No Budget Reviews: 1998 Vauxhall Vectra B 1.8 LS Saloon - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

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-One 1998 Vauxhall Vectra B 1.8 LS Saloon
-One Mobile Phone
-No Fancy Outfits
-No Obscure In-Jokes
-No DSLRs
-No Shotgun Microphones
-No Fluid Head Tripods
-No Idea about Exposure
-No Budget Whatsoever
It is time for the newest instalment in that beloved cinematic automotive KZbin experience where we film practical cars that can be bought for less than £1,000 in a manner befitting of their inexpensive value! This may go horribly wrong...
This time, as we test a 1998 Vauxhall Vectra B 1.8 LS Saloon, that car most beloved of Mr Jeremy Clarkson after his infamous 1995 road test on Top Gear. Be prepared for multiple blanking plates, surprisingly underwhelming performance and handling, rather nice bodywork, an extremely typical colour of the period, some very clean hubcaps, slightly inconvenient cupholders, and generally little of any consequence at all. Nothing untoward, then...
Vectra kindly supplied by Dan from Dan's Cars In The Country: / @ghvtg
No Budget Reviews: 2005 Vauxhall Vectra C 1.8 Life: • No Budget Reviews: 200...
Tweed Jacket Reviews: 2008 Vauxhall Astra H Twintop 1.8 Design: • Tweed Jacket Reviews: ...
As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.
Website: www.lloydvehicleconsulting.co.uk
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[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Another cracking review, rare to see a Saloon as well. We used to get taken to training courses in them when I worked for a well known car dealership chain in Scotland, I was always a Ford man so my view was always blinkered towards Fords, I really do like the mirrors that sweep onto the bonnet.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thanks ever so much indeed, Mr Watters! That's interesting you were taken to training courses in Vectras. The mirrors are definitely one of the best features of these Vectra Bs.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

He's a good stick

[@mattsbeamer]

I have a few memories of this generation. My dad rented one for a few weeks when his car was getting repaired. It was also a R reg in a nice green, thou the air con stunk. My brother had a late brand new Sri, which he loved and drove it like a loon everywhere’s. Wow time flies

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I suspect quite a lot of people know this generation of Vectra really well, sir! The dark green was a nice colour, wasn't it? The SRi would have looked a bit better than this....

[@martinwalker3088]

Another lovely review and another car in very good condition for it's year. You do love your luxury Joseph, and why not. I had a 1990 Astra and didn't like it. I then bought a 1994 Cavalier hatchback 1.8i L which I loved. I bought it when it was 5 years old, with 33,000 miles on the clock, and kept it 10 years. It was great to drive, comfortable and a reliable family motor car.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes sir! We do like a bit of luxury on the channel, and both cars we have were the top of the range models in their day. Dan's Vectra certainly is in good condition for a 23 year old car, I would love to try a Mark II Astra and a Mark III Cavalier too, particularly as I have also driven two Daewoo Nexias on the channel!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

I liked the saloon body style especially in a darker colour in full CDX spec, it looked rather smart.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Unfortunately, sir, this isn't a CDX. Maybe it would have had fewer obvious blanking plates if so...

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes I'm someone who looks at blank switches and thinks about what I could of had, for that reasons I always go for the top spec model. I guess it's a bit OCD.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@paulie-Gualtieri. , well sir, that's exactly the way we see things in this channel, so I am glad we agree about that!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Also MR Lloyd why wasn't the VW Passat B4 of the age considered a repmobile was it because it was to expensive. Of the reviews of 90s rep cars it was never featured or compared with the competition. The B4 in GL spec was lavishly equipped compared to the opposition, twin airbags as standard etc.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@paulie-Gualtieri. , yes, I remember the B4. Very much a forgotten car today. I saw one at Caffeine and Machine in November 2019, had not seen one for ages before.

[@stephensmith2013]

Brought a S reg 1.8 Artic new could not fault the car cheap to run service loads of room. Kept it for twelve years then sold it to my next door neighbour still a daily driver today.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, these can be very reliable if serviced properly with the scheduled cambelt changes. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching!

