have a chance of an 01 vectra for £350(don't know if this is cheap but have a feeling it is) 4 months mot no tax. He's got receipts for a new head gasket as he said cam belt snapped. I 'm no mechanic but would not have thought these to be related at all. Do head gaskets just "go " or is there usually and underlying factor like cracked or warped heads that I should look out for as I've seen some cars heads ali weld repaired that have gone again soon after.

 

any thoughts. If it's cheap at that price and it does give up would a recon engine still make it a good buy ?

 

 

cheers for any help ta

Edited October 1, 200916 yr by 8ace

Don't know what the problem is but it is very cheap. You may well end up spending more than the cars worth fixing it.

do you mean £3500?

there's no problem with it now I'm just wondering why the head gasket went and will it go again . I haven't looked at it yet my mrs was talking to my mums neighbour who's floggin it

£350 unless my mrs got it wrong lol

What spec is it mate?

What spec is it mate?

 

not sure but it has aircon so reasonable spec i presume

TBH I would generally expext a £350 car to last about 4 months. I tend to go by a very rough system that you need to be prepared to spend about a grand a year to keep a car on the road (including the original purchase cost), so as I say I'd want about 4 months and I'd feel I'd got my monies worth.

As long as it's not the 1.6 engine (no power at all!!!) then it's definitely worth a look. I'm not a mechanic but if the cambelt snapped then I would have thought it would have had at least new valves. I've not heard of any particular head gasket problems on the vectra, other than usual wear and tear.

P.S if you want a sound Vectra GSi with Recaro interior and low miles give me a shout. Be a bit more than £350 tho!!

Edited October 1, 200916 yr by Steams

yeah will look at it tommorrow in the light of day. I have an escort at moment and have had 3 of them. this one was £225 and I spent about £500 mechanically running it for 3 years last one was £200 and lpg did get a recon box on that one though for £250 fitted so I like my bargain sh!t cars and know how to make 'em last lol I do about 20k a year in my dd too

just spoke to her indoors she now thinks it may be the head that was repaired (new valves apparently when cambelt snapped) not head gasket so will go look tommorrow is 140k miles a lot for a vectra petrol?

Pretty high for a petrol mate, check for usual wear and tear.

worth a view though I guess. I'll check my bank balance before I view will help me be strict with myself no doubt

they are a 5hit car mate at that milage bushes and anti roll bars will be gone unless they have been changed, my vectra has been the biggest bag o 5hit i have ever had and my brothers vectra is the same. i will never have another again

they are a 5hit car mate at that milage bushes and anti roll bars will be gone unless they have been changed, my vectra has been the biggest bag o 5hit i have ever had and my brothers vectra is the same. i will never have another again

 

Same as above. I had 2 in 6months one being a GSI. with out a word of a lie my R reg fiat punto had better build quality and reliability

 

AVOID