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Author Topic: As i managed to kill the Desmond...  (Read 4737 times)

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henryd

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #15 on: 16 December 2018, 22:46:58 »

Car was already a Cat C anyway Dave, so only worth pennies. Now i have matched the new front dents with the existing rear ones  ;D there is now too much damage to make repairs viable. Unfortunately DG , the Vectra which is nearest to me is a 2.2 petrol so may have to look a bit further afield. How  about a Saab 9-5?

Saab 9-5 is a nice car in my mind,cheap and lovely seats although body and trim parts aren't easy now
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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #16 on: 16 December 2018, 23:58:47 »

Saab 9-5 is a car I rate (owned 2), very comfortable, imo better seats than mig, but not many round here agree with me ;). Overall smaller than the mig, but not unduly.

Look for post 2004, these had improvements to the crank case breather system and also signalled a change from 4 to 5 speed auto box.

These suffered from blocked oil pickups in the sump leading to oil starvation, Look for an aero spec as these should have had fully synth oil to start with which minimises the issue. However, most cars have now either had the sump dropped and cleaned, or they've expired.

Springs last about 75000 miles, as do rear shocks on estates, but not much to change.

DI cassettes can fail and cost £220 to replace (usually last about 150k).

Parts aren't a problem, other than certain body panels and led lights on the very late (insignia based) 2010/11 cars. The best indie specialists are Neo Brothers and Parts for Saab's.
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Phil

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #17 on: 17 December 2018, 08:58:20 »

The 3.2 in the Signum/ Vectra C is not the same as the Omega (hence Y & Z engine code)

The latter supposedly has less power, but with the 5 speed autobox, my Signum was quicker than my Omega - had both 3.2s for a while.

the Z32 has a precat in each of the manifolds that the Omega doesn't and it goes to a single pipe just after the manifolds with a 3rd cat

Coil packs are the same and have the same issues and same oil cooler and cam cover gasket problems.

It doesn't have the bagpipes and twin butterfly throttle body, just single butterfly and the multi ram is different - you can take the top off and have a proper look and clean inside

3.2 Signums all had 314mm diameter front brakes early Vectra Cs had 308s, and at some point they changed to 314mm but there is no definite point this happened.

The 3.2 has an option of the AF32 autobox and it has issues with the gearbox oil heat exchanger in the main radiator, the seals fail and water gets into the box which kills it, the only resolution is full core rebuild or new box - 7 years ago this was over £2k - mine was done under warranty - new boxes didn't exist then so now a decent box will be almost impossible to find

Even with the auto box it spins the front wheels really easily in the wet and understeers like nothing on earth - a set of Eibach springs made a huge difference to the handling and was the best thing I did to it

The dropped the 3.2 when the cars went full canbus, this happend very late in the prefacelift and can tell by buttons (part can) or scroll wheels (full can) steering wheel controls for the stereo - also headunits changed from NCDC to CD reference

My 3.2 was written off when a lorry drove into it so I replaced it with the Elite spec 2,8 V6 turbo Signum - basically the de-tuned VXR - this one has the bullet proof AF40 6 speed box - VXRs and the Elite spec cars come in manual and auto - its got full leather, colour sat nav, bluetooth phone, TPMS, electric windows all round, electric mirrors, factory fit parking sensors front and rear and duel circuit climate control amongst other things. Its a March 2006, but was forst registered 20th March 2006 so comes into the lower RFL band, the same as the Omega, not the £500+ band

They NEVER made a Signum VXR so anyone selling one is talking balls.

They never made a prefacelift 2.8 turbo in either Signum or Vectra C

The VXRs were 250 and later 280bhp, Elite spec Signums and Vectra Cs were 230 and 250bhp. The only difference in early cars was the engine map, later cars (250 & 280bhp cars) had a different cam profile and air box, but its the same basic block on all.

My 2.8 Signum is much much quicker than the 3.2 and thanks to a simple Superchips Bluefin semi custom re-map, its pushing near VXR power - with non switchable TC/ ESP and auto box its almost impossible to RR for exact figures, but, even with the auto box it will do 60 in under 6 seconds and give 330 BMWs a run for their money in a straight line!

