2006 Vauxhall Signum Elite 2.8 V6 turbo petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Thirsty! But, fast!! (not as fast as an Octavia vRS though!)

Faults:

Brake light bulb needed replacing.

General Comments:

What a cheap luxo barge this thing was.

I bought it as a 3rd owner for £3,800, full service history.

It was pretty mint inside and outside, and just needed 2 new front tyres!

Now, if you listen to Jeremy Clarkson, then my Signum was sh**e, because it's basically a Vectra Estate with a different back end!!

But, it wasn't, at all. Yes, it didn't offer the last word in steering feel, but it went extremely well, with loads of torque right from the word go from its lovely 2.8 V6 Turbo, and a responsive 6-speed auto box.

They say it could do 150, which I didn't want to try and test, I did race my wife's Skoda Octavia vRS, which was the latest shape fitted with the DSG auto box, and I lost, but that was a properly quick car!

What my Signum offered most of all was very comfortable, refined, fast motoring, it was very much a lazy mans car, what with its auto lights, auto wipers, auto box, built-in satnav, heated electric seats. Mine even had the xenon active lights that turn as you corner!!

All for peanuts to buy because of one slightly inconvenient thing, and, erm, the reason I got rid of it... a VERY uneconomical engine that puts out way, way too much CO2, resulting in something stupid like £450 a year road tax and 22-23 MPG on average.

So, although I regret it, I got rid of it and bought a brand new Hyundai i10 1.2, which does 40 MPG and costs £30 a year to tax! Then I bought a 99 Audi A4 2.8 V6 Quattro for £900 to satisfy my quest for thirsty, fast cars, so I've got a cheap, actually quite fun to drive noddy car for every day, and something fast for other days!!

Sometimes wish I still had my luxo turbo barge though!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th February, 2013

2006 Vauxhall Signum Design 1.9 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great car, just a shame it is mis-understood by many people!

Faults:

Alternator packed up in the 1st year, had the same issue on previous Signum. Apart from that, it's been great.

General Comments:

Excellent comfortable car, fantastic smooth when cruising, will sit at 90mph+ all day effortless.

Later models are well equipped, recommend the adaptive front lighting. Performance is good, considering it's a heavy solid car. Bags of space inside, and when the seats are down, you can fit loads in..

Mine has the 19 inch alloys fitted, although it handles well, it tram-lines a lot and pulls around a bit, makes journeys on poorly maintained roads a battle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th December, 2009

2006 Vauxhall Signum Exclusiv 1.9 CDTi from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Excellent if the lighting can be made to meet French requirements

General Comments:

We travel in France quite frequently, where it is a legal requirement to fit beam correctors to the headlights. There seems to be no simple way to do this on a non-forward adaptive 2006 model. Has anybody got any suggestions?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th July, 2007

15th Feb 2008, 07:30

I travel to Croatia on holiday by car each year and when I first bought a Signum (brand new 2.8 turbo Elite) in March 2006 asked the Vauxhall dealership how I altered the beam for continental driving. My two previous cars were an Omega and a Calibra, which were a bit fiddly, but relatively easy to alter myself, by taking the light cover off under the bonnet and moving a lever. Despite the Signum being around for several years by March 2006 the dealership had to get in touch with 'the factory' to find out how to alter the beam direction. Unfortunately, it is not a DIY job and necessitates a before and after holiday visit to the dealership (at considerable expense) for the operation to be carried out. This issue, plus handbrake, instrument, and ESP problems (don't get me started on the quality of ride and design of the leather on the seats) has not really enamoured me to the Signum.

2006 Vauxhall Signum Exclusiv 2.2 16V from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Just short of excellent

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

I've had the car for a year now, and apart from the Fuel consumption I really like the car, Acceleration and handling are superb, the exclusiv model looks class... with the roof rails and 18inch alloys... oh another gripe.. the sat-nav is rubbish...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st July, 2007

2006 Vauxhall Signum Elite CDTI (150) 1.9 16V Turbodiesel from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Major issue with Vauxhall Signum handbrake. I 100% know the handbrake was applied as I was parked on a definite slope. I know it was applied as I went to a shop across the road and came back 5 minutes later and the car was in the same position.

10 minutes after coming in the house, my handbrake disengaged and the Signum rolled into 2 parked cars causing considerable damage.

I want Vauxhall to take responsibility for this, so if you have had the same happen, please e-mail me at rhys@protocol4business.co.uk

Thanks.

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

Review Date: 2nd March, 2007

11th Jun 2007, 07:09

Might it be an idea to suggest for safety that you park in gear?

8th Jun 2009, 10:53

My Signum rolled off when I lent it to a friend. It was parked outside the pub and rolled down a long hill and actually crossed the road and hit a supermarket lorry going the other way. The impact was so hard the driver had minor injuries and the car completely destroyed. The police tried to prosecute my friend saying the car should have been left in gear, but the case was later thrown out.

It is just sheer luck the car didn't kill anybody, my insurance is in a dispute with Vauxhall. The claim is going to exceed £80,000 as the tractor unit was written off.