A Grand Monday: Vauxhall Omega

Vauxhall Omegas are unquestionably one of the bargain buys at the moment. Huge, capable, well-spec’d and cheap – if you’re after an up and coming classic to clock up the miles in, then you could do a lot worse than put this big Vauxhall workhorse on your drive. 

Launched in 1994, the Omega is part of a market that no longer exists – the large, non-premium, executive car. And make no mistake – they are huge. Five adults can be easily accommodated and there’s plenty of room in the boot for their luggage.

While never as sharp as their German rivals, the Omega was at least rear wheel drive. Body roll came as standard but the steering was positive and well-weighted enough for the occasional B-road blast. But this was a car designed for long motorway cruising – something which it did brilliantly.

This 2000 Vauxhall Omega 2.0i 16v GLS is for sale at £560. For that, you get a car with under 100k on the clock and loads of kit – radio/cassette with CD auto-changer, alloy wheels, air con, central locking, electric everything, traction control, power steering… the lot.

It’s been well looked after, too, with a recent full service. Other work includes new brake discs front and rear, belts, exhaust, battery and tyres. Is it reliable? Well, the owner says he’s just completed a trouble-free 1000+ mile trip to Spain and back.

As you can see, it’s generally in good condition and the seller says it has been stored in a dry garage. There’s a small dent on the offside wheelarch, but the gold cloth interior looks good.

Power comes from the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol. While this wasn’t all that well suited to such a heavy car, it is at least economical (compared to other engines in the range). The official figure is 36mpg, and you shouldn’t be far off that in real-world driving conditions.

Chip £60 off the asking price and drive away in comfort with a well-spec’d A-to-B mile muncher.

• Read our Vauxhall Omega buyer's guide
• Find a Vauxhall Omega for sale