2006 Vauxhall Vectra SRi 2.2 Direct

Summary:

Very Good

Faults:

Nothing, still only just running it in really.

General Comments:

The steering has been improved and the cabin looks a bit tidier. They've given me SatNav on the SRi, but taken away the rain sensors and electrodim rear view mirror, the stainless steel door caps. Still a very nice car and they have reduced some of the harshness of the 2004 SRi. This is my 3rd C vectra. The standard (2002) 2.2 was sloppy, the 2004 Sri was very good and this one continues the trend. Still would happily recommend the car to anyone.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th January, 2007

2006 Vauxhall Vectra SRi NAV 150ps CDTI 16v

Summary:

Family show with single bloke go!!

Faults:

Nothing as yet!

General Comments:

Wow! I like this car a whole lot.

Only had for a couple of months, but this is a very underrated car that delivers the majority of driving expectations and just does the job well!

What's impressive? My list of good points.

Comfort, handling, ride quality, build quality, looks, audio & nav, equipment levels, safety features, space, performance and overall cost.

What's not so impressive?

Gear change, lack of rear e/w, cabin storage and visibility.

Would recommend to anyone who requires a family motor, but also needs a bit of fun, looks, performance and driver appeal etc.

It does both admirably, and the 1.9 CDTI 150ps is truly exceptional. Quiet, refined, very quick and responsive coupled with unbelievable torque...all this & 50mpg!

I thought my 170ps Golf GTI (diesel) was going to be hard to replace (mainly because of expanding family). But, considering the price here, top marks GM!!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th November, 2006

2nd Dec 2006, 17:42

You may remember the Vauxhall Vectra VXR understeering badly when going around the corners of the Top Gear test-track.

Now, you don't have to be a genius to realize that lap was clearly staged. Jeremy Clarkson never liked and probably will never like the Vauxhall Vectra. And of course, he had to find a way, that even the ultimate Vectra ever still was a rubbish car. As far ANY driver knows, if you apply power to a FWD car when cornering, no matter how powerful or even how weak, the car will understeer severely even with the steering full lock on.

Plainly then, the show producers thought it would be a great idea, to tell The Stig, to turn the Traction Control off and drive the Vectra like a complete idiot. Therefore, Vauxhall would look ridiculous and Clarkson's overinflated ego would get a huge boost. The result was a lap time of 1:35 - Not bad, but not good. 2 seconds faster than a Honda Civic Type-R (1:37) and a whooping 3 seconds faster than the Saab 9-5 HOT Aero Turbo. These other two were also tested on the dry track.

Thing is though, other British motoring press publications (EVO, AutoExpress, Parker's, The Independent - Motoring) reckon the VXR is fairly competent for what it is.

I would say the VXR is not as involving to drive as you would like for a high performance car. But it does the job quite well as a very fast practical family car. At 24 to 25K it may be expensive for a Vectra, but then there is no other mainstream family rep-mobile on the market that can do 160 Mph and costs 25K and that's for the Estate version, the Hatchback costs a grand less.

If somebody wants to give me a black Vauxhall Vectra VXR Estate as a Christmas gift, I'd be delighted.

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2006 Vauxhall Vectra Exclusiv 1.8 petrol

Faults:

HANDBRAKE ISSUE.

I am adding this comment after reading others with a similar issue to mine.

The handbrake released itself on my 3 week old Vectra and ended up in someones front garden doing serious damage to the house frontage. The response from Vauxhall so far has been very poor.

Please contact me dfrayling@hotmail.com if you have unfortunately experienced similar problems.

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

Review Date: 6th August, 2006

6th Aug 2006, 16:37

Why not just leave the car in gear?

16th Aug 2006, 13:33

There is nothing wrong with these cars I have had one for five years now and nothing has gone wrong yet.

8th Nov 2006, 05:43

I am a consulting engineer investigating the failure of a handbrake on a client's Vectra C. I have actually found a fault with the automatic adjuster which sometimes seems to slip a couple of threads. Please let me know of any more experiences you have had or heard of.

Additionally, let me know if you have any repairs carried out to your handbrake. I know that, from time to time, people think their handbrake failed, but have simply not applied it suffiently hard enough; moreso on car with rear disc brakes. The situation is that as a drum brake cools, the parts contract and so the diameter of the drum reduces probably at the same or slightly faster rate than the brake shoes and linings. The situation is slightly different on disc brakes onto which the handbrake acts. As a disc brake cools and contracts, the disc, pads and linings can all contract, but the tendency is for a relaxation of the braking effect and if not pulled on hard, the car can be allowed to roll. I believe the potential for Vectra C handbrake release is enhanced by what I think may be a fault with the design of the automatic adjuster.

Have you consulted VOSA? They are the Government organisation who drive the car manufacturer's recall system - unless they hear about such things, the cars will not be recalled if the dealers or manufacturer's do not report an issue.

My e-mail address is mark@brown72.fsnet.co.uk

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