I once owned a Vectra CDX (2000 facelift with Xenons) in that exact colour. It was a 2.0CDX, purchased it in 2004 at 80K miles. I then installed a Romano N Sequential LPG setup in late 04, ran it for 30K miles until selling it to my late step dad. He than ran it until 2013 and 250K miles before scrapping it. The engine and gearbox were 100% original, as was the clutch (never changed during either of our ownership periods). It was a brilliant car, did everything we asked of it and was a superb car to drive long distances. I followed the Vectra C with a couple of Omega Bs, a Vectra C 1.9CDTi 150 SRi Nav Auto (another car, better than you think), ending my Vauxhall ownership career with a Zafria C 2.0CDTi 165 SE (a 2014 example purchased in 2015). My mum now owns the Zafira C (replacing her Zafira B which she and my step dad owned from new). My mother also owns a low mileage Astra G Bertone 1.8 Convertible, which only gets used in the summer. Sadly, because GM sold Opel/Vauxhall, I moved over to BMW and now run a 2018 G31 530d along with a K11 Micra and 1987 XJ40. However, I look after both my mothers vehicles and have always enjoyed GMs logical engineering, predictable surprises and well documented, mostly easily resolved faults. I found my Vectra B to be very easy to look after, easy to service with cambelts and waterpump changes dispensed with ease, even head gasket changes (needed one at 150K) were completed relatively quickly on my driveway. Woefully underated cars.
Great comment thanks for sharing your experiences. The Vectra was an advanced design which was rushed into production allegedly at least a year before it was ready.
@@OnceDrivenForeverSmitten If that's what GM Opel considers 'rushing into production', then they should take a leaf out of 1980s Rover and Jaguars books :). My XJ40 is an early example, made in 1987. If differs from the 1986 cars in a number of ways, with various modifications made during early production to make it 'slightly less shonky'!. A friend of mine owns a very early Rover Sterling, from the first run of 1500 cars. The car was produced to allow Austin Rover to have an 800 in every dealer, ready for the 10th July 1986 launch. If you go over this early car, in comparison to a later car, there are a huge number of changes made to the later car. Early cars tended to dissolve by around ten years old, whereas an example from just a few years down the line, was still looking relatively fresh by ten years old. Before the CDX, my sted dad owned an early, N registration Vectra B 2.0 GLS, in that weird Maroon early Bs were available, in. It had, by the time we sold it, 150K on the clock. The door bottoms are crusty (due to the water based paint issues a lot of manufacturers suffered from), the drivers seat had partially collapsed (quite common by all accounts on early Vectras), and the engine was breathing a little heavier than normal. I fitted a Vauxhall dealer issued flame trap thing, which solved a number of the idling issues :). It wasn't terrible, but, the later 2000 CDX did last a lot better!
I remember Clarkson using the Vectra to demonstrate the car is the best invention ever. His logic was that even when a car is terrible it's still brilliant. I had a 2.5 V6 that managed to feel slow and had awful bar stool like seats.
With any car review there is no substitute to driving a car and making your own mind up… so often reviewer have killed a car with barbed comments but the reality of living with a car day to day is totally different. Great to see a more balanced review many years later Dougie, thanks and very much look forward to seeing you at the FOTU!
Thanks! You'd think with it being a base model with 75bhp it would be pretty grim but it does everything required of it surprisingly well. It's quiet, comfortable and very cheap to run. Vauxhall stopped doing base models after this as consumers became more aspirational, when the Vectra C arrived the entry level model was the 1.8 LS with 16 inch wheels, 125bhp, air con, cruise and a CD player. There was a 1.6 in Europe but wasn't sold in the UK.
@@OnceDrivenForeverSmitten I sat in one and didn't like the driving position. The dash is too straight and you almost feel like you're sitting on top of the car.
I was a fleet manager from 91 to 05 and saw the evolution of Vauxhall in that time. The cavalier mk3 was such a popular car it proved a hard act to follow. I ran early Vectras from launch and yes we had the 1.6 8v envoy on the choice list. Ran a few and they always seemed quieter than the ecotec 16v engines. You were right about the narrower tyres, also no rear headrests was another giveaway. Certainly deserves a bit of love this one, new cam and bits would see it right. We transitioned from petrol cars to diesel’s back in 97 so then bought 1.7td Vectras which suited the high mileage drivers better, back in the day when diesel fuel was cheaper!
