Driven! Smitten? Vauxhall Senator B 3.0i CD.

[@TheVintageApplianceEmporium]

Good god this brings back memories. In 1990 my rich uncle had a top of the range Senator as his company car. He took me and my dad out for a ride in it and it BLEW MY MIND! Going from our 1980 Volvo 244DL into that brand new Vauxhall was like magic. And the digi-dash made 12 year old me think it was KITT lol 🤣

[@matty6848]

Almost the same story here. My dads mate Paul was a company director for a lighting business remember those light shops, that just sold nothing but house lights and lampshades? Seems crazy in todays click and collect culture. He had a Senator, my dad asked what it was like? He said jump in I’ll take you both for a spin. Next I know on the A456 bypass, we’re clocking 140 mph, with me in the back, no seatbelt on. Oh the heady days before health and safety😂

[@DrClaw77]

Ha ha, the KITT vibes are real in that car

[@martinhunt6004]

I say! That is a most splendid scene.

[@MINIMOTOMADNESS]

always likes senators in the 80"s,but not the ones with blue lights....

[@sg8539]

🤣

[@garychilds1130]

The snicky ones that creap up behind you when your going to fast

[@MINIMOTOMADNESS]

@@garychilds1130 i was a white van man so yeah i agree,many points were had.....

[@unclejoe6811]

ACAB

[@mattmckie6967]

One had me in my punto in 1997. 60 in a 30...I had to take my test again. Nazis. Haha

[@marwood1969]

My Dad had the 3.0L 24v version of the car and it was fantastic. He let my brother, me and our mate drive it to France to go skiing when it was nearly new, bless his heart. The trip there and back was one of the highlights of the holiday. Looking back it must have looked pretty odd - these 3 youths tearing down the French motorway in a big shiny saloon car. Still, we made it both ways, without incident!

[@spxram4793]

that engine was insane, the Senators and Omegas built with it blew 99% of all cars on the autobahn, well into the 2000' years. The 4.0l 24V was even more insane :-)

[@colonelk3000]

The 24v is a whole other animal, highly recommended you get yourself a drive of one. Manual 24vs were always one of the best Jekyll and Hyde cars personality wise. So great when hooned, so comfy when cruising.

[@matthewc.419]

Mmmmmmmm fruity ......... My uncles got two senators ...... Ones a 2.0 litre ones a v6 i think ??? Well cool....for cruising One is a gas conversion goes cheq Republic regular he got them both from scrap yards ones got 200k on it !!!

[@TheChill001]

@@matthewc.419 they didn't have V6's, those were actually the last Inline sixes made by Opel.

[@matthewc.419]

@@TheChill001 yeah sorry get confused over it .......thats why my uncle loves it .....so smooth proper motorway car

[@visionmodernclassics3062]

There are worlds between the two engines c30se and C30ne: A Senator with a c30se is such a underrated performance car especially equiped with a manual. 993 Porsches have to dress warmly. A c30ne automatic is lovely to cruise around but nothing more.

[@craigsg01]

I had a 24v manual about 20 years ago. Was as good as the BMW M535i I also had ( I like fast saloons ! )

[@d-d-i]

Quickest of these was the Irmscher tuner model. It had 4.0 liter CIH 6 with 272 horsepower and that was basically the final version of the old CIH 6 engine before Opel/Vauxhall came up with the Ecotec V6. My father has been lifelong Opel driver and he described these old RWD Opels as ''blue collar beemers''. Thanks for the video!

[@spxram4793]

I think, the Irmscher 4.0 ( C40SE) was derived from the C30SE, so the 3.0 24V and was a DOHC engine. The BEST ever in this catgeory, from Fritz Indra. The car shown here should have a C30NE (177 bhp), which was a 3.0 12V, and was the largest / latest CIH from Opel. I had an Opel Omega 3000 with the C30NE, and a GW of 1420kg. It blew any Mercedes or BMW with a 3.0 engine of its time. Me, idiot, sold that car for scrap value, after owning it for 6yrs and driving it 150.000 kms.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Absolutely yes Ian, buttons under the handbrake are for the trip computer.

[@AndyK.1]

And maybe snow mode if it’s with the yellow light

[@hillmangt1]

Buttons under handbrake are for trip computer not snowmode

[@dlions9068]

My dad had one of these. I remember it happily. I remember that kickdown too. Quick car back in the day.

