Test drive Opel Omega Sedan 1999 - 2003 sedan

Caravanserai

When a new Omega appeared on the market, many of the automobile journalists served this as the second birth of the company Opel. The car really immediately began to be considered one of the best in its class. He stood on a par with the Mercedes E-Class and the BMW of the 5th series, but won greatly in their price.

 

And even now, compared with the new E-class and the new five, BMW Omega does not look outdated either in technical or aesthetically.

 

We met with Opel Omega sedan three years ago. The station wagon version appeared a little later. Universals in Russia are not too popular, so we had a chance to meet with this modification only now.

 

In our people, cars with this type of body are often called sheds. The designation is a well-aimed, but there is something offensive or dismissive in it. Although, if we recall the Volga-UNIVERSAL, people can be understood. Recently, many automobile companies have been trying to ensure that the universals in image do not lose to their older brothers. This desire made the quite cute wagons Volvo, Mercedes E-class and the BMW of the 5th series of Touring. In this list, Omega Caravan occupies a worthy place. It is also different from the barn as a labase from a modern computerized warehouse. You understand this especially well, getting inside the car. The quality of the finish and the study of ergonomics do not leave much to be desired.

 

The cabin is comfortable, despite its rather big sizes. The chairs may seem somewhat harsh, but they completely arranged us. It makes no sense to list all the equipment, believe me that there is everything that is necessary for the convenience of the driver and passenger. And the air conditioner with separate temperature control, and the adjustable steering column, an electric drive of the rear view mirrors, a radio that makes a rather decent sound, and much, much more.

 

Often a disadvantage of the station wagons is increased noise - the blame unprotected arches of the rear wheels. For sedans they are as if hidden in the trunk, and in the station wagons they go straight to the salon. In Omega, this drawback is completely removed by excellent sound insulation of arches. And about the noise from the front wheels, much less the engine noise does not have to speak. More than once during the test, one of us was trying to start an already working engine. The only minus, it seems to us, is the rear review. It is not particularly good, which creates some difficulties in parking. You have to adapt and look your eyes back, then to the right mirror.

 

Now about what the universals of increased capacity actually make. If your elephant (medium sizes) got bored at home and you need to urgently transfer it to the country, then Omega is exactly what you need. The luggage compartment with a decomposed rear sofa is 1800 liters - this means something. According to this parameter, Omega, of course, is inferior to American universals, the cargo volume of which most often exceeds 2000 liters, but the external dimensions of this car are more modest.

 

A few words about the dynamic qualities of Omega. At our disposal was the most powerful version with 3 liters of a V-shaped engine with a capacity of 211 liters. With. and torque 270 nm. The engine is quite elastic and painful. In our opinion, the first program could be made a little shorter. But this is - if you really want to break away from the traffic light, like a bitten one. Omega is a car for calm and respectable people. Although in the hands of the amateur rider it is a fairly strong and obedient weapon.

 

Omega has a rear -wheel drive, which is quite unusual for modern machines. Only Mercedes, BMW and several companies producing sports cars still prefer the classic layout (our car industry does not count). It is believed that the front -wheel drive is safer. But to a large extent, this is still a fashion. And if you take into account modern electronic systems that help the driver get out of the water dry in complex road situations, the choice between the rear or front -wheel drive now, rather, depends on the habit and addictions. Omega, of course, has ABS and APS, by the way, disconnected.

 

While looking for a place to shoot, it was possible to truly try the anti-circus system. On the car provided to us was summer tires.

 

It did not make sense to change shoes, because the street was frosty and dry. Therefore, on pure asphalt, the shoe was not quite decent for the season. The problems began when it was necessary to go to well -rolled snow. It was simply not possible to move on it with an anti -circus system. With the APS turned on, the car very slowly, but confidently began to move forward. At the same time, the engine dropped the engine to minimum, which sometimes even led to stopping the engine.

 

On dry asphalt, Omega driving cannot but give pleasure. True, it is worth paying attention to the inhelves of the suspensions to the small irregularities of the road.

 

Omega responds to them with quite strong vibrations, which very soon begin to annoy. But with large irregularities, the suspension copes excellently.

 

In the end, I would like to once again recall the small popularity of the station wagons in Russia. It seems that they do not deserve it. In modern sheds there is everything - style, comfort, power, dynamics. And plus all this is a very large trunk. Is it not true, there is something to think about.

 

Text: Savva Simonov

 

 

 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 3/1997]