Omega Owners Forum
Newbie Area => Newbie Welcome Area => Topic started by: the hamster on 09 April 2007, 11:17:11
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We had a Vauxhall Omega as our family runaround which I bought for the missus in January :y. We have 3 small kids (5, 9 and 12) and when the rules changed for car seats our present car wasnt big enough so I got the Omega because of its size and value for money.
Then 3 weeks ago someone decided to park their Focus Cmax in the boot :'(, therefore writing ours off. Now I got a good deal when I bought the Omega. 1997 R plate, 2.0 16v CD model, good condition, plenty of mot and tax, lots of toys (air con, heated seats etc), 120000 miles, £550.
So, after a couple of weeks in a courtesy car and a bit of haggling they pay out £1300, result. Thing is, my missus now thinks that bargain motors grow on trees and I'll get another one like that no problem.
I persuade her to part with up to a grand and go hunting and found a peach on Ebay.
1999 T reg Omega 2.5 v6 CDX
144000 miles
2 owners (its was the guys car at BT then he bought it from them)
11 months MOT
5 months tax
Climate control
Cruise Control
Full Leather
Stereo system with built in phone (just insert sim)
Electric everything, including sunroof (unusual for a climate car)
Alloys with Pirelli p6000's
Full and well documented service history with £1000 in reciepts over the last year on exhaust, brakes, mot and tyres.
Got the seller to give me an idea on price and he said its mine for a grand! I arrange to go and look before the auction ends as any sensible buyer should.
Went to have a look the car, located in a quiet little village near Colchester. All the houses had names, not numbers and were detatched with wooded surroundings and seperate garages. The bloke was an ex BT manager, in his 50's and a bloody nice chap.
I looked over the car, we chatted about it, he showed me various marks etc but had described the car very well and honestly. Took it for a drive and it was smooth as silk so I say we'll take it. Thought about haggling him down a bit to cover the fuel but it was already a rediculous bargain and it had half a tank, he even threw in a speed camera detector for nothing. £1000, sign here, off we go.
This is the best bit.
We are sat in Pizza Hut 20 miles away when the phone rings. It was the seller. He said that he would like to appologise and i start thinking S**T, I knew it was too good to be true ::).
He said he was taking the listing off ebay when he noticed that he hadnt mentioned some of the tiny marks on the car (we are being ultra picky here) and that he thought he had put photos on to show them. As I had driven all that way (130 miles) to look at the car based on his description, baring in mind I've looked at it, driven it and bought it, would I accept a £50 refund as a token of goodwill. Exqueeze me? Baking powder? You want to give me £50 back on a car i've already bought thats an absolute minter and has a book price of about £1700?
Ok, if you insist
Then when I get home he's emailed. "I forgot to mention that the washer bottle has a little leak and i've looked on ebay and you can get one for £15 so I refunded you for this as well". Cash is in the post to you.
Now thats honesty and integrity. Overall, very very pleased with the car, it does need new rear discs and pads but he told me that. The toys are great, especially the phone. We got 35 mpg on the way home using the cruise control so we are well happy. I'm just praying nothing happens to this one, trying to find another dream bargain will be tricky.
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/aa_aerials/c80c_12.jpg)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/aa_aerials/cf01_12.jpg)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/aa_aerials/d9eb_12.jpg)
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Welcome to the forum :y
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thanks Auto, i'd best get looking around to see whats involved in changing the rear brakes.
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Welcome to the site :)
Due to mileage, give it regular oil changes. It probably was services by BT in its early life, and, whilst they are normally quite good, they stick to service intervals.
I would be inclined to change oil every 3 - 4k (if you have access to trade club, it will cost you between £10 - £15 per time if you do it yourself depending on which filter it uses). On high mileage engines, regular oil changes will help enormously.
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Welcome Hamster. Bargain :y
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Welcome to the site :y
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welcome,
good to see you got a manual :y
First things first, please get the cam belt and tensions changed on both your cars.
It will costs around £110 ish per car on DIY with GM kit, get it done some who have had their belt go will say get it done.
Get that done and regualar oil changes 3-4k, 5k if only motorway miles and they will run forever :y
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:DWelcome to forum. Many helpfull folks here. As said already nice manual & keep up oil & filter changes. If you do'nt know when cambelt & pulleys were last done then DO IT!!! Glad i did, one of my old ones was about to sieze @96000mls & would have dropped the belt (scary!) Same leather as mine. Hope you're able to keep this one!!!
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Hi Hamster and welcome to the forum. Looks like you got a good deal there :y
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Thanks all, ive had a look at the history tonight and the cambelt and tensioners were all done at 130k so theres no worries there. Last service was at 142k so we have a few months before the next one as we barely do 500 miles a month, school runs mainly.
Back brakes are definately 1st on the list. Ive never done brakes on a RWD before so i'm not completely sure what to look for.
The pads and discs look in poor condition to me and the handbrake has little effect. After applying the handbrake it seems to struggle to release what little grip it has. and there is a very "metalic" scraping/gringing coming from the back.
Do the Omega's have a seperate handbrake system with shoes or is it a cable mechanism on the calipers?
Any help is appreciated, thanks for the friendly welcome. ;)
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Thanks all, ive had a look at the history tonight and the cambelt and tensioners were all done at 130k so theres no worries there. Last service was at 142k so we have a few months before the next one as we barely do 500 miles a month, school runs mainly.
Back brakes are definately 1st on the list. Ive never done brakes on a RWD before so i'm not completely sure what to look for.
The pads and discs look in poor condition to me and the handbrake has little effect. After applying the handbrake it seems to struggle to release what little grip it has. and there is a very "metalic" scraping/gringing coming from the back.
Do the Omega's have a seperate handbrake system with shoes or is it a cable mechanism on the calipers?
Any help is appreciated, thanks for the friendly welcome. ;)
Rear main brakes are discs, very easy to change pads, though get the anti rattle springs as well, as they tend to break.
Handbrake operates on a drum integrated into the centre of the rear disc. Guide on that in Maintenence Guides.
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Hello Hamster and welcome to OOF :y
Sounds like you got a bargain from a genuine Omega lover (with screw loose - him, not the car ) ;)
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Welcome, good to see there are still some genuine sellers out there!
Get looking in that history for the last cambelt AND tensioner assembly / rollers change.. and if it needs doing (every 40K / 4 Years) may as well get the waterpump done too..
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Hello & welcome :)
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Hello & Welcome :y
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Howdoo Matey, and a belated welcome to the forum! :y
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Hello and welcome to our forum :y
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Hi Hampster and welcome :y Your real name's not Richie Hammond by any chance is it? ;) ;D
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fraid not mate, but it would be great if he was a member on here!
I am a Hammond tho!
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Great bargin car, welcome to the forum M8 :y
8-)
DaveL
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Hi & welcome :)
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A warm welcome to the forum, Hamster! 8-) :y
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Hello Hamster and welcome. Got yourself a bargin mate.
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hi and welcome, car looks nice - manual too :y
rear discs can be a bit of a pig to get off if they've worn as a lip is created on the inside by the handbrake shoes - you'll need to adjust the shoes in enough to get the disc off over them ...
whilst you're there, have a look through the breather system cleaning guide - if the oil changes have been extended then they may be clogged up. This eventually results in the cam cover gaskets leaking ... although if they're like the ones on my current omega you might need a few cans of carb cleaner!!!