The biggest Vauxhall, once a rival to BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class, we drive a V6 model Head to www.furiousdrivig.co.uk for Furious Driving stickers, mugs, travel cups, T shirts and more.
I have a 2.5v6 CD which I've had since 2005. Been retired since 2010 and will be keeping it. Brilliantly reliable, uses no oil or coolant and full history since I bought it. Goes like a train on the motorway too. 147,000 miles and counting. ..
My dad used to have a senator 3.0 24v dual ram. What a car. That digital dash was a bit retro but what a noise that makes. Sadly rust got to it, but the engine was still strong. Senators are going for crazy money if you can find one. They have become a modern classic
I had the pleasure of having 4 of these brand new through my company 2 3litre elites, a 2.5 cdx, and a 2 litre estate which i think was 138 bhp i think. The 3 litre 211 bhp elites I absolutely loved back then, fully loaded with every option including full leather and capable of 150 mph. Loved watching this review it was great 👍🏻
I had a Elite version 2.5V6. Lovely car full of leather ran it to 200,000 miles bought it 3 years old from auction with 30k on it. My dad has it in his apartment in Spain as his daily car he does around 200 miles a year. Everything works air blows cold I still use it when we visit.
You should try a manual MV6 with the full-fat 3.0 or 3.2 litre. It's a very, very different car from the posher end of the Omega range. These cars are incredible value at the moment, you can buy a nice one for £500, if you're very selective and do your research thoroughly. But don't buy a V6 after the road tax rules changed in 2001 or you'll be paying £325-£525 a year to tax it. And if you can find a nice example with the fantastic BMW 2.5 turbo-diesel engine (yes, the same one used in the P38 Range-Rover) then you'll have a car that could be almost functionally immortal as that engine cured a lot of the expensive Omega issues, though rust can still be a problem. As well as having had an MV6 estate as a company car, I had a civilian model MV6 3.0 with the manual box and all the toys (pretty rare on an MV6 as a lot were rather basic, like the police cars) and that was a real beast with lovely leather proper Recaro front seats. I really should have kept that one...
I once owned a 2.5 CDX V6. It was a superb car, provided you were handy with a spanner. They had a number of inherent issues that did not cost a huge amount to fix, parts wise, but, took up a lot of time. A good example was plug. I tended to replace the HT leads, at the same time, given the faff getting to the plugs. I also performed a few upgrades, such as aluminium Vectra B V6 cam covers, stainless oil cooler, and a few other bits and bobs. The V6 had an unusual, slightly gravelly tone at high rpm, partly due to its unusual V angle, of 54 degrees, rather than the usual 60. Still a firm favourite of mine, given the throttle controllable oversteer and accomplished handling.
I had '97 2.5 V6 with manual, and yea, you needed spanner with it, but it never broke down fatally and was wonderful car. Common issues I had with it were the anti-roll bar ''dog bones'', cabin heater water valve, cam cover seals, notchy and stiff gearchange (might've needed new bushings for the linkage or new grease), fog light switch and auxiliary water pumps. Other than that, it didn't really have any major issues with it, basic wear like in other cars and short lifespan of the cam belt (60tkm, and it was mandatory to replace the water pump everytime).
Brought back memories. I did my police advanced driving course in the 3.2V6 manual Omega & Volvo T5. Rear wheel drive & Front whhel drive. A day in each. 3 weeks of high speed driving heading out from the West Midlands towards Wales & all points in between. Thrashing out to Borth. Quick bit of lunch then thrashing back.
I had a 98 Omega Elite fitted with the rather rare 5 speed manual Gertrag gearbox and an early Philips Carin satellite navigation system with CD in the boot. It had been an ex-Vauxhall management and I believe press car. Hence all of the options fitted. The manual gearbox was unusual in an Elite specked car. What was interesting was that inside the handbook written on the back page was a whole host of Vauxhall telephone numbers of various management and technical departments at Luton. It was a great car.