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

I remember the Great Trade centre being full of ex rental V6 Artics. Wish I'd brought one now

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

Jeremy Clarkson's fave car :)

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's absolutely right, sir!

[@frothe42]

This does look like a Vauxhall Cavalier. Very Opel dash and controls. Many have stated this vehicle is quite bland, and I guess it is in this trim level. You also mentioned the blanking plugs, to which I noticed immediately! That, and that huge opening where the passenger SRS would reside. I think this is quite suitable for daily transportation; it has four wheels and it goes. And very low mileage for its age. Brilliant review Joseph!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, Dan actually uses it an awful lot for daily duties. In fact, there is a video on his channel where he talks about how little it cost and how useful he finds it. Yes, those blanking plates are very obvious, aren't they?

[@frothe42]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes, Joseph, they are quite obvious! These Ecotec engined are all part of the GM family at the time, and if properly maintained, they could last a long time! The mileage on this vehicle is very low considering its age. Rust isn't too bad either! With a little work, it could increase the value of the vehicle!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@frothe42 , that is absolutely true. You do need to keep on top of the maintenance for the Ecotec engines, use decent quality oil and change the cambelt(s) at the specified intervals, but that is the same for many cars. Dan actually really likes it, but he does admit that it is a bit dull.

[@stephenburgreave934]

My vectra is a 1996 gls auto I’ve had it 19years it’s been 100% reliable with 14 holiday’s to Cornwall from Cheshire I love it.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed for watching! The early Vectra Bs are quite rare now, I don't remember the last time I saw one apart from this one.

[@TheGreatestPlayerInTheWorld]

Love these cars nice intro as well you are spoiling us!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I re-recorded the intro for No Budget Reviews and we have the new Lloyd Vehicle Consulting ident, so it smartens things up a bit.

[@williamegler8771]

These were sold as the Saturn L-Series in the United States. They were available as a sedan or wagon with either a 2.2L or a 3.0L with a 5spd or automatic. Over five model years they sold 405k and you still see a lot of them being driven daily.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the bodywork was different, but essentially the same car. I think that we covered the L Series being one of the cars with which it shared a platform in the review. The 2.2 four cylinder engine was shared too, I believe.

[@williamegler8771]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting The 3.0L V6 was used in several Opel/Vauxhall models also.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@williamegler8771 , yes, I drove a Vauxhall Omega (similar to a Cadillac Catera) last year with the 2.5 litre version of that V6. It was brilliant!

[@owensteele1274]

I liked the look of the estate versions, but they were actually smaller than the workhorse Astra estates. Really nice colour on this example, Marseille Red (Rouge would have been even better). My late grandad had one of the special editions, a P-reg 1.8 Arctic automatic in Ceramic Blue (dark micatallic blue), which has standard air conditioning, TrafficMaster stereo and CDX 5-spoke alloys, otherwise it's an LS like this one. It also has a big ABS badge on the tailgate. He absolutely loved it, drove it carefully and it was very refined and solid. He had his own private plate on it from new which is still on it. It ended up with my eldest cousin who still has it, and is planning to restore it back to how it was, which is very nice. It had 46000 miles on it when I last looked about 2 years ago.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed for watching! It's an unusual colour these days, but I know that it was quite popular with Vauxhall and possibly other manufacturers at the time as well. I had Trafficmaster on my old 2004 Rover 45 1.4 Club SE, which actually worked at the time (2009-12 in my ownership). This saloon did also have an ABS badge on the bootlid. We did a lovely Omega on the channel in February 2020, and that was a bit faster than this.

