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Hi everyone. My name is Richard and I’m based in Bristol. I used to work for Welch’s, the main Vauxhall dealer many years ago in the early 80s as a salesman and developed a passion for 80’s Vauxhall’s which has never left me. I now am fortunate enough to own a Low mileage gorgeous Mk 1 Astra GTE 3 door in polar white, unmolested and completely original, a Mk2 Astra GTE 16v, same colour, very low mileage, again completely original and pretty much concourse throughout plus have just completed a full nut and bolt restoration to a 1985 Nova Sport with a mere 47,000 miles. This car is near enough identical to when it was delivered to the dealer new, other than it has the X 17 uprated camshaft which was manufactured in Sweden specifically for Irmscher and an option at the time. They are all driven and not just showpieces.

Hi Earlier this year I purchased a JC Wyvern which is a kit car using the Vauxhall Magnum running gear engine is the 2.3l High Compression slant four. Although the car look grand as he had recently a respray and a so called rebuild, I am now in the process of rebuilding it correctly. I would like to find any other JC owners so please get in contact if you own one or know someone who owns one

Hi everyone, Firstly, thank you for accepting my request to join. A little about me, I’m Craig from Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. My father worked in the local Vauxhall dealer on the island (McKirdy & McMillan) and I spent most of my younger years (1990 - 1998) growing up in amongst Cavaliers, Astras, Novas, Corsas and Carltons. The owner, Jim McMillan and I had a sort of bond and I had the utmost respect for the man and we became good friends despite the massive age gap. He had a white Senator CD annd it was sheer luxury. I still remember the reg no. It was G475 VGD. I loved that car. Unfortunately he took ill and the garage closed down in 1998 and he passed away in 1999 when I was 15. My apprenticeship was served in the local Ford dealer (W. & J. Duncan) then I worked in the Local Renault Dealer (Rothesay Motor Services) before going to work for my Father-in-Law full time driving his cattle float. I’ve owned a few Vauxhalls over the years, a Nova SR, Cavalier CD and two Cavalier LS and after not having owned one for around 20 years I’m starting to look for another Cavalier, Calibra, Vectra or Astra Will see what’s available when I’m actually ready to buy . Looking forward to having a good look around the forum and I’ll probably be looking for some help and advice in the near future.

Hi. Here is a photo of our Astra at the dealership back in December 2025 on the day we agreed to buy it.

Thank you so much, I will look into this in Australia. Any help is greatly appreciated. This is my father’s car, now proudly mine.

Has anyone else noticed how dangerous it is to drive at night with the modern cars emitting light beams that can be seen in outer space (almost)? What do you do to improve the situation? Night (yellow) Glasses, Tinted Windows, break the other cars headlamps ? Let us know what you think - take it away the floor is all yours!

Hi, Last summer I bought an approved second hand electric Mokka. I'm joining to ask questions - which I hope I'll post in the relevant forums! Peter, south coast England

Hiya Not managed to do a thing yet sadly , all of a sudden work has got very busy, on weds morning I'm hoping to send and clean the marks and fill with paint and then colour cut at the weekend. I promise to post progress photos as I go along.

Hello Steve. Welcome to the club. Feel free to post pictures of your car for all to see and admire. Yes as was mentioned in an earlier comment, I have some knowledge on maintenance on the Astra's. I am on my 2nd mk4 Astra, and wish I had got in to them years earlier than I did. I have been doing quite a bit to my beast, which due to its age is just replacing worn out parts. The main thing to do is keep up to date on servicing, and they'll return good mileage back. My Astra is a 1.6 16 valve auto, and has recently hit 242000+ miles, and is 24 years old. Happy motoring.

lol...there's no pleasing everybody for sure!

Thank you for your kind comment, my wife and I were very taken by its look and also the cabin and seats are well fitted and comfy. The dealer tells us it has a factory "XP" kit fitted which I must say gives it a modern and purpose full look , though my Son says the brake discs look tiny thru the big wheels !

Hi all, I’m an individual vehicle owner who’s experienced a wet timing belt–related engine failure and I’m trying to raise awareness and understand how common this issue is across the UK. Independent garages are increasingly talking about wet timing belt degradation (e.g. PureTech, EcoBoost), where belt material breaks down inside the engine oil, blocks the oil pickup, and leads to oil starvation and sudden engine damage — sometimes at relatively low mileage and with little warning. Rather than treating cases in isolation, I’ve put together a voluntary owner reporting page where people can share their experience if they choose. This isn’t commercial research, a survey, or data collection for profit — it’s about consumer awareness, supporting complaints, and helping owners understand whether what they’re experiencing is common. The page also includes guidance on: • what evidence helps if a claim is rejected • who to report issues to • and how others have navigated warranty/manufacturer responses If you’ve experienced something similar and want to share, details are here: 👉 https://sites.google.com/view/wet-belt-failures/home No obligation at all — even comments describing your experience are helpful for discussion. I’m also interested in hearing from mechanics or trade professionals who are seeing this more often.

