Test drive Opel Vectra sedan 2002 - 2005 sedan

The right direction

Vectra returns Opel image of a real German car
General Motors invested 750 million euros in the construction of the new Opel Vectra factory in German Rousseleshaim. Another 300 million euros were spent on the modernization of the plant in the English town of Elsmer Port, where they will also produce a new Vectra. These amounts speak for themselves: they made a huge bet on the new model in GM. Will the corporations succeed in breaking the bank? The time and sales of the new car will answer this question. But the visit is beautiful.
None of the models of the German division of GM over the past three years has been able to become an event in the European market. The last time of the second generation of Opel Vectra among European classmates in 1996 1998 can be considered success.
The fact that Opel was in stagnation indirectly recognizes the company's management. The new Vectra car is a symbol of the Renaissance of the brand, said the chairman and managing director of Opel Carl-Piter Forster during the presentation of the car. Not only the machine itself, but also a completely new, the most modern plant in the world indicate the desire of our company to become the first among the best automotive traders.
The new Vectra was on the test for almost a week. During this time, a thousand kilometers increased on the odometer. A long test convinced me that the car caught up (and in some components and overtook) its main competitors Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. Today, Opel Vectra is not enough just a little to stand on a par with more prestigious Mercedes and BMW brands.
The higher status of the model can be judged primarily by the appearance of the car. It cannot be called bright, but Vectra cannot be designed. Everything is done with great taste and sense of proportion. Vectra a car in which the stylistic concept of the entire OPEL lineup is embodied in the coming years. Vectra's swiftness and expression are successfully combined with solidity and impressiveness. The designers managed to achieve such a combination of qualities due to the dynamic profile of the car, which sharply decreases to the trunk, and a several high midline of the body, creating a feeling of security. In a word, the new Vectra is struggling to seem more expensive than his money. And, in my opinion, the car is quite possible.
This approach of the designers as a whole responds to Opel philosophy to offer the client a solid car (both in appearance and by filling) at a price, which is lower than that of competitors.
When you get behind the wheel of a new Vectra, you are not leaving a sense of possession of a dear thing. The interior is made very soundly.
A chubby steering wheel sheathed with high -quality leather is very convenient. The driver's seat has a huge range of electrical adjustments. Given that the steering wheel is tuned in two planes, at the driver's place, people will be conveniently settled. It is felt that in the manufacture of seats
Opelian engineers advised experienced orthopedists. At first, the seats seem even too tough. However, after a 400-kilometer march without halts, I did not feel any lower back pain. On other cars, with soft and look more comfortable seats, it was not possible to avoid discomfort.
There are no difficulties when placing various small things in the cabin. For example, a large cooled glove will contain 8 10 cans with a capacity of 0.33 liters in its bowels. The quality of the materials does not cause complaints. Many interior details for example, doors pockets and the lower part of the panel are covered with a smooth layer of water -based paint, which makes them softer than conventional plastic.
In a word, when describing the Opel salon, without any stretch, you can apply a real German quality stamp.
However, lett the somewhat intake comments. The Vectra salon has frankly annoying details that could be called insignificant if they had not had to be used too often.
Categorically did not like the algorithm for the work of steering wheel switches of the indicators of turns and wiper. They do not have a fixed position. For example, if you carefully touch the turnee lever, then the car will blink bulbs three times. If you press the bulbs more, they work in constant mode. After each touch, the lever returns to the starting position. According to a similar scheme, wipers are driven. In words, all this looks pretty simple, but in a week of the test I have not been able to learn how to use these switches without mistakes.
The second annoying factor is too wide the central console. The right knee of the driver (or left passenger) is very uncomfortable into her rib.. In addition, an air conditioner and glass windows turned out to be excessively wise. I would like to wish German engineers responsible for the ergonomics of the new Vectra: be easier, and people will reach for you.
In the movement, the car made the most favorable impression. Vectra is especially good at high speeds. Even at a speed of 160 170 km/h, it creeps along the road as glued, without requiring steering. At high speeds, the steering wheel is filled with elasticity and very clearly conveys efforts. But when parking, the helm becomes weightless. Such a combination of qualities is achieved thanks to the original electrhydraulic steering amplifier. The degree of his help depends not only on the speed of the car, but also on the angle of rotation of the steering wheel.
In general, it seems that this car is imprisoned under the movement through the autobahns. In the city, the Opel Vectra move does not cause special emotions: it is quite comfortable, but nothing more. But on the suburban highway, and no matter what quality, Vectra suspension manifests itself in all its glory. At the same time, the car has excellent sound insulation: even at maximum speeds in the cabin you can talk without raising your voice.
A Vectra with a 2.2 liter engine (power 147 hp), equipped with an automatic gearbox with the possibility of manual switching, got to the test. A 1.8-liter engine with a capacity of 122 hp is installed on a more affordable version. I did not notice any outstanding features in the operation of the engine of my car, but he did not bring disappointments either: you get from the engine exactly what you count on.
The motor clearly interacts with the automatic. Laughters in the gear shift are not felt either at a sharp start from a place or when overtaking. I used the manual mode of gear shifts a couple of times, but I found no benefit from its application, once again making sure that this option is useful only in cars with a sports character.
The Opel Vectra sedan (while cars are produced only in such a body), the tongue does not turn to call a family car. And the point is not even that the five of them is comfortable traveling on this car, it will not be possible to new Vectra more to the image of a business class car. It is easier to imagine a young man in a business suit, and not a solid father of a family, who goes to the country with his wife and children.
However, do not forget that the sedan is only the seed.
The presentation of Opel Vectra GTS has already been held a five-door hatchback with a 211-horsepower V6 3.2 engine. This car has lowered clearance, a rigid sports suspension and a sharp steering wheel are used. Next year, two models of the station wagons will appear. One of them is the role of a typical family car, and the second is a multifunctional hybrid of a comfortable sedan and a roomy minivan.
Opel is revived and returns the attention of those people who believe that the car should be primarily German. That is reliable.
Igor Komarov
 

A source: Wheel (company)