Vectra SRI's, any good?

Vectra SRI's, any good?

Author
Discussion

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,290 posts

260 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Just bought one, an R reg sri, 120k, just had new head gasket and belty stuff. 12 months mot. £750

It seems to drive very well and doesn't go too bad either.

What do I need to look out for? Any weak spots? Obviously I've done the usual checks which I carry out on every car, and it seems a nice car, especially for the money I think, but then again, I don't really know vauxhalls that well.

beer

Mike.



Edited by silverback mike on Thursday 26th July 18:57

ol' dirty

9,074 posts

222 months

Wednesday 1st August 2007
quotequote all
I take it, its the 16v ecotec?
the cam belt & the head gasket are the biggest worry on them, as you have had it done, you should have a bit of a belter for 750 notes
If you have any problems try the vvoc.com-some really clever bods over there...

I cant see why critics have slagged them off soo badly, I thought it was quite a nice looking design when it came out & it don't drive too bad eitherpaperbag

I got mine for 900 & not spent a penny since

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,290 posts

260 months

Wednesday 1st August 2007
quotequote all
Yes, it's only the 2.0 16v ecotec. New headgasket, cambelt etc.
Few scratches but it goes well. thumbup




Yugguy

10,728 posts

242 months

Wednesday 1st August 2007
quotequote all
Very under-rated and dirt cheap these days and nowhere near as bad in SRi spec as the Vectra was accused of being.

Plymouth Prowler

4,545 posts

234 months

Wednesday 1st August 2007
quotequote all
Looks good for a 120,000 mile car!

£750 is ridiculously cheap for a 1998 car with a decent engine and plenty of space. Didn't realise Vectras were so cheap these days.

PulseTurbo

670 posts

208 months

Thursday 2nd August 2007
quotequote all
You can get them even cheaper too, if you look around.

pies

13,116 posts

263 months

Thursday 2nd August 2007
quotequote all
Warning you can suffer from serious backache as the seats aren't that comfy for some

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,290 posts

260 months

Friday 17th August 2007
quotequote all
Nope, 3000 miles later, I think the seats are really comfortable, or am I like quasimodo.

Cracking little car this is.

outlaw...

380 posts

207 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
silverback mike said:
Nope, 3000 miles later, I think the seats are really comfortable, or am I like quasimodo.

Cracking little car this is.
down grading mike ?
finaly dumped the cav where it belongs and picked up an omega 3l elite well two but thats a longer story

Edited by outlaw... on Monday 17th September 02:19

Stu R

21,410 posts

222 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
Missus has a V plater with 80 odd thousand on the clock.
Couple of battle scars on it (from her mainly I'll admit) but it's not really put a foot wrong.
Can't say I find it particularly inspiring, but it does the job and for motorway miles it chugs along nicely, and has given no indications that anything's about to go pop. Faithful old freind I guess best describes it. I suppose it's the automotive version of that scabby old dog who although his breath stinks, has a funny smell or two and occasionally messes the carpet up, you don't want to part with because he's been by your side and always looked out for you.

It's not fun to drive at all. Steering wheel doesn't seem to communicate anything occuring at the wheels, and putting it through the country roads around here is really quite concerning at anything other than moderately brisk pace. Perhaps I'm too used to my car, but to me it feels like the engine overhangs the front axle by at least, ohhh I dunno, 75 feet.

But for the daily grind, and for some light hooning they're pretty sturdy. My missus' Vectra has effortlessly coped with various long motorway drives and her occasionally unsympathetic driving style and hasn't cost a penny in repairs or the like. Needs a couple of tyres, the tracking done (possibly explaining my nervousness at sending it down country lanes at speed) and the exhaust but that's it.
Loads of life left in it which is a good sign.

I'm told they're good handlers with some aftermaket suspension and a couple of other tweaks, but I've no intention whatsoever of finding out, every penny that car commands will be spent begrudgingly biggrin
Cracking mile munchers though smile

ETA: Apologies, didn't realise this was an older thread.

Edited by Stu R on Monday 17th September 03:09

wasted years

4,330 posts

216 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
outlaw... said:
silverback mike said:
Nope, 3000 miles later, I think the seats are really comfortable, or am I like quasimodo.

Cracking little car this is.
down grading mike ?
finaly dumped the cav where it belongs and picked up an omega 3l elite well two but thats a longer story

Edited by outlaw... on Monday 17th September 02:19
Two Miggies eh?! What's going on there??

outlaw...

380 posts

207 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
first one I got locally. I really liked the car driving home 5 days later some moron jumped a red light at 60 plus and smashed in to the back end of it. give me and my m8 a nice case of whiplash too boot

total right off

So I had to go find another one. I'm keeping salvage rights at least ill have plenty of spares.

wasted years

4,330 posts

216 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
That's a bugger! Love these cars so fingers crossed you get a good one.

outlaw...

380 posts

207 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
wasted years said:
That's a bugger! Love these cars so fingers crossed you get a good one.
Iv got it already FSH 60 odd thousand on clock only about 4 tiny stone chips had to drive a few miles too find one. but it was good buy.

only problem i got Is finding the space to put the salvaged one on. as I'm probably going to have to scrap my Astra GTE that I never got round to blowing and putting back together.

wasted years

4,330 posts

216 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
Scrap the Astra. You know the Miggy needs a good home.

outlaw...

380 posts

207 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
wasted years said:
Scrap the Astra. You know the Miggy needs a good home.
shame really the old gte was one of them you just dont want to part with

but the omega got a a1 set of leather worth ebaying and a a new lump with only about 40.000 on it.

and the toys will fetch a mint on ebay leaving enough spares to run other one for years.

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,290 posts

260 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
outlaw... said:
silverback mike said:
Nope, 3000 miles later, I think the seats are really comfortable, or am I like quasimodo.

Cracking little car this is.
down grading mike ?
finaly dumped the cav where it belongs and picked up an omega 3l elite well two but thats a longer story

Edited by outlaw... on Monday 17th September 02:19
Nah, I have always had a soft spot for vauxhalls. The sri has gone now, as I managed to obtain an old merc 190, damn good car though.

smile

outlaw...

380 posts

207 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
silverback mike said:
outlaw... said:
silverback mike said:
Nope, 3000 miles later, I think the seats are really comfortable, or am I like quasimodo.

Cracking little car this is.
down grading mike ?
finaly dumped the cav where it belongs and picked up an omega 3l elite well two but thats a longer story

Edited by outlaw... on Monday 17th September 02:19
Nah, I have always had a soft spot for vauxhalls. The sri has gone now, as I managed to obtain an old merc 190, damn good car though.

smile
was thinking about an old merc or jag but VX won on cheap parts.

silverback mike

Original Poster:

11,290 posts

260 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
The thing that makes me return to older cars is the lack of sensors and electronic whizz bangery as that sort of stuff confuses me.

A good old technical tap with a hoofing great hammer I'm ok with. biggrin

Plus, I've got a euro car parts place literally round the corner from me which is dirt cheap for older german stuff.

outlaw...

380 posts

207 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
silverback mike said:
The thing that makes me return to older cars is the lack of sensors and electronic whizz bangery as that sort of stuff confuses me.

A good old technical tap with a hoofing great hammer I'm ok with. biggrin

Plus, I've got a euro car parts place literally round the corner from me which is dirt cheap for older german stuff.
electronics not bother me that I can do and talk about hammers ID spent the whole mornning with club hammer and a handfull of sockets. smacking of wheel locking nuts and put new pads in only to get it wrote off that afternoon.