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[JezInBrum]

Hi all. Basically am am thinking its time for a change. My car is 13 years old now, and having got through the mot requiring only a stering ball joint and a bulb its starting to feel a bit tired.
With this in mind i am think of going back to a vectra. I find the saloon restrictive on the few times i need to pick up anything large and prefer a hatch.
I would ideally like a 2003-2005 model as I only have about £3.5k to spend.
Seen GSI's starting at about £2300 but with current fuel prices i am leaning more to an oil burner.
GM in their infinate wisdom fitted 5 variants from what I can see, 2 x1.9's 120 & 150 bhp, a 2.0 a 2.2 and a 3.0v6.
From experience would any of be able to advise which is the most robust and which is the weakest reliability wise. Me being me am tempted by the v6.
Any advice greatfully received
Jez

[Danny]

the 1.9 150s are fairly highly thought of as far as i'm aware, dont get it mapped though, it'll just spin its wheels

[JezInBrum]

A bit rarer in my price range with sensible mileage too. I only do about 5k a year so would slowly bring donw any higher milage cars. I have also heard most of these have dual mass flywheels which need changing when the cluch goes. Anyone suffered this or know of anyone who has?

[Hannah Judes Dad]

The V6 oil burner is not that economical although it does have just over 180 bhp and 295 lb/ft of torque it manages a real world average of about 36mpg 
I don't know about the clutch though.

[Del Boy]

1.9 CDTi 150 or the 3.0 V6 CDTi 

[davethediver]

A bit rarer in my price range with sensible mileage too. I only do about 5k a year so would slowly bring donw any higher milage cars. I have also heard most of these have dual mass flywheels which need changing when the cluch goes. Anyone suffered this or know of anyone who has?

As per most modern diesels

[Marks DTM Calib]

DMF is pretty much sorted on that power plant from 2008 onwards (and can be retro fitted into earlier modles if you change the pressure plate).

Easy to check one, just start it up 5-10 times and listen for a clonk.

[JezInBrum]

Thank you for the pointers. Cannot afford anything as new as 2008. Case of taking a chance I guess...
Cheers

[mathewst]

1.9 are briliant engines (not GM but alfa/fiat diesels) so I would rather choose them over any 2.0 and 2.2

[the alarming man]

I had 1.9 cdti (2004) I done 90,000 in two.years never had any problems with it only had to give it back because lease had run out...

[Phil]

If you are only doing 5k a year surely fuel cost isn't that much of an issue??

V6 petrol all the way.

If you need the space get the estate, from experience the vectra hatch (with parcel shelf removed and back seats up) has only a little bit more room than the Omega saloon, Signum has less with the seats slid back.

Diesels suffer the same as every modern diesel with DMF, DPF, EGR, Swirl Valves etc etc blah blah blah.
Get a bad one and youe are in for big bills, BUT get a good one and imagine you will be happy - well as happy as you can be driving a diesel 

Also be aware there are TWO V6 CDTi's a 175bhp and the later 184bhp

[pscocoa]

after the Omega you may find the Signum a better compromise which is basically a saloon on a Vectra estate platform.

for 5000 miles a year a 2 litre petrol would be good.

I confirm on my wife's diesel signum 1.9 cdti 150 bhp  - 2 dmfs fitted under warranty in first 3 years. Fingers crossed now we are out of warranty!!

[Marks DTM Calib]

For info, the swirl valves were sorted around 2005/6 although most seem to have been repaired with the later manifold.