Had a customer who used to own an old f reg Vauxhall nova 4dr saloon 1.2merit and it still kept up with traffic quite happily. My old m reg Astra m633 dgg 1.4 8valve was still good for keeping up with traffic too. One of the best engines ever made was the 8valve by Vauxhall.
Well said,8v engine was bullet proof if serviced regular,had loads of mk2 and mk3 cavaliers all ex company cars with high miles but FSH,gear cars and engines.
The Cavalier 2.0 8v, 1.7td, and 2 5v6 were awesome!!! The GLS and up models had more insulation, the whole Vectra B range was well insulated. Very thick bulkhead and floorpan sound deadening.
Vectra B used to be everywhere when I was a lad. They were very popular in my family, my grandad had one, my uncle had one, even my step-dad had one and the next door neighbour as well! I have fond memories of the auld Vectra B, but it is definitely weird seeing one without the rev counter! I always thought the wing mirrors were a cool piece of design.
That requires a bit of love Camshaft required it's the only thing that lets it down It's like wearing an Armani suit and putting on open toed sandals. In my eyes the Vectra B was just the most beautiful car of its time I've had 6 version of it And I'm proud to have one of the last GSI . Thank you for showing us a most beautiful Vectra B envoy . Just give it love and it will re,-,pay you with miles of pleasure.
My old chap had a 2.5v6 GLS on a p plate from new. Always thought it was an odd trim level for the V6. No alloys, electric rear windows etc but that engine was phenomenal.
Thats another very rare car, the V6 GLS. Almost all of the V6s sold would have been in CD/CDX and SRi/GSi trim. Think I only ever saw one V6 GLS on the road, and it made a pretty good sleeper car especially if you removed the engine badging. Could surprise a lot of people in a straight line.
I once drove an Astra with this engine. It really is surprisingly nice, not weak or slow at all. Totally tuned for low end torque, in everyday driving just a good performer. Only when you push it above 4500 you start to notice the lowly hp number. For most people perfectly adequate, maybe even more gutsy feeling than the 1.6 16V.
I had a Brand New R plate one as a company car.It was a 1.6 16v LS model..I couldn't fault it..I did approx 80k in 4 years and it didn't miss a beat. As a family car it was faultless and took us to France twice on holiday with no issues at all. Great cars 🙂👍
I had an R reg 1998 Vectra back in the day. 2.0 GLS DTi. Dull and slow as hell, handled like garbage also. But it was the first car I had that did 50 mpg. Great early diesel, simple and reliable.
The diesels were terrible , my dad had a petrol one luckily the 2 litre GLS snd trust me that was a good car 140mph and 100mph in 3rd gear crazy fast and 4 wheel disc brakes , he had a car literally fly at him round a blind corner but stopped dead from 60mph in like 25 feet
Back in the day I worked for a small independent which specialised in 'nearly new' (as was the in phrase back then) Fords and Vauxhalls. My boss being a long standing ex Ford salesman very much favoured Ford and I very much preferred Vauxhall. I can still remember the first time I drove a Vectra B. He bought one for a customer from a Vauxhall closed Auction, I can't remember which one now, but I do remember driving up north to get it in a newish Mondeo and back in the Vectra. It was an early GLS 1.8 or 2 litre I can't remember which, but the one thing that stuck with me was how much quieter and refined the Vectra felt over the Mondeo at motorway speeds. Unfortunately, once off the motorway how dynamically superior the Mondeo was on country roads! Such a shame those early B's were a bit flawed. As you mentioned, for a while we had a number of customers happy to pay overs for a late, low mileage Cavalier to avoid the Vectra. Apart from that stupid armrest I didn't struggle to get comfortable in the Vectra but I do remember quite a few did. From memory apart from the firm seats which many didnt like the steering wheel on those early cars (like airbag Cavalier) was non adjustable and tall drivers couldn't get the seat to adjust low enough. I could be wrong but didn't they re work the seats slightly, with all the other things, on the 97 cars to sit 15mm lower or had extra height adjustment as well as bringing back the old 5 position steering adjuster which kind of helped matters if not entirely ideal. Its a pity really, even in 1995 the Cavalier, amongst newer more talented rivals, still got so much so right. It only really showed its age in chassis dynamics and ergonomics (mainly down to the non movable airbag wheel). The Vectra at launch did improve slightly in some areas the Cavalier was still good at but ergonomically and dynamically was arguably worse! It did evolve into a pretty decent motor over the years but by then it was all a bit too little too late, the damage was done, of course made worse by Clarkson and co. Later on I do remember driving a pre facelift Envoy and quite liked its no nonsense simplicity. At that point I had an early facelift Star Silver CDX V6 on a T plate and remember getting back in my car after driving the Envoy, looking down at that stupid arm rest and thinking 'you need to go 😂'. Somewhere amongst my stash of old 90s Vauxhall literature, I have still got a few early brochures and the press release thing for the Vectra B. I'll have to dig them out again now and for a giggle!
