2006 Vauxhall Vectra SRi 2.2 Direct from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Very Good
Faults:
Nothing, still only just running it in really.
General Comments:
The steering has been improved and the cabin looks a bit tidier. They've given me SatNav on the SRi, but taken away the rain sensors and electrodim rear view mirror, the stainless steel door caps. Still a very nice car and they have reduced some of the harshness of the 2004 SRi. This is my 3rd C vectra. The standard (2002) 2.2 was sloppy, the 2004 Sri was very good and this one continues the trend. Still would happily recommend the car to anyone.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th January, 2007
2nd Dec 2006, 17:42
You may remember the Vauxhall Vectra VXR understeering badly when going around the corners of the Top Gear test-track.
Now, you don't have to be a genius to realize that lap was clearly staged. Jeremy Clarkson never liked and probably will never like the Vauxhall Vectra. And of course, he had to find a way, that even the ultimate Vectra ever still was a rubbish car. As far ANY driver knows, if you apply power to a FWD car when cornering, no matter how powerful or even how weak, the car will understeer severely even with the steering full lock on.
Plainly then, the show producers thought it would be a great idea, to tell The Stig, to turn the Traction Control off and drive the Vectra like a complete idiot. Therefore, Vauxhall would look ridiculous and Clarkson's overinflated ego would get a huge boost. The result was a lap time of 1:35 - Not bad, but not good. 2 seconds faster than a Honda Civic Type-R (1:37) and a whooping 3 seconds faster than the Saab 9-5 HOT Aero Turbo. These other two were also tested on the dry track.
Thing is though, other British motoring press publications (EVO, AutoExpress, Parker's, The Independent - Motoring) reckon the VXR is fairly competent for what it is.
I would say the VXR is not as involving to drive as you would like for a high performance car. But it does the job quite well as a very fast practical family car. At 24 to 25K it may be expensive for a Vectra, but then there is no other mainstream family rep-mobile on the market that can do 160 Mph and costs 25K and that's for the Estate version, the Hatchback costs a grand less.
If somebody wants to give me a black Vauxhall Vectra VXR Estate as a Christmas gift, I'd be delighted.