Nice New Vauxhalls

Produced from 1994 – 2003, the Vauxhall Omega was an executive car available as a saloon or an estate; its design was intended to rival other conventional prestige cars including the Ford Granada/Scorpio & the Rover 800.

The Omega had a good reputation; spacious, comfortable, well-equipped & built for strong performance. Unfortunately, this & other similar models were discontinued due to potential buyers being lured away by the ‘better’ reputation of rival brands like the Audi A6 or the BMW 5-Series.

HISTORY

Vauxhall have been offering large saloons since the 1950’s, with the aim of rivalling those made by more prestigious brands (at the time) such as Ford. The best known Vauxhall saloon was the Cresta, (also offered as the Velox which was less highly specified).

These cars were brought out in 1957, with the PB model being released in 1962. This was succeeded in 1965 by the PC model. These were discontinued in 1972, when the Ventora and Victor FE were brought out. These cars were produced until 1978, after which they were replaced by the Royale and the 1st generation Carlton. This version of the Carlton was made until 1986, at which point, the 2nd edition Carlton went on sale. This was then replaced by the Omega in 1993.

VAUXHALL OMEGA TYPES

* April 1994: Estate & Saloon versions of the Vauxhall Omega were launched with a choice of either a 2.0 or 2.5-litre V6 petrol powerplants or a 2.5-litre turbodiesel unit
* June 1994: The 3.0 V6 petrol engine became available. September 1997: A fresh design saw a new nose and tail design & more standard equipment became available.
* May 1998: An LPG option for 2.0-litre petrol-engine cars became available
* October 1999: A re-styled, 2.2-litre petrol engine joined a new range.
* November 2000: The original 2.5TD engine was replaced by a 2.2 DTI turbo diesel engine.
* January 2001: The 2.5-litre engine was replaced by a 2.6-litre V6 petrol engine, while the 3.0 engine was replaced by a 3.2-litre V6.

DID YOU KNOW?

* Only one generation of Omega was available in the UK. However, there was an earlier edition available in Europe – sold in the UK as the Carlton.
* The 1st generation Opel Omega – known as the Carlton in the UK – was available in Lotus form. At the time of launch, it was the fastest ever family saloon with the capability of speeds up to 177mph due to its 377bhp engine.
* The 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine which was available until 2000, was supplied by BMW. It was the exact same engine as that which was fitted to the company’s 3 & 5 Series.
* In the USA, the Omega was known as the Cadillac Catera
* The plug was pulled on a new version of the Omega (the V8) which was due to go on sale in 2001, because there were concerns regarding the potential unreliability of the car.

It’s a trick that many drivers are already familiar with; putting a private registration plate on a used car can give the impression that the car is much newer than it seems. So, if you’re looking at used Vauxhall cars to buy, consider a private registration plate to transform the car.

Not everyone can afford a brand new car and it is frustrating for those with tight purse strings to have to think about shelling out for a new car, simply because the reality of this can’t happen. For some, the only way they can afford a car is to buy a used vehicle. This is fine, but if you’re worried about people thinking you’re driving an old model with 100,000 miles on the clock, a private plate could make all the difference.

You’re probably thinking that a private plate is going to cost a fortune, but this is not always the case. If you’re after a plate that says “3MILY” then you could be expecting to pay out a lot, but many private plates are affordable and add a touch of glamour to a car. It is particularly popular for executive car owners, who buy a used car that’s a few years old, to put a private plate on the vehicle so they can make everybody think it is a brand new luxury car they have just bought. The society that we live in is very materialistic, and although the idea of making people believe your car is newer than it is might seem fake and snobbish, you would be surprised just how many people do it. In London, for example, this is particularly popular, as the money-obsessed capital is home to people that have a façade to uphold.

Of course, you don’t have to be so extravagant like this. The main premise here is that if you buy a used car, such as a used Vauxhall car, you can make your car seem new just by adding a private plate. Plus, since you have saved money on the car by buying used, you can afford to splash out a bit on a private plate. Fancy your name on your car? It’s a good idea – but you might have to start saving up! In the meantime though, why not pick out your used Vauxhall car and then decide which plate you want on it.

Author Mark Woodcock