I had one of the first P plate ones in 1996. A 2.0 16v. I wanted silver, but they initially only came in a light metallic green - the closest I could get to it. Having just come out of a M reg Cav 1.8i, the Vectra's handling was very skittish and not tied down at all by comparison. So it was interesting to hear your commentary on that. The 2.0 16v engine was fantastic though! Thanks for the memories..
I had the very same car back in the late 90s, same year, spec abs colour. It was awful. Didn't mind the green/ silver ish colour and the 2.0 16v engine was ok. However. Reliability was terrible. I suffered that car for 6 months and traded in. Since that day, I never have and never will own a Vauxhall again. Great video and worth the watch to remind me of the pain and suffering of Vectra ownership. The Vectra is a festering turd of a car.
First time I met Sam was when he was deleivering takeaways in a mark 2 Fiesta, he caught me taking a photo and pulled up and let me get better pictures. 😂😂 Usually bump into Sam at Retro Car Meets with his Astra. I was sorely tempted to buy the Vectra when he was selling it as it was a cracking looking car. I'm another advocate for poverty spec cars, my current fleet up until saturday consisted of a Poverty Spec Citroen Cactus, Poverty Spec Fabia Estate, i went up a level with a Mark 5 Escort LX which seems quite poverty spec compared to the Cactus and Fabia! I think we can all associate Poverty Spec growing up, my dad always had fairly base spec Escorts wheather a special edition or a entry level, even now my dad still goes for a entry level car! Another Brilliant Video Dougie.
Fantastic video. I had one of these, exactly the same colour, no rev counter, no sunroof etc when I worked for a well known nationwide window and door company. I absolutely loved it......the company replaced them with Renault Lagunas.....hated it. Would have this model of vectra back in a heartbeat.
I love seeing a tidy classic Vectra, it reminds me of the '97 1.6 LS saloon my mum had for 16 years. Yes the ride was choppy, the interior trim all fell to bits, the air con was broken, the remote central locking was broken, the spring-loaded bootlid was a literal pain in the neck on windy days, it needed new headlights about every year due to water ingress and by the end there was nothing left underneath, but I still loved it and made so many memories in it... I'd still like another one
I loved my company 02 Astra 1.7dti envoy. First car I had with electric windows but still a cassette player and I don't think air conditioning. Happy driving from place to place in it..
Absolutely fantastic video Dougie! Even as someone who’s not much into Vauxhalls or Vectras, my attention was captured the whole time. Sam is a great pal of mines and his passion for preserving cars is really admirable, top bloke.
My personal all time favourite Vauxhall engine is the 1996-1997, X17DTL 67HP, 1.7 TD. I did over 240k, predominately motorway miles, and consumables aside, it cost me nothing more than love, and two sets of glo plugs.
Good man dougie nice ta see had a 1996 1.6 many yrs ago. I dontcare what anyone says I was 17 and loved the old thing 😂 she had 17" tsw alloys and 40mm lowering spring 😮
My parents bought a one year old Vectra Premier in 1997. We had it for 5 years, it was the first car we as a family had Air Con! That was about all it has though, the Premier model was introduced to celebrate Euro96, based on the LS it had optional air conditioning and that was it! It did have the 16 valve engine though. Great memories, I was only 6 years old but remember going to buy it as if it were yesterday!
