Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life"

pittVRS · 25-05-2007, 09:41

I've got one of these as a courtesy car while the Mazda's in for repair. (father in law smashed into it) it's an 07 model in silver. 140BHP.

First Impressions: It's a Vauxhall Vectra.

General Design: Looks like a Vectra with an Astra welded to the front.

Interior: Who said that? It's very dark in here. Oh hang on I've just been blinded by those shiny shiny plastics.

Driving: I tend not to. It's slow and asthmatic. You can feel the weight of the car holding you back and pitching you dramatically into every corner. The brakes are neither smooth nor progressive, they're either on or off. The suspension has obviously been inspired by a day out at the seaside and several hours spent on the Bouncy Castle. I've never driven a car that bounces and rolls about so much, it's like a ship at sea. Oh, but wait I remember a MK4 Astra that felt similar.

The gearchange is terrible, it feels like you're trying to poke a toad in a vat of jelly with a miniature pogo stick. The sound system is weak, the steering wheel controls are fiddly and complicated to operate. The driving position is poor, although the seat goes up and down and the steering wheel has rake/reach, it's still really hard to feel comfortable. The engine is really really noisy and sounds like it's going to explode at 4K revs even though the red line starts at 7K, I'd swear it was a 1.6l engine.

It's a horrible horrible car and I can't believe people actually pay hard currency for these cars. Vauxhall should be arrested for obtaining money by deception. This car is quite clearly a Mk 1 cavalier with a new body welded on.

Dr Zoidberg · 25-05-2007, 11:03

Nice review.

A friend had a previous shape vectra 2.5 that blew up cause he hadn't bothered to get the cam bet changed.

He bought one of the current shape 1.8s (about 5 years old) as it was the first car they offered him

and I did wonder about his sanity at the time

sharkrider · 26-05-2007, 18:58

I drove a vectra once for 3 miles........ got out of it with back ache..

one of the things I don't like about my punto is the power steering system... guess what? it's a vauxhall power streering system

Supurbia · 23-06-2007, 12:12

1.8 is the slug, it's underpowered, also Life spec is very low and it reflects on the car when you get 1st impressions, try a 2.2 Direct or one of the CDTi's in Design/Elite spec, you'll change your view, seat's are firm to start, your body does adjust to them, but the squabs are too short for my liking.

Mouse · 24-06-2007, 08:02

Agree with everything said by OP. Had one for a week and impressions were not favourable. 1.8 engine is pants. Fuel economy is poor. Only saving grace is you could chuck it into the corners once you managed to attain 50 or more. But it was a petrol and a diesel car of the same model is always a different kettle of fish.Glad to get a Fabia 1.2 HTTP as a temporary replacement.

Fabia 12v · 24-06-2007, 13:18

Drove one 20 metres last week at work, customer hired one from europe car whilst their VDub was in for repair as we were out of loan cars... gotta say it is bloody awful and I only drove it far enough to repark it. Talk about feeling cheap.

Decron · 25-06-2007, 11:11

Did a quick test in a Signum Elite 150cdti this weekend and even that felt a bit cheap (The dash is crap but the Sat Nav worked well) although it seems a much better package considering you can get a 1 year old one with 6k on the clock for £13k (£24k new). Plenty of oomph, brakes ok, handling competant.

I was average. A nice safe weel equipped practical car and a steal for the money. I am seriously considering this over a Roomy.

dstev2000 · 30-06-2007, 20:18

I have the unfortunate pleasure of a 1.8 Vectra while my lovely Octavia is built........

It's crap...................

Bad points:

Pretty much the same as OP but i'll say them anyway.

The ride is hilarious, when driving over the expansion joints found on motorway interchange corners the car wallows and yaws like it's running on jelly.

The fuel economy is averaging about 23mpg as it's full of tools, shocking!

The plasti-chrome vent controls: what were they thinking!!!

The faux alloys: nasty!

Stereo: rubbish

Gearbox: like stirring gravel

The indicators are total garbage and I don't care what spec or engine combination you can have, I will never hand over my hard earnt for one of these.

Good points:

I'll have my L&K very soon

bengie · 01-07-2007, 11:37

my dad has the 1.8 16V VVT 140bhp engine in his astra and it feels fine and pulls quite well

but the rest i cannot agree or argue with as i haven't had the misfortune of driving a new vectra

are the indicators the one touch things? if they are then whats so confusing about them? they are on my dads car and i find them very good to drive with if you understand how they work

25-05-2007, 09:41	#1
pittVRS Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Off The Wagon Posts: 5,226 Thanks: 148 Thanked 112 Times in 78 Posts	Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" I've got one of these as a courtesy car while the Mazda's in for repair. (father in law smashed into it) it's an 07 model in silver. 140BHP. First Impressions: It's a Vauxhall Vectra. General Design: Looks like a Vectra with an Astra welded to the front. Interior: Who said that? It's very dark in here. Oh hang on I've just been blinded by those shiny shiny plastics. Driving: I tend not to. It's slow and asthmatic. You can feel the weight of the car holding you back and pitching you dramatically into every corner. The brakes are neither smooth nor progressive, they're either on or off. The suspension has obviously been inspired by a day out at the seaside and several hours spent on the Bouncy Castle. I've never driven a car that bounces and rolls about so much, it's like a ship at sea. Oh, but wait I remember a MK4 Astra that felt similar. The gearchange is terrible, it feels like you're trying to poke a toad in a vat of jelly with a miniature pogo stick. The sound system is weak, the steering wheel controls are fiddly and complicated to operate. The driving position is poor, although the seat goes up and down and the steering wheel has rake/reach, it's still really hard to feel comfortable. The engine is really really noisy and sounds like it's going to explode at 4K revs even though the red line starts at 7K, I'd swear it was a 1.6l engine. It's a horrible horrible car and I can't believe people actually pay hard currency for these cars. Vauxhall should be arrested for obtaining money by deception. This car is quite clearly a Mk 1 cavalier with a new body welded on. __________________

