Roadrunner
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Vauhall Vectra 1.8 DesignThe courtesy car has just arrived form Drive (Un)Assist. It makes me realise just how good the MG is. Apologies to any of the Vectra lovers here, but this car is a tub of blancmange, with utterly lifeless steering and so dull that I am in danger of falling asleep at the wheel. Quite how anybody could drive one of these of his own volition I just don't know. Bag of shyte.
I am also surprised and disappointed at the filthy state of the car when delivered, inside and out. It looks like someone has puked in the glovebox.
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Blarno
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Vectra Cs are pretty much useless with the small engines, being a heavy beast.
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Parm
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Re: Vauhall Vectra 1.8 Design | Roadrunner wrote: | | Bag of shyte. |
Yup.
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Matt
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Grippy and perfectly safe in the hands of someone whose just passed and doesn't know better, though! 
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Gooner
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Re: Vauhall Vectra 1.8 Design | Parm wrote: | | Roadrunner wrote: | | Bag of shyte. |
Yup. |
Agree, utterly depressing vehicle and stupid indicators to boot. I hope someone got shot for those.
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simonp
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I like the indicator stalks. Once you're used to them they work just great.
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garry
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We have one (an estate). It gets used as the kids bus, tip run car, station/airport car etc. Agreed it's not the last word in handling(!), but it's comfy and quiet (I reckon it beats lots of premium stuff on these criteria, especially on a mway run), reliable and cheap - get one less than a year old for circa £6k. I think it's a great workhorse. Wouldn't want it to be my only car though.
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Roadrunner
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| garry wrote: | | We have one (an estate). It gets used as the kids bus, tip run car, station/airport car etc. Agreed it's not the last word in handling(!), but it's comfy and quiet (I reckon it beats lots of premium stuff on these criteria, especially on a mway run), reliable and cheap - get one less than a year old for circa £6k. I think it's a great workhorse. Wouldn't want it to be my only car though. |
I think you are right, Garry. As practical transport, it it fine. As a driving experience I was shocked at just how far (like, light years) behind the MG it was. Makes me realise just how good the MG is.
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Stuntman
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One of my friends has got a black Vectra VXR. He's come to it from a succession of hot hatches (205 GTI 1.6; 306 GTI-6 and then a Leon Cupra R 225). He really likes the Vectra and rates it above the hot hatches!
I think it sounds ace and doesn't look too bad.
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Matt
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I've been looking at them and whilst I thought the standard Vectra looks awful in red, the VXR really suits it. I'd have it as a daily driver after the Astra Coupe, most likely.
I don't think I'll ever forget EVO placing it behind an Evo 8 or 330i, but placing it ahead of an Impreza STI with the upgraded 2.5 engine.
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Gooner
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| Stuntman wrote: | One of my friends has got a black Vectra VXR. He's come to it from a succession of hot hatches (205 GTI 1.6; 306 GTI-6 and then a Leon Cupra R 225). He really likes the Vectra and rates it above the hot hatches!
I think it sounds ace and doesn't look too bad. |
I imagine he has to like it as with that depreciation he probably can't afford to trade it in - assuming he can find a dealer willing to accept it as a px.
I was probably a bit mean in my earlier comment as the one I had on hire between Newcastle and Hartlepool was fine on the motorway and reasonable comfortable. I just couldn't get used to the controls, which I notice they've dropped in the new Corsa. But the material quality inside is appalling compared to it's contempory Mondeo and well below that in the current hatch market.
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Nelson
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jesus, you poor sod, a 1.8 Vectra. My utter commiserations. Did the rotary heater knobs fall off at all? they have on every base Vectra I've driven. Crap lifeless steering, dreadful gearbox (all Vauxhalls are), a sea of grey and blank console buttons....I'm falling asleep just thinking about it.
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Blarno
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| Stuntman wrote: | One of my friends has got a black Vectra VXR. He's come to it from a succession of hot hatches (205 GTI 1.6; 306 GTI-6 and then a Leon Cupra R 225). He really likes the Vectra and rates it above the hot hatches!
I think it sounds ace and doesn't look too bad. |
The problem I have with every Vectra VXR I see is that Vauxhall appear unable to get the exhausts to line up with each other. One side always hangs lower than the other. This is acceptable for testicles, not for the exhausts on a 20k+ car.