Had one of these long ago as a hire car when it was new. Really liked the simplicity, didn’t miss the rev counter. Power was ok too. Deserves to have the tappy engine fixed. Happy motoring! 😊
I know Jeremy Clarkson absolutely despised the Vectra (then again he hated most Vauxhalls) but I quite like the old Vectra B. Still looks like a fairly smart design even today. And it’s nice to see the ‘poverty spec’ Envoy. Nothing luxurious or fancy, but just honest and simple. Definitely a keeper. 👍
Back in 1998 to 2000 my immediate boss had a company one of these, an 'S' reg in exactly the same spec and colour. Regularly I got to drive it down the M5 between our branches in Bristol and Plymouth and back. All I can say is it was an excellent motorway cruiser and despite it's 75 bhp I never found it wanting in the power department. Later I bought a new 2003 Astra G Active with the same engine ran and it hard for four years and 60,000 miles, that too was smooth and very reliable and didn't feel under powered, which is more that I can say for the wife's current 1.6 16v Astra J SRi which for it's supposed 115bhp feels completely unresponsive and flat. I really wish I never sold the Astra G, I'm pretty sure it would still be around today well looked after, still seeing older examples on the road. I loved those family 1 engines, such clever engineering, so simple to repair and service. Clarkson was irresponsible and wrong with his slating of the Vectra, British jobs relied on it's success and still to this day people still slag it off despite never driving one, just doting on Clarkson's every word. Keep the vids coming!
My Vectra CDX always gets compliments on how smooth and comfortable it is when I have passengers from work or family. They're always surprised to learn it's a 21 year old Vectra. "I thought these were supposed to be rubbish?" One guy last year said it was nicer over rough roads than his sporty new Audi A4, which had very hard suspension 😂
@DougieSRi the Peugeot 406 has a much nicer ride than almost any new equivalent car now. I don't know what the game is giving cars rock hard suspension nowadays.
@@chrishart8548 I had a loan of a 407 a few years back and it was the same. Then there was the Xantia which had super advanced smooth suspension. There was real variety in the family car repmobile sector in the 90s, the 155, Primera, Laguna, 626, Rover 600, Saab 900/9-3, even the Seat Toledo. Turbos, V6s, high revving twin cams, the first quick diesels. Bah. What do we have now? A load of fat little pretend 4x4 lookalikes with tiny three cylinder wet belt engines and a dash made up of a gigantic screen.
@@OnceDrivenForeverSmitten and if you have any of the newer stuff you may as well lease because after 10 years it will have all sorts of issues any repairs will be upwards of £4k. I remember when a 10 year old car was a Gamble and could be had for £1000 most of the time I'm seeing 12 year old cars still going for £12k now. If I had too buy a car now I just wouldn't bother. But of course that's what they want us all out of private transport.
@@chrishart8548 I don't understand why there is so much house building on green belt everywhere that has no transport links and I improvement to surrounding roads. There's no consistency to anything governments or councils are doing aside from none of it making sense. The WEF controls most governments and the opposition parties and I don't know how far they'll manage to push their agenda before enough people wake up.
Remember riding in the back of a very early poverty spec brand new Vectra, it was in that sort of citrus/gold colour that's actually quite popular on cars today (New DAF demonstrator colour) compared to my dad's '82 sierra it was like a spaceship.
I had a 1.6 petrol R reg for 6 months, 10 yrs back ,,it was mr reliable! never missed a beat. I had a new Vectra 2.0 sri back in the day, it was brilliant for 6 years till some muppet rear ended me at a island. It destroyed his van, oil water bonnet and wings left all over the place. My dog was in the boot so i thought she would be dead,, she was fine AND the boot opened and closed perfect! It twisted the chassis tho.🙄. Built like a tank 👍🏴
Owned an early vec in this colour. Arctic trim which I think was an LS trim with different seat trim and air con. Mine was the 16v 1.6 with an auto box. Definitely no ball of fire but was a lovely car to drive and was really comfortable. I have also owned 4 vec c models,all 1.8 and all pre facelift. LS,SXI,Elegance and an active. The active was the best overall but the vec b was a nicer car to drive in my opinion. Recently owned an astra G LS 1.6 8v with the 75bhp engine and it was rather a sedate mode of transport. Great video as always. Take care.
I ran a 02 plate 2.2 dti SRI Estate for 7 years and 140k Only problem I had was a crank sensor and rear bushes causing the tyres to wear unevenly. Couldn’t understand the bad press they received.
