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[Dazzler]

For those of you that have or have had both cars, Is the omega any more powerful than the Carlton/Senator or is it the other way around?? Which do you prefer??

[miggy]

This is my own opinion, I have had a few Omegas and my father had a couple of Carltons and one senator, I prefered the Omega every time, there was a lot of power in my fathers senator but the Omega comes out on top for me, as I say, that is my opinion, dont get me wrong, the carltons/senators were good cars.

Pete
 

For those of you that have or have had both cars, Is the omega any more powerful than the Carlton/Senator or is it the other way around?? Which do you prefer??

[Craig_R]

Tunnie will be along soon he has both

I know he loves his Senator It was really nice when he drove us about in it at the cambelt Party

The Dash was like the Star Trek Enterpries

[TheBoy]

I think Tunnie and I proved the 3.0 v6 had the edge on the 24v senny (both autos) on the A46 one day . both 140k mile cars.

I think the multiram makes the Omega feel slower at high revs, as the dual ram gives a 4k surge on the senny

[Darth Loo-knee]

I can't wait till Tunnie see this post

[tunnie]

Well!! What shall I say!

As you can see I own both...

Firstly I think the Comparison is unfair ... The Omega is a 1994 design, the Senator/Carlton is a 80's design so of course the Omega is going to be better...

Senator

Bigger, heavier than Omega, longer bonnet, the big Straight 6 up front has more space around it, compared to the V6 in Omega. (easier to work on generally)

I find the Senator more comfy than the Omega, but the Omega seats are more supportive if that makes sense!  :-?

The Electrically Adjustable suspension on the Senator is fun, its a completely different car with the suspension set on Comfort, handles like a P&O Ferry. Sport and medium is good, handles as well as the Omega, unless right on the limit (i'll let MarkDTM explain further  )

Omega

My Omega (being a facelift) rides a LOT better than the Senny, also is silent at speed. The Senator has a lot of wind noise @ 85+

Omega looks better has more toys.... from what I can tell its just as well built as the Senny. My Senator is 15 years old 140k miles, still holding together inside very well.

Body work is crap though on the Senator, very thin metal and rusts easily!

Can't really compare performance, as I cannot give a fair review. Omega is only a 2.2 Senator is 3.0 24v...

However I have driven a well maintained MV6 3.0 24v, the Omega feels slower due to the multi-ram, with the Senator at 4k rpm you get a HUGE surge.... on Comfort mode the car's bonnet goes up and bam your off!!!

But as TheBoy mentioned on a little test to 1 *cough* 3 *cough* 0 ish mph   - The MV6 and Senator were neck and neck, with the MV6 nudging ahead, but a very small amount!

It really was very close, and impressive from a 15 year old car that cost £300!

Ohh and the digi dash is cool on the Senator!  

[miggy]

We have a lot to thank the carlton/Senator for, I believe these were the seeds for the Omega, again the Omega, another good car that Vauxhall decided to stop producing.

 

Well!! What shall I say!

As you can see I own both...

Firstly I think the Comparison is unfair ... The Omega is a 1994 design, the Senator/Carlton is a 80's design so of course the Omega is going to be better...

Senator

Bigger, heavier than Omega, longer bonnet, the big Straight 6 up front has more space around it, compared to the V6 in Omega. (easier to work on generally)

I find the Senator more comfy than the Omega, but the Omega seats are more supportive if that makes sense!  :-?

The Electrically Adjustable suspension on the Senator is fun, its a completely different car with the suspension set on Comfort, handles like a P&O Ferry. Sport and medium is good, handles as well as the Omega, unless right on the limit (i'll let MarkDTM explain further  )

Omega

My Omega (being a facelift) rides a LOT better than the Senny, also is silent at speed. The Senator has a lot of wind noise @ 85+

Omega looks better has more toys.... from what I can tell its just as well built as the Senny. My Senator is 15 years old 140k miles, still holding together inside very well.

Body work is crap though on the Senator, very thin metal and rusts easily!

Can't really compare performance, as I cannot give a fair review. Omega is only a 2.2 Senator is 3.0 24v...

However I have driven a well maintained MV6 3.0 24v, the Omega feels slower due to the multi-ram, with the Senator at 4k rpm you get a HUGE surge.... on Comfort mode the car's bonnet goes up and bam your off!!!

But as TheBoy mentioned on a little test to 1 *cough* 3 *cough* 0 ish mph   - The MV6 and Senator were neck and neck, with the MV6 nudging ahead, but a very small amount!

It really was very close, and impressive from a 15 year old car that cost £300!

Ohh and the digi dash is cool on the Senator!  

[TheBoy]

But as TheBoy mentioned on a little test to 1 *cough* 3 *cough* 0 ish mph   - The MV6 and Senator were neck and neck, with the MV6 nudging ahead, but a very small amount!

LOL, thats because the earlier faster run left you standing (I may have caught you unawares though).  Also, the fast run on the M1 on the way back, when chav with his chavalier kept flashing you, you didn't keep up with us - though by then I think you realised your tyres weren't up to the job


All joking aside, I think power wise, the engines are not too disimilar when new. The v6 delivers it better/smoother than the 24v s6.  The Omega, imho, handles far better, better weight distribution, generally a decent enhancement to the chassis and its dynamics.

