Vauxhall Vectra - Most BORING Car EVER? (1997 2.5 V6 Sport Estate Road Test)

The Vauxhall Vectra has long copped abuse as one of history’s most boring cars. Behind its reputation, however, Sam Skelton reckons it’s a classic in the making…
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[@tylert6573]

Anyone who thinks a 2.5 vectra B is boring You are in fact boring👍🏼👀😂

[@SA-zoom1]

I had a 2.5 manual cdx saloon as a company car. It was very fast and a bloody nice car back then.

[@divad23]

Are the seats really as bad as described? I’ve not driven one but there is one for sale near me and I’m considering it. I am 6’5” so seats and headroom is a consideration for me

[@SA-zoom1]

@@divad23 they are quite firm but more than acceptable. However you can easily source some GSi recaros for a few hundred quid and they are fantastic seats

[@lifestapestry2968]

The Ford Fusion has to be even more boring.

[@jameswarden9136]

I love the Vectra, I definitely wouldn't mind having one.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Sam's been on the lookout for one for a while now...

[@matterofapinion]

@@ClassicsWorldUK I have! But it would have to be the right one...

[@Fastwunz]

that was a very fine engine and makes a lovely noise. My dad had an Omega Tourer with that engine and it was just brilliant. He then got a 3.0 V6 Elite and that car brings back some of the best memories of my life - long drives up north, boarding the ferry to Calais for 2 week holidays in france - soft seats, that wonderful engine noise, massive boot, great stereo...... its so true - cars create memories and they are so important. I remember dad hitting the 's' button on the gear leaver and making overtakes - i used to think that was the most exciting thing ever

[@Strike86]

My dad had two of these when I was growing up, both diesel, both LeasePlan company cars. Giving serious consideration to finding and buying one.

[@squadmeta]

I had one, did 120k miles in it. The clutch went at 70k so I had the flywheel lightened and balanced and then remapped the ecu to get rid of a mid range flat spot, transformed it! Performance suspension/brakes/exhaust as well, FAR from boring. Miss it, the classic sleeper.

[@Soulvex]

just put 3.0 cams in, it also gets rid of the flat spot.

[@gazonatrike7005]

just bought one, it's half way between modern and old eats motorway miles and carries my cr*p. but then I like bmc farinas and they were the porridge of the 60s.

[@antfox7394]

I drove one in work in 1997 and loved it. I also bought a used one in 2004 and loved that one too. Very handsome car and hardly seen these days.

[@Soulvex]

you say hardly seen but i see one every other week (and i dont go out often atm) I've owned about 10 of these all v6 in various formats. you dont see the mondeo though.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Umm no. The Mondeo was just as dull. Hence the nickname 'Mundane-o' There were lots of mediocre car around this time.

[@pjfielding7647]

I had a 2002 Holden vectra 2.2 sedan i say it a good car they are easy on gas so i travel mine in new Zealand which i drove it to Auckland to south island Christchurch but hey it's a good vectra those

[@Nakkisampyla]

Privet Drive was full of these and Vernon Dursley had one as well

[@Batman-vd8lj]

I had 2 gsi vectra 2.5 v6 saloons, fairly quick in their day. Previously I had a cavalier turbo 4x4 which was a quicker, had 6 gears and a far nicer car all around. Vauxhall/Opal made some great cars in the late 80's and early 90s. They didn't try too hard with this shape vectra and the square one after it was just bloody ugly.

[@johnc9228]

In my opinion i think in the era its a nice looking car looks much more modern that the mk1 mondeo

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

The styling has aged rather well, hasn't it?

[@johnc9228]

@@ClassicsWorldUK id say it has

[@paultasker7788]

Aged better than Mondeo and rusts far less too. Always looked better as an estate I feel.

[@MrRohanThomas]

@@paultasker7788 I see way more Vectra B than Mondeos mk2, I can't even remember last time I saw one

[@strictlyyoutube6881]

When I remember these years, I remember that the UK wanted to be average. Everything about our tastes were average, Butlins Holidays, Caravan Parks, Eating the new Solero Ice cream, putting a bike rack in the back of the car with our average bikes, wanting to live in an average house, sit at the average seats at the football match. And then in thirty seconds time, she said: I wanna live like common people I wanna do whatever common people do Wanna sleep with common people I wanna sleep with common people Like you Oh what else could I do I said I'll, I'll see what I can do

[@alextoft9199]

Haha! Sounds like a blast! 🤣

[@Soulvex]

Say what you want, they are still on the road. where's the mondeos?

[@gerbentvandeveen]

I also had one myself. And now I regret selling the Opel. Before that I had a Nissan Primera 2.0, which burned down behind our house. As a replacement a Nissan Micra 1.3. SRI. With some help from my father-in-law, Nissan workshop manager. Would it be easier to make it even faster.

[@KingEddo8]

To me, this isn't boring in the way that watching paint dry is boring. My dad had this exact car when I was growing up. We knew as "Ruby" due its red paint. I cried when he sold it. The fact it was adequately reliable meant that he worked on it quite often which helped me understand engineering by spending my weekends in his garage. We went everywhere, saw everywhere and was the main part of my childhood I cherish. I remember when JC reviewed it on old top gear calling it "Mediocre" and his was right. But its a luxury car, its just a cheap family car. So it was fine.

[@JamesGore1547]

I think I actually would choose an Omega over a Vectra.

[@alfredapothecary1700]

Had the 1.8, it was quick enough, a real workhorse. Had 120 mph out of it.

