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
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.