1999 Vauxhall Vectra LS 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Nowhere near as bad as they say

Faults:

Rough idle, passenger electric window failed, ABS sensor, plus all the usual consumables for mileage. All were reasonable on pricing to repair and I made sure the car had its oil changes on time.

General Comments:

This Vectra I had a while ago was a decent car. Nothing special, that is for sure, but I remember reading a lot of negativity in the motoring press at the time, but I took a test drive and didn't find the car bad, so I bought it used in 2004 and it turned out to be pretty good and lasted me 7 years before I got bored with it.

1.8 LS is pretty basic and nothing exciting to drive, but since it is a 1999 car, I believe this was the updated new improved version of the 1995 car. Handled OK, moved fast enough and was economical. Good looking car also.

Traded it back in 2011 and it was still going strong with over 120K on it, engine never missed a beat.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th December, 2022

1999 Vauxhall Vectra LS 1.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Driving your nan's lounge

Faults:

Nothing... aside from...

I did have sporadic idling, and the engine cut out a few times after purchase. But after driving the car very quickly, the problem went away in a couple of weeks. Maybe I cleared something out?

General Comments:

In the cabin:

There is something very comfortable about this car. You just jump in, drive, and feel like you have exerted no energy in reaching your destination. It has very good road noise insulation, which is part of it, as I find this to be the most draining noise a car can have. The steering wheel is big and chunky, like a bumper car's, and the pedals are very well placed. The gear shift is a very comfortable shape. The colour scheme and soft dashboard make you feel like you're driving around in your nan's lounge.

Negatives are a slightly hard seat; not great after an hour of driving, and the steering wheel has no reach adjustment (IMO the biggest fault of this car).

Driving:

The handling has nearly no feel. The steering rack is very loose, lots of turns are needed to do anything! However, this belies quite a grippy chassis with consistent safe and assured understeer. It's a heavy car, but very softly sprung; I like it!

Fuel economy is great for the size of vehicle, considering it's a petrol. I get 30 in town and 50 on the motorway (you do have to drive it sensibly, as petrols will rev easily).

Other:

I have enjoyed owning this car, and will run it until it breaks. Although it is showing no signs as yet. These are virtually worthless on the used market; I paid £500 nearly two years ago because it's a 1.6, but the 1.8's are even cheaper.

I do not understand why people would drive tinny little cars and pay thousands for the privilege?

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

Review Date: 15th January, 2013

1999 Vauxhall Vectra SRi 2.0 from UK and Ireland

General Comments:

I have a W reg 2000 Vectra SRi 140. I'm no speed freak, but it's funny when you get a boy racer in his 1.2 Corsa trying to make a fool of you.

I think the Vectra is a fantastic car. It drives and handles well, and that's all that matters. But I'm saying all this, because I previously owned a Peugeot 106 Ski 1.1, which was a piece of crap at the very most LOL.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st December, 2010

1999 Vauxhall Vectra SRi 140 2.0 16v from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Buy one

Faults:

Front tyres.

Rear bushes.

General Comments:

I'll just say this will leave a VTS standing and is in a different league.

The car handles like no other FWD.

The engine is a smooth as the BMW m52 motors (but with less bhp).

The engine doesn't need to be thrashed the hell out of to get the best out of it (one of the downfalls of both the VTS and Civic Type R).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th June, 2010

11th Jun 2010, 17:04

Why would you even compare the Vectra 140 to a Civic Type R in the review to start with though? It seems like an unnecessary dig (a common thing on this site with people always trying to compare their cars to the CTR - I guess it is that big of a bench mark?).

The Civic is what it is, and I don't get why people try to bash it. If you buy one, you know it doesn't have the low end punch of a turbo car, but you buy it for other reasons (of which there are many: such as the noise, having in effect two engines to choose from day to day, and ultra reliability etc etc).

As for the 140 Vectra, I have no doubt it is a perfectly competent car and may well have more low end torque than a Civic Type R, but at the end of the day, the two cars are nothing alike and making the comparison only sets you up for comments like this. It's not even a hatchback, let alone a hot hatch... the same criticism goes to Civic Type R owners comparing their cars to BMW 3 series.

12th Jun 2010, 14:29

Agreed, it is a bit of a strange comparison. Hot hatches should be compared to other hot hatches and saloons to other saloons and so on. But, comparisons aside, it's the snobby comments that annoy me most on this site. Look in the Ford Mondeo section, recent reviews (07 onwards). Some guy comments that the new Mondeo rides smoother than his previous 3 series BMW, which may or may not be true (I haven't driven either of those cars), but it's the huge comment section after the review that is filled with "Don't compare a Ford family saloon to my 'exclusive' 3 series"... which isn't really fair, since we all know the Mondeo and the 3 series are both good cars, but to be fair the 3 series has lost exclusivity (they are everywhere) and the Mondeo has always been just a fine car. Same with the Vectra. The Civic is a decent car as well.