Test Drive Opel Vectra Sedan 2002 - 2005 Sedan

Recipes universality

Volkswagen Passat.
The current model of the universal debuted in 1997, and in 2000 it was updated.
Two types of body sedan and wagon.
On the Russian market, the front-wheel drive option is supplied with four gasoline 2.0; 1.8T; V5 2.3; V6 2.8 (115 190 l.) And two diesel 1.9TDI (130 l. P.), V6TDI (2.5 l, 163 l.) Motors.
Prices for four basic equipment range from $ 26,61 to 39 297.

Opel Vectra.
The debut of the new model is autumn 2001. Caravan appeared in 2003.
Vectra is released in the options sedan and station wagon. There is a sports version of GTS.
On the Russian market of Vectra, the caravan is supplied with two 1.8 l gasoline engines, 122 liters. With. and 2.2 l, 155 liters. With. and five-speed mechanical or automatic transmissions.
Prices for basic equipment Essentia, Comfort, Elegance and Cosmo from $ 24,330 to 34 620.

Mazda 6.
The European Premiere took place at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2002. The model is offered with sedan, hatchback and wagon bodies.
The Russian market presents the entire line with the three gasoline engines 1.8 liters, 120 liters. With.; 2.0 l, 141 liters. With.; 2.3 l, 166 liters. With. and a five-speed manual gearbox. Version 2.0 liters can be with a four-stage automatic machine.
Basic complete sets are two Touring and Sport. Price $ 22,350 30 100.
As soon as they do not referd to delicious designations. Manufacturers ... Caravan, option, touring ... The appearance in the gamma of the station wagon is not just tribute to tradition or the way to saturate the demand in the next consumer niche. Many firms have developed a kind of universal ideology, following which some manufacturers increase the wheel base, bodies, find unexpected layout solutions. Others, on the contrary, improve the driving properties sometimes on so much that the language does not turn to call such a car universal.
In native fatherland, the demand for similar cars is specific. Most dealers sell universals exclusively to order After all, the majority of customers prefers sedans and hatchbacks. It was hardly possible to avoid disappointment when we decided to get acquainted with the universal class D. No, not foreseen, already sold, answered in official offices and car dealerships. The deficit only rooted our interest in the reflection in the end, the crisp was found: Opel Vectra Caravan (2.2 l, 155 l.), Mazda 6 wagon (2.2 liters, 166 l.) And Volkswagen Passat option ( 2.3 l, 170 l. P.).
Conservatives and radicals
Volkswagen-Passat. Old new acquaintance still looks modern. Balanced, albeit familiar appearance, dear, saturated interior. No, the classic is still early to write off the bills, especially since the universals are pretty preservative in essence. Inside the skin, suede, inserts from the real tree. It must be admitted, in the Passat, such singsa of expensive equipment look quite harmoniously.
Passat is traditionally convenient for passengers. The driver's seat is perfectly adjusted with an electrically regulatory, its arms are correct, and the sizes of the pillow and the backs correspond to the desired. Control bodies on the usual places, the readability of the main appliances does not cause complaints. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail and to complain (again, according to the tradition), it remains only to the unbroken climate installation control panel.
In the back seat free legs, there is a stock over your head. Massive armrest honestly divides the space. In this case, here are sitting not only with comfort, but also exquisitely, and the glance immediately finds the wheels of electrical heating for the rear passengers another feature of this configuration.
Thought and cargo compartment. Do not be a few more couples of serious competitors, we would not doubt the practicality of the option, although not everything is flawless in it. Let's say it took to decompose the rear seat. At first glance, nothing complicated to lean the pillow and then the back. But it turns out, you first need to remove the headrest, then slide the seat of the first row. Only then will decompose as it should. Why are you talking so detailed about the usual operation for trucks? Yes, because it is here that the Passat has fallen behind the beginners who showed completely different abilities.
Opel-Vetra. Heavy, coarse forms, narrow side windows, a large wheelbase, making a and no longer car similar to a giant dachshund.
Although the main thing is that? That's right, internal content. Therefore, you will immediately look into the luggage compartment. Wow! A huge penalty is hidden behind the fifth door. Association is not accidental: Opel was set to make a trunk with perfectly smooth side walls, hiding for the upholstered body curves. Side niches turned into comfortable closing pockets, and this is not counting all sorts of meshes, shelves and other things. It seems that the record holder appeared in the passenger and luggage event. After all, and in the back seat great. First of all, the spaces feel the knees: they are as if uncountable, so great is the gap to the front back.
More interestingly here is the seat itself. You just promote a back, and it lies in a closure with a luggage compartment floor.
The interior of the Vectra, of course, is simpler, although wooden inserts are present in this, not the most expensive version of the Elegance. For a spacious truck, fabric upholstery approached better than the skin, and mechanical seats do not look defiantly simply. Moreover, it is possible to settle in the workplace very quickly, the seat is wide and spacious. In his friendly admission there is not a gram of sportiness, imposing someone else's will.
This principle is invas with grabs, canceled readable devices, a large display. Not as an example of Passatovskaya and the design of the central console. Large microclimate and stereo control handles allow you to use them almost blindly.
And here are the submissive switches per amateur. Their electronic ideology (both levers are not fixed in the desired position, but only perform the role of switches) is controversial and requires addiction.
Mazda-6. This is bright red, stylish creating the least wants to call a wagon. After all, the Word itself implies primarily practicality and rationality. And here the game is musculatory, rapid lines and something elusive from Italian bodywork.
It must be admitted, and the internal content of the most expensive version of the Sport with a 2.3-liter engine fully corresponds to a dynamic appearance. Definitely, this car is conceived not only for the carriage of goods.