It spins the fronts in the wet but with OEM 18" wheels the handling is better, due to snapped springs its got Eibachs again on the rear but haven't got round to changing the fronts or all the powerflex bushes.

I've had it for 5 years and was using it as a daily driver, but its now time so my Signum is going up for sale, only looking at £1500-1600 for it with loads of spare parts, as with the Omega it isn't getting used so off it goes. A lot of car for not much money

If you want a diesel, bin off the Vauxhall option and get a late Alfa 156 16v JTD multijet- same 150 brake Fiat engine, BUT doesn't have the crappy M32 6 speed box, doesn't have a DPF and oddly doesn't have the problematic swirl flaps. Just be warned, the 156 was also available as a 16v 140 brake 5 speed - avoid this at all costs
« Last Edit: 17 December 2018, 09:00:04 by Phil »
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STEMO

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #18 on: 17 December 2018, 11:19:45 »

Very informative, Phil, thank you. :y
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #19 on: 17 December 2018, 11:45:54 »

Quote
If you want a diesel, bin off the Vauxhall option and get a late Alfa 156 16v JTD multijet- same 150 brake Fiat engine, BUT doesn't have the crappy M32 6 speed box, doesn't have a DPF and oddly doesn't have the problematic swirl flaps. Just be warned, the 156 was also available as a 16v 140 brake 5 speed - avoid this at all costs
Ahem...

1.9cdti (Fiat) lump was available from '04 on... Facelift 16v cars have swirl flaps and most '06 on have dpf. Inlets and EGR valves prone to soot build up which causes a rough idle. All had 6 speed boxes. Auto is utter rubbish in snow.

The 1.9 8v doesn't have swirl flaps and is generally more reliable. Same basic lump with different head. Available with both 5 and six speed manuals.

Best diesel lump is probably the 3.0 V6 Isuzu lump in 180bhp, doesn't agree with auto box but also available with 6 speed manual.

Re 3.2, exactly the same lump with different inlet design... No Multiram. Cat arrangement is for packaging reasons as  the Vectra C is wwd. Available in both Manual and auto and only available in Plod, Elite or GSi specs.

Power change on the 2.8 was for '07 MY, so' 56 on. Again available in Plod, Elite and VXR specs...Plod is full fat VXR and manual only. Elite is auto only, no manual option and standard VXR autos are detuned to protect the gearbox.

Early Signum had much better option availability, facelift range follows Vectra, but without the Plod or VXR, so 2.8 is auto only and 250 bhp.
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STEMO

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #20 on: 17 December 2018, 12:33:47 »

Very informative, Al, thank you  ;D
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Migv6 le Frog Fan

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #21 on: 17 December 2018, 13:11:30 »

That contributes far call Steve. Thanks for nothing.  ;D
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STEMO

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #22 on: 17 December 2018, 13:13:03 »

That contributes far call Steve. Thanks for nothing.  ;D
Of course it doesn't. When did I ever know anything?  ;D
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Migv6 le Frog Fan

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #23 on: 17 December 2018, 14:22:15 »

At least you have some small degree of self awareness, so there may still be some hope.  :-* ;D
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TheBoy

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #24 on: 17 December 2018, 17:26:33 »

Best diesel lump is probably the 3.0 V6 Isuzu lump in 180bhp
How do they manage so little power from such a sizeable engine :o
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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #25 on: 17 December 2018, 17:54:38 »

Single turbo... Later ones might be a touch nearer 190... Has enough torque to pul stumps though, so it's not all bad :D
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henryd

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #26 on: 17 December 2018, 18:10:26 »

Single turbo... Later ones might be a touch nearer 190... Has enough torque to pul stumps though, so it's not all bad :D

The one I had pulled like a train,and being auto its torque was reined in a bit to keep the Aisin Warner slush box in one piece so the manual must be proper quick :y
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ronnyd

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #27 on: 17 December 2018, 19:22:42 »

Luckily the heat is off at the moment for finding a replacement as son in law has lent me his Mundano.

