Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi

My brother and his girlfriend need to do a lot of travelling in the course of their work, and so they chose a work-horse car to help them do it. The car is a Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi, with a 120 BHP engine. This is an engine that trades performance for economy, but being a diesel engine, it performs well in everyday driving situations and still gives over 50 MPG.

The Vauxhall Vectra is renowned as a favourite of those who have to travel long distances under a budget. People discovered long ago that diesel cars provided greater economy than petrol engined cars, and that they also provide good performance too, under everyday driving conditions. This Vectra has a 120 BHP 1.9 litre diesel engine. This is the lowest-powered version of the engine that you can get in the UK. Nevertheless, provided you don't expect too much, this car provides ample performance and will get you from A to B as fast as anyone else who obeys the rules of the road.

One of the fortes of this car is the economy that it provided. I haven't tested it myself for economy, but my brother and his girlfriend tell me that it exceeds 50 MPG under virtually all circumstances. That's not bad for a medium-sized car that is big enough to transport a large family and all their luggage to wherever they want to go.

I myself have owned a number of Vectras in the past and I can confirm that this car has a common trait with all those cars - it is an extremely comfortable car to rise around in. The seats are soft and support your body where it is needed, and the suspension soaks up all the bumps that you typically find on British roads. In fact, it would be hard to think of a car that offered greater ride comfort than this. The trade-off is plenty of body roll through the corners, but I suspect that the majority of drivers of this Vectra won't care about that.

Overall, this is a very good car, but it isn't one that I would buy, simply because I like more straight-line performance from my cars. I am happy to trade some economy for a little more speed in a straight line. Having said that, the comfort that this car offers on long journeys is undeniable, and its ability to sip fuel helps to save money. I know many folk don't like Vectras, but I have to ay that the looks and shape of this car are very tasteful and easy on the eye too. So, this is a great car for you if you're not bothered about winning the traffic light grand prix!.