Holden Vectra

First car – I bought the 1999 Vectra JS in April 2018 for nearly nothing as my first car. Since it's a 18 year old car, some of the issues i had may not be your case, this review is sorely based on my vehicle and my personal experience. Pros -Cheap to buy, cheap to run -Decent power from the 2.2L 4cylinder engine. -Rear seats can be fold down, good for… Read more

ikea trips.

Cons -My AC doesn't work -Brake light failed twice during my 5 month ownership, the second failure happened few weeks after replacing it, not sure if it's caused by electronic system issues -Oil leaks, quite normal for its age and not severe -I experienced brake failure twice after few month of owning it. I got brake system check by professional workshop, sanded discs and replaced pads, but couldn't find what really was causing the failure. A similar failure situation happened again after I took it to the shop. Main reason why i traded it in.

I had it for 5mth, took it from Sydney to Melbourne and back, performed great except the brake failure later. I would like to keep it if the brakes didn't fail. I simply didn't want spend more money on figurring out the brake issue.

We LOVE it!! – Was looking for a newer car for the missus. Found a secondhand 2003 CDX 3.2 automatic hatchback model and fell in love with the awesome power and fuel economy of the vehicle! Nicely appointed interior with beautiful woodgrain inserts. Performance, handling and the lack of road noise is a great change to the cars we have had. Very roomy inside,… Read more

comfortable seating, and an overall awesome car to drive!

Yes, there are small quirks with it - as with any second hand car with now 170,000 kms - but overall we cannot fault it. Brakes do tend to wear, but drive to road conditions and regular services fix any problem. (You do get lemons in every vehicle range - my father bought a new VS Commodore off the show room floor back in the day, and had so many problems that they had to finally replace the engine! But that never stopped him being a Holden driver!)

Only problem we found is that we had to take the front rubber piece off the bumper as it scrapped every time we drove into the garage - being so low to the ground...

Major issue some time ago was a problem with the lights not wanting to turn off. Disconnected the battery for awhile and it seemed to have reset the computer? as the auto electrician couldn't find a fault with it.

Would definitely buy a new one - if they were still making them!

Excellent if you are a mechanic - nice to drive, and to get dirty fixing it – My particular Veccy came to me rather than be scrapped. It was unloved by the previous few owners. I replaced the blown engine, transmission, installed ABS, cruise control, the passenger and side airbags, replaced the A/C and got the car on new suspension components. The interior was upgraded to a CD-spec with nice carpets, seats, and the… Read more

multi display unit.

The car doesn't miss a beat, but it's old. And old cars need PLENTY of maintenance to keep going.

All 2.2L Vectras come with a free feature - head gasket failure - they ALL have it. It's a matter of when, rather than if. My particular machine was showing signs when I got it - some bunny put a can of gasket repair in the cooling system, necessitating a replacement radiator.

For a car that's now considered scrappable, going beyond what P-Platers will drive these days, if you have one, and you are handy - they are excellent to learn the skills about car repair.

Problems – I’ve just brought my Holden 2003 vectra and sometimes when I go to start my car, the interior and dash lights will start flashing at me for a good 2 minutes or so. Has anyone had this kind of problem at all?

The 2.2 4-cylinder manual is brilliant – I bought my ZC 2.2 4-cylinder manual sedan new from the showroom in 2004. I has been outstandingly good. It is now 17 years old and still performs like a gem, especially on the open road. Ignore all the negative reviews here. They are all for the V6 automatic hatch version. The lighter 4-cylinder engine is a much better-balanced car, and very… Read more

economical. Also the sedan (with a boot) has more luggage space than the hatch. Most people simply bought the wrong model.

High oil consumption – It was a great little car, but I hated that every 5k you need to top up oil. I did use lots of engine braking. Someone told me that was good for the engine. Also mine had cartridge oil filter. A pain to change it! Heater tap cracked once and it was a pain to replace. Not much room under the bonnet. And lots of electrics went wrong. There are… Read more

better cars out there, I would never buy it again and I certainly do not recommend it. I loved the European shape and the features inside and purchased it for $1,000 so that was cheap.