Drove a Vectra wagon for 2 years with a 1.8 16v from 2000, was the bussines edition, with wood inlay, ac, cruise, adjustable steering, loved driving that car, still mis that car, was my first own car, would love to own one again
I used to own a 1998 1.6 Vectra 'Envoy' hatchback in silver, and apart from central locking and power steering, it certainly was much more basic than my previous Cavaliers.....however, it was a very reliable car, and i absolutely loved it. i went on to own two other Vectra B's ( a 1998 1.8 16v Artic 2, and a 1999 2.0 16v SRi), but i can honestly say, the Envoy was my favourite, and gave me the least hassle. I'm now on my second Vectra 'C', and although a much better car than the 'B', the Cavaliers are still my ultimate favourite (having owned 2 Mk2, and 5 Mk3, i know them well, and would gladly have another).
Some people would just look at this as a old standard car. But I see an old vectra with slot of history, if only it could talk 😄 would tell a few stories! I always like looking at the old Vauxhalls. They had every model for different budgets and I used to love the super touring models. It felt like Ford and Vauxhall was always trying to out do each other with little changes here and there. Great video dougie.
Had a gsi 2.5 great car with scorpion exhaust really made it sing, w46 nvv now sadly an air fryer, I worked at horns of Stockport later Evans halshaw and now its a crappy korean dealer under lookers franchise
I had one of those that exact same model bought it out of a scrap yard for £200 quite slow but my god was it reliable just kept going and was good on fuel I have a 58 1.8 sri vectra now and love that to again very reliable love the videos
I always thought the Vectra was a nice looking car. The way the bonnet line goes into the mirrors is a great styling touch. Looked so much more modern than the current BMW/Mercedes at the time.
I never liked the Vectra on launch and always felt the BTCC Cavalier looked so much better. This many years on now though, I can absolutely appreciate what a handsome beast it was and remains. A V6 booted version? Yes please!
Hi Dougie, had 2 mid spec Vectras, 1 hatch and 1 estate, as company cars, loved them. Next came a Mondeo and I was disappointed with it. Trim kept falling off and rear seat cover kept coming off from the base, even though rear seats rarely used. Also had a few Astra merit estates, 2 door ones at first and then the new model was four door, single point fuel injection was gutless though, even remember the reg J698WCY. Crashed it after 3 days from brand new, not my fault though, had to wait ages for panels to repair as they had just hit the market, good times!
Great video! Lovely to see some base model appreciation. This and the early MK4 Astra Envoys/LS with the unpainted bumpers and steel wheels without wheel trims were peak base model in my opinion. Interesting base model mod would be the 45hp 1.2 into a Mk3 Astra.
We fitted a 1.2 carb Nova engine into a Belmont once as the 1.4 was knackered. Sold it to an older guy who drove it locally for years and never questioned the performance 🤔😂
I put one of these engines in my combo van when the little 1400’s head gasket went. Made a vast improvement in performance and drivability but it wasn’t going to break any land speed records.
My sister owned one in Australia, where it was known as the "Holden Vectra". It was a lotal lemon, with electrical gremlins that even the dealer couldn't sort out.
Hi Dougie, many thanks for producing this video I really enjoyed it. Back in the day I had a ‘99 Vectra 2.0DTi with one hundred horsepower!! It was silver met, LS 5 door hatch. It really was an “oil burner” ‘cus it used 1/2L per 1,000 miles 😑. It was a good car though with a smooth, good sounding (for a diesel) engine. Do you remember John Clenland doing a road test comparing the DTi to the SRi on a race circuit? Good to see such a rare 8v single point injection engine mk1 still on the road. Hope it gets the camshaft, followers, lifters, etc it needs - definitely a keeper!
I don't remember seeing a Cleland video. I do remember the 2.0 DTi coming out with 100bhp and I was like "finally a decent diesel" but just as Vauxhall caught up the French and Germans moved on again with the HDi and PDi engines 😵💫 When I worked at Plumb Center the managers mostly all had Vectras or Mondeo LS/LX 2.0 petrols. When the C02 car tax bands came in they widened the choice and one guy got a Vectra LS 2.0 DTi on an X-reg and it went well. I drove that quite a bit. Was brand new though.