[@torresalex]

What a channel. Where else would we get such a priveliged tour of such an unfairly overlooked car? Brilliant stuff

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

The Vauxhall Senator is the king of Hubnut luxury cars, you should 100% add one of these to the fleet!!!👍🙂👍

[@ianhelyar9553]

Nah, it'd put Betty's nose out of joint!

[@Jam3sA]

To be fair to the Senator, its direct competitor was the Scorpio, or perhaps the VDP/Sterling variants of the Rover 800. The W124 & 5 series were significantly more expensive, unless you went poverty spec.

[@Markcain268]

I agree, more your bread n butter executive car than a Mercedes or jaguar

[@davidevans4089]

None the worst for it.

[@jfv65]

and Volvo 760/960 and Peugeot 604 and Audi 200, all 1 posh-level under M-B, BMW.

[@Markcain268]

@@jfv65 Renault 25 too

[@vwestlife]

The Senator looks like it's trying so hard to be an Audi 100/5000.

[@andrewpreston4127]

Absolutely lovely, thank you. In the space of 3 or 4 years from the late 80's to the early '90's, I owned a Carlton 3.0 GSI, a Mercedes W124 300E, and a 535i Sport. The Carlton, same engine as the Senator, was the one that was the most fun. A big, gruff, bruiser of a car. The engine, as you say, with an old-school character about it. Thanks again, took me back lots of years.

[@DavidEmeryVirtechs]

I had one of these in the late 80s / early 90s. The 'comfort' setting of the dampers made the ride very soft and I hardly ever used it after driving through Wales one day with my kids in the back and the dampers in Comfort. Suffice to say my daughter was violently ill in the back, which is when I really appreciated the easy-to-clean leather seats. (Someone should invent leather seat belts for these circumstances!) My other memory was the terrible traction - I noticed you spun the wheels leaving the car park. I was parked on wet grass at a show one day and I started the engine to go home; as soon as I put the gearbox in 'Drive' the car sat there with the wheels spinning while the engine was ticking over.

[@gtametro]

Same problem with the Omega, back end grip was not great

[@spxram4793]

@@gtametro true. I had a 1988 Omega with the C30NE (3.0 12V). But much more worse in that sense was my next car, a 1995 BMW 525tds

[@pauledmonds3249]

My Dad got one of these brand new in 1989. It was the 12v in burgundy metallic. It went like crazy. He then swapped it for a 24v version, but he preferred the 12v. Very luxurious and well specified for the time.

[@markh726]

I owned two of these beasts, both the basic 3.0i, fantastic cars. Divorce cost me the first one, but once the dust settled got another. Still miss them to this day (unlike the ex wife!). Think you're being a touch harsh about the interior, it was a car designed in the mid 80's and compared quite well against the competition of it's day. Took my second one to 160,000 miles and it drove perfect, rust started to get to it when it reached 16 so it had to go. Owned a number of good cars since but my Senators put a smile on my face that nothing since has .

[@GuyChapman]

I loved my Senator B. It was bloody glorious. Straight six, giant wall of torque, quiet as.

[@hillmangt1]

Best large car of it’s era. Had one for about 15 years from six months old. Better specced than any of the German brands at the time as everything was standard. Extremely comfortable and travelled all over The UK and Part of Europe in it. Also was a brilliant towcar. I don’t understand how you can criticise the interior as it was superb and extremely hard wearing and a massive step up on anything you have in your fleet!

[@Efferpheasants]

The older Vauxhalls had lush well finished interiors far superior to Fords - but as you imply the proof of the pudding is how well (some might say bland) these later interiors lasted and function today, a BMW of that era (if there are any still around) would have gone through several driver's seats by now.

[@Blueblur444]

Lovely. As a huge fan of the VN - VS generation Commodores over the pond, these intrigue me so much. So many familiar elements but also loads of differences. Having also owned both a W124 and an E34 535, I can see how they would have fallen short, especially when new - the interior, ride quality and such were some of the most important factors in that market segment, along with the badge.

[@southerndiy1]

I’d love to own one of these, still never seen one for sale in Aus

[@user-pt1ow8hx5l]

Contemporary testers favoured these. As a proposition. Over a similarly priced BMW 525,...

[@mattw8332]

My late parents briefly owned an example of the Senator B's predecessor: 1979 Vauxhall Royale 2800. A more conservatively styled Opel Senator A. For that reason these Senators always had a special place in my heart. I think the Senator B played a part in making bigger grilles and chrome come back into fashion.