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Martin
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| Blarno wrote: | | The problem I have with every Vectra VXR I see is that Vauxhall appear unable to get the exhausts to line up with each other. One side always hangs lower than the other. This is acceptable for testicles, not for the exhausts on a 20k+ car. |
Every one I've seen has the same problem. I've seen a fair number of Astra VXRs with squiffy exhaust pipes too. Even the Jag XF seems to suffer from a squiffy exhaust problem and there are probably a load more that I just can't think of right now.
Little details like that would really wind me up. It's the same when number plates aren't quite mounted straight or the letters aren't even..... 
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Roadsterstu
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| Martin wrote: | | Blarno wrote: | | The problem I have with every Vectra VXR I see is that Vauxhall appear unable to get the exhausts to line up with each other. One side always hangs lower than the other. This is acceptable for testicles, not for the exhausts on a 20k+ car. |
Every one I've seen has the same problem. I've seen a fair number of Astra VXRs with squiffy exhaust pipes too. Even the Jag XF seems to suffer from a squiffy exhaust problem and there are probably a load more that I just can't think of right now.
Little details like that would really wind me up. It's the same when number plates aren't quite mounted straight or the letters aren't even..... |
Look at an Grande Punto Sporting - each and every one has a tailpipe that is ever so slightly tilted to one side. Unless of course the tailpipe is perfectly level and every single GPS is tilted to one side...
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Jasper
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I can't believe the ripping that Vectra's get on here. They are economy motoring, cheap to buy and run, roomy and comfortable. Yeah the 1.8 has to work for a living and the steering has no feel but FFS, what else does it do badly? The interior is another example of a very functional car, well built but dull.
What did you do to cause the heater knobs to fall off? For me the tactial feel of the heater controls is a highlight of the interior. You know they turn and don't get pulled.
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Matt
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To be fair, the 'dullness' of the chassis allows you to give it absolutely everything. By the time my Dad got rid of it, I was jumping off the throttle on corner entry without the slightest hint of oversteer and very little hassle leaving the corner either. I'd love to get hold of my dad's old one, in all honesty as it's insanely punishable.
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.
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Wheres the fun in that?
I see the Vectra as a 'Pays your money, you gets what you get' and shouldn't expect anything more really. If you do want more - you shell out for a 3 Series.
Though having driven a Meriva this week - Vauxhall could still learn a few lessons from Ford.
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Matt
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What's not to like about hooning into a corner and jumping off the throttle that would send most cars into terminal 'oh shit'? It means you can go much faster than some cars would allow with their need for smoothness and delicacy. As much as I loved the E36, my first love is the Vectra.
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"him"
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| Matt wrote: | | ...As much as I loved the E36, my first love is the Vectra. |
That is quite a comment to make on such a 'BMW friendly' forum... 
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Matt
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Well, BMWs need a lot of attention to drive them properly. Who around here found that out...? 
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Martin
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| "him" wrote: | | Matt wrote: | | ...As much as I loved the E36, my first love is the Vectra. |
That is quite a comment to make on such a 'BMW friendly' forum... |
That's quite a comment to make on any Forum
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.
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| Matt wrote: | | What's not to like about hooning into a corner and jumping off the throttle that would send most cars into terminal 'oh shit'? It means you can go much faster than some cars would allow with their need for smoothness and delicacy. As much as I loved the E36, my first love is the Vectra. |
Errrr, why are you hooning into a corner and jumping off the throttle anyway? I can't see there is any enjoyment to be derived from driving a car like that at all - what does it give the driver back in return?
No sense of car control at all or a feeling of 'Yeah I set my car up through that corner nicely' using the brakes, changing the balance of the car and with the more performance orientated cars/skilled drivers like ALF or Stunters suing throttle adjustments to alter lines.
Driving a car which requires smoothness and delicacy quickly requires skill. Driving one which doesn't, doesn't need skill. And will result in a bigger crash!
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PR
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Smooth driving is good driving. The end.
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D.
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I got to say that your driving was smoother than Englebert Humperdinck. I was very impressed.
I like to think that I'm smooth behind the wheel, maintaining momentum is the most important thing I believe.
