Holden Vectra (1 Viewer)

[Baiku]

I was thinking of buying a Holden Vectra.

I'm looking at the 6 cyclinder (2.6 litre) CD JSII - About a 2001-2002 car, hopefully about 60k-100k kms.

Would this be a good car for a first car? I think it'll be about 16-17k. Any medium-sized cars better for that price-range? I don't really want a big car like a Falcon or a Commodore. I want something about this size.

My brother drives an Accord (99) but I can't afford a Euro and there's really not many 01-02 Accords.

Also considred a Liberty, but it would be a little bit older, say 1999, I'm leaning towards Vectra though.

Thoughts?

 

[petar13]

Would it be good? The worst thing about large FWD vehicles is the apalling turning circle. That can be very offputting for an everyday first car. Making a U-turn into anything less than a 2 lane street can be embarassing.
But apart from that, it's a nice looking car, with higher quality build materials than a Commodore and will probably hold its value and quality better over time than a Falcon or Commodore.

 

[braad]

vectra?

i'd say no

simply because stories about them sort of getting unreliable after a certain amount of kays (definately less than 100K km)

i'd suggest checking out used car magazines (i saw one yesterday where they roadt test used cars...i think it had a lime green SS VY commodore on the front...that sort of thing)

 

[Baiku]

Would it be good? The worst thing about large FWD vehicles is the apalling turning circle. That can be very offputting for an everyday first car. Making a U-turn into anything less than a 2 lane street can be embarassing.
But apart from that, it's a nice looking car, with higher quality build materials than a Commodore and will probably hold its value and quality better over time than a Falcon or Commodore.

So what would you spend the money on? Given that it can't be a big car like Falcon/Commodore - and it MUST have dual airbag...that's pretty much my only requirements...

 

[Baiku]

vectra?

i'd say no

simply because stories about them sort of getting unreliable after a certain amount of kays (definately less than 100K km)

i'd suggest checking out used car magazines (i saw one yesterday where they roadt test used cars...i think it had a lime green SS VY commodore on the front...that sort of thing)

What instead please?

Vectra seems to be better than Accord - due to lack of an Accord thats few years old because they stopped making them, and the newer ones are more expensive.

Pulsar/Magna don't seem to hold up. Ford Focus? I dunno much about cars ...what would you buy?

 

[braad]

What instead please?

Vectra seems to be better than Accord - due to lack of an Accord thats few years old because they stopped making them, and the newer ones are more expensive.

Pulsar/Magna don't seem to hold up. Ford Focus? I dunno much about cars ...what would you buy?

pulsar/magna dont hold up? care to explain that? :/ i personally, would seriously think of the magna before a vectra

the vectra you buy might be an absolute gem, i just want to make sure you know that there have been reports of some dodgy ones. Ford Focus's are generally a good car i think.

i'm sorry though, as i dont read up on newer/used cars as much as old/modified cars

i'd suggest checking this thread once guys like slipstream and....loq(im not gonna even try and spell it) come and give their opinions, theirs are usually more factual and better written

 

[loquasagacious]

I hope this lives up to braads intro...

Vectra's are generally good cars, well built, reliable and the V6 actually goes pretty hard. However parts cost should be considered as especially in the case of the V6 parts may be hard to get and expensive.

Personally I would rule out the magna as the more recent models are actually quite large, the same goes for camrys. Back in the early ninties they were mid-size cars however I would describe later models as large cars and put them up there with falcodores.

That said this is a strange segment to try and pick a car in because there is so much overlap with both small and large cars.

At the smaller end my suggestion is to check out the:
Pulsar, Focus, Laser, 323, and civic.

At the larger end:
Liberty, magna, camry, accord.

I'm not sure whether dual airbags are/were standard on any of those cars however it would certainly have been an option. Unfortunately this may make it harder to find one and the likely lumping of DA with leather etc will push the price up.

If you can get a car with ABS - afterall its better to not have to use the dual airbags.

 

[Baiku]

I hope this lives up to braads intro...

Vectra's are generally good cars, well built, reliable and the V6 actually goes pretty hard. However parts cost should be considered as especially in the case of the V6 parts may be hard to get and expensive.

Personally I would rule out the magna as the more recent models are actually quite large, the same goes for camrys. Back in the early ninties they were mid-size cars however I would describe later models as large cars and put them up there with falcodores.

That said this is a strange segment to try and pick a car in because there is so much overlap with both small and large cars.