[@justas525]

Once driven forever smitten 😏😏 (Layla playing in background) 😏

[@wimtillaart8671]

Sell Betty! This is the real hubnut cruiser. Fix the muffler and install a tow hook.😄

[@rickietatum4319]

I've had a few of these over the years. all 24v models. my favourite was an ex Vauxhall directors car. it had a manual gearbox, digital dash board and a full grey leather interior with every factory fitted extra. I only sold it because I was offered quite a considerable amount of money for it.

[@EdFrankes]

Oh man, this brings back memories... I had one some 20 years ago. And i loved it to bits. I had a dark bleu metallic 2.6i automatic with grey vellours interior. No aircon, no heated seats, no adjustable suspension, but it did had everything else this car has. The blanc buttons under the handbrake are the controlls for the trip computer, btw. I still think the Senator B is a beautifull car. I agree that Opel/Vauxhall should have brought in more effort with these cars, but i love the all the same, despite the "cheap" choises Opel has made. Aside from the rust issues, these are very comfortable and reliable cars. The automatic is one of the best automatics i've ever driven. Like you said, responsive if you want to hoon, very relaxed when cruising. My Senator was the first car that learned me how to cruise at normal speeds and enjoy it, thanks to the cruise controll and it's laid back nature. But when i couldn't restrain myself, it would gladly give me the adrenaline shot i needed. I whent 252 km/h over the "Afsluitdijk" ones.... Even though it has considerable weight and mine "only" had 150 hp, it was not slow. At all. Real Autobahn Cruisers, these are. Now i want one again....thanks Ian....lol

[@audiofiil]

I remember my schoolmate's parents had a '90 3.0i CD when I was a kid in the 90s. Velour, black on black, electric everything, it was BOSS.

[@bentullett6068]

If you like Vauxhall's pop over to the car museum on the isle of Anglesey. The owner of the museum once owned a dealership (guessing Vauxhall judging by some of the cars) and he has some of the following Vauxhalls in the collection including a Senator, two lotus Carltons one which is modified, one Vauxhall Carlton in SRI spec, Cavalier V6, Vauxhall/Holden VXR8 and a few others. He also has other classic cars, buses, military vehicles, tractors, engines, train and even a ex RAF trainer jet.

[@cmjones01]

Happy memories. My dad had one of these as a company car, though in a more Hubnut spec with velour seats, analogue dash and no air conditioning. Did superb duty as a comfy, practical family car and never missed a beat, just like its Vauxhall predecessors, a Carlton and a Viceroy - find one of those now!

[@TheChill001]

remember that velours was actually the higher spec than leather back in those days...

[@alastairward2774]

@@TheChill001 Dad had velour in his old 740, very comfortable seats front or rear.

[@fhwolthuis]

I love these cars. I remember they even won tests against the W124 and E34 back in the day.

[@ruk2023--]

Also a huge fan of these. Someone on my paper round in the early 90’s had a burgundy CD the same as this. I think it was a 24v but can’t remember properly. I used to admire it every morning. This and the Saab 9-5 and Ford Granada Scorpio’s were my favourite cars around that time.

[@tricia_and_chrisholman965]

I ran a 1992 ex-police 12v in white (of course) with manual gearbox, manual windows, cloth seats and (originally-calibrated) analogue dash. I absolutely loved it, and it was only killed by rust in all four wings (none of which were original, think it had a hard life). Oh, and no headlamp wipers. I never seemed to get stuck behind anyone on the motorway, especially driving in Germany! Its replacement was a 1995 Ford Scorpio 2.9 estate - yes, the bug-eyed one. I really miss those old barges.

[@bmwman1981]

The bug eye Scorpio was a very underrated car for its price

[@whitemoor66]

These were brilliant cars. Back when Vauxhalls were bullet proof. Always preferred the Carlton myself, especially the 3.0 six cylinder version. Friend had this cars replacement, the Omega, and that was excellent too.

[@elelegidosf9707]

I like the way you just get straight into the video with no stupid swirling graphic /stupid music intros and no BS or time wasting.

[@chriswond9060]

My dad had two of these as company cars, first an F plate 2.5 manual in a kind of British racing green, the second a dark blue K plate 2.6 auto. Brilliant, brilliant cars that were great to drive and very reliable for the time. Lots of great memories driving (and being driven in) these beauties. Even though only the 2.5/2.6 it was so very easy to find yourself doing well over the legal speed limit! Modern cars are great to drive for obvious reasons but somehow no longer connect you to the road/driving experience like these cars and others of the time did.

