Holden Vectra 2003 News

Opel's stunt prior to the 2008 British motor show injected excitement into the launch of their mid-size car. The launch of the latest Insignia (Vauxhall Vectra in the UK) started with an orb plunging to the ground. It was hoisted atop the Tower Bridge where it stayed until its mid-week opening revealing the car, which was lowered earthwards … plunging 45m in six seconds. The Insignia debuts GM's Epsilon2 platform that will underpin future models, including Saab's next-generation 9-3, with front-wheel and all-wheel-drive. It will be powered by four cylinder and V6 petrol engines and turbo diesels. Holden wouldn't comment but may be forced to consider the mid-sizer, given that sales of the Daewoo-built Epica match its underwhelming performance.  

Holden's Vectra is a German design and began life in Australia as a full import from Europe, but some models were built in Australia for a while before Holden went back to full importation. Sales were never particularly good and Vectra was deleted from the Holden line-up late in 2006. Vectra started off as a medium-size car but in its latest format, which went on sale in 2003, is significantly larger. Indeed, it is similar in dimensions to the original Commodores. These later models can be used as a family car. However, buyers haven't embraced the later model with any enthusiasm. It seems that if they want a large Holden, they will go all the way up to Commodore. The Opel-built Vectra first reached Australia in June 1997 and was hailed by keen drivers for its dynamic abilities. It appealed to people who enjoy their motoring. Road grip is impressive and Vectra is happy to change direction promptly during the hardest of cornering. At the same time, it retains its composure pretty well on rough-and-ready country roads and even manages to remain stable on corrugated tracks. Vectra was initially imported as a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback from 1997. A five-door station wagon was added to the lineup when local assembly began in August 1998. Wagons were taken off the market at the end of 2000, though some may not have been registered until the first months of the new millennium. Be sure to date the car by its time of manufacture, not its initial registration. Interior room is good in the front but rear legroom is marginal before the 2003 model if the front seats are set well back. The front seats are well shaped and provide good support for spirited cornering. The boot volume is good in all versions with the wagon having a nicely shaped load area that can carry reasonably bulky items. Under the bonnet Initially the lower-cost Vectra models used a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Its capacity was increased to 2.2 litres with the change to Australian manufacture in 1998. This unit has good torque output over a large spread of revs, though it is not as refined as some in its class. The topline Vectra CD (hatchback only) used a 2.5-litre V6. That engine is typically European in its setup and doesn't have a lot of grunt at lower revs. Rather, it's aimed at slow around-town work and high-speed motorway cruising. The larger-bodied 2003 Holden Vectra offered a choice between a 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine and a 3.2-litre V6, the latter built by Holden. Most Vectra V6 models came with four-speed automatic transmission only, until the ZC model was introduced in 2003, when it moved up to the extra refinement and performance offered by a five-speed auto. The rest of the Vectra range gives buyers the choice between a four-speed automatic and a five-speed manual. Vectra is a modern car and therefore relatively complicated in design, so all but basic servicing and repairs are best left to professionals. If you do your own work, make sure you have access to a workshop manual. We recommend that you don't tackle any safety-related work yourself. Vectra has the advantage of being backed by the huge Holden dealer network. However, some spare parts may not be stocked in remote areas, though they can usually be shipped there in a day or so. Parts prices are around average for a European car of this type — meaning they are often more expensive than for locally built Holdens, though not excessively so. Insurance costs are generally on the low-to-medium side in their range. We know of no insurance company that discriminates between four and six-cylinder engines in premiums. Danger signs Be sure the engine starts virtually immediately and the four-cylinder idles reasonably smoothly. The six should be all but imperceptible when it's idling. Engines should pull without hesitation even when cold, run without any rattles and not puff smoke from the exhaust under acceleration. Manual gearboxes generally hold up well, but be suspicious of one that baulks and/or is noisy during changes. A fast three-two downshift is usually the best way to find out if there is a problem. Look for signs of body damage or previous repairs. The latter can most easily be spotted by checking for wrinkles in the panels. They are seen more easily if you look along the length of the panel against a good light. Check for poor quality repairs in hard-to-see areas such as under the bonnet and in the boot. Paint that isn't an exact match from the old to the new paint indicates a former respray.  

Another South Korean Holden has been confirmed. A GM Holden dealer has revealed that Holden will replace the Vectra with a re-badged version of the Daewoo Tosca sedan for $24,990. The mid-sized sedan, which will be called Epica in Australia, will be the fourth Daewoo-sourced model to be sold as a Holden, following the Barina baby car, Viva small car and Captiva all-wheel-drive wagon. Holden will not comment on the Epica plan, but a Cairns Holden dealer revealed the car and details at the launch of the VE Commodore a fortnight ago. The carmaker has long been frustrated with the performance of the European-built Vectra, which has not matched sales expectations. The well-equipped Epica will be available with two six-cylinder engines: the 2.0-litre produces 104kW and the 2.5-litre adds another 11kW. The engines drive the front wheels through either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. Fuel economy figures are not yet available, but it is believed that one engine gives 8.2 litres/100km of mixed city and highway driving. A 2.0-litre common rail turbo-diesel will be offered to European Epica customers, though it is not clear if the engine will come here. The Epica will have a tough time battling it out with the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Magentis, Mazda6 and Honda Accord. The Epica preview to guests of Holden dealers included a presentation that listed alloy wheels, anti-skid brakes, dual airbags, traction control, electric windows and cruise control as standard features. The vehicle, which replaces the Daewoo Magnus, made its global premiere as the Chevrolet Epica at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March and is likely to be seen for the first time here at the Australian Motor Show in Sydney in October.