[tunnie]

But as TheBoy mentioned on a little test to 1 *cough* 3 *cough* 0 ish mph   - The MV6 and Senator were neck and neck, with the MV6 nudging ahead, but a very small amount!

LOL, thats because the earlier faster run left you standing (I may have caught you unawares though).  Also, the fast run on the M1 on the way back, when chav with his chavalier kept flashing you, you didn't keep up with us - though by then I think you realised your tyres weren't up to the job


All joking aside, I think power wise, the engines are not too disimilar when new. The v6 delivers it better/smoother than the 24v s6.  The Omega, imho, handles far better, better weight distribution, generally a decent enhancement to the chassis and its dynamics.

Agreed.

On our little run up north I was not ragging it the whole time, and was not attempting to keep up at some points  

Its running a lot better since that run too (and so is yours)

So again, i think they are fairly evenly matched... remember the Senator is heavier and has less BHP.

But i will say the Senator feels like it has more torque.

The Omega, rides much, much better.... goes round corners better on the limit (i find)


Howver... final point. My Omega cost me 2.7k 2 years ago bargain at the time!

The Senator cost me just £300 quid, MOT 12 months, 2 new tyres, new exhaust....

For a 300 quid 'banger' (sorry Graham!) it goes very well, and blasts £20,000 cars into the weeds! And I have a riot driving it and annoying chavved up cars  

[Marks DTM Calib]

On the limit is obvious where the Senator struggles......its nose heavy and the chassis has more flex....

I have driven a few senators pretty hard now, including Tunnies but, none more so than the 100 quid one we used for Chezkwrecks.....that endured an 8 mile drive up the side of a mountain with the tail out on every heair pin (and Laidback66 clinging on!) plus a 'spirited' drive through the Leicestershire countryside.....

The Omega has much better balance, its more predictable and assured under cornering and when it does let go its quite controllable. When the Senator breaks away its brutal and it breaks away easier, as such you dont push as hard in order to still attain a safety margin in case you hit a bit of iffy road surface.....

Yep....Manual Omega every time for me....more cozy, quieter, much better engine....

For info Tunnie

C30SE

Torque - 270Nm at 3600rpm
Power - 150KW at 6000rpm

X30XE

Torque - 270Nm at 3400rpm
Power - 155KW at 6000rpm

So, V6 we know has a much flatter torque curve, generates peek torque slightly lower in the revs and has a little higher output....it also weighs a lot less!

Its the old 'feel' thing with the power.....the same as turbo cars.....you get a bit then the power comes on and you feel a big difference.....with a smooth power delivery, it doesn't feel as powerful...but it is and its more useful as its over a much wider rev range....

[Admin]

I love the old Senator, one of my 3 favourite cars ( others being the Omega and the Saab 9000).
Had 5 of them now (6 Omegas... I think) so I kow them both rather well.

I have to agree with all Mark says. The Omega does outhandle it by quite a margin but The Senny just has "something" about it that I have never yet felt in an Omega. Probably nostalgia, but I do also love the didgital dash of the Senny!  8-)

To be honest, for the money (sub £500), I don't think there is a better car than the 24v Senator.
It took everything we threw at it on Czechwrecks (although it wasn't happy at Marks attempts at rallying up a mountain!  ).

It also returned 30mpg (this was chipped too) and was driven VERY fast for some 2,500 miles in a week!

If/when we do this sort of thing again, another Senator would be a serious option.

[Martin_1962]

Time for the other car, I ran a Carlton for nearly 5 years before getting an Omega.

E reg Carlton, P reg Omega

Comfort Omega
Economy Carlton, 300kg
Performance Carlton Not much power difference, 300kg
Handling Carlton - could take it to limit a lot easier, 300kg
Safety Omega
Quietness Omega
Toys Omega
Brakes Omega
Light both bad
Build quality similar
FF ICE Omega
Interior Omega
It had Aircon Omega

Omegas ride better, the proper 4 cylinder Carltons go better than 4 cylinder Omegas Carltons had more anti roll.

Test corner

C - 75
O1 - can't remember
O2 - 65
O3 - never got chance
O4 - 72

[Martin_1962]

Oh my other favourites were Avengers and SUnbeams

[Martin_1962]

I love the old Senator, one of my 3 favourite cars ( others being the Omega and the Saab 9000).
Had 5 of them now (6 Omegas... I think) so I kow them both rather well.

I have to agree with all Mark says. The Omega does outhandle it by quite a margin but The Senny just has "something" about it that I have never yet felt in an Omega. Probably nostalgia, but I do also love the didgital dash of the Senny!  8-)

To be honest, for the money (sub £500), I don't think there is a better car than the 24v Senator.
It took everything we threw at it on Czechwrecks (although it wasn't happy at Marks attempts at rallying up a mountain!  ).

It also returned 30mpg (this was chipped too) and was driven VERY fast for some 2,500 miles in a week!

If/when we do this sort of thing again, another Senator would be a serious option.

I'd consider X20XEV in a 2.0 Carlton, or maybe the turbo 2.0

[Andy B]

......
Senator

Bigger, heavier than Omega, ........

Comparing like for like as far as possible according to Mr Haynes Senator 3.0 24 v auto with A/C is 2065 kg and a 3.0 Omega is between 2095 kg & 2125 kg. That makes the crappy Omega heavier than a superior Senator.