I'm looking to spend =A3500-=A31500 on as tidy and late an estate car as possible with as few mechanical pit falls as possible.
Vectras *seem* a good buy and there are a good few pre-1998 examples local to me cheap.
Is the cost/effort of a clutch replacement a significant reason not to buy a pre-98 Vectra?
Are the engines (both diesel and petrol) interference engine in the event that a cam belt snaps?
What's the cost/difficulty of fitting a new cambelt?
Are the diesels cam chain rather than belt? How about the petrol engines?
Should any of the engines to be avoided?
What specifically should I be looking at when viewing a Vectra? (in addition to the usual)
What else should I consider and why? Astra? Mondeo? Escort?
Priority is cheapness, simplicity and 'popularity'. Spares will be coming from the scrappie so I want to be sure that I can easily find examples in the breakers yards. I want to maintain myself, I'd like to avoid the cost and/or effort of fitting a cam belt on day 1 of ownership and any large bills during ownership.)
TIA!