vauxhall vectra club 1.6

DGJsaver

I am looking at buying one , its up for £995 but its done 120k

is this ok for a vauxhall ?? it says service history

any advice welcome guys !

harveybobbles

How old is it? Make sure it's had a few timing belts in its life as they don't tend to last the time they're meant to...

DGJsaver

harveybobbles wrote: »

How old is it? Make sure it's had a few timing belts in its life as they don't tend to last the time they're meant to...

Hi Mate

Its a 2002...

thats the first thing i would ask (cam belt?)

Little_John

Glasses guide prices for you based on the info you have given.
I guessed a 5 door hatchback 02 plate from 2002.
Excellent condition: £845
Average condition: £760
Below average condition: £665

A 1.6 vectra isnt going to be quick, they are quite a big car, I test drove a 1.8 and it wasnt brilliant.

I would have alook round local dealers and see what else is available, its only 20000 miles a year which is pretty low if its been a reps car maybe it was a motorway muncher for the first few years then had a break for the last few years. I would get it HPI'ed and checked over mechanically if I was to go for it.

harveybobbles

1.6 engine may seem to be under powered for the size of car. So may have been thrashed a bit.
Ask when the belt was last done.
Make sure they havent put any black tape over warning lighst on the dash as Vectra's tend to like to show their ABS lights.
If it's got aircon, make sure it works as the most common fault is the pipes at the front of the engine which fail. Not a big job, but could be used as a bargaining tool..

sarah_elton

harveybobbles wrote: »

1.6 engine may seem to be under powered for the size of car. So may have been thrashed a bit.

I'd go with that. I've got an Astra 1.6 Club, 52 plate. 1.6 is a lovely engine size in the Astra, I can imagine it being a bit sluggish in it's big brother.

Obvious plus for looking at Vauxhalls in general is cheap and easily available parts. Got my Astra a couple of months ago and I think I'm converted to them for life.

Pick up a Parkers price guide or go on their website. It'll have the price for that age car, then details for how to adjust that price for higher than average mileage (it has a formula for the amount to reduce for each 1000 miles over average, which is defined for the age of the car).

I couldn't have afforded a car as new as mine on my budget but it had done over 80,000 miles so was a bit cheaper. It had a full service history, with every service having been done at the main dealer where it was bought. Had every single receipt and piece of paperwork from its life, and had had three prior owners in the same area of Norfolk. I know it's an area which is rural, with limited public transport, so inevitably people drive a lot. The point is, try and suss out why it's done a high mileage and therefore how it might have been driven. How clean is the inside? How well it's been looked after is a good indicator too.

High number of motorway miles isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'd rather have that then a car that's only ever been driven round town by a boy racer.

EDIT: Another thought; check the road tax before buying. The Astra has high emissions so tax is expensive (mine is currently Band E, changing to Band I under the new system). Not sure if the Vectra is the same.

big_gay_kirk

I remember when 1.6 was considered a big engine for an astra size car, and was about the standard in a cavalier/cortina size... on the subject of price.. at the ex rep cars auction they seem to be going for about 6 or 700.... making them a bit mre expensive than a similar age 2.0 mondeo....

waggys

We have a 1.6LS Vectra - had lots of problems with engine warning management light and EGR valve - BEWARE!!! 1.6 isn't sluggish, it goes quite well. Mileage light often fails - give the dash board a thump on top and it starts to work again. Only keep this car as Vauxhall paid for a new engine for it as was factory fitted with wrong size pistons (hence repeated egr failure which took 3 years to get sorted). Wouldn't buy a Vectra through choice again.

vikingaero

Vauxhall cambelt engines need a new cambelt every 40k. So at 120k it looks like a new cambelt and tensioner kit will be required. If you're going to do the job properly when having the cambelt replaced you also need to replace the water pump - this is what a good garage would do. If you choose to skimp you bear responsibility for any future failure.

newsseller12

Just got shut of a 51 plate club 110k miles, nothing but hassle from day one, egr valve,coil pack,cam sensor,ecu, ABS light constantly on and off! must have spent twice the value of the car in the last 12 months. Never again!