12 years of loyal service
For Henk and Ria it was love at first sight when they saw this 2007 Opel Vectra Station Wagon in 2011, in a showroom that also had Ferraris and Lamborghinis. It had to be an Opel, because Henk already had two 1970s Opels as an enthusiast’s car and the family car also had to be one of that brand, after some Fiats and Renaults.
Henk (54) is a true Opel enthusiast. In addition to the family Vectra, he shares a 1978 Flamingo Red Kadett Coupé with his son, while an orange 1975 Manta is awaiting restoration. “I inherited my love for Opel from my parents, but I also drove Fiat and Renault,” he says. The car before the Vectra was a Scénic on LPG, but that involved quite a few expenses. Time for a replacement. Henk went online with the requirements of LPG because of his 20,000 km per year, a low mileage and a high towing capacity because of the boat trailer. “Then I ended up with Opel again, a four-year-old Vectra Wagon with a two-liter turbo engine in the rare Temptation Excellence – performance. It was parked at a luxury car company in Almelo among the Lamborghinis and Ferraris, but we only had eyes for the shiny Opel. It was love at first sight.”
The Opel Vectra also has to tow the boat trailer.
Vectra appears to be very reliable
When purchased, the German had 92,000 kilometers on the clock. We are now eleven years and 214,000 kilometers further and the no-nonsense mid-range car is still serving faithfully. There is no question of exchanging. So you can also speak of love at second sight, and at third… “Absolutely, because when we bought it, we didn’t really expect to drive it for so long. It happened naturally. For starters, the Vectra has always proven to be very reliable. It is properly serviced every year at the Opel dealer in Ede and that’s it. In all those years he has let us down twice. The first time on our own doorstep: the fuel pump was broken. The second breakdown was a torn filling hose of the LPG system.” Furthermore, one damage occurred, so it was not the fault of the car. “That’s right: I was refueling when a brand new Corsa suddenly rolled by itself from a wash box towards my car, against my left front wheel.” The result: damage to the left front suspension and the bumper. The owner was in the shop buying a laundry card.
You got all this 16 years ago for 37,000 euros.
The Vectra is downright luxurious. “It is a Temptation Excellence, a luxury variant that was only supplied for one year and cost as much new as the luxurious Cosmo and the sporty Sport: more than 37 grand.” For that money you got traction control, leather upholstery, cruise control and climate control, heated front seats, parking sensors all around, rain and light sensors, alloy wheels, an electric tailgate and automatically folding exterior mirrors.” Henk especially appreciates the seat heating.
“I recently test drove a 2018 Insignia Sports Tourer, but I found no reason to trade in the Vectra.” Even the lesser points, such as the high fuel consumption and car tax, do not change the family’s mind. “No, depreciation is no longer available, so why should we?”
Previously, a different car every four to five years, but the Vectra remains
The Vectra has a powerful engine and plenty of luxury and space. You drive cheaply, because on LPG and there is no more depreciation. Count your winnings. Moreover, it is solidly screwed together. Henk: “I used to trade in my car after four to five years. This has now been in service for twelve years. Every two years we take stock: if it is still good, then just keep it. If not? Only then will we look further.”
Henk and Ria’s Opel Vectra
Bought for €12,000
How long owned 12 years
How many owners are you? the third
Driven kilometers approximately 214,000
Biggest plus the seat heating
Biggest negative high road tax rate, petrol consumption
Largest cost item a major service, including timing chain, at 180,000 kilometers: approximately €2,200
How long will you keep him? We check every two years.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl