General Comments:
I really don't know why people dis on Vauxhall/Opel and GM products. I have had Vauxhalls on and off for 30 years, and have had some of the best motoring experiences with them, covering over half a million miles in them in total, commuting from the south coast to Devon several times per month without a single glitch or problem worth noting. Vauxhalls have always been solid durable cars, and I think people don't give them enough credit. They have been to me anyways; maybe some people don't treat cars the way they should be, I don't know.
Coming from a Passat, which I loved for 4 weeks until the problems rolled in, there is nothing I miss or wish the Vectra had over the Passat. Volkswagens are over rated anyway, but I really like my Vectra and am looking into getting an Insignia soon.
It's comfortable, super refined. Wind and road noise are hushed, it glides over our terrible UK roads. It doesn't handle with much thrill, but it's stable, bags of grip, and if it makes any difference, I put comfort above handling anyway.
Controls are well laid out, the seats are supportive, good all round visibility, everything works well. I can't really criticize anything about it.
The interior still looks fresh and modern even today, and there are no squeaks or signs of wear. The doors close with an amazing thud, it has even panel gaps, and the materials are strong and tough. Double layered blue metallic paint, it's very nicely finished and hasn't aged at all, and it doesn't chip as easily as the Passats.
The auto box is brilliant. Shifts are very smooth and it responds quickly. Servicing and parts are cheap. Just look after your Vectra, get it serviced regularly, get the gearbox oil (manual and auto) changed regularly and it will go on forever.
I get 37 MPG consistently. The car has not given me a moment's trouble and is certainly the most reliable car I have ever had (including a Honda and two Toyotas). Just a very satisfying car to have. Shame they get so much stick. They can't be that bad, people. British police tend to use Vauxhall over any other manufacturer.
I don't know what country of origin Vauxhall/Opel are. They are designed and engineered in Britain and Germany, manufactured in Germany and England, and it's a US company. Maybe the three work well together. Whatever, they are decent cars and I am most happy with them. Every other car manufacturer seems to compromise in one way or another.
I love it. Not really much else to say.
29th Mar 2014, 07:16
The factory it was built in is shown on VIN plate starting WOLOXXXXXq123456. It is the eleventh character as q shown, and is a number:
Factory code : Town / Country
1 Russelsheim, Germany
2 Bochum, Germany
3 Azambuja, Portugal (since 1993)
4 Saragossa, Spain
5 Antwerpen, factory II, Belgium
6 Antwerpen, factory I, Belgium/ (since 1993) Eisenach, Germany
7 Luton, Great Britain (since 1993)
8 Ellesmere Port, Great Britain
9 Uusikaupunki, Finland
A Azambuja, Portugal
B Bertone, Torino, Italy
C Eisenach, Germany
E Ellesmere Port, Great Britain
G Gliwice, Poland
H Greek
P Varsova, Poland
S Szentgotthard, Hungary
T Dunstable, Great Britain
V Luton, Great Britain
Z Izmir, Turkey
Our December 2013 Zafira was Bochum built and gives any VW/Audi a match on quality, which is amazing as it was £9970 new with cruise, ESP+, curtain 'bags etc and the lifetime/100,000 mile warranty.
Some VWs are China and India built.