Hi Steve - welcome to the Club That should definitely blow the cobwebs out and give the battery a top up. @AndyR is your man for older Astra's advice, as and when any maintenance and repairs are needed

Hi, Was looking some info if possible. looking to change oil and oil filter Coolant flush and change On a the Crossland x 1.5 diesel 2020. Was wondering what size of sump plug removal tool I need or is there a special one I need. Torque settings etc Has anyone got a step to step quide on how to change the coolant and where to look for bleed valves and anything else that can help etc, I usually use the Haynes manual for guidance but bought the online one for the Crossland x but it’s just a generic one now for any car which isn’t great. Any help/info much appreciated Many thanks ❤️ Robbo

Is there any chance that you are resting your foot on the clutch pedal even just slightly

Hi folks. Stonham Barns is holding Vauxfest again this year. But this year they are allowing club stands too. If anyone is interested in attending the details are to follow.

If you would like to put this out to the club as you both live in the same region (Suffolk/Norfolk) and if enough members are interested then we can promote it and then get a club stand if you want?

Hiya I had this exact issue with a car I used to own and it needed new wishbones , I'd suggest go to a garage you trust and have then price a repair for you. Steve

Lol Mate I'd be happy to sort out your scratches and paint chips and of course that extends to any and every member of this club .

Hi Vicki And welcome to our club I found this information online , I hope it might be if some help to you and your car oil filter for 1960 cresta +4 For a 1960 Vauxhall Cresta (PA model), the correct oil filter is typically a cartridge-type (insert) filter, often referenced by part number FF36 or CH837PL. These filters are designed for older Vauxhall 6-cylinder engines, which used a canister-style housing, unlike later screw-on filters. Recommended Filters for 1960 Cresta (PA): Flexolite FF36: A commonly cited replacement for classic Vauxhalls. Fram CH837PL: A suitable filter insert. MANN-FILTER H 1018/2 n: Another compatible filter insert. Important Notes: Filter Type: These are filter elements/inserts that go inside the canister, usually supplied with new sealing gaskets. Verification: Always check your specific engine's filter housing to ensure the insert matches, as some older vehicles may have been converted to modern spin-on filters. Availability: These filters can be found through classic car parts specialists, such as Flexolite or Stafford Vehicle Components.

Hiya. Had a really good day today , what i was doing wrong was applying compound to the paint while it was wet with water , compound cuts better when the paint is dry so today got a few areas done dry and starting g to get very pleased with the results, as I go along I find more paint fits to do but that's OK, I e joy the results , from the weekend I'll start bothering friends and relatives to see if they have any paint scratches they want fixing !! Steve

always better to come back to a job once you've had something to eat and drink - and then think that it can wait till another day 🤣

You could try the climate control settings otherwise it may be an internal ambient temperature sensor at fault - sometimes they get clogged up with dust and don't give a true reading - should be on the dashboard somewhere - something similar to this (small image of grill on the right hand piccy with the arrow pointing to it) - you can use compressed air to clear of dust, etc but not directly into it as it could damage the sensor

Hi all new member I have a growing concern regarding this wet belt scenario I feel that it is time extreme pressure in some way should be applied to Vauxhall and other manufacturers to get rid of this wet belt whoever thought that this was a good idea I know other manufacturers use it as well as we will find out soon the cars for example bought on PCP of which more and more drivers seem to be going down that road will on average trade in after 4/5 years which means a lot of people buying second are going to experience this wet belt due for replacement not knowing this and continuing driving it with problems arising the average cost of replacing a wet belt is £1000 + where as a timing belt was on average £200 plus there a very few garages willing to tackle the wet belt replacement because of the amount of work on it I think vauxhall should either consider converting back to the timing belt or replace the existing cars with a chain that won’t deteriorate I think it is shocking that the motoring industry thought this was a good idea very poor show VAUXHALL & others Kenny L

Hi chaps My younger brother , a tinkerer of many years scared me off buying a wet belt due to issues with poor oil maintenece and belt degradation. Steve

Hiya. Completely agree some modern headlights are brighter a d more dazzzling the full beam, makes driving at night on B roads very difficult, I would like to upgrade from the standard bulbs my Vauxhall came with and I have found bulbs that are brighter but not searchlight beam strength, safer for other road users. But I agree it's high time this problom was dealt with. Steve

ah glad the cheaper option paid off and a lot safer in this sort of weather

Hello and welcome and thank you for posting the photo of your car , it looks great . How long hav e you owned this car ? Steve

Thank you i got the philips racing gt200 and philips X-treme vision pro150 and they have certainly made a difference Thank you

can anybody tell me which radio upgrade i need to have dab/dab+ to my factory fitted viva 2016 radio single din please

Would love to go but I am at Le Mans 24 Hours race that week

Hiya That's great, I will check with work and then get ourselves some tickets. Thanks

Hi Steve. Yes it is all set to go ahead in june.

Tanks admin i will contact them

So there we were parked up at the supermarket and I casually mentioned to the wife how the car might look even better lowered by 2inchs , she made "that face" and replied " you lower that car and I'm leaving you" just because I've modded a few cars in the past to get better stance and improved handling, might just lea e ot as it is then !

