Faults:
Original ECU needed replacing at just 11,000 miles
Crankshaft angle sensor and MAP sensor failed
Catalytic convertor internals fell apart
Coil pack spiked and took out ECU number 2
Fuel computer display switched itself on and off
Wheel bearings started groaning
Central locking failed
Key got stuck in the ignition and refused to budge - whole lock set and keys replaced.
Head gaskets blew.
General Comments:
A faster, more refined and more capable car than the Scorpio I had before, but I have never in my life owned such a liability of a car. Something was always wrong with it. The Scorpio let me down once during a similar ownership period and mileage, and that was down to a £12 relay! This thing actually left me stranded five times, and was rarely working 100% correctly.
Vauxhall compound the problems with their astonishinglu clueless, rude and totally uninterested dealers and so-called customer service department.
Despite its undeniable talents (smooth engine, decent go, surprisingly good handling), this is nothing more than a crap, poorly developed product sold and "supported" by a crap low rent company. Avoid at all costs unless you have masochistic tendencies. Or you want to work as an unpaid Vauxhall development engineer.
6th Feb 2003, 19:19
And your experience is most probably similar to owners of other makes/models it's not an Omega phenomenon. There will always be a pig in a production run, sounds like you got it. For every bad one there are likely to be a 100 good ones. This is a solid and reliable motor. Just buy low mileage with history.