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Phil

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #28 on: 18 December 2018, 08:12:16 »

Quote
If you want a diesel, bin off the Vauxhall option and get a late Alfa 156 16v JTD multijet- same 150 brake Fiat engine, BUT doesn't have the crappy M32 6 speed box, doesn't have a DPF and oddly doesn't have the problematic swirl flaps. Just be warned, the 156 was also available as a 16v 140 brake 5 speed - avoid this at all costs
Ahem...

1.9cdti (Fiat) lump was available from '04 on... Facelift 16v cars have swirl flaps and most '06 on have dpf. Inlets and EGR valves prone to soot build up which causes a rough idle. All had 6 speed boxes. Auto is utter rubbish in snow.

The 1.9 8v doesn't have swirl flaps and is generally more reliable. Same basic lump with different head. Available with both 5 and six speed manuals.

Re 3.2, exactly the same lump with different inlet design... No Multiram. Cat arrangement is for packaging reasons as  the Vectra C is wwd. Available in both Manual and auto and only available in Plod, Elite or GSi specs.

Power change on the 2.8 was for '07 MY, so' 56 on. Again available in Plod, Elite and VXR specs...Plod is full fat VXR and manual only. Elite is auto only, no manual option and standard VXR autos are detuned to protect the gearbox.

Early Signum had much better option availability, facelift range follows Vectra, but without the Plod or VXR, so 2.8 is auto only and 250 bhp.

Ahem.... where do I start?


The facelifted Alfa 156 1.9 16v 150 brake JTD M-Jet with the Fiat diesel engine DOES NOT have swirl flaps or a DPF.

If you still want to argue you can always pop round, stick your head under the bonnet of my 05 reg facelifted Alfa 156 1.916v 150 brake JTD M-Jet with the Fiat diesel engine and point to the swirl flaps. You will spend a lot of time flapping as they aren't there

The reason you are wrong is because the internet. That and the fact the 147 & GT of the same age with the 'same' 150 brake engine had swirl flaps.

By 06 the 156 was dropped and replaced with the 159 which did have all the gubbins

You can buy a 140bhp 16v 1.9ltr diesel 156 on an 05 plate with the facelift and a 5 speed manual - I test drove 2 of them, both 'estate' versions

All Vectra C common rail CDTi manuals, be it the 120bhp 8v, 120bhp 16v or the 150bhp 16v, had the M32 6 speed box, the 5 speed was only fitted to the older 2ltr 8v DTi engine

The Z32 and Y32 are different engines, the Z precats are for emissions, it produces less BHP and more torque and it DOES have vacuum actuated flaps within the plenum, so it does have multi ram, the big aluminium lump isn't just for show

The Signum was available with the 2.8V6 in 230 & 250 brake with a manual gearbox in Design spec, it wasn't an Elite autobox only option. Design spec has slightly stiffer and shorter springs, half leather and tinted rear lights - it was as 'sporty' as the Signum got

All 2.8 Signums are facelift and either 230 or 250bhp not just 250 and there was a Police Signum that was evaluated but never put into service

Options were the same on prefacelift and face lift, with a couple of things available on the facelift that weren't previously available on the part can cars, it would appear more options were ticked from new on older cars

Signums were only available in Exclusiv, Elegance, Design and Elite spec, Vectra had considerably more spec versions
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: As i managed to kill the Desmond...
« Reply #29 on: 18 December 2018, 09:04:08 »

Not sure what all the noise about the Alfa is for... Questions were about the Vectra C which happens to have been available with two derivatives of the Fiat lump ::)

And preface lift Design spec is very different from facelift.

Have owned four Vectra Cs and spent a further 15k in a fifth when my Omega was first written off, all facelift and very nearly bought a new '56 plate, so became far to familiar with the brochure and specs and the facelift options list was significantly shorter than the preface lift one.

Anyhoo, much better things to argue about ;D
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