Offered reluctantly for sale is my beloved, high-mileage but religiously serviced Vauxhall Omega Elite.
You all know what an ELITE is by now, so I won't blab on and list the features, and will cut to the chase.
Good points
1) 4 new tyres, about 900 miles ago - tyres on this car always wear evenly.
2) Cambelt kit, aux belt and and water pump done 1,000 miles ago
3) Rocker cover gaskets, crank case breathers, and spark plugs, also done 1,000 miles ago at the same time, so you have 39,000 miles before the car will need another cambelt. Installed correctly by me using correct tools and torque wrench.
4) BOSE sound system, is just awesome!
5) I polished the headlights - they have come up really well.
In summary, a great, reliable, comfortable and rapid car, with 9 months MOT (no advisories - I addressed them all), with very recent cambelt kit, brand new tyres, spark plugs, and wanting for nothing.
I will say from the outset this is a high mileage car (almost 230k!) but don't let this put you off, because it is mechanically excellent and has been so well cared for.
I have owned this Omega Elite (MV03 NXR) since early 2017, so a period of around four years. Prior to that, it was owned by a member of the forum, and I think even prior to that, was in the hands of an earlier forum member! I am very competent with servicing and maintaining V6 Omegas in particular, having learnt these skills through years of being in enthusiast networks, and acquired all of the specialist tools. I have meticulously maintained and serviced this car for a couple of the previous enthusiast owners, including cambelts and oil changes. The reason I am telling you this, is because although there is no formal service history, this particular car can be vouched for within the forum to show it's been cared for over a long period of time.
Mechanically, I would describe the condition of this Omega as excellent, for a 2003 car. The engine always starts, without any smoke, and burbles into life without any fuss. It's smooth and powerful and the V6 sounds lovely, especially with the stainless exhaust. Note, this is a tasteful stainless system, which was installed at the cost of hundreds of pounds - not some awful, "chavvy" setup from somewhere like Halfords! I would get in this Omega and drive it to Russia tomorrow, without doing anything other than putting fuel in the tank.
The usual forum advice "budget for a full suspension overhaul" does not apply here. The handling and suspension is spot on, the ride is firm but comfortable, cornering and braking are fine. The front wishbones were poly-bushed before I owned the car, meaning they will essentially now last forever.
The car does not leak or use any coolant. It does, being honest, seep a TINY amount of oil, but it never requires topping up between the (3,000 mile) or six monthly oil and filter changes I have always done.
Why am I getting rid?
Despite assurances from the MOT man about how good it is underneath, there are some areas on the car that need some cosmetic attention. This is not my strong area, and other than dabbing on some black hammerite (which you'll see I've done to slow it down) I am not good with bodywork. I don't use the car much at all, it's not my daily driver, but my toy. See the MOT history which will confirm this. With the little use, I am worried it may deteriorate more.
This Omega needs someone with the time to give her some TLC and cosmetically restore the rear arches. There are also some rust bubbles forming around the top of the windscreen that need attention, and a couple on the OSF rear door towards the bottom. In addition to this, there is an area where the paint has flaked off the front bumper, after a transit van kindly kissed my bumper in a car park, and the laquer is peeling on the rear spoiler. The car does look good after a polish, but it also has marks consistent with being 18 years old.
Please look at the pictures, and come and see the car for yourself, to form your own judgement. Yes, I shamelessly took the pictures straight after washing it! That said, it does come up well with a polish.
Other Faults
During the winter months, very intermittently, on some journeys the speedo would flicker and not work properly. I wonder if it was the damp time of year, because it's genuinely not done it for a few weeks - but it would be sods law it would play up for the new owner, so it must be mentioned. The in car phone (which looks like it's from the 1980s) doesn't work anymore, I think it needs a new battery.