Vauxhall Vectra 1.8LS Review

Overall Rating

Otherworldly fuel efficiency. Simply cannot be beaten on motorway journeys.(Up to 49 MPG in some conditions)
Starts every time after 8 years, with little/no maintenance costs.(Starter motor squeals:still orginal)
Comfortable ride, better than both Peugot 406 and Ford Mondeo; due to stiff subframe/suspension.
Shifts...Once the driver and the car get accustomed to one another.

Fuel filter replaced and injectors cleaned: As engine kept stalling(after 87,000 miles).1 off though.
Stiff suspension and road-holding, if you like your ride softer than soft...!
Exhaust mid-section needed replacing, but once again it was an original part that lasted almost 90,000 miles!

There seems to be a real split over the popularity of the Vauxhall Vectra: many seem to think that it has no personality or is somehow bland and un-interesting, I cannot disagree enough! I find that many things concerning this car are an acquired taste, many will find that the unforgiving nature of the ride settings and Eco-tech lump, encroach on their chosen driving style, others (like me) find great pleasure in taking to the road in our Vectra's. This car drives almost exactly like the smaller Astra, only with more weight, horsepower and turning power, it has the same "quiet confidence" going into an unknown corner, without necessarily knowing the road.If you quick shift the gearbox then you have a lazy bear, take your time through 2 & 3 and you have an out & out Wolverine that isn't afraid to show it's fangs: many times I have had to ease off the power as I'm exceeding the 70 MPH speed limit before I even realise. Once on the open roads the vehicle is a totally different monster, it's no wonder that it was the No 1 fleet car for years as it deserves all the praise it got. Effortlessly eating up the miles, steering and suspension perfect, designed slightly hard to smooth out those "bad UK roads" and better than the competition because of it. From experience I find the Ford Mondeo of the same year understeers slightly, compared to the Vauxhall, no doubt due to the softness of the suspension setup in that model car.

The Vectra is a car that offends some with it's average-ness and "Does exactly what it says on the tin" attitude, however that has made it an extremely efficient and economical buy as most are well maintained and not thrashed to within an inch of their lives by some petrol head chav, who invariably go for Ford or VW! If you are looking for a sensible family saloon that is reliable and good on petrol (more & more important now eh?) look no further...but don't just take my word for it: go and test drive one today!

Members' Comments onDeadlock's Review

• jgowers on 18th Apr 2008

  I found this review helpful because...ive just bought a vectra and the car is fantastic and the review sums the car up perfectly