They are not that quick, just guy a 150bhp and get it remapped to about 190bhp. It is much lighter, better on fuel and is faster. Plus with the lighter front end it handles better. The Vectra handles very good anyway so don't bother with the SRi unless you like the look of it, go for a Design as it is a much better spec for less. Don't get the auto box either it is pretty shit.

some good advice there!

cheers for the posts - solid food for thought.

:-)

Dave

Beware of anything with an ECOTEC engine. We've had 6 in the family from 1994 to 2006 and every one of them spent most of it's time with the engine management light on, often in limp home mode. Needless to say we wouldn't touch another.

I asked about them a while back but even the salesman was trying to put me off it. They rated the 150hp 1.9 but didn't think that much of the 3.0

Beware of anything with an ECOTEC engine. We've had 6 in the family from 1994 to 2006 and every one of them spent most of it's time with the engine management light on, often in limp home mode. Needless to say we wouldn't touch another.

just had bad luck there matey. ive got 115k on mine, still goes well. has only ever had the light on for a failed sensor which i fitted myself. my SWMBO has a vec with 130k on the clock. had a few issues but nothing major. both had them years. friends got a v6 eco with 180k on the clock and thats not been off the road for longer than a service in all its life!!

if you want the full story, take a look at Vectra-C.com. lots of info there, and some nice folks.

I've had a 3.0 CDTi Elite Signum for 3 years now. It's not the fastest off the blocks because it's so heavy, (0-60 in 8.4-ish) but once it's moving and into top gear it pulls like an express train. The engine is smooth at anything above tickover, and it's not bad even then, being a V6. I get 35-sh to the gallon on normal mixed driving, commuting Luton to MK and back. On a steady motorway run, going quite fast, it will top 40mpg.

I'd say that it does understeer, mainly because the engine weighs a heck of a lot. However, if you know about it, it shouldn't be a problem. it's a cruiser, not a sports car.

The main drawback seems to be tyre life -the fronts last about 20k, mainly due to the weight and the nearly 300 ft/lbs that they have to put down.

The 3.0 engine is an Isuzu unit, used by Saab and Renault. it will remap to 250bhp or so, but the gearboxes are designed for a maximum of 400nm of torque, so they can break.

The 1.9 CDTi, BTW, is a Fiat design, based on the old twin cam engine from many years ago.

If you want any more info (without getting slated by the masses) PM me.

Phil

Phil,

Thanks for your post - very helpful/interesting.

I do like the idea of a big hunking great diesel v6 - but it may be just too thirsty :eek:. 20k sounds good for the tyres. I get around 25k on the Fabia vRS.

the A4 looks nice but like the passat, pricey - octy is another skoda (and much as I love them - you still get the skoda effect on the road - and I could do with something a bit more chilled to drive). A BMW would be lovely - those 120 or 123 diesels are awesome - but they are soo expensive - they are out of reach... The Saab 9-3 looks good - but pricey to maintain - I'm not into anything French; and the Japanese saloons look dull apart from maybe the mazda 6. So that leaves the odd US mobile, vauxhaull, ford, and the like. Mondeo looks nice - but ubiquitous. Vectra's seem almost as nice - but seriously bargaintastic second hand following that depriciation.

1.9 SRi - I may need to take a fresh look at that...

Cheers, D

Phil,

Thanks for your post - very helpful/interesting.

I do like the idea of a big hunking great diesel v6 - but it may be just too thirsty :eek:. 20k sounds good for the tyres. I get around 25k on the Fabia vRS.

the A4 looks nice but like the passat, pricey - octy is another skoda (and much as I love them - you still get the skoda effect on the road - and I could do with something a bit more chilled to drive). A BMW would be lovely - those 120 or 123 diesels are awesome - but they are soo expensive - they are out of reach... The Saab 9-3 looks good - but pricey to maintain - I'm not into anything French; and the Japanese saloons look dull apart from maybe the mazda 6. So that leaves the odd US mobile, vauxhaull, ford, and the like. Mondeo looks nice - but ubiquitous. Vectra's seem almost as nice - but seriously bargaintastic second hand following that depriciation.

1.9 SRi - I may need to take a fresh look at that...

Cheers, D

No probs -they do depreciate horribly. I bought mine at 7 months old, with 18,000 miles on the clock, as an ex-Vauxhall fleet car. Price new:27K I paid 15K!

Phil

Office co-worker has a Saab 93 150hp diesel auto. He curses it and the dealer to hell and damnation. Thinks his last Saab (a petrol) was in a different league.

My mate has a Mazda 6 136 diesel. One of the best built cars I've ever been in, a really nice car. He's not let me drive it yet :thumbdwn:.

The Toyota Avensis T180 is nice on the inside and nice to drive if you're not expecting to go round corners like a Ferrari. Ugly though.

The Toyota Avensis T180 is nice on the inside and nice to drive if you're not expecting to go round corners like a Ferrari. Ugly though.

had a few as hire cars (not the T180) but lesser petrols & diesels.

Dull as dish water - and yes, looks like a trout ;-)

D

PS; saabs - shame; they were sooo cool in the late '80s early '90s.

Saab 900 turbo, come on!!!!