I'm completely obsessed with this car again, I loved it years and years ago but forgot about it and now you have reminded of this wonderful machine again. *Looks on eBay* lol
Vauxhall also had the latter generation Cavalier, as well as the Senator which was a pretty blingy car for the time. Ford also had the Scorpio and the Granada. Beautiful cars, but I always really liked the Omega for some reason. The Vectra was replaced by the Insignia which is still with us today.
Comfortable cars are all gone all sports seats and suspension Seems Citroen are the only ones at the moment going back to make more comfortable cars hopefully others follow
Jurassic Coast Comics You do my dad actually brought one as he wanted more luxury over sporty he got the elite model but found it still came with 18 or 19 inch alloys He went 18 as he hates rubber band tyres
In the 90s everyone took the piss out of boy racers for lowering cars, low profile tires and racing seats. Now car manufacturers are doing it to every car. In the UK with the state of the roads and a pot hole every metre we could really do with cars being like this... Soft suspension and big tyre walls. The only thing old cars lack is a modern auto box.
Jamie: The Only way others will follow is If Citroën Sells Enough of them. The Question is, Is there enough people out there that wants them, In order to make Citroën Profitable at Doing it?
The tourer in estate was lovely. The elite was also really good - very well equiped and with a lovely engine. Dad had one in champagne gold - its was so lovely
My dad had a 2.5 v6 CDX omega back in the 90’s his had cream interior and was a brown/ red colour, seeing this video took me back I used to love the v6 noise now I really want to buy one 😂😂
Back in 2003, I had a green 2.0 manual CD saloon. Was good fun in the wet; and with liberal use of the handbrake, drifted easily in a largish car park. The local scrappy had a whole black leather interior which I picked up for 80 quid; this included an electric rear blind!! All the wiring for the blind and electric seats was already in the car so it was all plug and play. Pretty pimp for a 21 year old!
Thanks for another excellent video, used to love the omega, friend of ours back in the day used to have an ex police mv6 and it was 'the car.' I remember an old top gear magazine from 94 or 95 where they drove every mile of the UK motorway system to see if it was any good.
These big GM cars and the Senators were their finest hours well built and refined bigger inside huge boot and were second hand bargains compared to BMW 5 series whoopees could cruise up to 100 thinking you were doing 70!
I had a 2.0 auto and 2.5 V6. Love them and would have another tomorrow. I was only 22 when I had them and didn't appreciate them enough. The v6 just got raced everywhere. My mates all had hit hatches
Someone did, a number of years back. They had a crash damaged Lotus Charlton, and a blue Omega 2.0 GLS. All the running gear was transferred across. If you check on the Vauxhall Owners Network forum, some pictures may still exist.
an LS v8 would be an ideal swap candidate for this.. they did in fact make a couple of prototypes with LS1 v8's in them as these share DNA with australian Holdens of the same era.
What do you think the Vauxhall Monaro was? Yes it wasn't Lotus tuned but it was a bastard nutter V8 Omega with two doors. I had a very rare manual transmission facelift Omega 2.5 V6 cdx, the interior was much nicer, I put a stainless exhaust on it with a K&N air filter.
Having owned 3 Omega's 1996 Burgundy, 1999 gold SE, & 2000 Silver the last being a Elite Estate model 2.6 Diesel, all I can say is vauxall miss understood the value of this car, my silver Elite model looked stunning, drove wonderfully and stood out from the crowd, I even had Police officers drowling over my Elite......Now the Senator was on a different level!!
The V6 engines were made at the Ellesmere Port plant near me. Initially fitted to the mk3 (?) Cavalier till the Vectra replaced it. We rented a house to a German Exec who came to run the engine line. People think that V6s are grunty but actually they are lively and revvy... see Alfa and VW.