[@crashbox7130]

Back in 2001 I owned a red 1993 Mini Mayfair 1.3 that had been Cooperised with a white roof and bonnet stripes, along with white Minilite styled alloys from a Mini Italian Job. I was on holiday on the Isle of Mull and caught the ferry from Fishnish back to mainland Scotland at Lochaline. On the same ferry was a new Vauxhall Omega (the B2 version) with a 3.0 litre engine. When we arrived at the ferry terminal at Lochaline he got off the ferry before me and shot off like a scalded cat! I gave chase and some 30 miles later we both boarded the Corran ferry at Ardgour and were alongside each other. It was then that the driver's window slide down and the American driver exclaimed "My God, I tried everything to pull away from you on those roads back there but nothing I could do was good enough to leave you trailing. What on earth have you got under that hood?" I told him it was a 1.3 litre engine and he was rather shocked and impressed 😂he was a decent chap.

[@ianhelyar9553]

I can vouch for that. A windy road, especially if it's level, and nothing can get away from a Mini.

[@davidcooke6803]

My old boss had one of these when I was on the coaches, they were Vauxhall/Bedford fanatics. It always sounded silky smooth when he arrived at the yard, the other boss had a Vauxhall Diplomat, looked like a Cavalier but wasn’t. Great vid, thanks Ian.

[@clivet3252]

Oh now here we go. Loved these. Such a modern looking car for 1987.

[@HexyTech]

My dad worked at a vauxhall dealer, his boss had a senator and I remember it being a treat whenever dad got to borrow it! That cool digital dash and comfy ride was proper fancy compared to my dad's cavalier and my mum's old magnum! I would love one as a daily to waft around in.. but as you say, they fall apart around the sill and arch just like the Carlton does :(

[@jackhewitson1884]

This was Vauxhall's dark horse back in the day. Very well screwed together and the mechanicals are reliable as long as they're looked after. It's such a shame that mainstream companies no longer make cars like this as it makes the market boring as you can only buy a Lexus or buy one of the big boys from Germany i.e. Audi.

[@spxram4793]

or a US car 😜I'd prefer a current version (450 or more bhp) 5.0 Mustang over any current Audi. From Audi, aim for the 5 cylinder engine (some RS models today, earlier much more)

[@stephenswift9868]

I love the fact that it’s green on green with added green! Velour for me please!

[@daveys]

I loved cars like these. I had a couple of Carltons and they were fantastic cars. Shame that Vauxhall don’t make anything like that anymore.

[@RayQuenched]

I passed my test in 1993. Like many 17 year old boys, made a new hobby of driving like a complete helmet. I feared these.

[@67tomcat]

Always loved the looks of the Senator, along with the Monza, neither of which were available here in the U.S. We did have the unrelated Chevrolet Monza. Great review as always.

[@matthewc.419]

I worked at a vaxhaull dealership as a child I remeber the monza And the 1st gen senator there wasa yellow one on the pitch !!!

[@TheChill001]

@@matthewc.419 I think you did get the Opel Omega in a reskinned form later on...as a buick or cadillac...but that failed.

[@boggy7665]

@@TheChill001 Yes, 'Cadillac Catera'

[@Richard-Bullock]

My dad had one many years ago. 1989 'F' reg. 3.0 CDi manual in silver. Ex police car, but not a patrol car. It was used as a Chief Constable's official chauffer driven car to get him around his constabulary area. Brilliant car. I never got to drive it myself unfortunately.

[@andygj66]

From the registration number, I suspect that was first registered on the Vauxhall company fleet. The registration plates are the style and series being used by the fleet management company around that time. They were hugely popular with the police for all the reasons you describe. An 8+ hour shift in a Senator was reportedly more comfortable and less tiring than other models being used at the time. Such was their desirability, officers allocated another vehicle would often take any opportunity to defect it in order to drive a Senator instead.

[@Stuzo2]

FD on the end is the DVLA code for being registered in Dudley. Would Vauxhall not have registered their cars with one of the Liverpool or Luton codes? (I know nothing about Vauxhall and their practices, I just remembered learning registration codes as a kid)

[@andygj66]

@@Stuzo2 At the time, management of the company vehicle fleet had just been contracted out to Avis, who were PDI’ing and registering the vehicles. Previously it had been in house with local Luton registrations (PP, KX, TM, GS etc.) I had a G registered Cavalier with a RFD suffix and my boss a Carlton with NHA. In my time, I also had cars with Manchester, Cheshire, Leicestershire and Northants registrations.

