Test drive Opel Vectra sedan 1999 - 2002 sedan

Vecture day

The word bestseller is translated literally as sold best. And no matter how much a Bestseller film, a Bratseller book or a music center-Bestseller film, they are at the peak of popularity and bring great profits. And competitors have to either exceed them in some properties, or at least copy their strengths. Most often, the statement that the bestseller is by no means perfection itself corresponds to the truth, but we lose sight of the important point that the product only becomes a bestseller when it reaches the optimal combination of consumer qualities at an attractive price.

However, for one reason or another, not all hits of the Western market were recognized in our country. If we talk about cars, then we have not been appreciated by such models such as Volkswagen Polo, Fiat Uno or Renault 21. Fortunately, Opel Vectra does not belong to them, rather, in Russia this machine for several years even claimed the title of the most popular foreign car of the used ones.
 
In August 1995, the production of a second -generation model officially called Vectra B began. The very fact of preserving the previous name of the car indicates that we are observing the evolutionary development of the machine, and not a revolutionary leap. Perhaps the main events were the Opel residents of all -wheel drive modifications and the appearance of the long -awaited Caravan universal, designed to recapture buyers from the main competitor - Volkswagen Passat Variant. From the first days of sales, the new Vectra was offered with one of the six engines and in one of the five levels of equipment to choose from. And a year later, the world's first turbodiesel with four valves on the cylinder and direct fuel injection appeared on the 2.0 Di 16V modification. Cars of other departments of the General Motors corporation are built on the machine platform - these are Saab 9-5 and Saturn LS/LW.

STYLE
Unlike the Japanese and Americans, who once every four to five years give an outwardly a completely new car, Europeans are above all that appreciates stylistic continuity. Vectra is fully consistent with the tastes of the latter: the car has retained the key proportions of the first generation model, and therefore there is no need to be a cool expert in order to identify it accurately. Car design - typically German, heavy; This is visible on a sloping roof, a high waist line, thick stones of the body and massive bumper. A kind of fortress on wheels.
 
Vectra looks strictly strict, but democratically, as it seems to us, the car is quite suitable for representative goals and for daily trips. At the same time, it can be judged by the silhouette of the car that aerodynamic studies played a key role in the formation of its appearance: some of the hood of the body of lateral mirrors are worth it! And for sure, the coefficient of aerodynamic resistance of the vector with a four -door body is simply magnificent - it is 0.28, which is better than that of the latest Volvo S80, Rover 75 and Chevrolet Corvette C5. Last February, an updated car was shown at the Amsterdam car dealership. Outwardly, it differs from the 1995 model with a radiator grille in a chrome edging, bumper plastic and trunk lid, as well as faceted rear lights.

ERGONOMICS
The interior looks so solid that sometimes it seems as if it turned out to be a class above in the car. We would single out three details that, oddly enough, do not play key roles, but it is they who create a feeling of prestige. This is a smooth bend of the front panel, resembling American Buick and Cadillac, a steering wheel, with duplicate radio control buttons, and a large display of the on -board computer. The monitor of the Philips Carin navigation system may also be in its place, but this option is available only to European customers. In general, the meticulously designed ergonomics of the salon, starting with the most convenient seats and ending with such trifles as a shelf for glasses on the ceiling and a mirror with bilateral backlight in both anti -loner visors, became a pleasant surprise. Very hospitable and comfortable car.
 
The overview was not so perfect: the field of visibility cut powerful body racks, especially the rear ones. The shape of the buildings of external mirrors limited their area, which forced the designers to make the reflective surface spherical. It seems to be a way out of the situation, but the distortion of the real distance to the cars moving behind in this case is inevitable. Mirrors by car in version 2.0 16V CD are equipped with heating. At the driver's seat - heating and four adjustments; Adjustments in the vertical direction and the degree of lumbar support were added to two generally accepted ones. The chair itself was planted quite high. Such a solution creates this solution in a tall of 190 cm primarily because of the rapprochement of the head and the ceiling, but those owners who are driving on the principle are highly sitting on the principle, I look far away, it can come to their taste. The steering wheel itself is really good: it is sheathed with genuine leather and lies perfectly in hand, and the large course of adjusting the column will best help to fit it under itself. In the central part of the steering wheel, an inflatable pillow is sewn; The second pillow protects the front passenger. All pedals are in their places. By the way, the design of the pedal node of the vector deserves a separate mention: in order to increase the level of passive safety, the fastening of the pedals is easily destroyed so that in the case of an accident, the pedal does not move to the salon and injured the legs. Finishing the conversation about the general principles of the organization of the driver’s workplace, we note the lever of the gearbox, which, when the second and fourth gears are turned on, go too far back, forcing him to twist his hand. The soft cover of the container placed between the front seats helps out: it is not just possible, but willy-nilly has to be used as an armrest.
 
