Vauxhall Vectra Hatchback (1995 - 2002) 1.8 Arctic II 5d (1998/R) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I'm a 19 year old driving a car designed for people 50 years my senior.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

A big improvement on my old 306 and a beast compared to some of the crap they drive at work.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes, but in the SRi form with the 2.2 litre engine.

What are you likely to buy next?

Vauxhall Astra Coupé 2.2i 16v - I have a bit more money to play with nowadays.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£1,200

When did you buy the car?

November 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

The mileage was low for the age of the car and was in immaculate condition for £1200.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

What was the dealer like?

Friendly, not pushy or rude.

What's it like to drive?

It can get a tad breathless on inclines and struggles to keep up with traffic from the lights, but in the mid range it's sprightly enough to catch up with it again. Could do with a 6th gear, as 70mph can be rather noisy.

What's it like to park?

Before this, I owned a Peugeot 306, which was a walk in the park to er... park. With the Vectra I certainly noticed the difference, as rear visibility isn't great in comparison. Though once I got used to it, it was fine.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Intermittent fault with what I believe to be the Engine Management - had it diagnosed but got no fault codes. After about an hours driving, it idles at around 1300 rpm as opposed to around 800.

What's most practical about your car?

The boot is huge - it easily swallowed my new TV as I took it home.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The adjustable steering wheel - paramount for driving comfort.