[@adamharries4776]

Great video!... thanks for putting the Senator on the map again.. not many left.. I am lucky to own a 93 24v in the same colour as this (was a childhood ambition to own one, especially as my efforts to persuade my Dad to get one at the time were unsuccessful!).. it's a pleasure to cruise in.. or stick in sport mode and get a bit mental with the awesome dual ram intake 😈

[@terryatkinson3182]

I'm not jealous...😤 lie!

[@angusnz7910]

I’ve got a 90 Vauxhall omega gsi 3.0 24valve with 144,000 km on it, and a 91 Opel omega gsi 3.0 12 valve with 38,000 km on it. Owned both for about 20 years and very underrated. Insure 1 for 12 months then the other the following. Probably not worth anything but still my little toys (NSU Ro80, 85 Corolla lift back as well). Come to NZ again and have some fun 😛

[@davidrichardson1646]

My dad upgraded from a Montego to 2.5 Senator in the early 90s when we bought a caravan. it was white and amazingly easy to get let out of junctions! (Not with the caravan obvs!)

[@Badgertronix]

Very Nice. I traded my BX for a very ropey Senator when I was 18. Wonderful wonderful car, but very rusty!

[@marcobenz292]

Love love love the Senators! Such imposing, aggressive styling and road presence. I’d love to have one as a daily driver, especially a 3.0i 24v with the twin rectangular exhaust pipes. 😍 Great to see an in-depth review of a golden oldie, rather than the sea of videos based on new high-performance Audis and fast Golfs…

[@davesclassicgaragetours]

Every time I see VN-VS Commodores over here, it takes me back to those heady days of my late teens and early 20s when Carltons and Senators were aplenty back home. It's quite often to be honest as they're still everywhere.

[@jbconno]

I've always loved these, ever since they came out. They had something about them. Thanks for featuring one finally.

[@Dayster666]

Wow, this brings back some good memories. I always loved the styling of these. My stepdad owned one of these second-hand, in-between Granada’s, Scorpio’s and SAAB’s, and loved it. He’d switch the ‘sports button’ on at a set of lights, and as kids in the back we’d be pinned to the seats grinning from ear to ear. Thanks for the video and trip down memory lane.

[@wheelerd02]

Stunning motors, got a lot of time for Senators. I have video on my pokey channel of me having a go in a MK3 Astra GSI. I had a customer get on my bus and we got talking one day, one thing leads to another. The DAY you uploaded this I had him on my bus of an evening, we talked about cars which led to old cars we liked. Our shared appreciation of older Vauxhalls was a good topic of discussion. Imagine my surprise when I came home to see you upload this video, I was only talking to him about hours earlier. A most singular coincidence. Top work as always Mr Hubnut, keep up the good work and stay safe ❤️

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

Definitely the best design choice for police cars imo. Looked very "authoritative".

[@procta2343]

I think the police used them for a good while too.

[@OwainF]

I think the grille looking somewhat like a moustache helps (or am I the only one that thinks it resembles one?)

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

@@procta2343 saw a live pursuit with one (chasing a white BMW 3 Series with a black fabric roof) back in 93. Very aggressive pursuit, but the Senator really held its own.

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

@@OwainF I don't think the grille looking like a moustache was how I saw it at the time... Though now, I can't really delete that image from my head! Thanks alot 😑 What _I_ think it was, was the headlamp wipers - they sort of gave a very "headmaster peering over his glasses at you"-type look. Without them, it might have been a different matter altogether.

[@Gazza-is2tk]

Ello ello ello what's goin on ere then

[@matty6848]

Remember my dads mate who was a company director had one of these as his company car. My dad was admiring the car and asked what it went like? He said jump in, I’ll take you for a spin. Next I know we’re on the A456 manor way bypass for Halesowen doing 140 mph. Of course this was the days before countless speed cameras and when dads took their 11 year sons along for a 140 mph death rides😂 I remember being well impressed with it though along with my dad, who then felt his 1.6 injection Ford Orion Ghia, wasn’t quite up too spec with the Vauxhall Senator😂

[@cohette]

I bought a 1987 12V in 1991 and was so pleased with it I bought a 1991 24V in 1994 which I kept for 7 years. Only problem area on these cars was the air conditioning, the aluminium condenser used to corrode and fail every 12 to 18 months, releasing the refrigerant but overall one of the best cars Vauhall ever made.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

A proper ‘dad’ car - I like it a lot, although I also really like the mk3 Carlton CDX and GSi from around the same time - always thought the Carlton was the better looking car, with not much detriment in the interior space, performance and status regions. And you could have the CDX as an estate.