Worst car I've owned – An okay car when every thing is working which is hardly ever. Constant mechanical & electrical problems, cheap crappy Interior with knobs that always fall off. I wish I never bought this car and glad to see it go, it's an unreliable LEMON i'd Get any car but this. Save you're money!  Show details

Was her best car til it got written off – powerful lil car. drove all round Australia in it. Loved the car surprisingly it didn't go through as much fuel as I first thought when I heard 2.2l 4cyl but it was great being able to get power when you wanted. Getting another now 2005 cd zc 2.2 manual. Already done 290,000k so what needs to be replaced next anyone know?  Show details

My first luxury – Smooth drive. Long distance or local. When wanted power it was there at the touch of my foot. Handles beautifully, at your fingertips and quiet. A bit of style with suede seats adjustable, door panels and roof with wood grain marbeling trim. Comfortable legroom. Comes with drink holders and sunglasses department. Well lit dash. It will get you anywhere you need to go with every start and I was surprised by how much I saved.  Show details

The absolute epitome of a lemon – This was my first ever car purchase. Performance wise, when it was actually working, this car was fun, quite fast and surprisingly had good fuel economy. When I purchased this, I was surprised at how nice the clutch was and its has quite luxurious features for a car of its ages such as a large multi-function screen where I could change multiple… Read more

settings, as well as heated leather seats, great sound system, comfy, bolstered front seats, nice interior and boot space and overall, the car looked great. That's about as far as the pros go. The first week of driving the car, I had found that the blower fan resistor wasn't working at all, and upon taking the glove-box out and removing the part, we found that it had been heavily corroded so, I ordered a new part from the UK as it was not available in Australia at all. I must note that I do not thrashed the car in any way, shape or form. I happily drove the car for about 3 months and noticed a burning smell. I took off the lid for the oil and there was a build up that resembled mustard. I thought maybe it was an issue of a bit of condensation but boy was I wrong. I proceeded to check the coolant, this time it resembled mud. I did drive the car at all besides taking it to the mechanic and it was diagnosed to be a leak in the oil cooler, and a bypass would be sufficient, with the labour costing $600 due to the inconvenient placement of the oil cooler. It was later found, as first speculated that it in fact was the cylinder head. It has been going on to a month of not driving (first world problem, I know), all because this car was poorly made, poorly maintained and the placement of everything is just beyond me, as well as every mechanic that I have taken it to. It also sounds like a damn tractor must I add. I was told by the person who sold it to me that it was just the idler pulley that was making the sound and it was just a $30 part so I thought it would be fine. It turned out to be the tensioner, but that's more so the seller's fault for not disclosing the real issue and my fault for not being more wary.

It has just given me problem after problem and has not served me well at all. I have had to fork out so much money and time and it's completely not worth it at all. I wish I never bought this car and I would never recommend someone to buy it. It is simply unreliable and the parts are soo ridiculously expensive. DO NOT be fooled by its good looks and luxurious feel inside, it is not worth the headache at all. It is the epitome of a lemon.

Vectra definitely not A LEMON – Had this 2.6 litre v6 hatch since new in 2002. It has been and still is A GREAT CAR. It has well outlasted my 2004 BMW 3 series which I got rid of due to persistant oil and coolant leaks even though it had done only about 105,000 kms. Only now am I having a few minor issues which is to be expected given the age of the car.  Show details

My first car – It is a 2.2 litre car with 4 cyl engine, 5 doors 4 seats sedan. I am feeling nice to have this car. The car is very smooth to drive. Good mileage and control. Soothing look. Fluent efficient. Economic car. Its security system is really amazing. It is my first car.  Show details

