Best Diesel '08 Car for 8k to 10k - Vectra?

Lemlin

I had been planning to buy a brand new car next year (probably a Superb) but due to a change of office in work I'm looking at the prospect of a 120km a day round trip to work. About 40km of this will be on a national road and the other 80km is on the M3 motorway. Therefore I now need to change my vehicle as the prospect is that I'll have to fill the petrol 1.4 I'm driving with €50 at least twice a week if my calculations are correct.

I had been advised that I should go for something that is 6 speed and has cruise control as the majority of my driving is motorway driving. I'm working on a budget of 8k to a max of 10k if I really push it. I also want to buy a family type car as I have a child so I'm looking at saloon type vehicles. I wanted to go '08 for lower tax.

I've looked at Avensis', Passats and Octavias. They were my main choices but it looks fairly hard to get a decent mileage vehicle in any of those models that's 2008 with my budget. Therefore I'm now looking at Vauxhall Vectras. There seems to be a good amount of them around that are '08 and fitting my price bracket.

Just wondering what people's opinion is and what model of Vectra would be best. 1.9 Sri had been mentioned to me but should I be going 120bhp or 150bhp? Or does it even matter?

I don't know alot about cars so are Vectras cheaper because they give problems or because they have been replaced by the Insignia as someone suggested to me?

furtzy

Had a 2005 Vectra SRi CDTi 150 and I loved it. Don't think you can get the SRi in 120 bhp. The engine is a cracker and both powerful and very economical. Mine had begun to develope the infamous swirl valve issue before I sold it but i think this issue would not be with the modified EGR valve in the 2008 model.

The suspension is quite hard and unforgiving over our wonderful N & R roads. Mine had 18" wheels which didn't help.

Vectras are notoriously hard on suspension components such as anti-roll bars, drop links etc but these are easy and inexpensive to fix. If you do purcashe spend a few quid and replace the busings will polyurethene ones it makes a huge difference to the feel and comfort of the car.

Aprt from the suspension niggles they area very well built car with very solid bodywork.

Go for the 150 version..very noticeable power difference but with the same mpg. I regularly got 1100km from a tank with a mix of urban and motorway driving

Would recommend it and don't listen to the usual Clarkson inspired anti Vectra rubbish that gets spouted on here

si_guru

Go for the 150... look for the red "i" on the boot.

Just a thought - If you are driving further each day why not still get the new Superb... I would rather have a new car under me than an old one if I was doing a lot of commuting!

Lex Luthor

go for the 150bhp if you can get one
SRi/Design or Elite spec
Hatch would be more practical than the saloon aswell

Lemlin

si_guru wrote: »

Go for the 150... look for the red "i" on the boot.

Just a thought - If you are driving further each day why not still get the new Superb... I would rather have a new car under me than an old one if I was doing a lot of commuting!

Because due to other financial commitments, I wouldn't have the cash for a new car until next year.

Is the red i in the Sri and what does it mean?

si_guru

Lemlin wrote: »

Because due to other financial commitments, I wouldn't have the cash for a new car until next year.

Is the red i in the Sri and what does it mean?

On the Vauxhall (I don't know about Opel) the red "i" is in the CDTi.

SRi is good spec - cruise and AC.. I loved mine. only swapped as I was I fell in love with a bright blue S-type.

Get the hatch... you won't see a Vauxhall saloon anyway!

furtzy

Red Ti in the CDTi decal on rear mean 150 bhp. Also oil cap is on the right of the engine on the 150 and on the left on the 120. People have been known to buy the red Ti decal on ebay to mislead

Think SRi is hatch only. Have never seen or heard of an SRi Vectra C saloon

si_guru

furtzy wrote: »

Red Ti in the CDTi decal on rear mean 150 bhp. Also oil cap is on the right of the engine on the 150 and on the left on the 120. People have been known to buy the red Ti decal on ebay to mislead

Think SRi is hatch only. Have never seen or heard of an SRi Vectra C saloon

You are right... T and i.

I think the "Design" had auto lights and wipers plus leccy rear windows.. But IIRC many were the 120bhp. I saw an "elite" estate once... nice. Was the 3.0CDti too.. Auto, wood, leather etc.. The estate has a longer wheelbase too.. from the Signum. and an electric moved hatch (years before Ford pretended to invent in on the C-max!)

STForSale

Although moving to the 08' emissions based system makes sense overall, don't get hung up on it. If you can pick up an 07' for a few grand less, this will pay the extra €300 per year motor tax for a long time.
Stating the obvious but on a car like this where the difference is narrow....

STForSale

furtzy wrote: »

Red Ti in the CDTi decal on rear mean 150 bhp. Also oil cap is on the right of the engine on the 150 and on the left on the 120. People have been known to buy the red Ti decal on ebay to mislead

Think SRi is hatch only. Have never seen or heard of an SRi Vectra C saloon

Or you could open the drivers door and the power output is on a sticker on the sill

bazz26

I'd also have a look at the Renault Laguna III. Won't have the same power as the Vectra 1.9 but will still cruise on motorways comfortably, much newer design with a nicer cabin and most are better equipped than a Vectra. Proving to be alot more reliable than previous Renaults, has hatchback practicality and only €156 to tax:

Something like this:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201116202113782

W.Shakes-Beer

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd also have a look at the Renault Laguna III. Won't have the same power as the Vectra 1.9 but will still cruise on motorways comfortably, much newer design with a nicer cabin and most are better equipped than a Vectra. Proving to be alot more reliable than previous Renaults, has hatchback practicality and only €156 to tax:

Something like this:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201116202113782

Personally think the Laguna is miles uglier than the Vectra. The SRi Vectra would be one of the better looking saloon cars out there imo.

No harm for the OP to consider though.

As for Vectra, people say the 120 is more reliable than the 150 but that could be just because the 120 is less common. I'd still go for the 150

sdanseo

The laguna linked to there is only a 1.5, on a motorway it would fall flat compared to the 150bhp Vectra.

Laguna's never had a very good reputation either, haven't heard much about the III but 1+2 were reportedly quite unreliable.

pmct

http://www.donnellygroup.co.uk/uvl/vehicle-Vauxhall-Vectra-1.9-CDTi-16v-SRi-150-PS-1915310-2990592.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_
i was looking at this whay ur opioion

mgbgt1978

Does that price include VRT ? Very expensive if it doesn't.

pmct

no but its being sold for £7000 i would have it down for €10000