[@bentullett6068]

I remember the estate car version. The Estate versions tended to get brought by people in their second hand years as cheap vans for tradesmen who didn't have enough money to buy a new or even used vans and that sort of owner tended to not particularly look after them and most were driven till they died. Its a bit like the late 1990's early 2000's MPV's all have virtually disappeared due to the same reason cheap van use.

[@markmiwurdz202]

@Ben Tullett. Don't know if you ever came across this feature in the estate version of the Carlton. A business contact of mine owned an Opel Rekord estate. In the load area with the back seats down - near the R/O/S wheel arch, there was a tyre/ Schrader valve pointing upwards from beneath the carpet. The idea was that when loaded and the car was slumping at the rear, you could go to the service station and pump up the suspension to compensate. When you had delivered your weighty cargo, just simply delflate the system to normal ride. The owner used the car to deliver products from his business, and transport his bass guitar/amp rig to gigs with his band. Stay safe and well.

[@djonfonsteen6331]

I had a Carlton 3.0 CDX Auto. Smooth and surprisingly reliable. loved it, nearly as much as an x300 xj6 Jaaag.

[@no1flash]

I used to work for my uncle on his building company and he got a years driving ban, luckily for me I got to drive it about for a year travelling from Surrey to Essex and driving him about when he needed to visit a site, K reg 24 valve and I was only 20 years of age back in 1996 so it wasn’t even that old, what a weapon it was 😊

[@lewis72]

I had an '89 3.0i 24v Senator. Loved it but it did only do 16 mpg on my 6 mile drive to work though. 😆

[@caw25sha]

I did the stick-your-hand-in-a-Cavalier-window thing as well. I still have two hands.

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

Citroen C5 had a similar feature. A fantastic safety mechanism to prevent hands/arms/necks becoming trapped when the windows were wound up. EXCEPT, it didn't work when locking the car with the key fob (which also winds up the windows). If you held the door lock button a bit too long with a dog in the car - or even just a child - there could be SERIOUS problems... Doesn't bear thinking about 😭

[@j.wagner8639]

I had 2 Opel Omega in Brazil with 4.2 and 3.0 straight 6 engines. Built by Chevrolet brazil in Sao Paulo, 1995 and 1993. Solid cars, plenty of parts, but GM brazil stops building internal plastic parts in 2005. Big dealers bought huge quantity of these and we had a blessed time to keep our Omegas in good shape. But after all these years its became really difficult to find good plastics. In mechanical area still have good amount of parts

[@ridzridley8013]

This road test brought back happy memories of my 1990 Senator B 2.6 which I started my chauffeur-drive business with. It was one of the first 2.6's as it had the 2.5's exterior door handles - the 2.5's were black while the 2.6's were body coloured. I bought it when it was 6 months old with 9,000 miles and kept it for 4 years, taking it to 145,000 miles.

[@thomasmapson7814]

I remember my dad had 2 of these when I was a kid, and I felt like the dogs danglers getting picked up from school in them. Love Senators!

[@mpersad]

British Barges, what a shame they've all gone. Top review of a car I also wish I'd bought when I could. I did look at a Carlton MkII in 1996, but a Jaguar Sovereign stole my heart. She was the best car I ever owned.

[@johnalees99]

Yes, strong VN Commodore vibes there. Or rather, strong VN Calais vibes. Although they weren't a bad looking car for their time, and didn't go too bad with the 5 liter Holden V8, a motor that always sounded much nicer than the LS motors that replaced it.

[@zkcessnaguy]

I definitely think the Commodore has a much nicer interior.

[@sutherlandA1]

@@zkcessnaguy the VN interior was a design by Michael Simcoe and inspires by Citroens of the time. The Senator type was considered too claustrophobic

[@starbase.]

A car with immediate presence

[@simonwoodward438]

I got pulled by one back in the day, I was in a company Montego 1.6 on the M50. I was being a tad naughty and the Senator reeled me in very quickly indeed.

