Test drive Opel Vectra sedan 2002 - 2005 sedan

Opel Vectra (1996-2001 of release)

The assertion that any car will sooner or later become Olesham does not always correspond to reality, the experience showed that a reliable German car without special, however, claims are Opel Vectra.
Opel Vectra B was born in January 1996 and became a worthy continuation of the first-generation bestseller-Vectra A.. This solid business class car 4.5 meters long and a mass of 1400 kg is popular almost all over the world.
Comfort vector. Initially, Vectra B was offered to the buyer in two variants of the bodies - sedan and hatchback. Less than a year, in the fall of 1996, they were complemented by a station wagon designated as Caravan. There are three options for equipping the car: GL, CD and CDX. Naturally, any of them can be supplemented by various options.
GL is the simplest option with a tissue upholstery of the cabin, a power steering, ABS, a central lock and a filter for the air entering the salon. CD is much richer. In addition to the listed options, there is a tachometer, fog, front electric windows, an electricrope with heating and tinted glass. CDX involves the most complete complete set. The car will certainly have air conditioning or climate control, wood inserts, cast wheels, cruise control, on-board computer and, possibly, a leather interior.
Pay attention to the on -board computer display. After 5-7 years of operation, he often fails. The new display costs about $ 150. It is unreasonable to spend them. Any television master will easily find a defect-the outgoing contacts of the liquid crystal board-and solders them for $ 20-30. Apart without a computer, on the one hand, is easy. Information about the passed path and air temperature overboard does not apply to the category of vital. On the other hand, this mini-TV is also a display of the radio, without which it will be painfully boring in protracted traffic jams.
But painfully hot will be due to the leaky air conditioner tube. More precisely, the tubes leading from the compressor to the condenser (which is also the air conditioner radiator). She usually has to burst at the place of excess. The new costs $ 155, replacement - $ 90 plus refueling with a refrigerant - about $ 40.
You should know about another Vectra sore - electronics failure. Especially many complaints are received by the anti -circus system (TCS).
Visual vector. Diagnosis of the geometry of the car in the services of an official representative of Opel is inexpensive - about $ 50, but it will give one hundred percent confidence that the car was not in accidents. If the car was just from Germany and it was not beaten, then the buyer may well rely on the integrity of the paintwork and its corrosion resistance. At least the manufacturer gives a five-year guarantee from through corrosion. Russian dealers argue that it is enough for the owner of Vectra to show a service book and he can heal (or rather, tint) body wounds for free. This is relevant for vector, who ran along the salt roads of the Russian Federation for more than a dozen thousand kilometers. In such a machine, you can find chips on the rear arches and thresholds, as well as detachment of paint on the front bumper. In the absence of mudguards, it is recommended to purchase them immediately after the purchase. The front mudguards GM cost $ 13, the rear - $ 16. To salt, poor roads and low temperatures is very sensitive and windshield (new costs from $ 150).
Power vector. The engine is the subject of the special attention of the potential buyer Vectra B. This statement refers to any of the three most often found in our gasoline options with a volume of 1.6 liters, 1.8 liters and 2.0 liters. Although, in fact, the gamut of Vectra B engines has 14 types (13 of which belong to the ECOTEC series, and one-a 1.6-liter eight-valve engine with a capacity of 75 forces-went from the previous series A). But the ISUZU diesel engine is 1.7 liters, as well as the Ecotec turbodiesel 2.0 and 2.2 liters are so rare that it makes no sense to talk about them. Only a 2.5-liter six (motor X25H) deserves special mention. It is also placed on Omega. Vectra with such a motor is very high. And has only one drawback - a weak gasket of the valve cover.
The rest consumes oil, lie and act up both at idle and at the work. The first reason is the poor assembly: Turkish and Hungarian - engines 1.6 liters and 2.0 liters and Spanish - 1.8 liter engines. The second reason is the poor quality of piston rings. Replacing oil -welded caps helps no more than 10 thousand km. And finally, the main thing is poor crankcase ventilation due to the fact that too small holes in the throttle. This constructive drawback, of course, is eliminated by skillful hands using a drill. But there is such work from $ 500. However, compared with the overhaul of the engine ($ 1.5 thousand with work and spare parts), these are real trifles.
With the replacement of the timing belt, which is required every 60,000 km, the situation is incident. The smaller the volume of the motor, the more expensive the work. In this case, the belt changes along with the tensioner rollers. For example, for a 2.0 liter engine, it will cost $ 170, for 1.8 liters - in $ 185, and for 1.6 liters - at $ 215. The GM belt itself costs from $ 19 to $ 60, depending on the power unit.
A serious trouble of the exhaust system is the poor quality of the material from which the exhaust manifold is made. Sometimes when cold water gets from the temperature difference, it bursts. The deficiency officially recognized by the General Motors concern was eliminated after 1999. The collector costs about $ 100, its laying is $ 5. By the way, the GM branded muffler will cost $ 168, while the Belgian analogue is $ 75.