[@badbooks476]

Great review and this vectra is a great survivor. There is a button next to the radio, below the AC button, Traffic Master was a subscribed verbal traffic information service, quite high tech as pre sat nav. My mother in law had a W reg 1.8 club estate, which went very well with a sporty exhaust note, It was well put together. My cousin has a 2002 Astra 1.8 SXi with over 300,000 miles on the original engine, she looks after her cars

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

If you look after these Family I/Ecotec engines, then they can be very reliable, actually. We covered Traffic Master in the Vauxhall Omega episode of Tweed Jacket Reviews, I used to have a Rover 45 with it, actually. This Vectra has survived quite well, it just doesn't really do much for me unlike a Rover 600, Nissan Primera or a Peugeot 406, all of which we have covered on the channel before.

[@seancooke4127]

I always thought that the Vectra B Estate was much better looking than the contemporary Audi A4 Estate. A CDX V6 Estate would be a Keeper.

[@badbooks476]

@@seancooke4127 late 1990s Vauxhall estates were well designed, whereas the 1980s cavalier & Astra estates were not very pretty

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@seancooke4127 , it would need to be a facelifted one in dark blue or dark green with a beige leather interior though, sir...

[@kierencrichton4325]

I remember seeing these everywhere, especially in that gold colour (think it was classed as silver though). They seemed to disappear overnight about 10 years ago and only seen a few since. The scrappage scheme has a lot to answer for

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, these were in all sorts of different shades of silver and gold, weren't they? The pre-facelift Vectra Bs like this are relatively rare now, the facelifted ones are a bit more common. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching!

[@willswheels283]

I think the words “ok” and “satisfactory” are what best fir the Vectra, I had a Corsa C and I’d say exactly the same. The Vectra is a car built to do a job in a satisfactory manner and that’s all really unless you go for the range topping cars with the V6 engines, full leather interior and all the bells and whistles. I still think I’d pick an Omega first though.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, Mr Coleman's Omega was absolutely brilliant when he had it. The Vectra, Corsa C and Astra G were very much dependable cars which I knew well when they were current, although they aren't always the most exciting in a specification like this.

[@Spodikus]

I have a Vectra b 2.5 Gsi and it always puts a smile on my face when I drive it. Not easy to work on but great it is fun

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting! I do wish the car I drove was the 2.5 V6 version, it would have been a lot better... I have driven a 2.5 V6 Omega, though!

[@calumbaxter9946]

I do like the styling of the Vectra, particularly the frontal treatment. Underrated cars in my view that provided reliable motoring to many. My friend’s DTi model has 360K on the clock on the original engine and clutch.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I think the higher specification post-facelift models do look a lot better than this lower specification pre-facelift one, although it is in rather good condition for its age. Clearly that DTi engine can go on for a long time if well looked after.

[@danilecooley1252]

I have vectra b sri dti deseil it's done 270.000 miles on the clock. it's still in great condition no rust or rot on that car drives like dream .the only thing its downfall. I cant get the fuel lines near the bulkhead . that is very rare car now these days the parts are very hard to get for these cars now .if you drive sri gsi .its different driving experience from the base models .its great fun car to drive.vectra is classic now .the prices are starting to go up on them slowly

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@danilecooley1252 , yes, they are quite rare now, particularly the pre-facelift Vectra Bs. Not sure if they consider them to be classics in this country yet, but they probably will be at some point.

[@revivedfears]

Loving the new branding Mr.Lloyd, very professional!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We aim to please, sir! Links to buy Lloyd Vehicle Consulting T-shirts and mugs as well as to sign up for the Lloyd Vehicle Consulting Social event on Saturday 24th July are in the video description if you are interested...

[@revivedfears]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I most certainly will take a look matey. Great video as ever 👍

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, sir!

[@alaricbragg7843]

Ah! We had this as the Holden Vectra. Most of the ones in New Zealand were 2.2 fours or V6s. Sedans were and are still common here. Some used Opel models were imported from Japan back in the day.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, they certainly did sell these in quite a few markets around the world. Not sure if they last a bit longer in New Zealand than in Europe...