i have a LOT of vectra B1 myself. ALL the 1 generation. in holland we had CD and CDX lines. i had both and 2 diamond lines. this included ECC and wooden trim pannels. the cd and cdx had velours seats and doorlamps.. today i ONLY have a astra from 1997 with a 1.8 16v GM bigblock engine. elec windows power antenna rpm counter and elec uitside mirrors.. all in a 3 doors! very RARE in holland now... a licht green color. is staying stil now in my barn from 2013... the vectras starded for my, my pressent car hobby and the cars i collected now.. love this channel! mabe we could have contact? i am a mecannic! its all the same at repairs.. only thing is? for me is it a opel (holland) and you vauxhall. also love the uk brand no worries! greets from the windmils, wooden shoes and weed lol And cheese haha
ps do the camshaft! indeed this engines are LOVELY! bullet broof and iff no engine elec mallfuntions like lambda... very eco with fuel!! the smal block 16v also b vectra are a LOT more slurpy fuel comsumers.. the gm bigblock at the 90s... where heavyer BUT iff engine manegment was okay? no mallfuntions... very economical at fuel.. these were the x18xe and c.18xe. and the x2.0xev and offcourse the legend: c2.0xe.. the engige codes were used here in holand. no idea iff vauxhall used id? i think so.. this vectra is off i remember correct? the x1.6xr? i think i mis 1 letter but its plus 10 years ago for me... save the old vauxhals (opels)!!
Yes Vauxhall use the same engine codes, X20XEV, C20XE etc. The Vauxhall versions of the Vectra had different spec to European ones. I have an Opel Vectra CDX 2.2 and it does not have a sunroof, but the Vauxhall does as standard. Our SRi models were very popular on the Cavalier (Ascona/Vectra) and Vectra but I think SRi is Vauxhall only, the sport version was GT in Europe. We also had the very rare ST200 (38 built) and the Supertouring special edition (250 2.0 and 250 V6)
@@OnceDrivenForeverSmitten the only thing i remember with the sport specs here are next: we had a opel vectra B1 and B2 models as irmscher I500. a 190 plus bhp engine with a 5 speed. a believe there a 6 BUT super rare 5 build? the below line was for example the sport ED1 and sport ED2 no visual sport exept the seats and wheels. irmscher was mosly orderd extra with rims. sadly no body panels whats so ever. the imscher i500 is your country as a sport SRI moddel sold. the frond bumpers were back my times (2013) VERY much bouch from ebay uk also the elypse xenon lamps... YES the image is ajustabile for eu left steering possible lol... the sri body kits in the uk are basic from imrscher germany.. the sad part is that there are ''more'' sold in the uk with body kits then over here in holland and even germany..
Im Born in 97, my dad bought in 99 a brand new Opel Vectra B CC Sport 2.0 16V The only two faults this car had in 7 years was one faulty central locking control unit and the oil seperator cracked and it leaked oil. But apart from that it was one of his most reliable cars. I wish they put the Z20LET into the B Vectra. I know that swaps in other countries are very common but getting a car legal in germany with an engine swap with an engine that was never fitted in the same model by the manufacturer is a challange. But i guess if they did there was no point in selling the V6 Vectra.
I had a 1997 P reg. 2.5v6 CDX. Loved the car, one of my favourites, only got rid as it developed engine trouble after about 5 years basically no issues. I then got a 2002 2.2SRI Also loved that one, however loosing job and it not being very economical meant I had to sell that one. Which I do regret since gaining employment soon after. Never liked the Vectra C. Ugly with awful interiors. The facelift was much better, but still the interior was just too plasticy for me. I think the B's look better. Also glad you mentioned the Cavalier 1.4's. I had a 1990 Cavalier 1.4l as my first car, really realiable, loved it.
The Astra 1.7 Isuzu engines in the Astra's were a case of when not if the head gasket would go, was following the RAC rally at the time and that one went in Blackpool, managed to nurse it back to Portsmouth without stopping engine, stopped for fuel 5 miles from home and that was it, locked up (hydrolocked?) . Many on fleet of company I worked for and they all failed eventually, had a hard life though.
