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[robbo299]

I am thinking of making an offer for a 2003 3.2 V6 Vectra GSi Automatic with 89k on the clock which has been advertised locally at around £1300. Anyone got any views/experiences of these cars or things to look out for? I wont be getting rid of my Elite estate if i do go ahead and buy it. Just want to know of any known faults to look for if i do go ahead. Thanx.

[Lazydocker]

Pretty similar to omega potential pitfalls really

Personally found the Vectra C an uninspiring, uncomfortable ride

[albitz]

Plenty of torque steer I should imagine.

[feeutfo]

Personally I would not touch a front wheel drive auto in any form.

I should add I don't know the car, or it's auto box. It might be fine. But my experience and that of others suggests manual only for front wheel drive to be safe.

[fiend61]

seeing as it is the omega 3.2 engine usual things to check are cam belt history,rocker cover gaskets,the usual, but have a good check/look at the coil springs they have a rather annoying tendency to break on the veccy  also any crunching squeaking grinding from suspension parts i.e arb bushes, droplinks etc  the other thing to check is uneven tyre wear pointing to wishbone bushes,
for some reason the suspension parts on the veccy are very prone to failing, i am in the process of upgrading most of my suspension to saab parts especially the droplinks  they are interchangable and seem to be alot more robust and as soon as i can afford it it is getting bilstiens and eibachs 

[Mr Skrunts]

Personally I would not touch a front wheel drive auto in any form.

I should add I don't know the car, or it's auto box. It might be fine. But my experience and that of others suggests manual only for front wheel drive to be safe.

I totally agree on the FWD bit chris. But having driven most of my cars in the past in a manner that people would have thought I had stolen it I now see my self calming down with the Auto's and driving quite sedatltely but knowing there is a surprise package under the bonnet that can be unleashed at a seconds notice on any unsuspecting chav any time any place any where.

However a V6 vectra might be interesting and once on the move above 60 hopefully torque steer issues wouldnt be a big worry.  Allthough I dont want and dont need to part with either of my V6 migs at the mo I do feel the need for an economic run arround.  Or annother opttion is to upgrade the GLS to 4WD/Diesel/Tiptronic auto.

[TheBoy]

never seen an auto, but manuals are a hoot until you show it a corner (they don't do corners)

I wouldn't own one, but each to their own.

engine wise, same as omega. Electronics in car can be intermittent - Vauxhall first attempt at CAN

[robbo299]

Went to have a peep at the car today. Wasn`t to impressed to be honest. interior wasn`t to bad but under the bonnet looked like it hadn`t been touched for a while. Chap couldn`t answer questions about cambelt change etc as he had only owned the car for 15 months and had no record of any previous work. Took it for a test drive ( just to be polite of course  ) and it was very very quick. Told him thanks but no thanks. Going to spend a bit on my Elite instead and keep that up to spec.  Now where did i put the great pink one`s phone number.....

[Vamps]

I have never driven a Vectra but my bol reckons they are 'cr-p' he says that even his swmbo can lose it without even trying, she said the same thing, not sure they can be that bad but not seen many comments in their favour........

[dad1uk]

There is very little room around the engine to do anything, I remember seeing a V6 Vectra and thinking what a stupid set up if you had to do any work on it......

On a plus I bet it goes well, so tyres might be an issue.

[TheBoy]

There is very little room around the engine to do anything, I remember seeing a V6 Vectra and thinking what a stupid set up if you had to do any work on it......

On a plus I bet it goes well, so tyres might be an issue.

I reckon the 3.2 vdctra-c is easier than 2.5 vectra-b, which is a pain

[cem_devecioglu]

tyre pressure sensors are expensive on vectra c and is a real headache even on newish models

[adey2]

ive got vectra b lpg, it only a 2.0 but i find you can loose the back end very easy in wet/damp conditions