[@Soulvex]

the 24v police cars did 160mph with loads of weight in them.

[@paulmoor595]

I was fortunate enough to have one of these as a work car back in the day and not have to pay the fuel bill when I drove 'progressively' A.plain grey, 24V beast..on the Brentwood Traffic Unit! . Damn.. what an animal that car was. We loved the 24v Senators. One of the best sleeper cars ever made. The marked ones were great for TPAC...you definitely were going nowhere but the barriers when we ramned you with one!...!. Huge amounts of torque and stable as a rock at well over 130 mph...

[@raymondk2202]

There is something rusted through in that exhaust. The sound on these engines, esp. when cick down is activated is epic. ❤👌 Also the 6 cil in line Senator A after the face lift is already phenomenal when you hear it run idle pushing against the torque converter gurgling, yet alone flooring it.

[@VDPEFi]

Many years ago my dad went home to 'think about it' after test driving a gold 24v senator from motorhouse in Cannock, when he went back it had of course sold so he actually ended up with a 2.0 8v Carlton CDX in black, still a nice car but hardly the same thing! The Carlton was the first time we kids had electric windows though, and 10 disc CD changer, autobox and cruise control was like a space ship after the Sierra GL that preceded it.

[@AndyK.1]

Ignition on needed for map lights

[@lukevibertuk]

Ahh the memories of arriving at my mates house to find his Dad had punched their gold Senator through the closed end of their Marley prefab garage…not a dent or scratch in sight😂…the garage however…

[@matty6848]

Was he pissed😂 drink driving was still a big thing back in the 80s and 90s. Not proud of it, but I remember my dad getting half cut and driving home with me. My brother and sister in the back..

[@gotham61]

We had an Audi 100 C2 which had a ski pass through, but it included a bag that the skis would extend into the car to avoid a drippy mess. Way preferable to carrying them on the roof where they make wind noise and can be stolen.

[@EmilysDadd]

I loved my 2 Senators. Had a 12 valve & then upgraded it with a 24 valve.

[@dang9059]

I’ve owned two of these a 3.0i and a 24v dual ram and my friends laughed at me for not having a more “yoof” car but i loved them. One guy who did like them said they have an old jag feel as in it’s hard to find a similar car that as nice to drive

[@manaboutadog6387]

My dad had 3 of these growing up in late 90’s, 1 silver and 2 burgundy colour over the years. Used to love being a passenger it was so comfy and spacious. He had the 3.0L 24v, he still loves them and wants to get a fully restored one apparently they go for around 20k

[@nkt1]

I lived in Kingussie, a small village in the Scottish Highlands, in the late '80s/early '90s. Somewhat incongruously, the tiny police station had one of these as a traffic car for patrolling the A9. A dark blue, unmarked Senator, which also prowled the A9, could often be seen in the car park.

[@alpinapaul68]

Great cars...back in the day my brother had the 2.6 litre senator in burgundy and I had the Monza GSE...those were the days👍

[@JamesG75]

Really enjoyed that one Ian. This and the Mk2 Carlton are IMO the two best cars to ever wear a Vauxhall badge

[@ruglund]

ooooh the good old CIH engine, used to work after school at a opel specialist, he did a lot of work on old rekords and commodores, all cars before 1985 was his speciality, he had a 3 litre CIH with three weber carburettors on an engine stand, what a noise that could make.

[@chrispenn715]

Agree with you - always loved these. The later Omegas were pretty good in top spec too. Had one on loan from Vauxhall for test when new - as a potential company car. Great car, but income tax liability was just too much....

[@guyhawkins557]

Great car, did 375k miles in my 3.0 8v before water in the computer killed it after it had stood for a while. Couldn't find a replacement in mid noughties so car was broken for spares. Really high geared so super comfy to cover distance. Drove all over UK, Europe, and North Africa, never missed a beat.

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

I absolutely love the Senator. I was given one about 15 years ago, only a 12v 2.5, but it was so comfortable. The most handsome in its class.

[@giuliopedrali4794]

It's a great car, i have the number of the 1987 magazine Auto&Design on the development of the Senator design, was a modern and rational executive car, now Opel and Vauxhall produce the Corsa...

[@RWBHere]

Heh! _Any_ engine noise is old school now. Thanks Ian. 🙂👍

[@timhancock6626]

I drove a Senator 3.0 for about 50 miles and loved it. The North Yorks police liked theirs too as traffic cars.

