West drive Opel Signum 2003 - 2005 hatchback

All photos of Opel Signum 2003 - 2005

Ruby tails!

So, the 17-year career of the Omega model is completed. But not only her. A whole genealogical branch of Opelian sedans and middle -class universals, arose in the depths of the twentieth century, has been chopped off. What will grow in her place? You don’t have to wait for wait. An extravagant and moderately shocking Signum is exhibited as a successor. But what will never grow up at the Signum itself is the tail (that is, a separate trunk). In an effort to survive at the Opel business class, like a dodgy lizard, he decided to part with this limb, declaring it completely unnecessary and optional. To leave such a tempting market segment with a tight tail, as Ford acted, quietly sending his scorpio to rest in Russelsheim did not want to.

Why on earth does the sedan familiar to the eye are replaced by a weighty hatchback of strange proportions? Probably, the Germans were inspired by the success of Renault Vel Satis, immediately after their debut, who headed the French chart of the popularity of class E. But that France, there such topics in great honor: representative hatchbacks have long been produced by Citrooen and Renault. Perhaps the memory of the good sales of the SAAB 9000 CS and Citroen XM in Germany itself is still fresh in memory. The logical sequence of events is unknown to us, however, as a result, the development of the so -called niche models on Adam Opel Ag is now declared a priority strategic direction. It goes without saying that the Astra-Corsa-Vectra cunning line will be preserved, but several adultery cars will appear in parallel. The first swallows are just Signum and the charming microvan Meriva.

The stalls of two cars are practical exercise from the series Find ten differences. Ten differences cannot be found with all the desire and at the Chungachgukovsk eye, but the couple will scrape. The sewing salon looks richer due to the chrome edges of the devices and, oddly enough, the lever of the mechanical gearbox of all such leather-browning. However, such devices also decorate the Vectra GTS hatchback, and the choice of transmission is the case of customer preferences.

I do not think that the development of a new flagship cost the Opelians in some kind of asthma money. The machine is based on a 130 mm extended version of the GiMovo uniford Epsilon, which is also used for the Vectra Caravan station wagon. Engines, transmissions, pendants, a number of body parts and interior Signum are maximally tied to the Vectra family. Therefore, as a point of the beginning of the coordinates, we chose an ordinary sedan in a similar Elegance configuration, also equipped with a 2.2-liter engine. The fundamental difference is only in the gearboxes: Signum mechanical, Vectra with an ActiveSelectic assembly automatic, which has not yet come across, therefore is of particular interest.

Justifying its name, signum, the word sign from above, finds the public by surprise, plunging it into complete bewilderment. Such a miracle has not yet been seen! It looks like a film with an unpredictable ending: it seems that the plot is tied in a dawns, it seems to develop according to all the canons, and ends with a ear of icy water. So signum. The nasal part is exactly repeated by the Vectra GTS hatchback, then follows a representative of the stretched case, and suddenly cursing feed with a short overhang! Consciousness protests against what he saw: it should not be, this is wrong! But after a moment, with the same force, he admires the freshness of the decision. Maybe German designers have changed the sense of beauty, but their creation is perceived only as the bearer of the new sterile-industrial aesthetics of the decade. A cold, rational, perfect mechanism from the near future. In my opinion, only a few cars are able to cause similar sensations: the seven BMW, Cadillac CTS and Renault Megane II. With the advent of such cars, dozens, or even hundreds of models produced throughout the world, are becoming antiques at once. But in a whirlwind of time, it is precisely these revolutionaries that allow us to realize that we live in the 21st century.

Honestly, even a one and a half year old Vectra, next to the flagship, no longer seems so acutely uniform. But for the person who sets behind the wheel of a person, both cars are natural clones. The front parts of the salons are exactly the same, except that the devices are decorated a little differently. A flat, emphasized functional design fits better into the stylistic concept of the signsum, however, simple implantation of the front panel of the car with a class below in the car with a class above always threatens image losses for the latter. Signum, which, as I understand it, marks in a business class, inside all is painfully plastic, even if this plastic mows under aluminum and wood. The car asks more expensive, more refined decorations. The situation obliges.

Since the operating space around the driver here is the same as in the vector, it does not make sense for a long time. Once again I will note the excellent ergonomics and will definitely mention electronic steering wheel switches, which will require the hands of the owner of the car of persistent skills and jewelry accuracy of the illusionist. If we describe the main attraction of the car in two words, these words will be the rear seat. Signum, with his concept of transformation of the FlexSpace salon, fearlessly attacks minivans and seems to be torpedoing them. Two separate chairs were installed behind with adjustments along the length and angle of the back of the back. Between them, a narrow third seat that develops in various ways, turning around either a armrest, or something else. The chairs themselves are also folded, and here the back of the front right seat is leaning back. In addition, on the ceiling there is a console leaving for the horizon with five bombs containers on microlyffs. An amazing thing, but this is how to fill it with the question.

