Every other car manufacturer seems to compromise in one way or another.

I love it. Not really much else to say.