At the smaller end my suggestion is to check out the:
Pulsar, Focus, Laser, 323, and civic.

At the larger end:

Liberty, magna, camry, accord.

I'm not sure whether dual airbags are/were standard on any of those cars however it would certainly have been an option. Unfortunately this may make it harder to find one and the likely lumping of DA with leather etc will push the price up.

If you can get a car with ABS - afterall its better to not have to use the dual airbags.

Thanks for the advice I look into those other models.

I considered that to be one of the advantages of the Vectra, a lot of what would be options on other cars are standard on a Vectra, alloy wheels, dual airbags, etc. etc.

To be further specific, I'm looking at a car for 5-6 years. I'm 18, I'll drive it while I'm at uni, which will be 40 mins/day, and then hope to sell it as I get an industry job in 2011.

 

[loquasagacious]

Well all of the cars I've suggested will certainly fit your bill of lasting for 5-6 years doing a moderate 40min daily commute. You just need to take care of the car through routine maintenance and washing.

 

[DaddyK]

Get a honda prelude, great cars.

 

[loquasagacious]

Or an integra - and put a prelude engine in . Bear in mind though that Honda parts are a nightmare, I had to get a bango bolt shipped from melbourne and had I ended up needing to replace the booster that would have had to be shipped from Japan, would have taken six weeks and cost $600.

The sports segment doesn't seem of interest to baiku anyway.

 

[Baiku]

Or an integra - and put a prelude engine in . Bear in mind though that Honda parts are a nightmare, I had to get a bango bolt shipped from melbourne and had I ended up needing to replace the booster that would have had to be shipped from Japan, would have taken six weeks and cost $600.

The sports segment doesn't seem of interest to baiku anyway.

Haha yeah sorry to dissapoint you enthusiasts, but it doesn't really interest me.

A--->B ....safely, comfortably, stylishly (in that order)

I think I'm still mostly interested in Focus/Vectra...I just think Vectras look better, the 6 cyclinder engine can't be bad compared to those other small cars, and yeah...I don't know enough to make it much more complicated than that

 

[Zozo6969]

If I were you, I would look at other cars instead of a Vectra, its competitors are better. The Mazda6 is good, as well is the Honda Accord Euro and a Subaru Liberty.

 

[braad]

for $16-17K?

 

[SlipStream]

I hope this lives up to braads intro...

Vectra's are generally good cars, well built, reliable and the V6 actually goes pretty hard. However parts cost should be considered as especially in the case of the V6 parts may be hard to get and expensive.

Personally I would rule out the magna as the more recent models are actually quite large, the same goes for camrys. Back in the early ninties they were mid-size cars however I would describe later models as large cars and put them up there with falcodores.

That said this is a strange segment to try and pick a car in because there is so much overlap with both small and large cars.

At the smaller end my suggestion is to check out the:
Pulsar, Focus, Laser, 323, and civic.

At the larger end:
Liberty, magna, camry, accord.

I'm not sure whether dual airbags are/were standard on any of those cars however it would certainly have been an option. Unfortunately this may make it harder to find one and the likely lumping of DA with leather etc will push the price up.

If you can get a car with ABS - afterall its better to not have to use the dual airbags.

Baiku, loquasagacious hit the proverbial nail on the head with this one.

For your needs and budget, I actually agree with your decision to look at the Vectra. You've made the decision, now you've got to find an example that meets the prerequisites you've set and take it for a test drive!

 

[Nashie]

The vectra is a good car, the straight 4 goes very weel, I learnt to drive on one, and dad got lots of speeding tickets in it... The interior is very nice, it is a great car, but... holden is taking it out the range so it's re-sale will drop drastically soon! and also they start having expensive problems after 150,000 kms! My sis went from the vectra to a corrolla and loves it, it you want something nice and sporty and abit bigger, look at older CRVs as they can be at good prices and are nice!

 

[Bob.J]

get one of the newer holden astras.. like an 04' model

 

[gna]

Holden's are shit period.... =)

Get Prelude VTi-R or Integra VTi-R. If your looking at a bigger car, get the 94-97 Accord VTi-S, if not enough power, drop a H22A in it.

 

[braad]

Holden's are shit period.... =)

Get Prelude VTi-R or Integra VTi-R. If your looking at a bigger car, get the 94-97 Accord VTi-S, if not enough power, drop a H22A in it.

and you're not biased at all?

 

[Baiku]

I don't think I'm the sort of guy to be dropping anything in anywhere...stock standard pretty much...