[@Pmjs]

I had a 93K Peugeot 405 1.6GR in Cherry Red like the one in the photo.

[@DC-hh6zf]

Lovely car ❤️

[@brushhead]

I had a 2.5 SRi and I absolutely loved it I'd have another one in a heartbeat!

[@big-o2412]

I　used to be drove an Opel Vectra V6 Wagon, and it had a powerful engine, a practical cargo space, and a comfortable ride. I could fit four caddy bags in the luggage compartment, and there were a variety of seat arrangements. It was also good that the price was relatively cheap.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

They're not a bad all-rounder!

[@divad23]

I haven’t driven one. Is the seat really that bad? There’s one for sale in my area and I’m considering it but the seat comment put me off as I’m a tall guy 6’5”

[@dizzyfilmz]

Nah, the seat is okay, you can regulate the top of the seat where if puts pressure on your back, so even if you have pain it might take it away. You do have space but 6'5 is a lot of height indeed. But you can push the seat down as a whole

[@mattphipps9880]

Loved my 2.5 SportV6 estate

[@lukesmith2245]

bye todays cars looks sexy

[@lewis72]

People said the same of Escorts, Cortinas & the earlier Cavaliers.

[@roolio227]

Well the Cortina was considered a " Turkish migrant car " it was even used as an insult when my dad drove a Taunus / Cortina from 1978

[@xrecon18]

How could you call that Vectra model boring? The 2005 Vectra is boring but this one especially the saloon 1.8L SRI is a beauty. Dad owned one before. I really miss his Vectra

[@MMTGarage_Media]

I’m sorry, but the Vectra B is boring, but I love it. The C is so much better though.

[@Soulvex]

I disagree, had plenty of both, the C is a little better on the road when pushing it but everything else the B wins.

[@vidsinmotionchannel]

The Vectra B isn't really boring, it's just of its time which is to say heavier due to safety requirements with blunted performance to emissions compared to it predecessor. Peugeot 306/406, Golf Mk3 and 4, Passat and Audi A4 B5, and even pre-2001 BMW E46 had the same problem, they were all more refined but less exciting than the cars they replaced.

[@marksterriker4724]

I had the run out vectra b sri 130 estate 2002 with the half leather interior, that car was my baby it was just as clean underneath as the body work was , garaged all its life unfortunately due to circumstances I had to sell it after 12 years of ownership, only 42k on the clock, I told the lad who bought it all about how she had been looked after and how rare they were becoming especially with still having the factory fitted imerche back box and immaculate interior. Did a mot check just out of curiosity and mot expired in 2017 and the amount of advisories for previous mots , from insecure bumper, worn tyres broken number plates etc etc , I could have cried 😭😭😭. One car i really regret letting go . But I'm not bitter 😒

[@alextoft9199]

These Vetras were part of my childhood too. Every 90s kid who's Dad was a Sales Rep has been in one of these at some point! I certainly don't have nostalgia for it. Worse still was the 2002 Astra diesel estate we had for 10 years. I thought that was a thing of utter misery! Looking back, I can see it was a reliable and very economically family car. Don't miss it though. Only beaten in terms of being utterly devoid of character by our 2010 Passat estate! At least that is well-made, classy and comfortable though! 🙂

[@oldrustyrelic9121]

Wow haven't seen one of these for 16 years. My step dad had one before we moved to Australia 🇦🇺. They vectra wasn't sold down under so have seen the car for so long

[@oliverstemp9132]

Fancy door mirrors

[@hhgttg69]

bought one in '97 (Holden Vectra GL 2.0L, great car, best seats ever!)

[@kristianspencer1978]

Had a 1.8 ls and a 2.6 v6 gsi saloon both nice cars. But iv got a 2008 sri 1.8 vvt now and it’s in a different league, 150 bhp 140 ibft 135 mph max. I love it. And u don’t c many about these days so it’s rare which is good cos everyone is driving the same car these days how boring.

[@paulanderson79]

1.8 vvt in a different league? In what way?

[@kristianspencer1978]

paulanderson79 the car as a whole. Vec b is based on the cavalier , which is as old as the hills.

[@paulanderson79]

@@kristianspencer1978 I know. The Cavalier MkIII facelift was a decent enough car. This Vectra was far too little and too late to keep pace with the competition. Not sure the 1.8 VVT would set me on fire, but each to their own.

[@kristianspencer1978]

paulanderson79 no it wouldn’t it’s not brilliant but it’s a much better looking car and a much newer platform. Better than the opposition except for the premium brands like the e46 bmw which I’ve had two of. Better than the mondeo in my opinion ,the vxr is lustworthy, and rare as hens teeth. In Arden blue it’s lovely.

[@paulanderson79]

It's just not to my taste is all I'm saying. I found the 1.8 VVT lifeless.

[@malcolmcowan9554]

I get alot of looks comments driving my vectra b sri 2001 it's lovely looking car hasnt aged compared to cars of same era

[@mattbod]

Not that boring that v6 engine is a nice mill and six cylinders are getting rarer these days.

[@EverythingCarsandMoreECAM]

What is the difference between the 2.5l v6 and the 2.6l v6

[@markwood9987]

Slight torque improvement on the 2.6.

[@EverythingCarsandMoreECAM]

@@markwood9987 thanks

[@Soulvex]

@@EverythingCarsandMoreECAM the 2.5 is a better engine. same as the 3.0 is better than the 3.2

[@CynicalBastard511]

I think it's much nicer looking car than the similar era Mondeo, which looked absolutely horrid IMO.

[@360nastybusiness]

Great car