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes they often do. One reason why we have a strong classic car scene is that we don't salt our roads so even really, really old cars - think Cortinas and Escorts - last for years! I think we got the 2.0 litre model of this Vectra too! Back in the early 2000s the Vectra was also one of the few small to medium sized FWD cars used by the Police, who at the time almost exclusively ran V6 Holden Commodores. I was living in the university hostels back them and the Campus Constable had a Vectra Sedan.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , yes, I did notice that when Ian Seabrook visited New Zealand in 2019 there were lots of older cars around! I have heard Malta is much the same. Funny that the New Zealand police were keen on these, they were also used as patrol cars over here.

[@stevestaff7425]

Great content. A million minicab drivers couldn't have been wrong. Imagine having to look at that trim when you're worse for wear though

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Oh gosh, that trim is quite interesting, isn't it? The rattly temporary camera mount certainly added to the flavour of this episode of No Budget Reviews, glad you enjoyed it, sir!

[@PlanetautoUK]

A car that never interested me, reliable, practical and run of the mill, I do prefer a saloon though - it was always about the Calibra for me *B

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I think that sums it up really well, Mr Quirk! The Calibra was on a similar platform to this, I would love to try one of those.

[@foiabun1]

My first car was a 1996 Opel Vectra with the 1.6l engine, which I bought for around 500 euros. It had done around 275000 kms and I owned it for about a year. Honestly, while nothing special, it didn't once break down on me. Only things I did were regular maintenance and replaced rear suspension when that broke.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That sounds like classic No Budget Reviews fare! With regular maintenance, these things do seem as if they are capable of high mileage, which I think was the point of them, really. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching!

[@nebojsaarsenijevic1631]

vectra b 1.8 2001.. really good car. no matter what.. still driving.. good,speed and comfortable.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting! I prefer the Vectra A or Vectra C to the Vectra B, but these were very popular in their day.

[@trabali5168]

had two of these, great cars but egr valve and ecu problems...............surprised to see the display working!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the display worked almost perfectly! Oh sir, EGR valve issues are really not my favourite....

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

This model sold very good in Holland. I don’t why.. but it did, and the people that bought them payed allot of money on them but they drove it for years and years and years. So they drove their money back. My parents in law. 16 to 20 years of ownership. And my uncle also around that many years.. and they love it they literally think it’s the best car ever.. but for that price you had so much nicer options.. i just don’t understand them.. my uncle had a 1997 sedan 1.6 16v cd gold color. And my parents in law had a hatchback in this color also cd. With a 1.8 8v. Both had no a/c only electric windows front. For the same prive that they payed for those vectra’s you had a Mazda 626 glx hatchback with electric windows and a:c. And a 1.8 engine. And a nicer dashboard

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

What i also think is weird is that this 90s vectra got a digital trip and mileage meter but my 2001 much more expensive and newer facelift Omega 2.5 v6 fulloptions had an oldschool analog mileage and trip meter... what a strange brand

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I would prefer a nice Mazda 626 myself as well. It must be the huge discounts which were available on these when they were new and also the brand recognition which Opel and Vauxhall have in so many European markets. That is strange about the digital versus analogue mileometer....

[@seancooke4127]

Yes but when you start driving the 626, it will drive you nuts every time you look in the rear view mirror and see how much the hatchback tailgate vibrates on the move. Possibly, this was only the particular 1994 626 that I drove.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@seancooke4127 , I owned a 1998 626 2.0 GSi for a short period. That was a hatchback and the tailgate didn't vibrate at all that I noticed.

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

I loved the 1994 mazda 626 hatchback so beautiful. But the 1998 was a rival of the vectra. And will pick the mazda 626 any time

[@mpersad]

Loved the sound of the cockerel in the background at the end of the video, very restful to hear the sounds of the countryside!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's definitely been supplied by Dan's Cars In the Country, hasn't it?

[@seancooke4127]

I forgot to mention the rooster 🐓 in my comment Mate. It really was relaxing to hear the countryside.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@seancooke4127 , glad you both appreciated it!