1999 Vectra Station Wagon – Bought this car with 128,000km on the odometer. First problem - timing belt incorrectly fitted. Second problem - speedo tacho working intermittently (apparently a common problem that dealers now about} Third problem - engine switching off at traffic lights - using higher octane fuel did not resolve the problem. Blew a head gasket. Sold after 12 months. Good features but just too much trouble. I will never buy another Opel based Holden.  Show details

Holden Vectra A Study In Maintenance – The Holden Vectra when purchased in July 2016 had 64k on the clock and is 16 years old. A comfortable 'sporty' feel gives a feeling of confidence. A study of reports on this model suggested timing belt and coolant related problems. The timing belt has to be replaced at 120k or 8 year intervals. In theory, this Vectra had had one timing belt… Read more

replacement at 8 years, this was not supported by the documented history and I suggest that the reported timing belt and associated coolant problems, are the result of poor maintenance practices.

The replacement of the timing belt invariably includes the coolant water pump, associated tensioner pulleys and the auxiliary drive belt costing $1300. You can have it done by a non dealer at a cheaper price, but at the risk of cutting corners e.g. the water pump and tensioner pulleys are not replaced. Failure to replace these items will ensure an early return, with possible coolant associated engine damage.

Owners must monitor servicings to ensure that work programmed is fulfilled - do not expect the mechanic to know your vehicles maintenance history.

August 7th 2017 Update: 1995 - 2003 JS Holden Vectra - Replacement Parts

The term 'lifetime guarantee' is defined by manufacturers as: as long as it is economical to supply parts.

While the JS Holden Vectra never had a lifetime guarantee, Holden in the main, no longer supply parts (or rather will supply some parts at great cost) for the Vectra.

The 1995-2003 JS Holden was manufactured in the EU (Germany/UK) as the Vauxhall or Opel Vectra B. The EU is the major source of replacement parts. Replacement parts can also be sourced from Repco (Aust) and Asia.

To obtain replacement parts, first obtain the factory part description and part number (and if available cost) from your local Holden dealer.

Next step, check out Repco. If Repco cannot supply, with the part description/part number search the internet under Vauxhall or Opel Vectra B. Note, it is often the case that the Holden and Vauxhall/Opel part numbers do not align, as most internet descriptions include a photo, it pays to be familiar with the part you are seeking.

A sporty good size reliable V6 Holden – It's a pity that most posts are done when there are negative experiences. I have had my V6 Vectra for around 14 years and it has been reliable. It has been well maintained and only now in the last 18 months started needing replacement parts. Yes they aren't as cheap as Toyota's but parts only usually get replaced once. The driver window mechanism… Read more

has been replaced, now has new shocks, new brake rotors, new rocket gaskets, spark plugs, coil, injectors and oil leaks fixed. It should now continue on for more than another 100,00kms.. Interior space is excellent, seating 4 adults comfortably and the hatch boot is a fantastic size, there is no other sedan around that gets off the mark as quickly, performs well in slow traffic and on highways nor gives as much space internally!

2.6 v6 motor – the driving is very good,like the interior of the vehicle is great/ the reliability of this particular vehicle we bought the car last week from endevour hills we were assured by the young lady that every thing is good and should pass a roadworthy.it was raining so we left the windows up till we got home then we tested the windows3 were good… Read more

drivers side decided to stay down so we had a look at it.the mechanism was twisted needed replacement.then noticed that there was a puddle of oil under the car oil level sensor needs replacing /then after driving a short while the car overheated needs new thermostat but not shore where it is but assumed it would be at the inlet but no i'm told its on the outlet which is impossable to get in to undo and remove fun and games i next decided check the brakes i''ve now had to replace the front brakes as they were metal on metal so i am looking for someone who has a work shop manual for opal engine so i can finish doing this vehicle we tried to get a refund for this car but they would not hear of if these people had looked at these faults i know that becauuse they had left a brake spring off the brake caliper,after this they can put vectras on the scrap heap we will never buy another vectra its a heap very clean mechanicly up the creek our $1500 dollar car has now now gone up to something like $3200.as parts for this car are extreemly dear i stopped driving holden after my HQ but thought i would try again .but after this i will choose another type of car