The legs for the legs of the rear passengers with excess. Even in an uncomfortable position, the distance between the rows of chairs is the same as in Vectra, and when the second row of seats is pushed back another 13 centimeters ... your foot is spread out in your leg, you look around the sides through the curtains of the side windows than not s-class? If we talk about the expanse, then no worse, or even better. And in the near future, the buzz is also waiting for the front riders: just on Signum they began to install monocreses of Multicontour with a bunch of electrical controls, memory, ventilation and heating.

Both cars and Vectra and Signum carry nurses 2.2. Yes, the motor is the same, but in the first case it is equipped with an ordinary multi -point injection, and in the second advanced direct. Ecotec Direct 2.2 is not just the first Opel engine of this type, this is a miracle of technology both on paper and in practice. Awesome, diesel elasticity! You touch at least with the second, from 50 km/h you accelerate on the fifth. And the third is enough for all occasions: from the very start to the three -digit indications of the speedometer. Moreover, the motor turned out to be responsive and pleasantly brisk in the range of 2500-4500 rpm. The work of the gearbox, although it does not indulge in clarity, but does not bother at all.

What can not be said about the vector. The engine is more lazy on the bottoms, with delays in reactions. Add here stretched gear, slow switching, and you will understand that there is no question of dynamic driving. At speeds for 100 km/h, a gas pedal, a very smooth and unhurried acceleration. This happens until you moved to the manual control of the box. The car comes to life immediately, and upon reaching the maximum revolutions, the machine itself does not jump for the next gear. An important plus with a quick passage of turns.

And with the turns of the car, his relationship. Both cars are equipped with an interactive IDS chassis, which combines the suspension, steering and active security systems led by ESP. However, the differences in the wheelbase and the settings of pendants are inevitably affect. The sinema steering wheel is distinguished by excellent information saturation, the responses of the machine are clear, the rolls are at the minimum level. Vectra is equally stable and reliable, but the reactive force here is less intelligible, and the rolls are tangible. But the sedan is easier to take the hatchback’s turn suffers from more pronounced insufficient rotation, at the entrance, trying to straighten the trajectory. Accordingly, ESP are configured: if Vectra in the heat of driving can afford a light skid to the driver, then Signum is not-no. The brakes on both machines are good without any reservations: their competitors will have a hard time. If you compare them with each other, Signum will be more tender, even nervous.

Vectra never differed in outstanding smoothness, the car is relatively tough. Signum is even tougher: regularly counts the pits and cracks. But he does not know what swinging on the transverse waves and amazingly keeps a course at high speeds. What Signum is definitely worse is in isolation of the salon from extraneous noise: in some modes of engine operating on the rear seats, the hum of the exhaust system is clearly heard. And further. A significant base and front -wheel drive unequivocally guarantee slimming during maneuvering on the central streets of the city.

Supporting grandmas. The basic Signum 2.2 Direct on the handle, with ESP, six pillows, air conditioning, heated front seats and foglights will cost the USD 30290. Elegance equipment is richer on climate control, multifunctional leather steering wheel and xenon and, accordingly, USD 1500 is more expensive. For its part, the equipped Vectra 2.2 Elegance with a mechanical box is identical (with the exception of xenon headlights) is a USD 24450. Activeselect automatic for both models will cost USD 1800. Total USD 7340 differences. Muchno. It is unlikely that all identified differences will pull on such a solid amount.

So we pay, gentlemen, not for only iron, but for the very opportunity. For the opportunity to use one car and as an unexpected spacious sedan, and as a station wagon with a capacity with Astra Caravan. Be more flexible, chop your tails!

Autography
Opel Signum
Predecessor:
Omega B (1994)
Premiere: March 2003
Body: hatchback
Engines: 101-211 l. With.
Production: Germany
Expected replacement:
2010-11

Autography
Opel Vectra C.
Predecessor:
Vectra B (1995)
Premiere: March 2002
Body: sedan, hatchback, station wagon
Engines: 101-211 l. With.
Production: Germany
Expected replacement:
2008-09

Cars are provided by a group of Laura companies.

Text: Leonid Klyuyev
Photo: Roman Ostanin