1999 Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6 Estate advice

[RichL812]

Hi

I have been looking for a new towcar and found the above. It has full Vauxhall service history with 130k on the clock and just had a new cambelt fitted and is very clean.

I would welcome some advice / comments on whether this is a good buy at £1600 (seems a little cheap) and what to look out for and what its like on fuel economy. Will be pulling 1250kg fully loaded.

Thanks

 

[cooky1]

Think the price is about right considering the miles it's done. I had one of these and they make excellent towcars. Loads of room in the boot and the mpg isn't too bad either. It should have no problems towing 1250kg.

I had the front wheel bearings replaced on mine and the alternator packed in when I was in the Dordogne in France! Apart from that it was a reliable car. Watch out for the plastic running strips on the front doors coming away from the body and getting squashed when the rear doors are opened.

 

[RogerL]

The V6 Vauxhall has just one known weak point - it has a water-cooled engine oil cooler which can leak, mixing coolant and engine oil.

Ensure the cambelt and tensioners are changed every 40,000 miles REGARDLESS of handbook information.

It also has one difficult job - changing spark plugs - only needed every 40,000 miles but so much contortion is needed that some garages, including main dealers, sometimes leave one or two old plugs unchanged, despite billing for it on the invoice!

 

[RichL812]

Thanks for the info.

Can you advise what the mpg is like solo and towing?

Thanks

Richard

 

[cooky1]

I think solo was about 30ish and towing it fell to about 25ish, depending how fast and where you are towing. Still it's a lovely car.

 

[RogerL]

I'd have thought 30/25 quite optimistic unless it's a manual gearbox V6 driven slowly.

25/20 would be my best guess but driving style has a major effect on consumption with this sort of car.

 

[cooky1]

If you drive the V6 carefully then 30mpg is quite normal. But if you start to push it a bit it drinks the petrol. Mine was a manual.