Great review, although the car was built at Russelsheim (or little Turkey as the Germans called it) the V6 engines were built by Vauxhall in Ellesmere port. The Catera looked fantastic inside & out compared to the Omega and was fitted with the 3.0 V6, but I was told that one problem with this engine in longatudinal mode was the inlet plenum, the air mass meter was mounted on the air filter and then turned into what looked like a Tuba in front of the timing cover, due to it sitting so close to the road there was a noticable flat spot starting off in hot climates. Plus the Americans were not used to high reving overhead cam engines GM were still using Mexican built push rod low power high torque V6's
My first car was Opel Omega. 2.0 engine had 136 hp and it was plently enough to ride sideways in winter. What a fun this car was. At the end I put smoked lights on, painted the hood and rims black. The car itself was bronze. It looked so sexy and badass. The only thing was.. it was literally eaten by rust 😶 I sold it and I still regret it.. damn what a car it was.
Great review of a classic Opel! They were made in Rüsselsheim = Reessels Hyme ... maybe something like that if you'd write that in English hehe. I enjoy your channel a lot cause of the British classics that you feature ... and would LOVE to see another Rover P6 video with better sound :) but i also very much like that you show those great 1980s and 1990s cars!!
I had both a 2.5 V6 CDX (as a company car) and a 2.0 16v CDX as a privately owned and tbh once you got the 2.0 rolling there wasn't much difference in performance between the two. Biggest difference was definitely at the fuel pumps tho, whilst neither weren't exactly economical I could get over 30mpg from the 2.0 but rarely saw.better than 26mpg with the V6. Loved em both tho and would still have another tomorrow if they were still in production.
I was thinking that plenty were chauffeur driven, straight to the station. :) Also, something about the way you reviewed the boot made me think of the Italian Job. :)
I had one in 2000 and liked it, it was a 2.6ltr auto, and it was the top of the range, it was a fantastic car, but after a few years it had problems, with head gasket failure, and later in 2014 it failed its MOT royally rotten sills, break pipes, and leaking power steering pump so I scrapped it no doubt it will be now have been made into tin cans, Before I had my omega I had the Senator which was superb, and there was no issues when I sold it no doubt it will be still going today
I actually owned one of these back in the day. It was a nice, if unexciting, transport. But it was THIRSTY! I swapped it for a 2.6 CDX estate, as I needed to carry some long loads. The Estate was cavernous! It made my daughter's Volvo 740 estate look like a mini in comparison. Unfortunately, it was even thirstier - even gentle driving was unable to get much better than 26 mpg, and it was also very heavy on rear tyres for some reason. Then it suddenly became a money pit, suffering an alternator failure (HOW MUCH???) followed by the heater valve springing a leak. The valve only cost about a fiver, but fitting it cost a couple of hundred - even with a mate doing the job - as half the top end of the engine had to be dismantled to get at it! At the time, unleaded had just hit £1.35 a litre, so the Omega went. I replaced it with a SAAB 9000 Aero in mint condition. Even more comfortable, faster and if you don't push it, capable of well over 40 mpg! (I've seen 46 mpg on a long run). How come Vauxhall are still going and SAAB aren't is a mystery!
Very similar to the Holden Commodore VT from that era but in Australia the Omega tag wasn't introduced till the VE range from 2006.with the VT Holden crammed a 3.8 litre engine into the space taken up by your 2.5 litre..would love to see you do a side by side comparison of cars made by Vauxhall and those made by Holden ..,by the way I love your channel.!
The Senator was beautiful and my mate's dad had one. It was like a luxury Carlton, a big step up from the last generation of the Cavalier. My dad had a standard Carlton and that was also a nice car.
I remember going to collect one of these when I worked in an MG/Rover dealer. I was, and still am a huge fan of the 800, so I wasn't that interested in the big Vauxhall. However, after an hour's journey back, I was really rather smitten with the Omega. Very underrated car, and, whisper it, actually slightly better than the 800 if I'm honest. Don't you just have it when your prejudices are shattered.
