SecondHandSense: Opel VectraExciting is not the word that springs to mind when considering the saloon version of the Opel Vectra, a car designed to compete in the intensely competitive medium car segment with the likes of the Ford Mondeo, the Volkswagen Passat and the Toyota Avensis.
However, the Vectra's attractions are more solidly rooted than transient and, while its competitors have a newer look and feel, the Vectra ages reasonably well and also serves its owners well too.
The Vectra will be replaced in the not too distant future. It has done well for Opel, ferrying executive and family users about their daily lives in a dull but safe and economical manner. It is a good sized car with plenty of space, a comfortable driving position and a very good choice of engines, which is a requirement in this segment.
Those considering a second-hand model should remember that the car had a revamp in 2005, having been around for several years, and made its most recent debut in 2002 when it was transformed from a rather cramped and soft profile saloon into the more modern and boxy car it is today.
The saloon version may not be as popular as the hatchback version but the boot really is all most people need when it comes to carrying a good load.
The Vectra has never really matched the Mondeo for interior styling but if you don't mind a lot of plastic, housing clear and functional instrumentation, the Vectra can be comfortably tolerated. This is a car designed for long hauls and combined business and family use, so everything is well thought out in both these regards.
Engines include a 1.6 petrol, a 1.8 petrol, a 1.9 direct injection diesel and a 2.2 petrol also. Given that this is a heavy enough car, the 1.8 is probably the optimum choice as the 1.6 does struggle a bit and Opel diesel of that vintage have never been the most impressive in terms of noise. The diesel is a willing workhorse and people with high mileage requirements might want to consider the fuel savings over a 1.8 petrol option.
The saloon is a good choice when it comes to general family or work requirements. It has a strong well-constructed feel to it. When compared to most of its rivals it looks dated and you won't have people coming up to you in the car park to inquire about it.
The Vectra does not have any problematic recall record. You have to go a long way back in production terms to find significant problems with handbrake cables and seat belt mounting bolts. The 2002 EuroNCAP crash tests resulted in a four out of a possible five star rating for the Vectra. Child protection was also good.
A 2005 model with a 1.6-litre petrol engine, alloys, metallic paint, electrics, multiple airbags, CD player and adjustable steering wheel and with 52,000 kilometres on the clock is on sale for €19,000. A 2005 1.9-litre diesel with low mileage costs about €20,000 and a 1.8-litre of the same vintage and mileage costs about €1,000 less.
FOR:Good, strong package for family and work purposes AGAINST:Dated, and lack of modern appeal