Wow, that looks a really fun car, I owned a GTM spyder for a while withe 1.8VVT engine and it was built by a Lotus engineer so it was better tha many I'd seen, but sometimes a tear down and reassemble is the best way to get the car the way you would want it. Have fun and all the best with it.

Hiya , my name is Steve I'm a driver in my 60s and I have just bought my first Vauxhall. I've made 4 short trips in it since delivery in December but tommorow we make a 86 mile drive to London , give that battery a top up ! Looking forward to learning more about the Brand and my new car.

I would advise to try a second opinion from a specialist as you may end up spending more on parts that may not be needed.

Took our first long drive (87 miles) in our 2011 Astra J today and I must say the car was a pleasant place to be , queit smooth , free of Drama , radio with TA now and again. We had sat the car since Dec 19th last year with a handful of small 2 to 3 mile drives , so I was pleased to give a run out, get a bit of charge into that battery. Steve

Hiya And thank you very much for your reccomendation. I'm only a month into this car so still getting the feel of it and I've washed it a couple of times so learning the body work and where I can do some stone chip repairs etc but so far and for my first Vauxhall I'm liking the car very much , and so is my wife and she hates cars !!

Three absolute beauties you have there

Probably need an EVAP smoke machine test to see where the leak is. if its windscreen then they need to pay for the EVAP... if its only started since the window then I would be pointy fingers You might be able to buy an EVAP Smoke test and do it yourself.. have seen a kit years ago.

Hello Are there any Owners meets in North Essex or Suffolk? I'm new to Vauxhall ownership so keen to get the advice of the more experienced, and I always enjoy a good owners club meet up.

We had our car just over a year from 2nd hand and it started to go. I never knew what it was, when i accelerated, i got "stop the car" and allsorts and it would cut out (not good on a fast bypass up in the highlands) My pal is a mechanic and the prices he said around gave me the fear. He said play your face at Vauxhall, so i did, one free wetbelt fitted for free, and not a £600+ bill, job done, Maybe grovel to Vauxhall as they realist how garbage a wet belt is.

Thought I'd introduce myself quickly. 2014 Insignia owner (two or three previous owners), very happy with it overall. Joined up to get help with a specific issue (I'm really not a car person so limited knowledge) but, after reading through some of the threads here, there's clearly a lot of very useful things to explore! I'm not likely to post much, I don't know anything useful about cars to share with you all!

Owned from new - metallic silver with factory fitted full body styling kit + 19in alloy wheels (snowflake design). Additional spare alloy wheel (purchased when no longer being manufactured). 130,000 miles - still runs extremely well. Bodywork in reasonably good condition for its age. Serviced and MOT'd last month. Excellent tyres - all tyres purchased during this year. Genuine reason for sale - running costs now somewhat of a luxury with only doing approx 2000 miles a year - for some years now. Does need money spending on it due to following issues - Offside & nearside inner drive shaft joints severely deteriorated (MOT minor defects) Nearside rear brake pipe corroded (MOT monitor & repair if necessary - advisory) Alloy wheels (which make the look of the car) could do with refurbishment. Panel on drivers door that operates both front windows not working. Petrol cap disconnected from central locking system as solenoid needs replacing. Wiper motor/linkages need attention as both wipers sweep against/beyond windscreen rubber surround. Water ingress into front passenger footwell. Reason unknown - suspect it may be windscreen seal damage/deterioration (not visible) where wiper blade has swept onto/over the rubber seal. Car needs TLC from a Vectra enthusiast who has the skills to maintain it. It would be such a shame to scrap it as 2.0 SRi petrol variants aren't so common these days - the car genuinely looks good. All offers considered. Tel: 07733 359313.

If it's any help, I bought a chip from a German company called racechip+for £200 ,just plug the wiring harness into your car at 4 points ,follow diagram, took 10 minutes, my gtc has 170bhp now instead of 140 bhp ,they also do one that would have given me 235 bhp mine has been in 3 years now ,you also get an app for your phone so you can connect to the chip by Bluetooth and change the settings of the chip

I'm wanting to sell my 1998 Vectra 2.5 V6 Sport in red which I've owned for 25 years but has now been stood for 6 years. No longer used due to corrosion underneath the front end. Car has 115000 miles on the clock with a great engine, gearbox and Magnex exhaust system. Car starts, runs and drives (not on public road) and has no fluid leaks. Interior in good condition with all switches and light in working order. £1500.

A replacement mirror glass can be purchased to fit directly onto the existing one or for more money you can get a complete replacement glass Never use Superglue as when it hardens it will contract and break the glass

i have had plenty of Vaxuhalls over the years and 3 vectra b's - previouly they were just workhorses but last year i got my hads on a nearly mint N plate 1.8 gls with 36k miles and i love it. I have taken her to FOTU 2022 & 2023 and she should be on the odfs youtube channel in the coming weeks https://www.youtube.com/@DougieSRi According to www.howmanyleft.co.uk there are 2 Vectra n Reg's alive built in 1995 and 34 from 1996 (some will be p reg's) so i will make it my lifes work to find the other n plates - can people please let me know if you have one or if you are aware of one? It would be great if we can get a few together at some stage