2.6 Elite vs 3.2 Elite

[Markjay]

Sorry Isaac, you must have driven a duff 3.0

There is a very noticable difference between the 2.5 and the 3.0. Oh and the 3.0 is just as smooth.

My first omega was a 2.5 97R. It was pulling to the left (but that's another story), and during my discussions with the technicians at Vx they suggested that I drive another car to see if it behaves the same – and off I went with their top techie in the Service Manager's own 3.0 Elite – which had around 25,000 miles on the clock iirc. We went up and down the M1 from Brent Cross to J2, but I was not able to convince them that cars should go straight ahead. This was back in 98.

Later in 2001, when I was looking at replacing the 97R car, I test drove a 3.0L X-Reg Elite (early facelift), silver with black leather (my dream combination), with only 1,000 miles (!). It was a beautiful car, but the asking price was £24,000 which I thought was too high. I ended up buying a 2001Y CDX 2.6 with 6,400 miles for much much less.

On both occasions, the 3.0L cars did NOT feel substantially more powerful (though they were somewhat more torquey), but the 2.5 and 2.6 seem much smoother when accelerating steadily. This is my experience, anyway...

Go on 3.0/3.2 owners, pelt me with eggs....

[Andy B]

..... Go on 3.0/3.2 owners, pelt me with eggs..........

During ownership of 24valves all in a single row   I test drove a very nice 2.5 Omega but was not impressed with the lack of grunt or power from it. The dealer was quite put out when I told him it was gutless!  

[Markjay]

..... Go on 3.0/3.2 owners, pelt me with eggs..........

During ownership of 24valves all in a single row   I test drove a very nice 2.5 Omega but was not impressed with the lack of grunt or power from it. The dealer was quite put out when I told him it was gutless!  

Well it suits me just fine!  

[Marks DTM Calib]

The 3.0/3.2 doesn't feel that much faster because the 2.5/2.6 is geared lower......my 2.5 manual will accelerate to 60 only fractionaly slower than the 3.0 Auto estate.

[Andy B]

........my 2.5 manual will accelerate to 60 only fractionaly slower than the 3.0 Auto estate.

You've got to compare like with like. :-?

[TheBoy]

My 2.5 and 3.0 were both Autos.  The 2.5 did feel noticably less powerful than my MV6.  Additionally, due to the Tech2 stuff I do, I'm lucky enough to drive a lot of Omegas, and the 2.5/2.6 always seem a bit flat to me...   ...maybe its because the 3.0 MV6 is my daily drive and I'm used to the extra power...?

[jiffle]

First of all I wanted to thank everyone who responded to my original; questions, a lot of very good info for which I am very grateful.  Still undecided but going more for the 3.2.  

However, just to complicate things, I have found 2 cars both for exactly the same price, one a 2001 2.6 Elite on a Y plate (first reg 28/3/2001) with 43,000 miles and a 2003 3.2 Elite on a 03 plate (first reg 27/6/03) with 102,000 miles.  My inclination is that with a car like this the mileage is less important, but does any one have any thoughts, and does anyone know whether there are any major differences between a 2001 and a 2003 model.

Once again thanks for all your comments, this is a great site.

[TheBoy]

Depends on how well previous owners have maintained it (and how competent the local dealers are).

[Rock]

Depends on how well previous owners have maintained it (and how competent the local dealers are).

If the cars were serviced at A A Clarke's of Windsor i would stay well clear  

[Admin]

An 03 3.2 Elite is going to be a VERY nice place to be.

Full colour Siemens 2015 system (keep Marks DTM away from your car ) and what should be a silky smooth engine.
If it has clear documented history then I would certainly go for it.

If you want comfort and refinement (and prodigous power), you will be hard pressed to get much better.

[tommoynihan]

With ref to your original question about mpg

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1162942859

[jiffle]

Just wanted to update everyone who has been so good as to offer their advice.  First of all finding decent late model 3.2 elite is very difficult, like hens teeth one Vx agent told me.  

So I had driven a couple of 2.6s which were very nice and noticeably quicker than my trusty 2.0 and as of last Friday had decided to buy one.  ( if any one is interested there is one in Car Giant (www.cargiant.co.uk) not on their web a 02 I think 45k £6k yet but in preparation if you call then they should be able to give you info and a 2.6 MV6 in autoparc)).  

However last Saturday I found a 02 3.2 Elite with all of the toys, phone colour screen etc etc in a main Vauxhall agent.  Drove it and I have to say there is a very very noticeable difference between the 2.6s I drove and this 3.2.  So I pick it up on Thursday.  Best of all it comes with a full Network Q warranty (I know that means i have to speak to Vx agents but at least I don't have to pay for the privilege or at least for a year).  And the camshaft belt was done by the Vx agents 6k ago and I have asked for proof that a whole kit was fitted and it has a  FSH.  Won't say where it is until I have the keys in my hands!

My missus says I am like a dog with 2 wotsits, and I must admit I am like a 10 year old at Xmas just 46yrs later!

I have a couple of questions for the wise old owls on the site:

1.      Are the how 2 s on the site regarding things like cleaning the breathers and the plenum removal applicable to the 3.2 as well as the 3.0, what I mean by that is I know it is important to do this, but are the instructions the same.
2.      Does any one know if it is possible to get a disk to update the Sat Nav (sorry did I say it had Sat Nav with a colour screen) so that it has the newer roads.
3.      Does any one know whether it is possible to get 2 sim cards for a given mobile phone number so that one could stay in the car phone (did I say ....) and one in my mobile so that I don't have to keep swapping them.

Once thanks to all for the very helpful and useful comments

Cheers

Mike (still very excited)

[TheBoy]

1) Yes, still valid, and needs doing...
2) You can buy them from Vx or from mapping company. Not cheap.  Please do not discuss ways of getting them cheaper, as this is copyrighted software, and cheaper options will most likely involve copyright violation
3) No, its not.

[TheBoy]

Glad you found the car you wanted

[STMO123]

Isn't it possible to do a call divert for when you're in/out of the car?