[@markonmotoring]

Not a huge Vauxhall fan myself but I really don't think these deserve the reputation they gained after Clarksons review. In the early 2000s when working in Steel Sales my manager had a facelift 1.8 SXI 5dr which I sometime got to drive. I also drove a plusher CD saloon 2.0 which felt similar to drive but more low end torque than the 1.8 which fro memory liked to be revved. I think these looked way more interesting than the Vectra C and those door mirrors were a bit of a noteworthy styling feature at the time.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I drove a Vectra C on No Budget Reviews about six months ago and I really preferred it to this. A much higher quality, more substantial car than this Vectra C with far less evidence of cost cutting. I will admit that this lowly 1.8 LS really doesn't show the car at its best, though. Perhaps a nice facelifted CDX V6 would change my mind, but I don't think that this was one of my favorites, I am afraid. It was better than the one I drove in 2008, though.

[@seancooke4127]

Knew that you probably wouldn't love the LS but you will love the CDX V6. My 1995 Astra 1.4 Merit had similar trim, the massive non adjustable steering wheel with the "full sized" airbag and the dummy electric windows plugs. It was wasn't a bad car but the steering wheel position caused back and shoulder pain though not on the motorway where it was a great cruiser when it eventually got up to about 75 mph. The Vectra 1.8 LS would be more muscular but it badly needed steering wheel adjustment. Apparently it had 4 more inches in the wheelbase over the Cavalier for rear legroom. Well done Dan if I could find one like this I think it will be a Classic soon.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I do hope I would like the CDX with a V6 engine, sir! That engine also went into the Omega Mr Coleman used to own that you would have seen on Tweed Jacket Reviews, and it was an absolute blast. Sadly, this was the 1.8 and it was...dull? Yes, I remember the facelifted Astra F and the massive standard airbags with a non-adjustable steering wheel. The Vectra B did get an adjustable steering column about two years after launch, and this did have it, so was more comfortable than the last one I drove. Dan did indeed find one in excellent condition!

[@owensteele1274]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting The late Cavalier, Calibra, early Tigra and high-spec Corsa B (1994 to 1997) also had the same huge non-adjustable steering wheel which felt heavy and awkward in town driving. The Vectra had adjustable steering wheels from October 1996 P-reg so just one year-and-a-bit from launch, even N-reg CDX's didn't have it. The Mondeo was already with us for 2-and-a-half years at launch and even the 1.6 Base had 2-way adjustment (but then it had keep-fit front windows and no rev-counter).The 1997MY Vectra's arch-like range of adjustment was very strange, from almost horizontal like an old bus, to very vertical low down, almost touching the seat base.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@owensteele1274 , yes, I think that I mentioned in the review that this car actually had an adjustable steering column, whereas earlier Vectra Bs (such as the one I drove in 2008) did not. I remember the facelifted Mark III Cavalier's airbag wheel, it was absolutely huge. The Corsa B I took some driving lessons in dated from 1994 and still had the two spoke wheel with no airbag, so I think it must have been a really early one! Same stalks, of course.

[@seancooke4127]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I remember seeing my first Vauxhall Corsa in 1993, a Red 1.2 Merit 3 door with centre caps. It was so pretty inside and outside that I immediately forgave it for being all Nova underneath. Silk Cut Purple was the nicest colour. You'd forget it was a base model.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@seancooke4127 , yes, the platform for the Corsa B was similar to the Nova. I remember when those came out, and took some driving lessons in a 1994 1.4 GLS. The design was very, very modern when it came out.

[@andylaauk]

Usually it's sunroof or A/C, I had an 1.8 LS with manual sunroof.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, that sounds about right for the time.

[@mickles1975]

"Controversial government legislation" Ah, the Lloyd's Vehicle consulting act of 2017.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

No sir, the good old Ultra Low Emission Zones and more...

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

I've had Envoy, GLS, CD, CDX and SRI.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting The mk1-2 Mondeo Aspen and LX were very poorly insulated and noisy. All of the Vectra's were well padded and good motorway cruisers.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I drove a V6 Vectra B recently. They are very different from one of these...m

[@danilecooley1252]

When you drive new cars these days vectra plastics dash boards put alot new stuff to shame gsi vectra stunning car

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I drove a Volkswagen ID.3 the other day, and some of the plastics in that were a little disappointing for some reason. Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@JamesGore1547]

Fancy door mirrors 😆🤣

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I suppose that is one thing we can say about it.

