Vauxhall - Vectra

Vectra sold well to fleet users with a keen eye on the bottom line. Now heavily depreciated, it's a sound choice for the undemanding family driver. There's good equipment on most versions, adequate safety standards, and room for five in a comfortable cabin.
Running costs are attractively low, but avoid the penny-pinching 1.6 8v or older diesels - they're slow and not very refined. 1.8 16v is the most popular petrol unit; the 2.0 16v has a useful performance edge and is no thirstier. V6 models are fast but cost considerably more in fuel, servicing and insurance - and Vectra's handling really doesn't match the V6's power.
Choose Vectra as a comfortable cruiser, not a B-road hustler, where handling lacks Mondeo?s tautness and ride gets jittery.
Reliability is no better than average, so service history counts for a lot. Interiors don't wear that well, so high-milers are inevitably much cheaper.