Okay When It's Okay – It's a good driver, nice engine but very unreliable. It's also very tight inside the cabin, but there's a lot of gadgets (which is probably why it's so unreliable). For the size of the car it's not economical, at about 8L per 100km which is good for a family car but not a car as small and tight as this. Can't count how much has broken altogether but recently the starter motor died, over heated a few times and stalled plenty.  Show details

Runs really well for me! – Car works really well, V6 engine is really powerful yet smooth but thirsty. This car is actually not made in Australia but it's an Opel/Vauxhall made in Germany badged up for Holden here but the car did not sell well so they stopped doing it for Australia market Just a few spot of oils leaking now that car is 96,000km. Bought second hand at… Read more

80,000km.

I had recently had to change the heating that broke down and the fan that stopped working after driving through a terrible three days storm in NSW... that about it in the last four years.

A really good ride – Purchased ten year old vectra, well serviced. Engine warning light kept coming on and I was warned but also told to use the good fuel every 4th tank. I used the 98 octaine and the great performance became terrific, the engine light went off, obviously the lower octaine fuel sets off the sensors. For the price its a fun car as long as your… Read more ·  1

prepared to maintain it. My Nissan 260c went around Australia three times and was still a top car until stolen . I'll let you know how they compare in time.

This is lemon – I brought this one my second car...that day rediator hose broken...i call dealer to inform that but they not flaxible.im worry about it....i never ever buy holden again...as soon as i say good bye this car...and move to brand new japanes one.i lost $ 4700+700 (for hose and repair).don't buy astra its same..lemon.im verry unhappy that dealer..  Show details

Designed by people that couldn't care about cars! Dodgy Holden! – Holden, you make some crappy cars, but this is by far the worst, what a nightmare!!! To date the worst car I've owned, I'm never touching Holden again! EVER EVER EVER Again!!! Listen to me now, don't make the mistake and buy this. Go with Toyota, or something else, whatever you do, don't buy this!!! Stay away from this car!!! Stay away from Holden!!!  Show details

Served me well – Had the car since new (2004 till now) only had to replace front wheel bearing at 240,000, purchased 2 genuine ones from Germany at 2/3 cost of single one from holden. Cam belts changed at 120,000 and 240,000 as per schedule. Can be very expensive if you rely on Holden but if you are mechanically minded can be cheap to maintain. Drives well,… Read more

plenty of power, economical for a v6, I get about 8.2l/100km or about 640k out of a tank (drove from Adelaide to Sydney on two tankfull's).

huge boot, have carried all sorts of gear in it, even half a tonne of bricks.

Only upgrading to get a car with a bigger boot

Do not waste your money – Looks good, drives ok only when it's working. 2 radiators, pumps, 2 head gasket kits and every thing else that goes with fixing these problems within 2 years later and I'm broke. Car sales should not sale them. Save your time and money do not buy They should recall this Model and refund the owners  Show details

Vectra 1999 model wagon – 3heads 3raidiators 1overhead cam head gaskets alternator front brake rotors .all up $11000 in ten years . Holden should have recalled the lot or left them in Europe .sold mine for$150 glad to see it go

Sending me bankrupt! – Bought a 2000 model about 2 years ago for $5000. The guy had an extensive service history on it and I thought 'oh, well he's obviously taken care of the car then' (it was my first time buying a car). But noooo, what it meant was 'this car needs servicing all the time'. Like today when I went to put a new battery in it and have it serviced. Cost me… Read more