[@JamesGore1547]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yeah, that's it!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I have since driven a V6 Vectra B, and it was a lot better, to be honest.

[@randomtransportguyx4397]

I quite like the vectra if I'm honest

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I did a Cavalier Mark III on No Budget Reviews last month and I think that I preferred that, to be honest, but these were very popular cars in their day, so I am sure that they still have plenty of fans!

[@randomtransportguyx4397]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting yeah I saw a mint condition one in red near where I live

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@randomtransportguyx4397 , they are still out there, somewhere...

[@jsaxby6561]

There's a V6 saloon that lives near me

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Oh yes, sir? That sounds agreeable.

[@mattw8332]

I've never much liked Vectras for the same reason that J Clarkson didn't like them. I really lost interest in new Vauxhall models post 1994.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The 1999 Omega B which Mr Coleman had and we filmed on Tweed Jacket Reviews in February 2020 was absolutely brilliant, although I gather later ones were not great. There were some good Vauxhall models after 1994, but I think the Vectra B didn't particularly help people to remember them!

[@seancooke4127]

Every Vauxhall after 1994 was well built, safe, good quality and reliable with the exception of the Sinfultra and the Mk1 Frontera. However, the Mk2 Frontera was an exceptional vehicle. The 1993 Cavalier was one of the best cars you could buy. The 1995 Astra was joint top of the class alongside the Rover 200, mainly because the Golf's equipment was so stingy. The Calibra with the new flying V Grille, V6 and Leather was very beautiful, a Classic. I can go on.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@seancooke4127 Oh, sir, don't go on about the Sintra! That was really not a good car. The Calibra is definitely a car I would like to get on the channel, likewise with the facelifted Mark III Cavalier.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

Better built than a Mondeo, and much quieter. But the early ones had garbage dynamics, and sketchy reliability.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I have driven a V6 Vectra B since, and that is a much better car than this 1.8.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting If you don't mind me asking. Have you owned any stuff like this? Mk1 Mondeo, Vectra B/C, etc?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@user-sf7kl9uh7k , I have owned a lot of 1990s cars (I have one at the moment), but never a Mondeo or a Vectra.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting What have you got?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@user-sf7kl9uh7k, from the 1990s I have had a 1998 Volkswagen Polo, a 1998 Rover 214 Si, a 1996 Rover 216 SLi Automatic, a 1991 Rover 216 SLi Automatic, a 1998 Rover 620 GSi Automatic, a 1998 Volvo C70 T5 GT Coupé, a 1991 Volvo 460 GLE, a 1998 Mazda 626 2.0 GSi and currently a 1990 Rover 216 GSi Automatic. I have a few others from other decades too. I think that I have driven something like 440-450 cars on the channel now, quite a few of them have been from the 1990s too, including a 1992 Volvo 940 I published today, and a 1997 Renault Clio I published on Wednesday. I also filmed a 1997 Mazda MX-6 recently, and the video is up, but I didn't get a chance to drive it.

[@tomyslaf9521]

Why no diesel talk? We talk here in Germany, how we are screwed, and many cities have euro5 and lower no diesel... 🤷🏻‍♂️ Even if I think modern diesel car is not quite good for city from maintenance aspect, still forbidding everything is not solution...

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I actually have a video on the channel explaining in depth about why we don't talk about them. It's similar reasons to the one you mentioned, but there are others too, and it has been the case since the first video ever on the channel. Some places in London no longer accept trade ins with the forbidden fuel engines now.

[@tomyslaf9521]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting yes, sad future... Only limitations and laws forbidding more and more... 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It affects my business all the time, I hardly ever recommend forbidden fuel cars for clients now!