[@LeFrez]

Well Hubnut you brought many memories back with this one. Dad had a K reg 24v from about 1993 until about 1999, basically my entire teenage years. It had a CD player (10 disc changer!) before we had one in the house. Digital dash. Loads of power. LSD. Auto up/down windows (Like you I can confirm that the automatic stop and go back down an inch system did work well). Being the 24v it had the cool thin dual square exhaust too. Dad always ran his in Sport suspension mode. Comfort was definitely vomit inducing. He sold it for a 300TE W124 which I found exceedingly uninteresting compared to the Senator. Reason for sale? Rear arches rotten and engine smokey.

[@keefeeweefee.8714]

I had a Carlton 2 litre. Wish I’d kept it but helped out a family member and gave it him. Was a lovely car to ride in.

[@standingbadger]

Love this vid. Thank you. The 24v still couldn’t keep up with the notorious mystery bank-heisting lotus Carlton of the era.

[@deanstevenson6527]

I'm a Kiwi, and spent, from 1993 to 2000, 190000 KMs in our Road Roughness Testing Live Axled VP Holden Commodore station wagon. As well as my Finish Line Controls IRS station wagon. Opel's fascination with ZF Recirculating Ball rear mount power steering and the earlier 3.0's Cam in Heads no torque from 700 to 3500 rpm engine were weak points.The Dual Ram and ZF HP24 fixes the torque problem. In Dunedin, I have experienced the 1985 Opel Monza GSE and the 1992 Omega 3000i 24. The Bishops Kirby powered rack and pinion transforms the car.

[@tbrasc0]

Oooh the only Vauxhall I've ever liked... and that digital dash, love it!

[@mtozzy11]

If you squint abit you can see abit of the commodore statesman connection in it. Very VN

[@kristianspencer1978]

You were born in 78 too, good man, the 3.0 12v was from the monza if my memory serves me right, also the Carlton gsi 3000. My grandfather loved Vauxhall, had cavaliers, a Carlton, 3 omegas, vectras, and two insignias.

[@MrGarethDHughes]

My Dad had one of these as a company car in white when I was a kid. It was on a J plate with the 2.6 engine. Started rotting on rear when it was 4 years old. But I loved the car

[@TheOriginalDLS]

Looooove the Senator. I got a 12v after I got sick of putting fuel in my Jag XJ6. Senator was twice the economy and much nicer to drive. When it fell to bits I got a 24v which was even better again. And no, the AC didnt work on either of them. The switches under the handbrake are select and reset for the trip computer. The instant economy on the trip computer is great fun to watch if you have a particularly lively right foot.

[@bikemeister]

My Monza had the same(ish) engine and made a similar distinctive straight-six sound at low revs.

[@davekennedy6315]

Lovely car! I'd have to slot a 24 valve and manual, bored out to 4ltr and twin turbo'd! A Lotus Senator! It would be heavenly, defo another to go into my dream car garage.

[@steve1962]

I drove one of these "in a hurry" once........bloody marvellous!!!

[@Tagora2664]

Brings back memories of my Westminster Blue 24V I had many moons ago. It was approaching 180k and was a tired old lump, but a great car to waft around in. Can't remember why I sold it now. 😔

[@leemace9638]

One of my favourite cars back in the day

[@grayfool]

I worked for a guy who loved his Senator. The velour seats were very nice.

[@cbmsysmobile]

Always loved Senators/Carltons, have run them for 20 years and still have 3 of them, including the only 2.6 Manual Senator still in existence, out of only 6 made. The Senator B wheelbase is exactly the same as the Carlton. The rear doors are exactly the same length, only the roofline at the the rear differs, along with the upper windows on the doors. Even the rear screen is the same size. Underneath the cars are identical, along with the Holden Commodore VN/VP/VR/VS which all use the Senator B rear quarter arrangement. You can interchange the front wings/bumper/bonnet between any of the models. Interestingly the Carlon had a class leading Coefficient Drag of 0.28, but the Senator with its higher roofline only achieved a cd of 3.0 Gearbox is a 3 speed Asin-Warner up to 1989/90 with 2.5/3.0 and a 4 speed GM 4L30E thereafter for the 2.6/3.0 24v. (There were some late 3.0 12v with the 4L30, including this one if it has sport and winter modes)