The vector of power. All Vectra B engines were aggregated with a five -speed manual gearbox or with a four -speed automatic.
Mechanical checkpoint has two options - standard and sports. You can distinguish them by the reversing algorithm. On a sports box - this is right and back, and on the standard one to the left and go. In both cases, boxes are equally reliable, and differ only in that sports has shortened gear rates. An interesting feature of mechanics is that it does not need to change oil in it. It is poured only once at the factory and is located there throughout the entire service life of the checkpoint. The clutch with neat driving calmly serves 150--200 thousand km. Its replacement for a new assembly costs about $ 130 with work.
The vectra machine is considered very reliable. If the diagnosis of the checkpoint has not revealed any defects, then the box will last a long time, and all service will be reduced to the replacement of oil every 60 thousand km.
Movement vector. The front -wheel drive vector is equipped with an extremely strong and tenacious suspension. Masters of service centers indicate that the most common suspension operation of used vector is replacing the rear silent blocks. They nurse about 60 thousand km. But the ball supports are practically indestructible. More than 100 thousand km can walk. The original GM support costs about $ 29, but you can save by buying Spanish for $ 11. Very tenacious racks of the front suspension stabilizer serve 60--70 thousand km. New racks from GM cost $ 18 apiece. Naturally, the front brake discs and pads are less wear -resistant than the rear. The front pads from GM will cost $ 33, and they will have to be changed at least every 30 thousand km, but the rear, drum, at a cost of $ 65 need to replace only 80-100 thousand km. A set of GM front brake discs for $ 120-140 must be updated every 90--100 thousand km. In general - not such large expenses for a decent car with a good pedigree and reliable nodes and mechanisms.
Text Sergey Lortachin, photo Alexey Ilyin, drawing Alexander Krasnov

Opel Vectra (Sedan, 1996 c.) 1.8 2.0
Working volume (cubic meter) 1799 1998
Power (L.S.) 114 at 5200 rpm. 134 at 5250 vol./Min.
Maximum speed (km/h) 203 215
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 11.0 10.0
Fuel consumption (l/100 km):
city \u200b\u200b10.1 11.6
highway 7.5 8.0
Prices in Moscow (for November 2002)

Year of release cost
1996 $ 7--8.5 thousand
1997 $ 8.5-10 thousand
1998 $ 9.5-11 thousand.
 
Prices for spare parts and components ($)
 
Air filter 6
Filter of oil. (Benz./Diz.) 2-5/5-7
Filter fuel. (Benz. /Diz.) (Italy) - /$ 6
Front brake disc (set) 122-141
Brake pads, front. 34
Brake pads, rear 65
Front belt $ 19-36
Muffler 168
Resonator 138
Spark plug (pcs.) 2-4
The steering tip 25
Ball support 29
Generator belt (from conditioned/without condition.) 30/26

 

A source: "Autopilot"