$665 and they told me there was no way in hell I could sell it. I've probably spent well over $1500 on it since I bought it now. Oh and as an added bonus, the entire interior is falling apart (side panel on driver's side has come off, the rear window light is hanging). In its defence, when it runs (which isn't often) it runs really, really well and it's comfortable to drive. And maybe that's why I've kept it for so long, because I hoped it would miraculously cure itself. Runs well when it actually runs

Wouldnt wish it on my mother in law – Well... the mother in law brought one, she was told not to... but hey, its a holden so it has to be good.... Right? Wrong! caught fire once, $1500 to fix the wiring under the dash Blew a head gasket at low kms snapped a timing belt, kablammo $$$$ to fix off to the wreckers! Was nice to drive, looked ok

Do not buy a VECTRA! – I don't usually write reviews on anything but this car brought me so many tears. In 2 years I spent over $3500 on the car. When I fixed one thing another broke. Water pump, engine, belts you name it, it went wrong. I got so sick of going to mechanics giving me a look of pity and them saying vectras were lemons and to get rid of it ASAP as I was a… Read more

uni student I couldn't afford to. Every time I got in the car to drive I was afraid it wouldn't start. WORST CAR don't buy one. The vectra has made me really appreciate my new car after experiencing the pitfalls of a vectra EVERYTHING mechanical

Worst car ever – I bought my 2006 vectra in 2008, it was okay for the first 6 to 8 months and then the problems started, from there on the coolant compartment would always over heat making the car have no power and feel like the car was going to break down after driving for 40 min. Just after fixing that the front left suspension broke two weeks later so i… Read more

sent the car to holden thinking that they could fix it and give it a proper service (l thought at the time that the mechanic i used was dodgy) after two weeks of them fixing my car i got a call from holden saying my engine was gone and l had to get it replaced for the cost of $6000 this car has almost costed me its worth. It looks good Too many problems to list ( Unless you like spending money on this type of car, in my opinion don't get it ).

If I could give it 0 I would! – I have a 1999 JSII 2.2l wagon, and this year alone it has cost me over $3000 in repairs, the cup holders are useless and parts and repairs are ridiculously expensive. Bottom line- DONT GET A VECTRA, just dont, its a bad idea. Get something that lasts or at least is reasonable to fix. Not as wide as a Commodore, has good fuel economy My mechanic drives it more than I do Show details

Car surgeing – 2004 3.2 vectra a great car apart from when it gets low on fuel about a quarter on the fuel gauge the car starts to surge and appears to miss the lower the fuel level the worse it gets even though there is still plenty of fuel left help ,apart from that a good car

Great Car – We have a 2002 2.6 V6 manual Hatchback and it is a great car. Good power, great handling and comfortable to drive. We also run it on the recommended Premium petrol which is more expensive then the cheaper fuels but you get a lot more K's out of it. You can run it on normal unleaded (doesn't run as smooth) but definetily would not run it on any… Read more ·  1

fuel with ethanol in it. Handling, comfort, power. Replacement parts can be expensive but you can buy them yourself from UK/Germany very cheap.

Not good – Sour as a lemon, lots of problems with my 2002 vectra overheating since change the head gasket leaking steering hoses, front wheel bearing has been replaced common in vectras etc, there is a book called the worlds worst cars with the vauxhall vectra on page 128 need I say more! Shape style  Show details

How to clear blocked windscreen washers – Use a orcon multipurpose transfer manual pump which cost about $20.00 from "Autopro shop" & pump out container into a bucket,then refill with clean water & disconnect pump from small hose & with a "Air compressor" use the air gun nozzle to pressure the container via the small hose which is still in the container to really stir up & then pump it… Read more

out again doing this process a few times untill clear. Solved the problem & had windscreen washers working again.

Broken down old lemon – I have had nothing but trouble with this car. I was warned before i bought it but didnt listen and am now paying the price. It overheats regularly and last summer just shuddered to a complete stop. When i took it to the mechanic, they said that the engine is [censored word removed] and they gave it 6 months to 'live'. its still going but not for much longer small, and easy to drive  Show details