I had one of these after owning an E34 BMW 5-series and it was as just as good a car, in some areas better, like ride comfort and space, though the BMW did handle sharper. I can see why they were popular with the police: Very comfortable, well balanced handling, spacious (especially the estate model) and with a 3.0/3.2 V6, pretty fast too. Sadly nowadays it seems even the police are not immune from the stupid fad of SUVs....loads of BMW X5s and such like as patrol cars now. When will it end!?
I had a 1999 lotus omega 3.0 MV6 quad cams all Carbon fibre dash with lotus two tone low profile wheels and Xeno headlights and it had every spec available including dual climate and even traffic master system magnificent audio system with 6cd interchanger i wish i kept it it was rapid after i sold i found out it only one of 10 in the country and worth double what sold for ! Gutted ! Id like a classic lotus Carlton on day if i could find one !!! That would be worth mega money now !!
Makes me feel nostalgic for my '98 3.0 Elite. It had wall to wall leather, sat-nav and a built-in phone. That was "absolute top of the line", unlike the CDX. The CDX was mid-range, the one above the base model CD. Unless I missed something, Saab didn't share this car's gearbox. It wouldn't fit into any of their front-drive cars.
I often wanted an omega but never had one , had many Vauxhall’s before , novas , cavaliers and two Carlton’s one was 2L auto that was a fab car and 2.3TD estate torque machine last Vauxhall I had was a Vectra it was ok just a spiced up cavalier
I had a 1998 S reg 2.5 V6 manual in silver with black leather seats in 2003/4. It was a great car to drive ... until the cat's, crank and cam sensors went on it !! I love Vauxhall's and have owned many over the years and I still do (Vectra C 1.8 16v). I done the sensors myself but the catalytic converters were expensive at the time so I got rid of the car, boy do I regret it now :(
I've been looking for a petrol manual version. I'd particularly like an ex- police variant with the 3.0 (or later 3.2) engine, as seen on the early episodes of road wars from 2003/4! They're very, very quick.
I always liked this generation of Opels (cause back here, they're Opels), the Vectra B, Astra G and the Omega B. They were the cars on the road when I was a kid and in no small numbers. Always liked the look of it, the massive center console and the V6 engine was one of my childhood dreams. I also remember the Omega A, as my granpa's friend had it. He had it in automatic, because he had a damaged left leg so wouldn't be able to press on the clutch pedal. Dunno what engine was in it, but my grandpa always despised it for being too thirsty ( and that really must have been a lot thirsty, because my grandpa used to drive a Volga M21 for 23 years and that surely was thirsty too 😄)
I had a 2.5 cdx estate on a 96 plate, was great and the first cold start of the day when the SAI is warming the cats up is a sound you wont forget. I also had a 2.0 gls on a 97 plate and it had 136hp not 114 that was the 2.0 8v carlton. Both cars had the same oyster silver paint The throttle cable needs a slight adjustment to overcome the slack and make it razor sharp also the vacuum accumulators and lines will need to be in tip top condition for the multiram to work and keep the power up
Great video nice car the Vauxhall omega. You could allways tell the Vauxhalls they where well put together car's when you shut the door it goes clunk. Rather than ting lol. 👍👍
I had a 24 valve 3.0 Senator back in the day, complete with digi-dash. Absolutely loved it but the 16 mpg commute was difficult to stomach. I sold it and bought a... Rover 214Si !
I've had over 20 Omegas in the past and have 3 on my drive at the moment, one is a blue 2002 saloon that has only done 50,000 miles, the earlier cars had a better interior in my opinion. They seem to be going up in value too, at least the ones that aren't rusty or silver! The CDX models were well specced with heated front seats, xenon lights, electric sunroof, etc but the Elite model added rear heated seats and a rear electric blind too. I was listening to the video whilst typing this and will go back and watch it now but did I hear the 'presenter' say he thought the ride was firm? These are one of the most boaty cars on the road!! Omega, the best car Vauxhall never made.
