Well impressions of driving the latest Vectra....

Its a 53reg 1.8 SXI..

I'm not sure on the exterior styling... A bit to Americanised....

The interior is horrible, slabby... some of the plastics are cheap and nasty..

but the glovebox feels solid enough.

The car is gutless, even compared with the wifes 1.8 Zetec Mondeo...

but it is really quiet inside, I like the headlight performance, which is far better than my Octavia... ( Why couldnt Skoda fit the projector dipped beam) and the main beam comes on AS WELL as the dipped... !!!

It has cruise control ( I'm getting lazy now )... which is good...

Auto wipers are good...

Auto dimming rear mirror... good.

And a resonable Stereo which has BASS..... and doesnt turn its self down..

It has no steering feel whatsoever, and the body deflects sideways when the rear suspension hits a bump...

Now in true Vauxhall tradition it has developed a knocking noise...

If I had to run this type of car then I would look towards the Passat, Superb ( which have better steering in my opinion ) or Mondeo.. over this....

Ta

Dazz

Never driven a new style Vectra, but did drive a late version of the old Vectra as a Hire car. I hated it, I have driven the Astra and 1.8 Zafira and both were much better to drive than the Vectra.

Much the same as my impression when i had one as a hire car...was pretty comfy and quiet on the motorways, but the gearing is too long and the steering very remote - the sort of car that wouldn't be bad to drive, but you'd never actually enjoy it...

Still, better than the new Primera!

Rob.

Tell me about the new Primera, Rob.

The remote steering reminds me of an Opel Omega Estate I once had as a loaner - was downright scary to drive on the motorway with speeds in excess of 60 mph! I could do an 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock movement without feeling the slightest change of direction... And it was autumn too. Try and correct a sudden gust of wind from the side with that kind of steering! :eek:

Yeah, it feels like the front wheels are permanently slipping! After I'd done my business mileage I parked it up in a corner of the street and went back to using the lurid yellow Fabia 1.4MPi I had as a loaner at the time...

I also found the "3 buttons to control everything" console a nightmare, and never got used to the centre mounted speedo - indeed, it was a particularly early start in the morning, and I had just turned out of my street, glanced at the speedo and before I knew it I'd subconciously turned the wheel towards the speedo and was on the kerb.

Lost a wheel trim in the process, which the rental company were upset about...

Rob.

Ah yes, the anomaly of a center speedo... It's just designers being clever and different, and I despise those designers for their up-yours mentality to basic ergonomics.

Had the same happening to me in a Lancia Ypsilon once, and it's among the many reasons why I would never want a new Mini.

It's just designers being clever and different' date=' and I despise those designers for their up-yours mentality to basic ergonomics.

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Yes...much like clothes and furniture designers...

Rob.

I get wuite a few hire cars, and leaseplan use Avis predominantly (hence V). So far I've had :-

Astra 1.8 SRi - Less said the better, handling what handling!

Astra 2.0 GSi - Turbo nutter car performance in a straight line, but God help you if you get to a corner, the radar cruise control is good though, however that is the only thing that is, the inside is still from an 80's astra!

Vectra 1.8 LSi - See Top

Vectra 2.2 SRi - Killed it, had to dodge some1 on my side of the road, lost the back end, stopped with the aid of a ditch, car has 10 airbags none activated! seatbelt broke a rib!

Zafira 1.8 - BUS! clever seats drive feels and handles like a bus!

VX220 2.2 - Great car, propper Elise

VX220 T - Even more go fast than previous

In fact besides the cars that Lotus build for them they dont have one in there lineup that is any good!, just my personal observations, but hey!

Dazz, are the indicators really as bad as everyone says. ie. you cant turn them off.

Dazz, are the indicators really as bad as everyone says. ie. you cant turn them off.

You have to get used to them... a small touch will set the indicators of for 3

flashes, press it further up then it is on until the steering cancels or you press the lever the other way.... It is quieter than the Skoda's but less precise....

Well... I had a problem with the Vectra.. Knocking noises from the front of the car... Told the rental company,, went in and swapped to a 120mile old Ford Focus TDCI 115 Zetec...

Drove it to the Skoda dealer where the vRS is to get some belongings from the car.

Turning left into the dealers car park, sitting stationary brake lights and indicator on,,, As another car is moving into a parking space... BANG.... Rover 220 Coupe goes past, passenger side wing mirror hanging off,, I get out, there is a nasty scrape on my rear bumper and two little dents, the Rover has a very bent front wing and a wing mirror that is hanging by its wiring..

Girl who is driving ,,, tells me that I was not indicating... I tell her that the car HAS brake lights and these were ON as well as the NS indicators.....

When she calmed down she said sorry...

So another accident in just ove a week... FANTASTIC!!!!.... People DON'T LOOK!!!!!!!

Not happy at all

Dazz