Vauxhall / Opel Vectra b GSI MSD 2.5 V6 buyers guide

A buyers guide on the vauxhall / opel vectra b gsi developed by MSD
music : www.epidemicsound.com/

[@bradmarshall8363]

My dad had one in 2004 what a car had a scorpion exhaust in it aswell wow remember doing 140mph with my mum racing another GSI good times

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

the good days are truely over, now its an instance 2 year ban for anything over a 100mph 😐, definitely one of my all time favourite vauxhalls

[@bradmarshall8363]

@@vpowervpower-sm5sp 100% I’d put it up there for the best sounding v6 with that scorp on it though I think it ended up getting broke he sold it for £750 it was absolutely immaculate as wheel just started with a miss fire so he got rid an bought a 3.0 Sri diesel that was a sad day

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

@@bradmarshall8363 ive not heard one with a scorp on it but im sure it sounds great, ive put an induction kit on mine and will be filming that soon, sounds similar to a vr6 sound!

[@bradmarshall8363]

@@vpowervpower-sm5sp I’ll tell you what get a scorp for it it’s not a silly loud pipe it’s just a better sound version of a v6 quiet for tooddleing about but get up to 3k an it’s a amazing sound and cold starts well there something else

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

@@bradmarshall8363 i will check out som exhausts, as its the 2.5 you can definitively feel a kick at 3.5k to the redline, i think the 2.6's at smoother and a bit more torquey for a relaxing drive

[@danilecooley1252]

Stunning car had loads over the years I have 2.2 sri and dti sri

[@jaggass]

Vectra 2.5 V6's sound great.

[@dalesdiary3751]

I use to have a polarsea blue gsi phase 2 2.5 . This definitely brings back memories and I given the chance I'd certainly get one again

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

this has been more fun than some of the more powerful cars ive had and still looks good today

[@sanderslongdrive]

Vpower: Great video! Only 3,900 2.5 GSI models were manufactured, with only 317 of these being the 2.5 ESTATE version. So the estate is one of the rarest Vauxhall cars ever manufactured. I own one with only 11,576 miles covered. If you fancy one then obviously it needs to be rust free, possibly imported from Japan with its gentle climate. Forget about buying a U.K. one unless it has spent its life in a heated museum. Why bother buying vintage? Recently manufactured vehicles are over-engineered so that you need to spend a fortune on blind maintenance, from inadequately trained 'mechanics,' and ultimately likely suffer very early scrappage. Owning a beautiful vintage car is part to do with making a motoring political statement. Standing up for one's rights not to be routinely ripped off.

[@TheYorkshireMix]

im currently rebuilding a ph1 gsi estate. Its a lovely car or should I say it will be when it's finished. I've had to do lots of welding on it though

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

thanks Ivan, i bet yours is in timewarp condition! it's nice to see how much vauxhalls are appreciate on here, i think its old enough to enjoy the drive but modern enough to use regularly, a rare combination for sure 👍

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

@@TheYorkshireMix just checked out your channel and build, gsi looks awesome! subbed

[@sanderslongdrive]

Thanks. It's a very interesting subject to research - the Japanese and their relationship with their vehicles. Without going into details three factors are are play: (1) How they treat and respect their cars far far better than your average British driver, (2) How their climate is massively better than out own, (3) Strict government motoring legislation which can sometimes result in a vehicle being stored for a very long time. Perhaps they hope that say tougher legislation on polution will later be reversed and they can then use it again? I don't know the full answer to that one. It is always a source of amazement to me that whilst we are so cruel to our cars there are nevertheless immensely talented home-based mechanics (often 'amateurs') who can turn a few pieces of rotting metal into a like-new car! I can't sing their praises highly enough. To me it's as magical as walking on water. Anyway, 'yes' my car is essentially indistinguishable from new, and the highly polished engine compartment even better. I cannot guarantee to return to this thread again so if anyone would like a photo. of the engine bay then please feel free to e-m me at [e-mail] But no credit to me - rather to the Japanese and then my importer.

