Help choosing car/ Which one..?

[SuperGoose75]

Hi all, Was curious if any Car dealers/ mechanics could point me in the right Direction and help in Choosing car.

 

We run two motors' one for herself for work and the other a family car. We are upgrading the family motor. I looked at two within our price range today at a local car dealers.

 

Both are the same year and both are Vectras. One is an Opel and the other a Vauxhall. Both are immaculate. !

The Opel is a High spec model with Front fogs,rain sensors,cruise control ect.

The Vauxhall is the bog standard model although has a tow bar.

The Dealer has giving a choice of either car at the same money' but there are at least 25000 miles in difference in both cars.

Both are 19 diesel's the Vauxhall has the less milage. Im torn between the two. Does the milage in a diesel engine relly matter that much..?

The dealer has said that both cars were bought from them new and also serviced by them.

 

Which would you choose.the high spec model or the standard with less miles..?

Any pointers really appreciated.

[pjw4233]

Having a tow bar means that it may have been worked harder, with more wear and tear on the engine, clutch and drive train.

[Hamster]

Usually I'd always advise lower mileage but here the tow bar is as much a factor as is the lower spec, you'll be finding it harder to sell on too don't forget. The other option is to see if there is a better car available elsewhere.

[SuperGoose75]

Thank you Gentlemen, the fact of one having a tow bar and may have been doing some Towing is not something I had considered and is a very good point indeed.

I couldnt take a run in them yesterday as I had the two Kids with me,however Missy is taking a long Lunch break tommorrow and a test drive of each Motor may help decide decide on one or wither to look elsewhere.

 

Thanks again, your views are appreciated

 

SG

[subsonicnat]

And as for VAUXHALL,, Do not touch with a barge pole..

You will have a heart attack if you need spares..

Trust me,, been there..

[jonny thomas]

Vauxhalls are alright never had a heart attack over parts myself the vectra however is probably the worst car exept the viva hc they have ever produced

Pretty much any equivalent car is far better

[jam1e]

I've had several Vectras, mk1 and several mk 2's. No worse on parts than any other car make I've had, bar Subaru WRX... Ouch! Although I'm told the clutch on the mk2 Vectra is a pig of a job and costs a lot of money.

Having spoken with a VX mechanic, (Off record) some time ago, he said generally they're good allround. The only criticism, was the EGR's go sometimes, mine did.... Although I had done 30k in it, putting it into the 90k mark. However, he did mention the "Dual Mass" clutch's being a "headache". Especially while towing anything heavy. He went on to say that they would be "OK, if people dropped it down a gear or 2 when going up steep hills with weight on". But if drivers just kept it in high gears and just put their foot to the floor, it can damage the clutch. Although I've never had a clutch go in any of mine, and I had the last 2, 1.9 CDTI's re-mapped for higher BHP, and torque. The last one I sold to a mate at around the 125k mark (I believe). He sold it at around 150k, and was still going strong. He just needed a van....

Most cars will have a weak spot on something or other, it's just a matter of finding out what it is by doing plenty of research, to find any potential problems, and checking the vehicle for them.

I always research vehicles on forums, based on the car I want. You can get a huge amount of data from them.

Good Luck!

Edited January 12, 2016 by jam1e

[kent]

you know what the ford was a far better car than the Vectra, it never got the sales it really needed though with the german badges taking that market by the very throat. Fords are always good on the wallet in relation to others regards spares.

[Cambsman]

you know what the ford was a far better car than the Vectra, it never got the sales it really needed though with the german badges taking that market by the very throat. Fords are always good on the wallet in relation to others regards spares.

+1 for a ford over a Vauxhall.

[SuperGoose75]

Well Guys thanks for all the input and thanks to "Jam1e" for the detailed accoint of his experience with the Vectra's.

 

We took both for a Spin yesteday and both where very nice driving Cars' The Vauxhall was a Good drive and seemed pretty solid with No shakes or any obvious squeeks as we took them down a country road before hitting the Main Road. I liked the Colour "Metalic Silver" and was pretty impressed with the car overall, although something was telling me this was previously a farmers Car, despite being pretty well cleaned up the steeeing wheel showed a good bit of ware and tear.

 

We then Took the Opel out and she also seemed pretty solid but for me she Seemed lower down and a different drive over all..More sporty and sreamlined if that makes sense. One immediate difference was when I put the boot down' this baby could Shift.The seats where half leather and one other advantage was that there was back facing heating vents between the two front seats which We of course had the children in mind.

 

I was still undecided but herself was taken with the Opel and the deal was done. We are picking her up on Friday.

 

Now this was done before I read the above posts after My last post and last night I then done some research online. It seems I made te correct choice as The DCTI's are the more reccomended model and get pretty good reviews. The model we bought is a 19 diesel 150 bhp Design.

 

Now i dont think you guys would be aware of the scandalous tax system over here. It is based on Engine size "CC'S and the bigger the engine the bigger the tax. However we learned that after 2008 there have been changes in the System and because this motor was 08 she would fall under the lower tax System.

 

I get what you guys are saying about better Cars in the range' and there was a nice Toyota Avensis in the Forecourt but was 2007 and the tax would have been very high.

 

I checked 2008 models such as the Ford Mondeo and Avensis and they are from 3 to 5k dearer than the average Vectra and therefore out of our price range.

 

We are upgraded from a Ford and she is a brilliant wee car and the dearest thing we had to replace was the catalyatic converter. I also not very long ago putMy work van which i had from near new off the road and was a Transit that dis not give much bother other than the turbo going.

 

Funny thing is that I now have an Opel Vectra 22yrs after my very first own car which was a Opel vectra Saloon 16 Single point which i done up like an SRI. That car took alot of abuse. Through out my 20,s ive owned and Audi and a very Cool Merc 190 which was done up like the Cosworth version. At the time I think she was one of the nicest cars in the Country and selling it was one of the sorriest things ive ever done.

 

Anyhow its more about Family and practicality These days so I hope we have some luck with our new purchase.

 

Thank you all for your time, advice and pointers.