Vectra 2003 hatchback - any tips?

I'm planning to buy a Vauxhall Vectra hatchback on Monday (they're
just preparing it for me at the moment) and was wondering if anyone
had any last minute things to say before I lay out the cash.

Specs:
Year: 2003
Cost: £4600
Trim: LS
Engine: 2.0 Diesel DTi
Miles: 70000
Things I noticed:

- A square cm of rust at the bottom of the passenger door
where someone had opened it onto a raised curb and then not treated it.
Presumably quite cheap to sort out?

- Some cracked plastic on a wing mirror (no big deal other than aesthetic).

- The clutch was very smooth (i.e. the biting point was very broad and gentle). This
is compared with my old 1.0 saxo which has just had a new clutch put on it, which
is relatively sudden when you bring the pedal up. Perhaps I'm over sensetive to it.

Feel free to chime in with thoughts!

 

Toby Newman wrote on 06/04/2008 :

Orrible gutless engine IMHO. Has it had a cambelt recently? (you must
check this and make allowances for one if they do not know). I would
personally want it cheaper with that milage and damage.

Paul

 

The 2.0 DTi is renowned for high oil consumption if it hasn't been run
in properly, not much you can do to check that at day 1 but be sure to
keep an eye on it - can be tricky as the oil takes along time to drain
back into the sump on this engine. See http://www.keith.simmons.dsl.pipex.com/latest.htm
for an extreme case.

Also keep an eye out for cold start problems, these engines do have a
tendency to suffer from perished leak off ( think that's the right
phrase) pipes which admit air overnight, or in more extreme cases the
injector seals go, although I'm not sure if thats' more common on thsi
engine than otehr Vx diesels.

 

He must of seen you coming you mug, fancy paying that much for the Vectra.

 

Not really. Its about the going rate from a dealers, with a warranty

http://www.whatcar.com/newautotrader/valuations_search.asp