[@Batman-vd8lj]

Nice vid, I had two 2.5 gsi vectras phase 1 and 2, 20 years ago, they were pretty quick in their day and looked the part back then. However my previous cavalier turbo 4x4 was quicker and had nicer trim inside, the gsi never really replaced that.

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

thanks mate, i agree, the cavalier turbo was just something else and way ahead of its time with 4 wheel drive and 6 speed box, i dont think thr vectra will have the same following as the cavalier gsi and turbo

[@Lewy648]

Great Vectra! Recaro seats are great! I have 2.6 V6 CDX EDITION2000. I have videos on KZbin with this car :)

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

just checked your channel and subbed, looks good! and yes the seats look great and were ahead of the time to be oem factory fitted

[@chrissmith4365]

Hello vpower 123 good video I had a Vectra Sri 2ltr on w reg saloon (Vectra b facelift model) I bought it on 58000 and kept till 142000 9 years the rust does get in to these vehicles all the places that you have mentioned the windscreen delaminating that happened on mine in the corners exactly the same place as where mine went wheel arches suffer on the rear where the spoiler joined the boot lid the fixings used too hold the spoilers on they rusted they are hexagonal bolts that are used to hold them on the offside rear door shut that you showed in your video mine went there as well I seem to remember near the bottom ( I was told if there is rust within 14 inches of a seat belt fixing it is an MOT failure is this true anybody know taking on trust of an MOT station) I thought gsi had electric windows in the back as well I noticed the driver seat had electric height adjust as well never seen that on a gsi mine had a 4 cd autochanger in the glove box which took up all the space very bad design your car does not have this but that is not the original stereo in the dashboard someone has replaced it I noticed you instruments were not working rev counter gauges computer this happened on mine as well it was a nightmare getting someone to fix it in the end part of the dashboard was removed brought forward loose wire pushed back and it seem to work there is a lot of rust on the manifold of your vehicle I seem to remember sensors failing regulary cksp (crank speed sensor )as soon as one sensor was replaced another one would go usually cksp crank speed position sensor followed by cam shaft sensor later on when mileage became high over 120000 computer was telling me brakes pad need replacing when they didn't check oil level when oil was correct the computer will tell you when you some light bulbs are out brake front headlight my Vectra also started to rust on front passenger side door at the bottom (where water cannot escape as drain holes get blocked ) apparently it is a common rust area on Vectras offside and nearside if you open the doors and look underneath them you can see the drain holes they get blocked water cannot escape rust comes passenger side was the worst I asked someone to repair it but it was too far gone usually in the middles of the door as well weird place to rust rear wheel arches suffer the most cambelt has to be replaced every 40000 miles low interval for cambelt replacement disc brakes on rear with a n internal hand brake assembly inside the disc so inside the rear disc brake is a drum assembly for the handbrake only hand brake cable tends to stretch and always need adjusting I remember going up a hill and I had to stop halfway I put the handbrake on and my car just rolled back down with the handbrake on fully terrible design if well looked after with regular maintenance Vectras can do high mileage my Vectra was a troublesome vehicle seem to be in the garage alot but I enjoyed it (I wouldn't have kept a car for 9vyears otherwise) the vauxhall car plant in Luton was closed 20 years ago now estates and hatchbacks were built in Luton saloons in Germany russelheim somebody wrote in the comment that gsi were originally Sri this is true so 500 Vectra sris were built wether it was Luton or Germany these were sent to motor sport development in Milton Keynes they had a different interior such as recaro seats yours has electrical adjustable height different alloys and I think the engine was tuned up or maybe had different cams I don't know for sure every vehicle had its own MSD number between 1-500 so your car will have a number which is unique to it there was some 2.6 but not many motor sport development no longer exists if you feel under your rear spoiler on the offside you should be able to feel the word immscher underneath the spoiler the exhaust on yours is a twinpipe but yours is round mi ECOWAS more squared of it should say immscher on this as well I also remember having the rocker cover gasket seal kept leaking as the cover had warped made out of plastic and it would not seal properly to the engine bushes on the rear cause noise and flat spots on tyres and a knocking sound I remember my fog lights stopped working and I had to had another cable run from the fuse box all the way to the back still good fun though these Vectra are not bad cars they are rare now rust does get to them in Luton there were loads of them now they seem to be rare a good al round family car you get what you get