A well -composed dashboard - a speedometer in the middle, a semicircle of a tachometer on the right, a pair of smaller signs on the left - is read without problems. A successful find is a nonlinear speedometer scale: compressed on the right side, it leaves an easily controlled zone of ohlorodic speeds. About the steering wheel switches, I want to say all the handles and buttons - do not add anything, do not reduce anything. The classic German scheme operates here: a separate rotating handle controls the head light, the buttons control the modes of the on -board computer are concentrated in the end of the right -wing steering switch. We especially note the incomparable button to control electric drives of external mirrors located on the door handle right under the thumb of the driver's left hand.
 
The last strokes, in no way knocked out of the overall picture, is a large glove compartment with a strong lid equipped with fixers for small objects, as well as retractable cup holders hiding in the lower part of the central console. And, of course, an unexpectedly qualitatively sounding standard radio with six speakers. I liked the rear seat with a comfortable back (rare in machines of this class), clearly designed for three people in width. There is even an average advanced headrest. And the legs for the legs, it seems, is enough. The only negative is the same lack of a reserve of space above the heads. If, at the back together, then by lowering the armrest, you can get a lot of comfort. And if it is necessary to transport long items - for example, skiing - following the armrest, the corresponding part of the back of the seat, opening access to the trunk. It happens that you have to transport larger objects. Then the back of the sofa can be decomposed in relation to 2: 1 or in its entirety, increasing the volume of the already rather big (490 liters) trunk. True, large boxes are unlikely to fit here - at least due to the fact that the highly inclined rear window limits the geometric parameters of the trunk opening. And for a full -sized spare - special thanks, but it will be better if there is no need for it.

ON THE RUN
Despite 2 liters. The working volume, the 16-valve X20XEV engine of the ECOTEC family does not suffer from an excess of torque: for a confident start it needs to be made. The pace of speed set does not inspire the first seconds, but then, upon reaching 2500 rpm, a pickup is observed, and up to 5000 rpm the motor is spinning cheerfully. After which he again sours and is reluctant to be selected to the limit mark of 6500. The first and second programs are selected very successfully - in principle, if you endure the noise of the motor, they are enough to move around the city. Because the third comes to life only at 90-100 km/h and is not suitable for intense acceleration in the traffic flow. Since it came to a sharp start, it is a sin not to try the anti -boom system in action. On wet asphalt, it does not function very convincingly - it allows the drive wheels to make several revolutions on the spot, and only when they already felt for the clutch on their own, it suddenly activates the brake mechanisms. Surely, in the rolled snow or icy areas, the benefits of PBS will be incomparably more. But ABS showed herself well done - and enters into force on the very edge, to the last trusting the driver, and works intelligently, without gross shocks on the brake pedal.

A few words about the suspension device. Both the front MacPherson and the rear multi -link suspension are mounted on subframes that are attached to the power elements of the body through damping elements. This is designed to reduce the level of vibrations transmitted to the body from the chassis. In addition, elastic elements are used in the suspension to adjust its parameters depending on road conditions. So, inhibition on a heterogeneous coating (classic example: on the left - asphalt, on the right - sandy roadside) leads to a change in the angles of convergence of the wheels for each wheel individually. As a result, the effect of steering occurs, that is, the car begins to unfold into the opposite departure of the side and, thus, continues the straightforward movement. The elastokinematic suspension also provides more uniform adhesion with the road of the right and left wheels in high -speed turns.
 
Indeed, in the standard modes Vectra is reliable and predictable. The car is stable when driving in a straight line at any speed, and holds the road in corners perfectly. It responds smoothly to the steering wheel actions smoothly, but quickly, and the setting of the hydraulic power steering allows maintaining a stable reactive effect on the steering wheel. An active driving style reveals a tangible insufficient rotation in corners, and in order to protect the car from the transition to a larger radius trajectory, intensive operation is required. The demolition of the front axle in sliding occurs quite sharply.
 
Adaptation of the suspension to Russian conditions led to a significant increase in its rigidity.
The quality of the road is transferred in detail to the body, chips and transverse seams are especially clearly traced. At the same time, the suspension is very energy intensive - it does not allow breakdowns, and on the go does not allow the machine to roll in corners and swing on gentle irregularities. At high speeds, it is thanks to a hard suspension that the car seems to merge with the road, removing voltage from the driver. If you promoted the motor above 4000 rpm, be prepared to clearly hear its sound in the cabin. And one more thing: at high speeds, as well as when switching to a reduced gear on the steering wheel, minor vibrations are sometimes felt. In general, noise and vibration insulation are at the exemplary level.

SUMMARY
Despite its modest size, Opel Vectra left the impression of a respectable car. Respectable outwardly, inside and in motion. In his design there is no incredited, in behavior there is no fussy. And most importantly, after a decrease in the prices, Vectra left the niche of direct confrontation with German classmates, and now it is available to the same buyer, for whom Japanese, French, Italian and even Korean cars are addressed. Interesting offer? The choice is yours.

P.S. For those fans, the vectors who for one reason or another cannot or do not want to buy a new car, Laura offers used cars with a guarantee
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 43/2000]