I've always had big cars omegas bmw 7 series jaguar xj Saab 95 Audi a8 Mercedes s class I got to the point being fed up with such large cars I bought a fiat punto 2 months ago now I miss big cars again 🤣
‘The Cops’ in Northern Ireland used these cars for VIP’s. Were literally ‘Bullet Proof’ and Bomb proof. Great sounding and 3.2 V6 goes like a rocket. BOSE surround and all the electrics make it a great car .. even today. If it had USB for iPhone it would be mega !!
Iv always liked the omega, my grandfather had a 2.5 v6 Cdx and an elite, also a 2.6 v6 elite. The hsv gts which is basically an omega with a 5.7 litre v8 was a very nice car but not as nice as my dream car the vxr8. 6.2 litre ls3 v8.❤️
Lovely car. I believe that a limited number of Main Vauxhall Dealers , like Dencourt Motors in Belfast could supply you, in the early 2000s , a Holden Commodore SS . The SS came fitted with the Chevy LS 5.7 engine. Exactly like an Omega but as quick as an M5 V8. Check out men and motors from the time on RU-vid. Nice sounding V6 Matt. Thank you.
My Dad had what I believe was the very first Omega on the road in Northern Ireland in 1994 - it replaced his then 1990 Carlton CD which he had covered 120K miles in. He had three Omegas in total - the last the same colour as this car (Polar Sea Blue). This was replaced in 1997 with a new Calypso Red E39 5-Series (523i SE). Ps The ‘Elite’ was the top model in the range - not this CDX albeit still of high specification.
Thanks, I fell in with the Cadillac Catera version andI always wanted to see the Euro version Omega. Did you know the Omega name came from the Nova based Oldsmobile Omega back in the early 70s, yeah that when GM started to use the Omega name. I always wanted a Cadillac Catera but could never afford one, even now.
I wish this would have been sold as the Pontiac Grand Prix in the United States. The Grand Prix would have been able to compete better with European makes/models if was a mix of Holden Commodore and Opel Omega. I think if it offered every powertrain available in the Commodore and Omega, it would have been able to serve a range of purposes and sold very well. I think the V8 versions would have been the most popular version. The FWD just kills the fun in the Grand Prix GXP.
I had the quite rare BMW powered 2.5 td Elite (Which was top of the line, CDX was one below), what a machine that was luxury with economy and best of all not an "Ecotec" badge of doom to be seen lurking under the hood! Most surprisingly though everything worked and for a rear wheel drive torquey six cylinder turbo diesel that car was fantastic in the snow...The last Vauxhall I ever had and still wish I did. Wonderful old barge.
I had a MV6 with the body kit option and in that first gen style, very good, car and looked the part too. Very rare now in RHD, regret selling it now :-(
Interestingly the Holden Monaro was based on the Omega and you could see some of the styling features shared by both cars. I loved the styling of the Omega when it first came out and enjoyed driving the 2.0 estate hired for a work trip and my dads old 3.0 , which was very quick and agile for its size.
