Ex-Police "VXR" in Yorkshire...

**phykell** · 29th August 2009, 21:46

I thought others may be interested in my opinion of an ex-Police Vectra "VXR" that I went to see today. The short version is that it was an utter waste of time other than seeing what spec these cars are and aquainting myself with the very worst of buying experiences; but read on if you like....

The people trying to sell it to me described it, and I quote, "a good, clean car". Bodes well you might think eh?

Last weekend they wasted my time telling me they'd have the trade plates so I'd be able to test drive it and then at the last minute it turned out the plates hadn't been returned as yet. This weekend they said they'd probably have the plates (by now I just wanted to see the thing TBH) but when I got there, no they didn't have the plates and it would be more usual to have them during the week - right, so when *most* people can actually get there to test drive the cars, they haven't got the trade plates

So these muppets expect me to seriously look at buying the car when a) they deliberately describe it as good, clean, etc. b) they deliberately mislead me about being able to test drive it and c) I end up having to visit *three* separate garages before I get to see the actual car! And then they make sure that there's another car blocking the "VXR" so that I can at least start the engine up to listen to it.

They keep referring to it as a "VXR" when it's nothing of the sort other than having the engine and (front) brakes. The front calipers are blue, the engine is the V6 unit and there are double exhausts though they point down underneath the car.

Outside the car, there's a black thing still bolted to the roof - obviously an aerial mount or similar. The roof rails have holes drilled in them where the Police lighting was mounted. There's a very badly repaired section on the outside at the rear and the front bumper doesn't quite line up with the front wing as though it's had a mild prang. Paintwork is actually OK other than that and the tyres all look fine. Likewise, the brake discs look to be in good condition as well.

Inside it's a real state - the front seat fabric is different to the rest of the car with blue leather patches sown in the lumbar sections. The radio fascia is missing along with the switch blanking sections. There are scuffs all over it, loads of cigarette burns in the front seats and on the plastics, it smells damp and there's some sort of speaker still left mounted in the roof section where the light is. The plastics are generally in very poor condition with the main dashboard section having been "cleaned" using some of that cheap silicone polish by the looks of the unnatural shine; and much of the plastics seemed to suffer from that worn look where the blackness has given way to a milky matt appearance as though the top layer has been scraped away.

Engine - the engine bay looks OK-ish (see picture) though there are missing bits (battery cover) and it doesn't look like a three year old car's engine bay does it?

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...l/P1000119.jpg

Good bits - the lamps are Xenon HIDs, there's dual zone climate control which still works amazingly. The 2.8 litre twin scroll turbo'ed V6 engine sounds great especially considering the mileage (> 150K)

The dealer is shockingly bad - I'd never buy anything from them and would urge anyone to stay well away. I can't really name them here of course but I'm sure anyone interested could work it out.

Personally, I'd love an SRi spec sleeper with VXR engine/brakes but not one where it would take a lot of time and effort to sort out all the internal, cosmetic issues and not one that had done > 150K like this one! More than anything though, I wouldn't buy that car from that particular dealer if it were half the price. It's on Autotrader now but I expect it will be a long time before anyone actually buys the thing!

More pics here (interior and wheel/brakes):

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...l/P1000120.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...l/P1000117.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...l/P1000118.jpg

Of course, one possible reason why the dealer couldn't give a toss about a prospective buyer of this car in particular was because they were also selling an M5, Audi R8, the latest Skyline, a ton of Imprezas and high spec Bimmers and a Lambo Gallardo (sorry for any spelling errors - I'm not exactly up on modern cars). Even so, it's still no excuse for such terrible customer service :/

**Penfold101** · 29th August 2009, 21:51

At the end of the day though mate, it's a spec you can't get anywhere else (manual 2.8 with climate and xenons...) and with a bit of cash you could put it into a reasonable condition. Good for a project, and at the end of the day it's cheap as chips...

As you say though, the dealership wouldn't help you make the decision...

Good with the bad...

**Big Sig** · 29th August 2009, 21:53

Unless that was 2-3k cheap then its never ever worth it!

How much was it?

**Penfold101** · 29th August 2009, 21:56

4.5 I think - there's 2 on autotrader around that price...

**phykell** · 29th August 2009, 22:03

Originally Posted by Penfold101

At the end of the day though mate, it's a spec you can't get anywhere else (manual 2.8 with climate and xenons...) and with a bit of cash you could put it into a reasonable condition. Good for a project, and at the end of the day it's cheap as chips...

As you say though, the dealership wouldn't help you make the decision...

Good with the bad...

I totally agree and that's why I went to see it TBH. I'm not bothered about the fact it isn't actually a VXR and that it doesn't have the badges or any of the prestige; in fact, I actually prefer that. The very last thing I'd want is to have some sort of flashy looking car that I'd always be worried about it being stolen - I'm much more interested in the functional aspects so the most important features are the engine, brakes and lights. One of those particular cars would be a great compromise - a fantastic engine in an otherwise mundane looking vehicle. I guess what I had the most problem with was the dealer and the fact they really hadn't even tried to do anything with the car. Nor did they show me, the customer, any due regard.

I disagree with the idea of it being cheap though - I'm sure a 150K V6 will need some expensive work and it's not a diesel. I had factored all that in of course but I'd hoped to pay a K to sort out all the problems. Having seen it though, I think that was very optimistic.

Incidentally, there's a much better sounding one down south which has been in the trader for ages now, but it's a bit far away. I may just wait for one a bit closer to home but I now understand why others have warned about the amount of work that can potentially need doing to get it up to a reasonable spec.

**Penfold101** · 29th August 2009, 22:05

As long as you know what you're letting yourself in for there's no reason to not go for it...

**phykell** · 29th August 2009, 22:08

Originally Posted by Penfold101

4.5 I think - there's 2 on autotrader around that price...

Yep, I saw the one in Yorkshire which was around £4,700 - the one down south is £4,300 I think.

**phykell** · 29th August 2009, 22:10

Originally Posted by Penfold101

As long as you know what you're letting yourself in for there's no reason to not go for it...

Agreed

Just wish I got to have a go in the thing - I bet it flies

Probably a good job I didn't though - it'd be on my drive by now

**Penfold101** · 29th August 2009, 22:11

Isn't that one the 280bhp version as well...? Hence the VXR name they've given it...

**shandy_bass** · 29th August 2009, 22:12

I've got and love my ex-plod Vectra 3.2 V6 SRI. Car is a 2003 in blue that was an ANPR/driver training and unmarked car.
I swapped it for my 1996 Shogun 2.8 TD as the other party was desperate for a 7 seater to tow their horse box.
It has 100k on I value it at £2500k.

Keep looking as mixed ex-plod cars about, I've previously had a T5 volvo until the engine went bang with 165k on the clock.