[@tomyslaf9521]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting how is going here in Germany, soon all cars except elektro will be banned 🤦‍♂️ Already now many car makers are stoping Produktion and research of new Benzin or diesel engines... And what is still in production is mostly downsizing... 🤮

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@tomyslaf9521 , that's right, my twin sister lives in Germany and is an environmentalist who does not drive! The 2030 ban on purely combustion engined cars in this country is fast approaching too, you are right that lots and lots of manufacturers are stopping research and development on petrol and forbidden fuel engines.

[@xxrs2009]

I've owned 2 a1 Vectra's, but after that I went to Volvo 850 and an even older Audi 100 now. Never liked the b vec with it's ugly mirrors, bland looks and poor quality. Still, I think the Astra g is also good, this is just a bad chapter imo.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, this wasn't General Motors' finest hour, was it? Jeremy Clarkson's infamous review in 1995 actually had some good points. This car in particular seems to be full of obvious cost cutting, and was nothing like a Mondeo, Primera or 406 to drive. It's not in bad condition, though.

[@xxrs2009]

Yeah he was right on that one, its truly awful with it's disposable fashionable round design. Liked those white dad sneakers, it's a parodie of itself and also out of balance I think.. I love the c vec tho. This example is in nice condition, the owner is lucky to have found it. Love these reviews with your buying advice, it's a good addition to other reviews I think.

[@tz6414]

The 90s really were the pits in terms of car design I feel that they were a step back from some of the decent cars in the 80s. For example I would much rather have a Cortina or Sierra than the awful dull Mondeo also the mark 3 and Mark 4 Escort with far better and more attractive than the ones that followed in the 90s with the awful sort of fish like front oval styling. The engines are always so gutless as well I 1.8 was really sluggish in either the Vectra or the Mondeo and devoid of any fun and it all the grey Interiors were so depressing. There were awful French cars like the 1.4 xsara type things that just awful slow just horrible. It were the odd glimmers of joy, the Granada in the 90s were particularly decent cars. I am so glad the 90s were over the memories of those cars just fills me with horror. I had loads of these as hire cars at the time and gosh they were awful. At the time I had an Astra GTE 16 valve and my boss had a Vectra 2 l and the odd time I drove his it was just like a dull sanitised barge. There are not many old cars I would consign to the shredder but I think 80% of 90s cars I would happily push the button.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The Mark V Escort was also a bit like the Vectra, a car clearly designed for fleets as opposed to private buyers, and the lower trim levels of both had clear evidence of cost cutting. I agree, the 1.4 Xsaras were pretty dull as well. The later Mark III Granadas and Scorpios were nice, weren't they? Jeremy Clarkson had an excellent point to make about the majority of these "repmobiles": many were dull in the specification companies chose, and there wasn't much to say about them.

[@seancooke4127]

It is true that many of them in the 90s needed the model written down the sides in 2 foot High letters to tell the difference, but there were a few gems. All Volvos and SAABs, Granadas, Scorpios , Senators, 405, Renault 21, Montego, Rover Metro, Rover Mini, R8 and 800, Discovery 1, XJ40, Citroën BX, Audi 80, BMW Compact, A Class, Fiat Brava, Skoda Favorit, Berlingo Multispace, 626, Honda Legend, Vitara, Rav4, Diahatsu Sportrak, MX5,

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@seancooke4127 , that is quite a list!

[@tz6414]

I think many of these were 80s cars as opposed to ones that were actually launched in the 90s that will grimm. Certainly the montego 800 BX senator etc were all 80s cars

[@seancooke4127]

@@tz6414 yes but they were available to customers well into the 1990s

[@depechem0demusic]

A very stereotypical boring mundane rep mobile 🤢🤢What’s this!!!!!! Sir Depeche saying something negative about a motor vehicle.I honestly don’t know why but I absolutely abore Vauxhall’s-yuk 😂😂

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Glad you still got excited about the video even if the car is not really to your taste, Sir Depeche!

[@depechem0demusic]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I think a Penny Farthing would be a more interesting Mode of transport.Did you see what I did there sir??

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@depechem0demusic , I did, sir. It was a wonderful hilarious touch.