In fact, however, some decisions are imperfect. So, the back of the driver's seat is short. Cute climatic installation twisters are slippery and uncomfortable to the touch, and the symbolism on them is inexpressive. But otherwise it's just great: comfortable steering wheel, pedals, instrument scales; Large adjustments (by the way, electric). And at the same time, despite the pronounced sportiness, it felt that a lot of worked on consumer qualities.
In the role of the rear passenger, you will not feel disadvantaged. In Mazda, of course, there is no opelev scope, but with the Passat it will easily recover. Let luxury smaller, leather upholstery are simpler, but overall convenient and practical.
Looking at the car outside, I do not expect that he has such a roomy and functional cargo compartment. Smooth floor, abundance of niches and pockets, flexible curtain shelf and indirect grid for pets. The size of the department is more compromised by Opolevsky, but it looks very convenient. It was not no means here without faith: you simply open the back door, pull the hook, and the back gently falls into the floor with the floor, freeing the place for the long periods. On the Passat, this operation takes a few minutes.
Let's go and lucky
Volkswagen-Passat. The first, the most memorable feeling of complete pacification. Somewhere deep in the increasing subsoil rustling a powerful motor, the machine gently moves the transmissions, and the car obediently and confidently performs all your teams. In his responses, everything is in moderation: the feelings of self-esteem, and dynamics, and comfort, and even reactions to the driver's provocations, seeking at least somehow raise so confident creature. Here is a hot driver from the soul clicked on the accelerator: Show what you can! Passat arrogantly pulled out and is it worth it? Then, deciding, knowing myself went to shake the transmission, every time unscrewing the motor until the mark of 6500 rpm. At the same time, neither the Motor Reva nor the bustle, no twitching. On the contrary, everything is gently, smoothly, stepwise. Say, I am a family car to me such experiments to the light bulb, because passengers should be comfortable.
We put several tasks on handling. And again the behavior is very balanced. Calm and accurate reactions, reliable feedback. And if you quickly? And now is predictable, despite the absence of electronic assistants. It cannot be said that slipping a car in the shower, but at the same time it is well controlled, without preventing surprises.
I violates idiot noisy and rigid passage of light irregularities. Although the car itself is to blame, and low-profile 17-inch tires, which put in front of the test in pursuit of photographicity. It seems that the basic 16-inch option will be in our conditions much more comfortable. Moreover, all the prerequisites for this are obvious: the suspension of the trade wind is perfectly coping with most irregularities.
Opel-Vetra. As if justifying the heavily appearance, this car is pretty energetic on the go. The engine is slightly inferior to Volkswagenovsky, but this is more compensated by the rapid operation of the modern five-speed Active SELET machine. Vecture is definitely impulsive, and the tandem of the engine Correction interacts with the half-clad.
In terms of noise and vibrations, Opel is very similar to the countryman-competitor: he diligently isolates you from unnecessary sounds.
Pendants for the time being, most irregularities damp softly. Alas, a unpleasant vertical squabble appears with increasing speed. Already 100120 km / h Vektru, which fell on the spray waves, the stormat is might and main. In certain modes, the accuracy of the management even decreases, and this disrupts mutual understanding between the driver and the car. And although in general the car is not bad, sometimes you want greater rigor in the work of the main management bodies. Of course, the driver is inflicted from the critical situation with the dynamic stabilization system (by the way, untouched). However, they hope to electronics, and drive drive. In this issue, Vector disappointed slightly.
Mazda-6. Whatever spacious salon and trunk, the driving capabilities of this car do not allow for a second to doubt the sporting character. Silent and convenient-time-to-3000 rpm Motor suddenly goes with bass roar, it is only a tachometer arrow to roll the cherished mark.
Low-profile (215/45R17) Wheels are noisy react to all roughness, and the steps of gears with each switch are all shorter. It is time to forget about the versatility and enjoy a sharp and fast steering, feel energetic shocking of dense suspensions, repeating the profile of the road. Like the tires, they will react violently on the seams, joints and a good trifle, but at the same time we can cancel with gentle waves, especially at high speed.
Of course, it's great to manage the car, as if responding to your thoughts. Question like a long hour? Two? But the higher the speed, the stringement and more accurately the driver should act. And it is worth it, for example, to get into a small rut on the asphalt, as the nervousness of the car scares, demanding a very accurate infringement. Of course, here there are all fashionable electronic systems they will help in a difficult moment. However, I am sure: such a pronounced universal sportiness will like not everyone.
Three characters
Which one is closer to you? Volkswagen Passat, at first glance, in the shade of beginners: and the cargo compartment is slightly smaller, and the rear seat is folded difficult. But not in vain, and for the purpose of the appointment, demonstrating a clear approach: the wagon is just in moderation.
Vectra caravan clearly to a long road. Its credo ease of movement and comfort, in some places even to the detriment of the rest.
If you want to look around, you should look at Mazda-6. In your hands will be a fast, aggressive and very expressive car.
SUMMARY
Volkswagen Passat of Roads, Soliden, is expected convenient. An option is not a hindrance.
+ Balanced appearance, internal content, driving qualities. Great acoustic comfort.
- uncomfortable (on the backdrop of new products) the seat layout mechanism,
high price.
SUMMARY
Opel Vectre is almost perfect for those who appreciate the content, not the form.
+ Spacious interior, a spacious trunk, high acoustic comfort, excellent brakes.
- not adapted to the Russian suspension conditions,
mediocre manageability.
SUMMARY
Mazda 6 is not only a comfortable wagon, but also a real sportsagon.
+ Bright appearance, comfortable salon and trunk, beautiful
riding qualities.
- mediocre acoustic comfort, high vibration of suspension on small irregularities.
Sergey Voskresensky
Photo: George Sadkov
 
 
 

 

 

 

A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"