2000 Vauxhall Vectra SRi 140 2.0 from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Family mobile, but with massive grin factor!
Faults:
Head gasket seal - £15 part, but loads of labour costs!
Suspension arms loose and clonking - speed bumps are to blame.
Suspension rack groaning all the time
Engine manifold cracked at 65,000 miles and exhaust now has a slight blow in it - very, very expensive.
Leaky power steering fluid reservoir.
General Comments:
This car looks the nads in Satin Red and in estate form (which mine is) it is sweet. Great visibility and you sit low in the seat that makes it feel like a 'proper' sporty car.
Loads of room for my fishing gear and I've done many a trip to the tip that would have meant three or four in my 406 saloon.
At first the suspension was hard, but it's mellowed out (a bit too much) but it still grips and the little bit of oversteer is fun. Goes through tyres quickly on the front and brakes wear because it has a lot of weight.
Cabin is excellent and seats are really comfortable, especially for long slogs up the M1.
The alloys are a pain to clean, but look good. Watch that front valance when parking near kerbs, as it overhangs a lot and I've ripped mine off twice on normal pavements.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th March, 2006
17th Oct 2005, 09:35
Hi, I liked your review. I really want to buy either a GSi or SRi in early 2006, but am just curious as to why you say there was such a huge difference in reliability. Maybe you had just got a poor SRi, and a better than average GSi? I don't know. It's just that they are totally similar mechanically, only real difference being higher lift cam shafts in the GSi. Only other differences are purely cosmetic i.e. front spoiler, alloy size, and seat material and steering wheel colour.
I've heard of guys with GSis with quite a few problems, the worst being an infamously difficult & notchy gearbox, with in some cases, a complete gearbox replacement being necessary.
So, I don't think that IN GENERAL, there is any major MECHANICAL difference between the two. Anyway, all I can say is "You lucky Devil!!", and would you be interested in selling it in the new year?