Vauxhall Omega Estate (1994 - 2003) 2.6 V6 24V CD 5d Auto Owner Review

How reliable do you find the car?

I have quite a few older vauxhalls (cavaliers), and do a lot of resto work on cars so have that advantage I can fix myself; this was a "new" model to me! First car I owned with key fob central locking. Low miles good condition, changed belt myself, quite easy once you get everything stripped off but have to have correct crank > pump alignment tool and triple check everything before putting timing cover back on.Alignment tool can be around 50+ quid. Also changed the cam cover seals when doing timing belt as they had failed and the plug holes were full of oil due to leaks from cam cover. Also had to replace one coil pack as it was corroded, probably caused by see below. Some problems I've had and have either planned to fix or have fixed are: Leaks, in the scuttle area, water seems to be pouring in through the scuttle onto the coil packs causing misfires and damp in the engine bay, precisely what you do not want with coil packs ta over £100 a pop; they do corrode and fail so water is not their friend. The scuttle area is very poorly designed, and the drain water runs out right down the N/S chassis leg, not really a good design when these and the senators before them (one of which I own too!) were well known for rust on the chassis legs! There is a small bit of rust starting on the join inner wing to chassis leg on O/S in engine bay. Luckily not had too much trouble with suspension geometry as they are common problem with uneven tyre wear, changed front arm back bushes with VX replacements as mine were split, and the front bushes of the arm changed to poly as suggested by omega owners club. Could feel nervous steering when I bought it and spotted the worn bushes plus tyres were worn out due to this. Exhaust needs replacing as both centre sections and tail are rotten. Each are about 100 a pop so I am "collecting" one piece per pay check; I do like genuine parts! Oh and the heating system is like something out a a concorde, nightmare to operate, and the air and heat is poor; I think it needs the matrix flushed.

Does the car do everything you expected it to do?

Very nice to drive and smooth and comfortable but gutsy (26-30) mpg average on mway for 2.6 auto; luckily I don't use it much.