25-05-2007, 11:03	#2
Dr Zoidberg Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: On the back of an AA truck with a failed turbo Posts: 10,728 Thanks: 30 Thanked 192 Times in 143 Posts	Re: Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" Nice review. A friend had a previous shape vectra 2.5 that blew up cause he hadn't bothered to get the cam bet changed. He bought one of the current shape 1.8s (about 5 years old) as it was the first car they offered him and I did wonder about his sanity at the time __________________ Alex "I laugh in the face of danger, then I hide until it goes away" www.drzoidberg.co.uk

26-05-2007, 18:58	#3
sharkrider rider of sharks Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cumbria Posts: 3,880 Thanks: 241 Thanked 105 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" I drove a vectra once for 3 miles........ got out of it with back ache.. one of the things I don't like about my punto is the power steering system... guess what? it's a vauxhall power streering system __________________ Fiat Grande Punto Sporting (158 bhp 314 lbs/ft) in Red.... Furby vRS , black magic,passenger airbag de-activation switch, (now gone, but not forgotten!)

23-06-2007, 12:12	#4
Supurbia Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 910 Thanks: 2 Thanked 29 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" 1.8 is the slug, it's underpowered, also Life spec is very low and it reflects on the car when you get 1st impressions, try a 2.2 Direct or one of the CDTi's in Design/Elite spec, you'll change your view, seat's are firm to start, your body does adjust to them, but the squabs are too short for my liking.

24-06-2007, 08:02	#5
Mouse Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 448 Thanks: 68 Thanked 35 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" Agree with everything said by OP. Had one for a week and impressions were not favourable. 1.8 engine is pants. Fuel economy is poor. Only saving grace is you could chuck it into the corners once you managed to attain 50 or more. But it was a petrol and a diesel car of the same model is always a different kettle of fish.Glad to get a Fabia 1.2 HTTP as a temporary replacement. __________________ Black Magic Fabia v/RS *Skoda Fabia VRS ! Practical & Exciting !*

24-06-2007, 13:18	#6
Fabia 12v RICHARD Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Twickenham - Middlesex Posts: 5,028 Thanks: 11 Thanked 25 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" Drove one 20 metres last week at work, customer hired one from europe car whilst their VDub was in for repair as we were out of loan cars... gotta say it is bloody awful and I only drove it far enough to repark it. Talk about feeling cheap. __________________ First Car: Skoda Fabia MK1 1.2 12v Comfort Replaced with: Volkswagen Golf MK4 GT 1.9TDI Replaced with: Seat Ibiza MK4 Sport 1.9TDI Replaced with: Volkswagen Polo MK5 Ltd. Edition Sport 1.4 16v

25-06-2007, 11:11	#7
Decron It's all good Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cwmbran - South Wales Posts: 3,528 Thanks: 65 Thanked 259 Times in 187 Posts	Re: Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" Did a quick test in a Signum Elite 150cdti this weekend and even that felt a bit cheap (The dash is crap but the Sat Nav worked well) although it seems a much better package considering you can get a 1 year old one with 6k on the clock for £13k (£24k new). Plenty of oomph, brakes ok, handling competant. I was average. A nice safe weel equipped practical car and a steal for the money. I am seriously considering this over a Roomy.

30-06-2007, 20:18	#8
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,004 Thanks: 48 Thanked 164 Times in 149 Posts	Re: Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" I have the unfortunate pleasure of a 1.8 Vectra while my lovely Octavia is built........ It's crap................... Bad points: Pretty much the same as OP but i'll say them anyway. The ride is hilarious, when driving over the expansion joints found on motorway interchange corners the car wallows and yaws like it's running on jelly. The fuel economy is averaging about 23mpg as it's full of tools, shocking! The plasti-chrome vent controls: what were they thinking!!! The faux alloys: nasty! Stereo: rubbish Gearbox: like stirring gravel The indicators are total garbage and I don't care what spec or engine combination you can have, I will never hand over my hard earnt for one of these. Good points: I'll have my L&K very soon __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

01-07-2007, 11:37	#9
bengie splash!!!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: planet earth Posts: 15,207 Thanks: 17 Thanked 144 Times in 125 Posts	Re: Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v "Life" my dad has the 1.8 16V VVT 140bhp engine in his astra and it feels fine and pulls quite well but the rest i cannot agree or argue with as i haven't had the misfortune of driving a new vectra are the indicators the one touch things? if they are then whats so confusing about them? they are on my dads car and i find them very good to drive with if you understand how they work __________________ owner of a skoda octavia 4xvrs3

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