Yay I’m glad you’re reviewing another favourite of my cars The Vauxhall Omega especially the 1999-2003 B2 Omega such a beautiful machine one of the best cars around when I was born in 2001 beside the 25,45,75 too and the jags and the Aston’s and more like the Lamborghini Muricelago and the R34 GT-R. I loved the Omega for a very long time admiring the B2s when any drove past and was hoping to own one as my second car but I’m more on the Rover 45/75 approach now. My Grandmas friend and Neighbour from my grandparents old street before I was born. Well her husband had one of these beauties the B1 and the exact same year early 1999 (S reg) low miles as the furthest he went in it was 10 miles now and again and too the supermarket too. It had cream leather and the CD Changer etc. I loved it when I sat in it and he drove me and my grandma down the roads to the bus stop and it was a beautiful machine. He was born in 1926 an old welsh miner so to them it was like a Rolls Royce, so he is 93 now but he was happily driving it when he was 90, it was his pride and joy, he spent a lot of money on it. I don’t know if he still has it due to old age and sadly his wife died and I haven’t seen it outside his house when driving past. She used to be close to me and treat me like I was her great nephew. Anyway yes I’d love an Omega B2 because it looks slightly prettier and shines in my eyes and looks gorgeous. I saw a 2000 (X) reg today in Town (Preston) and always see it when I’m out and about in town and when I’m around college such a Beautiful Sight. My Two favourite Vauxhall’s are the Omega (B1 & B2) and the 2005-2009 Vauxhall Vectra like your friend Jason had the Facelift one. Other than that you know me to be a huge MG Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin Fan And a Fan Of others too. I’m glad the glorious 200 has gone to someone who’ll love it. I’m 6ft 5 1/2 in and happily Comfortable and loads of room in my Pride and Joy the Rover 25. Miles bigger than the fiesta and nearly enough the same as the first and second generation focus. I’m glad Jason has a spectacular car and given the 200 away to a good home. I might think about getting one the same age as me a 2001 Vauxhall Omega Elite V6 Saloon as I don’t like estates really or one of the last 2003 3.2 V6 ones.
3.2 v6 with fettling and irmscher bits was my go to for a while... in black..first car with xenons, on an r plate..god I miss that lump. Head gasket failure all too common sadly.
I'm seeing so many small parts that were shared in the GM portfolio. The exterior door handles, mirror button, door locks, interior grab handles, rear map lights and courtesy door lights were all used on the Australian built Holden Commodore from 1997-2007. I knew this was the case, but actually seeing it all rather than just hearing about it is quite interesting.
GM is still using that same mirror adjustment switch in the US Now. I have it in My 2007 Saturn ION and 2006 Saturn VUE. My mother has it in her Pontiac Grand Prix. I recognize some of the other switch gear also. The Cadillac Catera didn't sell well because it was actual Junk, I know people that bought them and they spent more time at dealers than on the road.
Drove one back in the day,surprisingly good but how many are left compared to the E39 5 series of which there are plenty? Twenty years should be easy for a quality car
I had a Carlton , that is similar and was around , not long before these came out , mr plods had both as motorway patrol cars if my memory serves me correctly , cheers Shane uk 🇬🇧
I valeting these space ships when new.. My mate said..10 years down the line we'll be driving these too...I did get an E reg Cavalier @2000AD. 2.0i GLS (iGl's of niggles) Strong engine. Suspension rotted away. But to this day...The Best car I've ever owned! Had a G' Polo after (rusted out) , then a J' Escort 1.3LX. (ran hot).. Now a 57' Chevy Lacetti (That'll be the Daewoo) 1.4. Runs hot and underpowered/heavy power steering. 94K and still running.. And it's the 1'st with airbags! ;o. Movin' on up! ;)
i loved my dads omega 2.5 v6 cdx in green it was a estate we traveled from scotland to manchester to buy it for £500 with 8 month it was a t reg i think this was in 2004 we bought it,they had a issue where you put the heating on it would flood the interior! the only issue was the drains in the scuttle where blocked it turned out to be a great car
I was lucky enough to drive a couple of the very last Omegas back in late 2003 when doing agency work collecting and delivering demonstrators for Vauxhall. And prior to that I drove the Australian version (Holden Commodore) that a friend of mine owned when I visited him in the summer of 2003.
I think it was a 3.8 V6 auto. It was certainly one of the quickest car’s I’ve ever driven and was a bit different to the 1.0 Corsa Life that I owned at the time 😂
Back in the day, I had 2 of them.. first a black one with black leather full options etc. After that, a champagne coloured 3.0 sport with a Irmscher bodykit XD Loved it.. 247 kmph was my record :) But after a while you dont want it in your life anymore, trust me.. ;) ...Head gaskets, oil leaks, sensors etc! And uhh did I mention RUST?! haha
I had a 3.0 mv6 in that style plus the german body kit as standard. It was a great car, better than the facelift one too, which tried to make things squarer but never worked well.