The Mondeo requires smooth driving, after all 226bhp through the front wheels in quite a big car means that if you start to unsettle it then it's going to end up and a hedge.
That and I respect my car too much.
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PR
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Why, thank you, Dan - you are too kind!
I always aim for smoothness above all else (doesn't always work - we all have off days!) and it's something I'm always interested to read about. Good advice that I've picked up over time is striving to change gear so that your passengers can't feel it; making smooth initial inputs to the steering to give a fluid transition into a corner; being equally progressive coming on and off the brake pedal; making small throttle adjustments all the time to maintain speed; being comfortable and relaxed behind the wheel and - most importantly of all to safe, smooth, progressive driving - observing and planning the road ahead in detail.
I'd love to go on a driving course with the likes of Don Palmer or Hugh Noblett. (Apparently John Lyon is a bit scary!)
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D.
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| PR wrote: | | Good advice that I've picked up over time is striving to change gear so that your passengers can't feel it |
I totally agree with that, I keep a (peripheral vision) eye on my passenger to ensure that they don't move at all when I change gear, that way I know it's been a smooth change.
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Blarno
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| Dan wrote: | | PR wrote: | | Good advice that I've picked up over time is striving to change gear so that your passengers can't feel it |
I totally agree with that, I keep a (peripheral vision) eye on my passenger to ensure that they don't move at all when I change gear, that way I know it's been a smooth change. |
Glad I'm not alone in watching to see whether my passenger 'rocks' back and forth under gear changes.
Unless I'm on a track!
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Matt
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| Torque Junkie wrote: |
Errrr, why are you hooning into a corner and jumping off the throttle anyway? I can't see there is any enjoyment to be derived from driving a car like that at all - what does it give the driver back in return?
No sense of car control at all or a feeling of 'Yeah I set my car up through that corner nicely' using the brakes, changing the balance of the car and with the more performance orientated cars/skilled drivers like ALF or Stunters suing throttle adjustments to alter lines.
Driving a car which requires smoothness and delicacy quickly requires skill. Driving one which doesn't, doesn't need skill. And will result in a bigger crash! |
By jumping off the throttle, it was stopping the shit FWD nonsense from interfering, and tightening its line with minimal braking and doing what you could to pick good, quick lines through corners. As you couldn't balance it on throttle on corner entry, I found out you could go quicker driving it that way. For such a shit car, it provided a lot of enjoyment from getting the best out of it, however artless it was.
I don't know why I bother to type about that car as it only takes the typical Pro Ford/ Anti Vauxhall bandwagon to come in and personal opinion gets picked to pieces.
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PR
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| Blarno wrote: | | Dan wrote: | | PR wrote: | | Good advice that I've picked up over time is striving to change gear so that your passengers can't feel it |
I totally agree with that, I keep a (peripheral vision) eye on my passenger to ensure that they don't move at all when I change gear, that way I know it's been a smooth change. |
Glad I'm not alone in watching to see whether my passenger 'rocks' back and forth under gear changes.
Unless I'm on a track! |
In which case I must compliment you as your gearchanging at Oulton was impeccable! (No comment about other aspects of your performance that day... )
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DaveGibson
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My aunt was the ultimate test of smooth driving. She had never driven herself and, in fact, I'm not even sure if her husband ever had a car. I remember driving her back to Cirencester from Blackpool after my brother's wedding and noticing that, unlike almost all people, she didn't brace herself even slightly against changes of direction, as I drove along. It was a real challenge to brake sufficiently gently for her whole upper body not to lean forward by some inches whenever I had to slow down.
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Blarno
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| PR wrote: | | Blarno wrote: | | Dan wrote: | | PR wrote: | | Good advice that I've picked up over time is striving to change gear so that your passengers can't feel it |
I totally agree with that, I keep a (peripheral vision) eye on my passenger to ensure that they don't move at all when I change gear, that way I know it's been a smooth change. |
Glad I'm not alone in watching to see whether my passenger 'rocks' back and forth under gear changes.
Unless I'm on a track! |
In which case I must compliment you as your gearchanging at Oulton was impeccable! (No comment about other aspects of your performance that day... ) |
Why thank you, kind sir! It's actually easier to be smooth in the Clio when giving it the berries.
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