[@redeye053]

Superb video, wants me to get on mine as quick as possible. 😀At the moment i am doing up my vectra 2.5 v6 cdx. Its been sitting for 7 years. Its had all brake lines, brake hoses and callipers replaced, new fuel tank new temp sensors and drivers side chassis double wielded, new oil temp switch sensor, cam belt and cam seals, rocker gaskets as well as plugs, oil change ect. at a cost of £2,000. Still needs a respray as laquear peeled off hood ahd slight rust on roof and body. does anyone think i am throwing money down the drain? its on 95,000 miles and has full leather and its automatic with cruise control. also the rev counter is erratic. thanks for any info.

[@100Chicky]

great cars, sad that they have gone to wreck and ruin. nice one bro

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

i agree bro, cant believe how many were just scrapped aswell! doing a full road test soon, the sound reminds me of a vr6

[@sanderslongdrive]

Not so if you import from Japan and then have it sealed underneath.

[@jayrigglesford3025]

The phase 2 gsi wheels were made by TSW not Borbet. I know a guy who worked for MSD and he posted on one of vectra groups on Facebook what exactly was done to the cars and the specs of them . All GSI's started life as an Sri and were taken to MSD , worked on new interior, wheels, engine tweeks and all given an individual MSD build number

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

ahhh ok didnt know that mate, its interesting i think something similar was done to make lotus carltons using a carlton gsi as a base car

[@Acme-Logistics]

Great review & in depth guide. Shes a beauty, but I bet you get hell of a bit of torque steer .

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

Hi, its not too bad in the dry but in the wet yes it does torque steer but its part of the fun, a heavy v6 over the front does help traction though

[@baff6923]

Watch what you're doing with the cone filter i swapped my standard one with a k&n induction kit fkd my 2 cats bank 1&2 was a big job

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

cheers mate will be careful

[@andy-tu2rx]

Had one years back 6 year old 80k fsh Paid 3 grand for it new around 20k W46 nvv now.sadly.a tin can last.known area Newcastle I believe I had it in Cheshire around 2006

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

it's a shame so many have been broken, have you checked if it has been sorn, might still be around!

[@Alecostauk]

I've got one with the same colour 😀

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

nice, i think its one of the best colour for it and also black looks great!

[@Alecostauk]

@@vpowervpower-sm5sp 👍🏼👍🏼😁

[@TheYorkshireMix]

I'm currently rebuilding a ph1 gsi estate. Its a lovely car or should I say it will be when it's finished lol

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

looks good!

[@TheYorkshireMix]

@@vpowervpower-sm5sp cheers pal. Ive just got all the rear subframe prepared for painting tomorrow so hopefully a can start fitting it all back to the car this weekend 👍

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

@@TheYorkshireMix are you going for powdercoating?

[@TheYorkshireMix]

@@vpowervpower-sm5sp I was considering it but I want to do as much as I can myself so it worked out cheaper to just buy a sandblasting cabinet and some chassi black paint so that's what I've done and as a bonus I got a new tool to add to my collection 😀

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

@@TheYorkshireMix its always more fun doing it yourself and the added bonus is you know its done properly 👍

[@MrRohanThomas]

Does the 2.6 GSI have A cams or G cams standard?

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

hi not sure mate but im sure someone more knowledgeable will comment

[@MrRohanThomas]

@@vpowervpower-sm5sp Found out myself by taking it apart, A + E on 2.6 SRI, 4xA for 2.6 GSI, 2.5 GSI facelift is G + A cams, prefacelift is G + E cams, 3.0 G + A cams, 3.2 G + J cams.

[@vpowervpower-sm5sp]

@@MrRohanThomas thanks for the update mate!