Don't forget the MSD Supertouring 200, Clarkson was almost kind to it, sort of comparing it to the escort cosworth and the Lotus Carlton. I still go back and watch that test a couple of times a year. I bought a brand new Vectra Arctic 2 saloon in premium blue, £14700 if i remember. It was going to stay standard after my modified Astra F 2.0 Sport but it ended up being sort of a blue Supertouring replica 🤦🏼 Get the cam sorted in the Envoy, you know you want to 👍🏻
Oh yes, totally do the work and get it back to 100%. It's too good not to. I love a bare model car too. There's something very appealing about the essence of motoring type experience where there is less to distract you and it basically shows the quality of the base ingredients of the car without masking them with loads of features. Similar to going in and ordering a margherita pizza from a good Italian restaurant to see the quality of the dough, the tomatoes, the mozzarella, the cooking. I think us Brits like an underdog too and a base model has that feeling where it was never created to have as much kerb appeal as the range topper. So we feel like we have to champion it
Drove many Vectra b's back in the day. Never did drive one without the Rev counter or rear headrests. Yes that 1.6 8 value engine makes the car very appealing 🙂
Ooo takes me back, met my wife in 97 and remember these being everywhere, her brother had a 2.0 gls and I desperately wanted it always thought it was so refined. Anyway if he can would say keep it as standard as poss do the cam etc good valet piece of history. Thing I liked about the envoy was they didn’t cover it in stupid stickers it just was what it was.
It'll definitely stay 100% standard and get some original dealer plates made up for it. We're more than happy to help with the engine work, it'll make a good video and it's for a good cause.
Great video Dougie, I've had a few veccy b's and c's, obviously including the v6 gsi and current vxr. The later b's were a decent enough drive in 2l or above form, the c chassis imo is one of the best Vauxhall ever made. My Vxr, even as an old girl now is as rooted as you'd ever want, honestly the chassis is that good it doesn't even feel that fast as it's so capable. My last word, the Veccy B was and always will be the better looking car for me, I'm thinking of buying another v6 right now at the right price.
The envoy trim level was very popular with fleets - including the Police. For a while the national police car was your Astra Envoy with the 1.7 Izuzu diesel and SXI suspension, brakes, a close ration gearbox (completely knacking the economy) and steel wheels.
My Grandad had a 1.8 LS on an N reg, it was an insurance replacement after his K reg Cavalier was stolen from Manchester City centre (he hated the Vectra and always missed the Cav) The Vectra felt very posh to me as we had an old X reg fiesta and a base Montego at the time. N441FVT lived on for 4 years after Grandad passed away.
I had a Cavalier Mk2 SRi130 , loved that car, test drove the then new 2.0i Vectra , it was the most dreary boring soulless car I ever drove in my life, not one good thing to say about it. Ended up buying an Si24v Mondeo instead, and that was epic.
The missus had a 51 plate 1.8 vectra b, went quite well considering. Rear foot wells were 2/3 inches deep with water though at all times due to poor seam sealant application that I could never cure. Great plate on it too “Easy Mover” - EA51 MVR
Last Cav was probably the last best V. Had an E plate 2.0 i GSI. But learnt to drive in an F reg. It was a real comfy cruiser. Cannot fault it! Though the later 52 plate vectra. I drove in Germany...It definintely evolved.. It was well swanky at the time.
@@chucky2316 agree. The time of personal transportation is changing. When you're stuck in a jam. You see how mundane and pointless your precious human life is. Guess the alternatives aren't there yet.
E reg? The Cavalier Mk3 was launched in October '88 on the F reg. Definitely the better car, I've had three, the second two when I could easily have bought a Vectra B instead. The dashboard was too depressing and it lacked the comfort of the Cavalier (I should know, I drove a Vectra for work before driving home in a Cavalier. Not that the Vectra was a bad car, it just lost something from its predecessor.
Lotus tuned the suspension system on the Vectra b on the newer Sri models from 1998 . Vauxhall should of fitted a telescopic steering rack on the Vectra b for taller people like they did with the astra g lol
I think it would be awesome to get it back 100% it’s a proper survivor. My cousin had a N reg diesel vectra back in the day. Don’t remember how it was as a car though I was very young.
I had the Opel (as it’s known here) Vectra and the Tigra on my bedroom wall as a boy. I got a poster for a Ferrari F50 as a Christmas gift and yet I kept my red Vectra on the wall. I drive Opel today but I’ve never had a Vectra.
They did a 1.6ltr Vectra? OUCH! My first car was a mk.2 Cavalier hatchback 1.6ltr 8 valve. It had 90bhp, around 100mph top speed and 60 in aroound 12 seconds and probably weighed 200kg less, so this must be positively snail like haha!
